Anticancer activity of curcumin alone and in combination with piperine in Dalton lymphoma ascites bearing mice

Abstract

Curcumin has been reported for its anticancer activity, but clinically it suffers from low bioavailability. In this context, we explored the potential of a natural bioavailability enhancing agent piperine in the present study. Piperine too has anticancer activity, and thereby combination of these two natural ingredients were tested for better therapeutic use. Curcumin (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg), piperine (10 mg/kg) alone and in combination was evaluated in Dalton lymphoma ascites (DLA) bearing mice by assessing various biochemical and histopathological parameters. Treatment with the curcumin at two different concentrations and piperine alone has shown some therapeutic benefit in reducing the tumors and increased the lifespan of the tested animals (%ILS). The treatment groups have shown significant therapeutic benefits in restoration of hematological and biochemical parameters, particularly in combination treatment groups. Precisely, curcumin and piperine in combination have shown more significant influence in the restoration of various hematological and biochemical parameters. Histopathological observations also revealed that combination of curcumin and piperine improves repairing of the tissue damage due to inoculation of lymphoma significantly.