The Effect of Thymoquinone on the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB Axis Against Cisplatin-İnduced Testicular Tissue Damage

One of the adverse effects of the antineoplastic drug cisplatin (CS) is damage to testicular tissue. This study aimed to examine the potential therapeutic effect of thymoquinone (TQ), a strong antioxidant, against testicular damage caused by CS. In the experiment, 28 rats were used, and the rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (n = 7), CS (n = 7), CS + TQ (n = 7), and TQ (n = 7). The experiment was called off after all treatments were finished on day 15. Blood serum and testicular tissues were utilized for biochemical, histological, immunohistochemical, mRNA expression, and gene protein investigations. The testosterone level decreased and oxidative stress, histopathological damage, dysregulation in mitochondrial dynamics, inflammation and apoptotic cells increased in testicular tissue due to CS administration. TQ supplementation showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects in response to CS-induced testicular damage. In addition, TQ contributed to the reduction of CS-induced toxic effects by regulating the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB pathway. TQ supplementation may be a potential therapeutic strategy against CS-induced testicular damage by regulating the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB axis, inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and thymoquinone induce apoptosis and alteration in mitochondria in colorectal cancer cells

Colon cancer is on the rise in both men and women. In addition to traditional treatment methods, herbal treatments from complementary and alternative medicine are actively followed. Naturally derived from plants, thymoquinone (TQ) has drawn a lot of attention in the field of cancer treatment. MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate agonist, is used to improve memory and plasticity, but it has also lately been explored as a potential cancer treatment. This study aimed to determine the roles of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate agonists and Thymoquinone on mitochondria and apoptosis. HT-29 cells were treated with different TQ and MK-801 concentrations. We analyzed cell viability, apoptosis, and alteration of mitochondria. Cell viability significantly decreased depending on doses of TQ and MK-801. Apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunctions induced by low and high doses of TQ and MK-801. Our study emphasizes the need for further safety evaluation of MK-801 due to the potential toxicity risk of TQ and MK-801. Optimal and toxic doses of TQ and MK-801 were determined for the treatment of colon cancer. It should be considered as a possibility that colon cancer can be treated with TQ and MK-801.

Ameliorative effects of thymoquinone on the caspase 3, kidney function and oxidative stress tartrazine-induced nephrotoxicity

First in the literature this study aimed to investigate the effects of Tartrazine, a common industrial food dye, on kidney and whether Thymoquinone has a protective effect in tartrazine-induced nephrotoxicity. The study conducted on the rats bred at İnönü University Experimental Animals Production and Research Center. Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, where each group included 8 rats: control, Tartrazine, Thymoquinone, and Tartrazine + Thymoquinone groups. The experiments continued for 3 weeks and then, kidney tissues and blood samples were collected from the rats under anesthesia. Malondialdehyde (MDA), super oxidized dismutase (SOD), total oxidant status (TOS), increase in Oxidative stress index (OSI), glutathione (GSH), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), Total antioxidant status (TAS) levels decreased in the kidney tissues collected from the tartrazine group. Serum Bun and Creatinine levels increased in the tartrazine group. Tartrazine administration damaged and degenerated the glomeruli and cortical distal tubes in the histopathology of kidney tissues, also different degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in the renal cortex and medulla. Thymoquinone and tartrazine administration improved both biochemical and histopathological parameters. Tartrazine administration induced nephrotoxicity. This could be observed with the increase in oxidant capacity and the deterioration of kidney functions. Thymoquinone was observed to demonstrate strong antioxidant properties. Thymoquinone could be used primarily as a protective agent against Tartrazine-induced toxicity.

