MMP9 and cancer: Piperine treatment inhibits the growth of p53 deficient cell lines by inhibiting the G1-S transition of the cell cycle and also enhances the expression of p21Waf1/Cip1, further inhibiting CDK activity. Piperine resulted in a decrease in the phosphorylation of the Ser473 residue in Akt, leading to apoptosis. Piperine-induced release of mitochondrial Smac/DIABLO, which inhibits IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) and cytochrome c, which induces apoptosome formation, leading to cell apoptosis. Cancer cell migration is also reduced by piperine-mediated reduced gene expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9