The Anticancer Effect of Curcumin and Piperine Combination in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Abstract Aim: Curcumin is known to have anticancer effects in different types of cancer, but its bioavailability is low due to its poor absorption and rapid metabolism. Piperine is known to increase the bioavailability of numerous therapeutic agents such as curcumin. This study aimed to investigate the possible synergistic effect of combined curcumin and piperine treatment in the A549 non-small cell lung cancer cell line. Methods: After IC50 doses were determined using the MTT technique, the mRNA expression levels of genes involved in apoptosis and the cell cycle (p53, TRAIL-1, TRAIL-2, NF-κB, IKKB, Bax, and Bcl-2), as well as the effects of oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation (TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1β and DEF-β2) of the active substances were determined in the experimental groups. Results: The results showed that curcumin and piperine dose-dependently reduced cell viability. DNA damage levels were the same as in the control group when curcumin and piperine were administered together. TAS level was found to be high compared to the control group, while TOS and OSI levels were low. It was also observed that inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1β, and DEF-β2) decreased. Molecular analysis results also showed that the combination of curcumin and piperine up-regulated p53, Bax, TRAIL-2, NF-κB mRNA expression levels, while down-regulated TRAIL-1, IKKB, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels. Conclusions: These results suggest that the combination of curcumin and piperine could be considered as an adjuvant treatment approach to current therapies in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Keywords: curcumin, piperine, A549 cells, bioavailability, combination therapy