Immune stimulatory effect of Nigella sativa in healthy animal models: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The immune-modulatory effects of black seeds (Nigella sativa seeds, NSS) are well documented, but the overall in vivo impact of this important natural medicinal product on immune system function has yet to be established. Here we systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the effects of NSS on humoral [serum titers of immunoglobulins including IgG, IgM, anti-Newcastle virus disease (anti-NDV), and sheep red blood cell antigen (anti-SRBC)] and cellular immunity [total white blood cell (WBC) count and percentages of monocytes, lymphocytes, basophils, neutrophils, and eosinophils] in healthy animals. The PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched according to predefined eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses were performed to estimate the final effect size using RevMan software. Seventeen animal studies were eligible for analysis. For humoral immunity, the overall pooled effect size (ES) of NSS on serum titers of IgM and anti-NVD antibodies was not significantly different [mean difference (MD) 75.27, 95% CI: -44.76 to 195.30, p = 0.22 (I2 = 89%, p = 0.003), and -0.01, 95% CI: -0.27 to 0.25, p = 0.94 (I2 = 74%, p = 0.02), respectively]. However, NSS significantly increased serum titers of IgG and anti-SRBC antibodies [MD 3.30, 95% CI: 2.27 to 4.32, p = 0.00001 (I2 = 0%, p = 0.97), and 1.15, 95% CI: 0.74 to 1.56, p = 0.00001 (I2 = 0%, p = 0.43), respectively]. For cellular immunity, the ES of NSS on WBCs, monocytes, and lymphocytes were not significantly different [MD 0.29, 95% CI: -0.55 to 1.13, p = 0.50, (I2 = 14%, p = 0.32), - 0.01, 95% CI: -0.45 to 0.44, p = 0.97 (I2 = 0%, p = 0.77), and 4.73, 95% CI: -7.13 to 16.59, p = 0.43, (I2 = 99%, p = 0.00001), respectively]. In conclusion, black seeds enhance humoral immunity in healthy animals but do not affect cellular immunity.

Tumoricidal properties of thymoquinone on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells via the modulation of autophagy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is deadly anaplastic changes in the gastrointestinal tract with high-rate mortality. In recent years, the application of phytocompounds has been extended along with different therapeutic protocols. Here, we monitored the effects of Thymoquinone (TQ) on autophagy via mitochondrial function after modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells were treated with TQ (60 µM) and 15 µM Wnt3a inhibitor (LGK974) for 48 h. The survival rate was evaluated using an MTT assay. The expression of Wnt-related factors (c-Myc, and Axin), angiogenesis (VE-Cadherin), and mitophagy-related factors (PINK1, OPTN) was assessed using real-time PCR assay. Protein levels of autophagy factors (Beclin-1, LC3, and P62) were monitored using western blotting. Using flow cytometry analysis, the intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine 123 was evaluated. The migration properties were analyzed using a scratch wound healing assay.Data indicated that TQ can reduce the viability of HT-29 cells compared to the control cells (p < 0.05). The expression of VE-Cadherin was inhibited while the expression of PINK1 was induced in treated cells (p < 0.05). Both LGK974 and TQ-treated cells exhibited activation of autophagy flux (Beclin-1↑, LC3II/I↑, and p62↓) compared to the control group (p < 0.05). TQ can increase intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine 123, indicating the inhibition of efflux mechanisms in cancer cells. Along with these changes, the migration of cells was also reduced (p < 0.05).TQ is a potential phytocompound to alter the dynamic growth of human colorectal HT-29 cells via the modulation of autophagy, and mitophagy-related mechanisms.

Computational and in vitro analyses on synergistic effects of paclitaxel and thymoquinone in suppressing invasive breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND

In the present experiment, we evaluated the impact of thymoquinone (TQ) and paclitaxel (PTX) treatment on MDA-MB-231 cell line growth inhibition via controlling apoptosis/autophagy.

MATERIALS AND RESULTS

MDA-MB-231cells were exposed to PTX (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 nM), TQ (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 µM), and combinations for 48 h. After the MTT assessment, dose-response curves and IC50 values were calculated, and the combination synergism was evaluated using the Compusyn software. Following the treatment with PTX, TQ, and combinations at IC50 doses, the expression of apoptosis and autophagy genes was assessed in cells. The GraphPad Prism program was used to analyze the data, and Tukey's test at p < 0.05 was then run. PTX, TQ, and their combinations inhibited MDA-MB-231cell proliferation and viability dose-dependently. TQ reduced the effective concentration (IC50) of PTX in co-treatment groups. PTX and TQ showed antagonistic effects when cell proliferation declined above 70%. Antagonistic effects shifted into additive and synergistic effects upon increasing PTX concentration, indicated by diminished cell proliferation below 70%. PTX-TQ co-treatment significantly enhanced P53 and BAX expression while reducing Bcl-2 expression. Also, their combination increased Beclin-1, ATG-5, and ATG-7 expression in treated cells.

