Evidence mapPaperPMID 42278671Full record

ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2026

Piperine as a Multifunctional Epigenetic Modulator: Integrative Molecular Insights into Cancer and Chronic Disease Therapy.

Andrés Alarcón, Catherine Meza, Carolina Añazco, Marcela Sepúlveda, Sebastián Alarcón, Sharin Valdivia

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Deciphering Stress Resilience in Black Pepper (International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Andrés AlarcónCancer Biology Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Concepción, Campus Tres Pascualas, Concepción 4080871, Chile.
Catherine MezaDepartamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Concepción, Campus Tres Pascualas, Concepción 4080871, Chile.
Carolina AñazcoNutritional Biochemistry Laboratory, School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Rehabilitation and Quality of Life Sciences, San Sebastian University, Valdivia 5091000, Chile.ORCID 0000-0003-1311-9492
Marcela SepúlvedaDepartamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Concepción, Campus Tres Pascualas, Concepción 4080871, Chile.
Sebastián AlarcónCancer Biology Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Concepción, Campus Tres Pascualas, Concepción 4080871, Chile.ORCID 0000-0002-8413-8028
Sharin ValdiviaCancer Biology Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Concepción, Campus Tres Pascualas, Concepción 4080871, Chile.

Funding

Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Doctorados de la Universidad San Sebastián USS-FIN-25-APCS-XX
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Piperine, the principal alkaloid of Piper nigrum, has gained attention as a multifunctional dietary compound with broad effects on epigenetic and transcriptional regulation in cancer and chronic diseases. Evidence shows that piperine modulates DNA methylation (↓ DNMT3B), histone acetylation (↓ HDAC activity), and microRNA networks (↑ miR-29c, ↓ miR-383), thereby reshaping key oncogenic and tumor-suppressive pathways. Beyond canonical epigenetic control, it can also stabilize G-quadruplex structures in promoters such as c-MYC, adding an architecture-based mechanism of transcriptional repression. Its dual redox behavior-antioxidant at low doses and pro-oxidant at higher doses-confers context-dependent selectivity, enabling oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis in tumor cells. Compared with other nutriepigenetic agents (curcumin, resveratrol, EGCG), piperine stands out for its multi-target profile and preliminary evidence of activity against cancer stem cell-like phenotypes. Nonetheless, limited solubility, rapid metabolism, and scarce in vivo validation constrain clinical translation. Future efforts should focus on advanced formulations, multi-omics approaches, and cancer stem cell models to better define its therapeutic potential and safety.

Indexed as

AlkaloidsBenzodioxolesEpigenesis, GeneticNeoplasmsPiperidinesPolyunsaturated AlkamidesAnimalsAntioxidantsChronic DiseaseDNA MethylationGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMicroRNAsAlkaloidsAntioxidantsBenzodioxolesMicroRNAsPiperidinespiperinePolyunsaturated Alkamidescancer stem cellsDNA methylationepigenetic regulationhistone deacetylasesmicroRNAspiperineredox signaling

Identifiers

PMID42278671
PMCPMC13258402

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.