Rourlela: Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, have identified a natural compound found in common long pepper that demonstrates selective and cost-efficient activity against colon cancer cells. This discovery, made in collaboration with the University of North Carolina, USA, and the Central University of South Bihar, offers a promising alternative to conventional chemotherapy and has been published in the prestigious journal, BioFactors.
The compound, known as Piperlongumine, was found to selectively kill colon cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed, a critical advantage over standard chemotherapy treatments which cause debilitating side effects like hair loss, fatigue, and nerve damage. According to Professor Bijesh Kumar Biswal, Associate Professor in the Department of Life Science at NIT Rourkela, the efficacy of Piperlongumine was confirmed through laboratory experiments, including the MTT assay, which reported significant cancer cell death.
The research team noted that colon cancer is one of the most common cancers globally, with the World Health Organisation reporting nearly 1.9 million new cases and approximately 900,000 deaths in 2022. The major complication in treatment is the tendency of cancerous cells to develop resistance to chemotherapy agents.
Since long pepper is an inexpensive, easily cultivated plant readily available in the Indian diet and Ayurvedic practices, the formulation of Piperlongumine presents a low-cost, “green therapeutic alternative,” which is particularly valuable for low and middle-income countries burdened by the exorbitant costs of current cancer therapies. Prof. Biswal added that the team’s next step is to investigate using Piperlongumine alongside traditional chemotherapeutic drugs, such as oxaliplatin, to potentially restore patient responsiveness to treatment, opening up new avenues for advanced and chemo-resistant colorectal cancer.
