Abstract
We discuss the breakdown of perturbative unitarity of noncommutative quantum field theories in electric-type background in the light of string theory. We consider the analytic structure of string loop two-point functions using a suitable off-shell continuation and then study the zero slope limit of Seiberg and Witten. In this way we pick up how the unphysical tachyonic branch cut appears in the noncommutative field theory. We briefly discuss discontinuities and cutting rules for the full string theory amplitude and relate them to the noncommutative field theoretical results, and also discuss the insight one gains into the magnetic case too.