Planta Med 2008; 74(1): 33-38
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-993758
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Piper cubeba Targets Multiple Aspects of the Androgen-Signalling Pathway. A Potential Phytotherapy against Prostate Cancer Growth?

Jianying Yam1 , 2 , Matthias Kreuter2 , Juergen Drewe1
  • 1Department of Research and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
  • 2VitaPlant AG, Pharmacology Department, Witterswil, Switzerland
Further Information

Publication History

Received: June 23, 2007 Revised: October 10, 2007

Accepted: October 25, 2007

Publication Date:
13 December 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Despite the high prevalence of prostate cancer (PC) in the Western world, there is a dearth of effective medication. Since the androgen-signalling pathway is very much involved in PC growth and development, we investigated the potential of Piper cubeba L. extract, P9605, in targeting multiple events simultaneously within this pathway. This may be more effective compared to an antiandrogen monotherapy. Our results indicated that P9605 inhibited proliferation in androgen-dependent LNCaP human prostate cancer cells by reducing DNA synthesis and inducing apoptosis. This antigrowth effect was less pronounced in androgen-independent PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines. P9605 potently inhibited 5α-reductase II activity, which is responsible for converting testosterone to its active form, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in the prostate. It also acted as an antagonist at recombinant wild-type androgen receptors (AR). P9605 suppressed cell growth and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) secretion stimulated by physiological concentrations of DHT in LNCaP cells. Interestingly, it down-regulated AR levels. In conclusion, our findings suggest that P9605 may potentially retard the growth of androgen-dependent PC via several mechanisms.