Pipernonaline from Piper longum Linn. induces ROS-mediated apoptosis in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells

► Pipernonaline induces sub-G1 accumulation and G1/S phase transition of PC-3 cells. ► Pipernonaline triggers caspase-dependent apoptosis by elevating ROS production. ► ROS cause its downstream events, Ca2+i increase and mitochondrial depolarization. ► ROS, Ca2+i and mitochondrial function are reversed by antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. ► This is the first report of pipernonaline toward the anti-prostate cancer activity.