CONCLUSION

Effective concentrations of TQ and PTX had synergic effects and inhibited breast cancer cells via prompting apoptosis and autophagy in vitro.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of spirulina and thymoquinone mitigate the methotrexate-induced neurotoxicity

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the neurotoxic effects caused by methotrexate (MTX), a frequently used chemotherapy drug, could be improved by administering Spirulina platensis (SP) and/or thymoquinone (TQ). Seven groups of seven rats were assigned randomly for duration of 21 days. The groups consisted of a control group that was given saline only. The second group was given 500 mg/kg of SP orally; the third group was given 10 mg/kg of TQ orally. The fourth group was given a single IP dose of 20 mg/kg of MTX on the 15th day of the experiment. The fifth group was given both SP and MTX, the sixth group was given both TQ and MTX, and the seventh group was given SP, TQ, and MTX. After MTX exposure, the study found that AChE inhibition, depletion of glutathione, and increased levels of MDA occurred. MTX also decreased the activity of SOD and CAT, as well as the levels of inflammatory mediators such as IL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. MTX induced apoptosis in brain tissue. However, when MTX was combined with either SP or TQ, the harmful effects on the body were significantly reduced. This combination treatment resulted in a faster return to normal levels of biochemical, oxidative markers, inflammatory responses, and cell death. In conclusion, supplementation with SP or TQ could potentially alleviate MTX-induced neuronal injury, likely due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects.

In vitro and functional investigation reveals the curative effect of thymoquinone from black cumin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles on streptozotocin induced paediatric diabetes

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is regarded to be a communal complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents. Successful therapy of DKA in children requires prompt diagnosis, strict monitoring of medical indicators, and prompt action. Thymoquinone (Tq) from black cumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) intend to assess an effective agent to overcome this problem. XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM were used in the physicochemical analysis. Enzymatic activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase was used in in vitro tests of anti-diabetic efficacy. Protecting insulin against enzyme breakdown is a crucial part of the insulin delivery mechanism. In the STZ-induced diabetes RIN-5F cell line, the anti-apoptotic capability of Tq-ChNPs was demonstrated through the NF-κB mediated apoptotic pathway. The combination of thymoquinone and chitosan NPs demonstrated that a wide variety of incredibly effective substances to elevate their curative effects, thus contributing to the growth of clinical and pharmaceutical fields.

Thymoquinone regulates microglial M1/M2 polarization after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via the TLR4 signaling pathway

Acute ischemic stroke followed by microglia activation, and the regulation of neuroinflammatory responses after ischemic injury involves microglia polarization. microglia polarization is involved in the regulation of neuroinflammatory responses and ischemic stroke-related brain damage. Thymoquinone (TQ) is an anti-inflammatory agent following ischemic stroke onset. However, the significance of TQ in microglia polarization following acute ischemic stroke is still unclear. We predicted that TQ might have neuroprotective properties by modulating microglia polarization. In this work, we mimicked the clinical signs of acute ischemic stroke using a mouse middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model. It was discovered that TQ treatment decreased I/R-induced infarct volume, cerebral oedema, and promoted neuronal survival, as well as improved the histopathological changes of brain tissue. The sensorimotor function was assessed by the Garica score, foot fault test, and corner test, and it was found that TQ could improve the motor deficits caused by I/R. Secondly, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, immuno-fluorescence, ELISA, and western blot were used to detect the expression of M1/M2-specific markers in microglia to explore the role of TQ in the modulation of microglial cell polarization after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. We found that TQ was able to promote the polarization of microglia with extremely secreted inflammatory factors from M1 type to M2 type. Furthermore, TQ could block the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway via Hif-1α activation which subsequently may attenuate microglia differentiation following the cerebral ischemia, establishing a mechanism for the TQ's beneficial effects in the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model.

The Emergence of N. sativa L. as a Green Antifungal Agent

BACKGROUND

Nigella sativa L. has been widely used in the Unani, Ayurveda, Chinese, and Arabic medicine systems and has a long history of medicinal and folk uses. Several phytoconstituents of the plant are reported to have excellent therapeutic properties. In-vitro and in-vivo studies have revealed that seed oil and thymoquinone have excellent inhibitory efficacy on a wide range of both pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi.

OBJECTIVE

The present review aims to undertake a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of the antifungal effects of different phytochemical constituents of black cumin.

