Figure 4.

Piperine significantly decreases p-AKT, p-mTOR and MMP-9 expression in DU145 cells. Cells were cultured with piperine (160 µM) for 48 h. (A) Western blotting was performed to determine the indicated protein levels of (B) MMP-9, (C) Akt, p-Akt, p-mTOR and mTOR. Densitometric measurements of protein analysis for the ratio of phosphorylated to total (D) Akt and (E) mTOR were also evaluated. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation (n=3). *P<0.05 vs. control group. p-/phos-, phosphorylated; t-, total; Akt, protein kinase B; MMP-9, matrix metalloproteinase-9; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; DMSO, dimethylsulfoxide.