Abstract

Chatcha Sriwanwit62385*

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of global mortality, necessitating the exploration of new therapeutic options. Recent advancements in phytochemical research have sparked interest in the anticancer effects of plant compounds. Despite the availability of chemotherapeutic drugs, drug resistance remains a significant challenge in cancer treatment. This study aims to evaluate the cytotoxic and antimigration activities of a medicinal plant extract against pulmonary cancer cells. Piper nigrum was extracted using 90% ethanol, and its total phenolic content was quantified using the Folin-Cioucalteu method, expressed as Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE). Cytotoxicity and antimigration assays were conducted using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and scratch assays, respectively. The plant extract was incubated at increasing concentrations (0-160 μg/mL) for 48 hours against pulmonary cancer cells (A549) in both assays, with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) as a positive control. The results revealed a total phenolic content of 1.12 ± 0.57 mg GAE/g for P. nigrum extract, demonstrating significant anticancer activity with a half inhibitory concentration of 10 μg/mL. Furthermore, the extract exhibited potential in inhibiting cancer cell migration. In conclusion, P. nigrum demonstrated potent anticancer activity against lung cancer. However, further investigation is required to elucidate the pure compound and molecular mechanism of action underlying these effects.