METHOD

An exhaustive database retrieval was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, SciFinder, Google Scholar, and CABI to collect scientific information about the antifungal activity of N. sativa L. with 1990 to 2023 as a reference range using 'Nigella sativa,' 'Nigella oil,' 'antifungal uses,' 'dermatophytic fungi,' 'candidiasis,' 'anti-aflatoxin,' 'anti-biofilm' and 'biological activity' as the keywords.

RESULTS

Black cumin seeds, as well as the extract of aerial parts, were found to exhibit strong antifungal activity against a wide range of fungi. Among the active compounds, thymoquinone exhibited the most potent antifungal effect. Several recent studies proved that black cumin inhibits biofilm formation and growth.

CONCLUSION

The review provides an in-depth analysis of the antifungal activity of black cumin. This work emphasizes the need to expand studies on this plant to exploit its antifungal properties for biomedical applications.

Nigella sativa and its chemical constituents: pre-clinical and clinical evidence for their potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused over 500 million reported cases of COVID-19 worldwide with relatively high morbidity and mortality. Although global vaccination drive has helped control the pandemic, the newer variant of the virus still holds the world in ransom. Several medicinal herbs with antiviral properties have been reported, and one such promising herb is Nigella sativa (NS). Recent molecular docking, pre-clinical, and clinical studies have shown that NS extracts may have the potential to prevent the entry of coronaviruses into the host cell as well as to treat and manage COVID-19 symptoms. Several active compounds from NS, such as nigelledine, α-hederin, dithymoquinone (DTQ), and thymoquinone (TQ), have been proposed as excellent ligands to target angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2 receptors) and other targets on host cells as well as the spike protein (S protein) on SARS-CoV-2. By binding to these target proteins, these ligands could potentially prevent the binding between ACE2 and S protein. Though several articles have been published on the promising therapeutic role of NS and its constituents against SARS-CoV-2 infection, in this review, we consolidate the published information on NS and SARS-CoV-2, focusing on pre-clinical in silico studies as well as clinical trials reported between 2012 and 2023.

A Study on Thymoquinone: Antioxidant Capacity and Anticancer Activities in LoVo Colorectal Cancer Cells

Thymoquinone has antioxidant and anticancer effects. This study investigates the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects of black seed and its active ingredient, thymoquinone on colorectal cancer cells. The antioxidant content of Black seed methanolic extracts (BSME) with different concentrations (50, 500 and 1000 μg/mL) were determined by the photometric methods. The reactive oxygen production (iROS) of BSME and thymoquinone on colorectal cancer cells (LoVo) and normal epithelial cells (CCD18Co) were analyzed by the fluorometric methods. A luminometric glutathione kit was employed to observe the changes in intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels. Cytotoxicity was determined by the ATP method, genotoxicity was determined by Comet Assay, and the apoptosis was identified by the Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide (AO/EB) double dye method. The cytotoxicity was increased by BSME and thymoquinone in LoVo cells in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.001). BSME and thymoquinone also increased iROS, and induced apoptosis and DNA damage (p<0.001). High doses of BSME and thymoquinone on cancer and healthy cells have cytotoxic, genotoxic and apoptotic effects with pro-oxidant effects. Colorectal cancer cells are more sensitive than healthy cells.

Thymoquinone improves experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by regulating both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines

Introduction Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition marked by inflammation and the loss of myelin in the central nervous system (CNS). The aim of this research was to understand how Thymoquinone regulate the molecular and cellular processes involved in controlling experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which is an animal model often used to study MS. Methods Female C57BL/6 mice were split into different groups receiving different doses (low, medium, and high) of Thymoquinone simultaneously with EAE induction. Clinical scores and other measurements were observed daily throughout the 25-day post immunization. We assessed lymphocyte infiltration and demyelination in the spinal cord through histological staining, analyzed T-cell profiles using ELISA, and quantified the expression levels of transcription factors in the CNS using Real-time PCR. Results Thymoquinone prevented the development of EAE. Histological experiments revealed only a small degree of leukocyte infiltration into the CNS. Thymoquinone resulted in a notable reduction in the generation of IFN-γ, IL-17, and IL-6, while simultaneously increasing the production of IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β in Th2 and Treg cells. Results from Real-time PCR suggested Treatment with Thymoquinone decreased the expression of T-bet and ROR-γt while increasing the expression of Foxp3 and GATA3. Conclusion These findings showed that Thymoquinone could decrease both disease incidence and severity.

