The Promise of Piperine in Cancer Chemoprevention

SIMPLE SUMMARY: With 19.3 million new cancer cases worldwide and nearly 10.0 million cancer-related deaths cancer is a global health challenge. Cancer is a disease caused by a variety of factors that lead to uncontrolled cell growth. Cancer chemoprevention using natural or synthetic compounds is a critical strategy to mitigate the impact of cancer on healthcare systems. One of the naturally occurring compounds, piperine, has shown potential in preventing cancer. Piperine is a nitrogen-containing alkaloid molecule with pleiotropic therapeutic effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. With its various health benefits, piperine shows promise in inhibiting cancer-related molecular processes and enhancing existing treatments. This review explores piperine’s potential in cancer prevention and treatment, suggesting it could be a valuable tool in managing cancer. ABSTRACT: Cancer, characterized by the unregulated growth and dissemination of malignantly transformed cells, presents a significant global health challenge. The multistage process of cancer development involves intricate biochemical and genetic alterations within target cells. Cancer chemoprevention has emerged as a vital strategy to address this complex issue to mitigate cancer’s impact on healthcare systems. This approach leverages pharmacologically active agents to block, suppress, prevent, or reverse invasive cancer development. Among these agents, piperine, an active alkaloid with a wide range of therapeutic properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects, has garnered attention for its potential in cancer prevention and treatment. This comprehensive review explores piperine’s multifaceted role in inhibiting the molecular events and signaling pathways associated with various stages of cancer development, shedding light on its promising prospects as a versatile tool in cancer chemoprevention. Furthermore, the review will also delve into how piperine enhances the effectiveness of conventional treatments such as UV-phototherapy and TRAIL-based therapy, potentially synergizing with existing therapeutic modalities to provide more robust cancer management strategies. Finally, a crucial perspective of the long-term safety and potential side effects of piperine-based therapies and the need for clinical trials is also discussed.