PIPERINE INDUCES DOWN REGULATION OF BCL2 AND UP REGULATION OF BAD IN SMOKELESS TOBACCO INDUCED HUMAN ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA (SCC4)

Tobacco consumption has been linked with the high incidence of head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancer is among one of the most common cancers worldwide. Piperine, a major alkaloid constituent of black pepper, has been previously reported to have anti-cancer activity in different cancer cell lines. It is a biosafe neutraceutical. The effect of piperine against smokeless tobacco induced head and neck cancer is not currently known. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effect of piperine on smokeless tobacco induced head and neck cancer cells. We showed that piperine inhibited the proliferation of SCC4 head and neck cancer cells in a dose and time dependent manner. Furthermore, we observed the effect of piperine on apoptotic marker genes. Our study suggests that Piperine induces down regulation of BCL2 and up Regulation of BAD and Tp53 in smokeless tobacco induced human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC4) cells. Taken together, these results support further investigation of piperine as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of head and neck cancer.