Investigation of the effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on the motility, viability, and chromatin status of sperm in normozoospermic semen samples

Objective

Adverse effects of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on sperm membrane and chromatin have been proven in many studies. Among the natural products proposed as an alternative for PVP, thymoquinone (TQ)-a major constituent of Nigella sativa plant- has been suggested as a potential natural spermostasis. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of TQ with PVP for sperms motility, survival, DNA denaturation, and DNA fragmentation in normozoospermic men (men with a normal or healthy sperm profile).

Methods

An experimental trial was carried out on 30 normozoospermic men of the Andrology Unit of (Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Isfahan, Iran). Each washed semen samples were divided into four fractions and was randomly treated with TQ (50 μg/ml), %5 PVP, and %10 PVP (M/V) which was compared to untreated fraction (control).

Results

There was a significant difference between the four groups in terms of motility, viability, DNA denaturation, and fragmentation (P <0.05). TQ caused sperm immobility, while 5% PVP and 10% PVP decreased (98 and 99%, respectively) sperm motility compared to control. TQ did not affect sperm viability compared to the control group, but PVP decreased it. Besides, TQ did not affect DNA denaturation and fragmentation, but PVP increased it.

Conclusion

TQ could be used as an alternative natural spermostasis with less adverse effects rather than PVP which causes more efficient immobilization and isolation of individual sperm cells.

Thymoquinone alleviates cisplatin-induced kidney damage by reducing apoptosis in a rat model

Purpose

The aim of the study was to compare the ameliorating effects of thymoquinone at various dosages on cisplatin-induced renal toxicity, and to investigate its effects on cisplatin-induced nephrocyte apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway in a rat model.

Methods

A rat model of cisplatin-induced renal damage was established, with thymoquinone treatment groups (receiving 1, 3, 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg of thymoquinone). We determined serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), measured the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, caspase-3, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in renal tissue. Additionally, we observed pathological changes in renal tissue and performed paller score for renal tubule injury.

Results

Relative to the control, the cisplatin group exhibited significantly elevated Bax, caspase-3, NGAL and KIM-1 expression, elevated serum Cr and BUN concentrations and significantly reduced Bcl-2 expression (P < 0.05). Histopathological examination of cisplatin-treated group revealed vacuolar degeneration, tubular epithelial cell swelling, and an absence of brush margins on renal tubules. Paller score was significantly elevated in the cisplatin group relative to the normal control group. Thymoquinone dose-dependently ameliorated these effects.

Conclusion

Thymoquinone at 1-20 mg/kg improved cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction in rats. This protective effect is related to the inhibition of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Thymoquinone mitigates obesity and diabetic parameters through regulation of major adipokines, key lipid metabolizing enzymes and AMPK/p-AMPK in diet-induced obese rats

The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-obesity and anti-hyperglycemic activity of Thymoquinone (ThyQ) isolated from Nigella sativa seeds. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups and fed either normal pellet diet or high-fat diet (HFD) for 18 weeks and water ad-libitum. Group I: normal pellet diet (NPD)-fed, Group II: high-fat diet (HFD)-fed, Group III: HFD-fed-ThyQ (20 mg)-treated, Group IV: HFD-fed-ThyQ (40 mg)-treated and Group V: HFD-fed-Orlistat (5 mg)-treated group. Intervention with ThyQ started from 12th week onwards to HFD-fed rats of group III and IV. ThyQ administration significantly (p < 0.01) mitigated body weight gain, blood glucose, insulin level, serum and liver lipids (except HDL) and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity as evaluated by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Furthermore, ThyQ significantly (p < 0.01) diminished serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), plasma leptin, resistin and visfatin levels but enhanced lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and adiponectin levels. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated down-regulated mRNA expression of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins-1c (SREBP-1c), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) but upregulation of Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1).Western blot analysis displayed phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) in ThyQ-treated rats. Liver microtome sections of HFD-fed rats showed degenerated hepatocytes with high lipid stores while that of adipose tissue sections displayed large, fat-laden adipocytes, however, these histological changes were considerably attenuated in ThyQ-treated groups. Together these findings demonstrate that ThyQ can be a valuable therapeutic compound to potentially alleviate diet-induced obesity, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03847-x.

