Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) and Piperine Compounds on the Regeneration of D. Tigrina

Overview

Cancer treatments have been a major focus of the medical field for decades. Today, there is a need for a highly effective and affordable treatment. Epigallocatechin Gallate, a catechin in Green Tea, and Piperine, an alkaloid in black pepper, have emerged a s a potential cancer treatment in recent years due to their cancer-preventive properties. Dugesia tigrina’s, more commonly known as planaria, regenerative properties with its neoblasts have served as a model of cancer growth when finding potential treatment. It was hypothesized that knowing EGCG and piperine both have positive cancer-preventive properties, combined treatment could prevent the cell proliferation of the planarian stem cells. To investigate this issue, The planaria were exposed to varying concentrations of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Piperine over seven days, and the percent change of growth in the regenerating planaria was recorded. Control planaria without any Epigallocatechin Gallate and Piperine concentration were placed into the Petri dis hes. After the first trial, the predicted outcome was supported. After the first trial, the ideal concentrations to prevent planarian growth were obtained. The second trial was conducted using the combined treatment of EGCG and piperine. The data supported the hypothesis. All experimental groups were found to have a statistically significant difference in the percent growth of the planaria. The Epigallocatechin Gallate and Piperine could limit the planaria's growth. This supports the idea of the two compounds being used together as a cancer therapy or for other proliferative disease treatments, such as keloids and psoriatic arthritis.