Piper retrofractum

About: Piper retrofractum is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 126 publications have been published within this topic receiving 1216 citations.

Antioxidant activities of different solvent extracts of Piper retrofractum Vahl. using DPPH assay

Abstract: Piper retrofractum Vahl., which belongs to the family Piperaceae, is geographically dispersed in tropical region including Indonesia. They are well-known spice possessing high medicinal properties. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant activity of P. retrofractum fruit, extracted with different solvents (methanol, ethyl acetate, n-hexane) using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. This research was carried out using different concentrations of methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane extracts, (0, 5, 15, 30, 45, 60 ppm). Ascorbic acid was also used as positive antioxidant control. The percentage of inhibition and IC50 were measured. The results showed that the DPPH free radicals were scavenged by all plant extracts in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, the IC50 values for DPPH radicals with methanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane extract of the P. retrofractum Vahl. were found to be 101.74; 66.12 and 57.66 ppm, respectively. Interestingly, the IC50 value of n-hexane extract (57.66 ppm) was lower than ascorbic acid (66.12 ppm), indicating that n-hexane extract was a more potent scavenger of free radicals than methanol and ethyl acetate extracts. Taken together, our results suggested that n-hexane extract of P. Retrofractum Vahl. might contain potential antioxidant compounds.

Cytotoxicity Screening of Plants of Genus Piper in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract: Purpose: To examine whether seven species of plants of genus Piper possess anti-cancer effects. Methods: One normal breast and three breast cancer cell lines were used to test cytotoxic effects over a period of 72 h using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The dried plants were extracted with methanol and dichloromethane, and the effective extract isolated by crystallization, acid/base extraction and column chromatography techniques. Fragmented DNA was purified by phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol. Results : Methanol and dichloromethane extracts of Piper retrofractum , Piper betle , especiall y Piper nigrum , exhibited strong effect on MDA-MB-468. When the crude extract of P. nigrum was then separated by column chromatography, fraction D showed activity against both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells. Fraction DE that was isolated from D demonstrated a highly cytotoxic effect with IC50 values of 8.33 ± 1.27 and 7.48 ± 0.57 μg/ml on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells, respectively. Furthermore, fraction DF exhibited a strong cytotoxic effect only on MCF-7 with IC50 value of 6.51 ± 0.39 μg/ml. DNA smears of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells treated with fraction DE and DF were observed within 7 days. Conclusions: These results indicate that the compounds isolated from P. nigrum , viz, DE and DF, have cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cell lines. These fractions could be promising agent for breast cancer treatment. Further studies on the isolation, structural and mechanism elucidation of the active compound are still needed being carried out. Keywords : Cytotoxicity, Breast cancer, P. nigrum , DNA fragmentation

Antimicrobial activity of Piper fruits

Abstract: In this study an attempt is made to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of various extracts of fruits of different Piper. species available in the Aurangabad-Marathwada (Maharashtra State) region. Twenty eight extracts prepared from the fruits of four species, viz. Piper cubeba Linn. f., P. retrofractum Vahl syn. P. chaba Hunter non Blume, P. longum Linn. and P. nigrum Linn. were evaluated against bacterial pathogens, such as Staphylococcus albus, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Bacillus megaterium and one fungus, Aspergillus niger. Compared to Streptomycin all the extracts exhibited a good antibacterial activity. Some of the extracts showed antifungal activity as well.