Thymoquinone-loaded self-nano-emulsifying drug delivery system against ischemia/reperfusion injury

In the present study, a self-nano-emulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) was developed to evaluate the efficiency of thymoquinone (TQ) in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion. SNEDDS was pharmaceutically characterized to evaluate droplet size, morphology, zeta potential, thermodynamic stability, and dissolution/diffusion capacity. Animals were orally pre-treated during 10 days with TQ-loaded SNEDDS. Biochemical analyses, hematoxylin-eosin staining, indirect immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were carried out to assess cell injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. The TQ formulation showed good in vitro characteristics, including stable nanoparticle structure and size with high drug release rate. In vivo determinations revealed that TQ-loaded SNEDDS pre-treatment of rats maintained cellular integrity by decreasing transaminase (ALT and AST) release and preserving the histological characteristics of their liver. The antioxidant ability of the formulation was proven by increased SOD activity, reduced MDA concentration, and iNOS protein expression. In addition, this formulation exerted an anti-inflammatory effect evidenced by reduced plasma CRP concentration, MPO activity, and gene expressions of TLR-4, TNF-α, NF-κB, and IL-6. Finally, the TQ-loaded SNEDDS formulation promoted cell survival by enhancing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. In conclusion, our results indicate that TQ encapsulated in SNEDDS significantly protects rat liver from I/R injury.

Effect of thymoquinone on transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) channels in rats with liver ischemia reperfusion model in rats

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the levels of transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) gene expression, and the antioxidant and histopathologic effect of thymoquinone (Tmq) in the hepatic I/R rat model.

Materials and Methods

Fifty Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups. Group 1: Control; Group 2: Sham; Group 3: Hepatic I/R (45 min/45 min); Group 4: Tmq (50 mg/kg); Group 5: Tmq+I/R (ten days before I/R at the dose of 50 mg/kg of Tmq). The hepatic I/R (45min/45min) model was performed at the portal vein and the hepatic artery with atraumatic vascular clamp in the ischemia groups. The liver tissues and blood samples that were taken at the end of the study were evaluated for histopathologic and biochemical analysis. Besides TRPM gene expression levels were determined in liver tissues. It was seen that cellular swelling, congestion, PNL, and apoptosis parameters statistically decreased in Tmq and Tmq+I/R groups in comparison with the I/R group in histopathological evaluation.

Results

It was observed that biochemical parameters, AST, ALT, GGT, LDH, creatinine, and urea levels significantly increased in the I/R group as compared with, sham, Tmq, and Tmq+I/R groups. It was found that TRPM2,6,7,8 gene expression decreased significantly in Tmq+I/R groups as compared to the I/R group.

Conclusion

We showed that thymoquinone can inhibit the entry of Ca+2 into the cell by decreasing TRPM2,6,7,8 gene expression. Based on our findings, we think that Tmq application in the treatment of liver diseases due to I/R damage may be important in terms of both ischemia and apoptosis and can also be used in the treatment of liver-related diseases.

Protective effect of thymoquinone on glycation of human myoglobin induced by d-ribose

Nonenzymatic glycation and the subsequent accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in proteins are factors underlying long-term pathogenesis in diabetes. The study of protein glycation is crucial for elucidating their relationship with diabetes mellitus and related disorders. This study explores the interaction between d-ribose and human myoglobin (HMb), as well as the protective effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on glycation. A time-dependent in-vitro glycation study was performed to investigate the mechanism of d-ribose-induced structural interference of HMb in the absence and presence of TQ. Spectroscopic and proteomic analysis indicated that the presence of TQ significantly reduced the total amount of AGEs while maintaining structural characteristics of HMb. 14 glycated sites on HMb were further identified via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after incubation with d-ribose for 12 h, predominantly interacting with lysine residues. TQ was found to disrupt this interaction, reducing the glycated sites from 14 to 12 sites and the percentage of glycated peptides from 26.50 % to 12.97 %. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in the degree of glycation at the same sites. In summary, our findings suggest that TQ has the potential to act as an anti-glycation agent and provide a comprehensive understanding underlying the inhibition mechanism of glycation.

