Nanoparticles with curcumin and piperine modulate steroid biosynthesis in prostate cancer
Abstract Endogenous androgens are pivotal in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PC). We investigated nanoparticle formulations of curcumin and piperine in modulating steroidogenesis within PC cells. Using multiple PC cell lines (LNCaP, VCaP, DU145 and PC3) we studied the effects of...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98102-z |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850181917455941632 |
|---|---|
| author | Jibira Yakubu Evangelos Natsaridis Therina du Toit Isabel Sousa Barata Oya Tagit Amit V. Pandey |
| author_facet | Jibira Yakubu Evangelos Natsaridis Therina du Toit Isabel Sousa Barata Oya Tagit Amit V. Pandey |
| author_sort | Jibira Yakubu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Endogenous androgens are pivotal in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PC). We investigated nanoparticle formulations of curcumin and piperine in modulating steroidogenesis within PC cells. Using multiple PC cell lines (LNCaP, VCaP, DU145 and PC3) we studied the effects of curcumin, piperine, and their nanoparticle formulations—curcumin nanoparticles, piperine nanoparticles, and curcumin–piperine nanoparticles (CPN)—on cell viability, migration, and steroid biosynthesis. Curcumin and its nanoparticle formulations significantly reduced cell viability in PC cells, with curcumin–piperine nanoparticles showing the highest efficacy. These treatments also inhibited cell migration, with CPN exhibiting the most pronounced effect. In assays for steroid biosynthesis, curcumin, and its nanoparticle formulations, as well as piperine and its nanoparticles, selectively inhibited 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities of cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1). Abiraterone, a CYP17A1 inhibitor, displayed a broader inhibition of steroid metabolism including cytochrome P450 21-hydroxylase activity, whereas curcumin and piperine provided a more targeted inhibition profile. Analysis of steroid metabolites by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that CPN caused significant reduction of androstenedione and cortisol, suggesting potential synergistic effects. In conclusion, nanoformulations co-loaded with curcumin and piperine offer an effective approach to targeting steroidogenesis and could be promising candidates for therapies aimed at managing androgen-dependent PC. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c2f538fa325b4e479cdff3989f8340bd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-c2f538fa325b4e479cdff3989f8340bd2025-08-20T02:17:47ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115112110.1038/s41598-025-98102-zNanoparticles with curcumin and piperine modulate steroid biosynthesis in prostate cancerJibira Yakubu0Evangelos Natsaridis1Therina du Toit2Isabel Sousa Barata3Oya Tagit4Amit V. Pandey5Pediatric Endocrinology, University Children’s Hospital, University Hospital Bern, InselspitalGroup of Biointerfaces, Institute of Chemistry and Bioanalytics, FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern SwitzerlandTranslational Hormone Research Program, Department of Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of BernPediatric Endocrinology, University Children’s Hospital, University Hospital Bern, InselspitalGroup of Biointerfaces, Institute of Chemistry and Bioanalytics, FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern SwitzerlandPediatric Endocrinology, University Children’s Hospital, University Hospital Bern, InselspitalAbstract Endogenous androgens are pivotal in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PC). We investigated nanoparticle formulations of curcumin and piperine in modulating steroidogenesis within PC cells. Using multiple PC cell lines (LNCaP, VCaP, DU145 and PC3) we studied the effects of curcumin, piperine, and their nanoparticle formulations—curcumin nanoparticles, piperine nanoparticles, and curcumin–piperine nanoparticles (CPN)—on cell viability, migration, and steroid biosynthesis. Curcumin and its nanoparticle formulations significantly reduced cell viability in PC cells, with curcumin–piperine nanoparticles showing the highest efficacy. These treatments also inhibited cell migration, with CPN exhibiting the most pronounced effect. In assays for steroid biosynthesis, curcumin, and its nanoparticle formulations, as well as piperine and its nanoparticles, selectively inhibited 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities of cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1). Abiraterone, a CYP17A1 inhibitor, displayed a broader inhibition of steroid metabolism including cytochrome P450 21-hydroxylase activity, whereas curcumin and piperine provided a more targeted inhibition profile. Analysis of steroid metabolites by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that CPN caused significant reduction of androstenedione and cortisol, suggesting potential synergistic effects. In conclusion, nanoformulations co-loaded with curcumin and piperine offer an effective approach to targeting steroidogenesis and could be promising candidates for therapies aimed at managing androgen-dependent PC.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98102-zSteroidogenesisCYP17A1Prostate cancerCurcumin nanoparticlesAndrogen synthesisNanoparticle formulations |
| spellingShingle | Jibira Yakubu Evangelos Natsaridis Therina du Toit Isabel Sousa Barata Oya Tagit Amit V. Pandey Nanoparticles with curcumin and piperine modulate steroid biosynthesis in prostate cancer Scientific Reports Steroidogenesis CYP17A1 Prostate cancer Curcumin nanoparticles Androgen synthesis Nanoparticle formulations |
| title | Nanoparticles with curcumin and piperine modulate steroid biosynthesis in prostate cancer |
| title_full | Nanoparticles with curcumin and piperine modulate steroid biosynthesis in prostate cancer |
| title_fullStr | Nanoparticles with curcumin and piperine modulate steroid biosynthesis in prostate cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanoparticles with curcumin and piperine modulate steroid biosynthesis in prostate cancer |
| title_short | Nanoparticles with curcumin and piperine modulate steroid biosynthesis in prostate cancer |
| title_sort | nanoparticles with curcumin and piperine modulate steroid biosynthesis in prostate cancer |
| topic | Steroidogenesis CYP17A1 Prostate cancer Curcumin nanoparticles Androgen synthesis Nanoparticle formulations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98102-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jibirayakubu nanoparticleswithcurcuminandpiperinemodulatesteroidbiosynthesisinprostatecancer AT evangelosnatsaridis nanoparticleswithcurcuminandpiperinemodulatesteroidbiosynthesisinprostatecancer AT therinadutoit nanoparticleswithcurcuminandpiperinemodulatesteroidbiosynthesisinprostatecancer AT isabelsousabarata nanoparticleswithcurcuminandpiperinemodulatesteroidbiosynthesisinprostatecancer AT oyatagit nanoparticleswithcurcuminandpiperinemodulatesteroidbiosynthesisinprostatecancer AT amitvpandey nanoparticleswithcurcuminandpiperinemodulatesteroidbiosynthesisinprostatecancer |