Thymoquinone Effect on Leishmania tropica/infantum and Leishmania-Infected Macrophages

INTRODUCTION

Leishmania is a parasitic protozoan that tries to enter and amplify within macrophages. Macrophage cells are also immune defense cells that phagocyte many microbes like bacteria, fungi, as well as parasites like Leishmania spp. However, they are unable to kill this parasite that resides in the phagosomes of contaminated macrophages and multiplies in these macrophages, leading to the destruction of contaminated macrophages and the emerging of Leishmania wounds. A large number of current therapies for Leishmania cure have adverse effects, or parasites have developed resistance to some of these therapies, so a better therapy for the cure of Leishmania is required. Thymoquinone is one of the Nigella Sativa ingredients with numerous biological effects, such as antioxidant as well as antimicrobial effects on a variety of microbes, namely fungi, bacteria, as well as parasites like Leishmania spp. The impacts of Thymoquinone on Leishmania tropica and Leishmania infantum, as well as Leishmania-infected macrophages, were examined in this study.

METHODS

The impact of various Thymoquinone dosages on L. tropica and L. infantum promastigotes and amastigotes was examined in vitro. Flow cytometry, as well as MTT, was also applied to examine the cytotoxic activity of Thymoquinone on promastigotes of L. tropica and L. infantum, as well as the incidence of apoptosis. The amastigote assay is also utilized to calculate the % of contaminated macrophages as well as the number of the present parasites in each macrophage.

RESULTS

The percentage of macrophages contaminated with L. tropica and L. infantum amastigotes after medicating with 20 μM of Thymoquinone was 23% and 19%, respectively. Also, after medicating with 10 μM of Thymoquinone, these percentages were 32% and 31%, respectively. Flow cytometry indicated that Thymoquinone caused 33.9% and 31.4% apoptosis in L. tropica and L. infantum, respectively. As determined by the promastigote assay, the inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Thymoquinone for L. tropica and L. infantum was 9.49 μM and 12.66 μM, respectively. The results of the promastigote and amastigote assay show that with an increase in Thymoquinone doses, its ability to kill Leishmania parasites increases, too.

CONCLUSION

According to the results of the study, Thymoquinone has a potentially lethal impact on L. tropica and L. infantum promastigotes as well as amastigotes (within leishmania contaminated macrophages).

Albicans keratitis by activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and reducing fungal load

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties of thymoquinone (TQ) and elucidate its mechanism of action in the context of C. albicans keratitis.

METHODS

Various methods were employed to identify a safe and effective concentration of TQ with antifungal properties, including the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) test, and the Draize experiment. The severity of fungal keratitis (FK) was assessed through clinical ratings and slit-lamp imaging. Fungus burden was determined using plate counting and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining. Neutrophil infiltration and activity were investigated through immunofluorescence staining (IFS), myeloperoxidase (MPO) analysis, and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. To explore the anti-inflammatory effects of TQ and its mechanism of action, we employed RT-PCR, ELISA, and western blot techniques.

RESULTS

TQ effectively controlled fungal growth at a concentration of 50 µg/mL while preserving the integrity of mouse corneas. Human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) remained unaffected by TQ at concentrations ≤ 3.75 µg/mL. Treatment with TQ led to significant improvements in clinical scores, fungal burden, neutrophil infiltration, and the expression of inflammatory factors compared to the DMSO group. Moreover, TQ demonstrated the ability to reduce the levels of inflammatory factors in HCECs stimulated by C. albicans. Additionally, TQ enhanced the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 in mouse corneas. The downregulation of cytokines induced by TQ was reversed upon pretreatment with inhibitors of Nrf2 or HO-1.

CONCLUSION

TQ exhibits a protective effect in the context of C. albicans keratitis through multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of C. albicans growth, reduction of neutrophil recruitment, activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and limitation of the expression of pro-inflammatory factors.

Therapeutic potential of thymoquinone and its nanoformulations in neuropsychological disorders: a comprehensive review on molecular mechanisms in preclinical studies

Thymoquinone (THQ) and its nanoformulation (NFs) have emerged as promising candidates for the treatment of neurological diseases due to their diverse pharmacological properties, which include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. In this study, we conducted an extensive search across reputable scientific websites such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar to gather relevant information. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of THQ have been observed to enhance the survival of neurons in affected areas of the brain, leading to significant improvements in behavioral and motor dysfunctions. Moreover, THQ and its NFs have demonstrated the capacity to restore antioxidant enzymes and mitigate oxidative stress. The primary mechanism underlying THQ's antioxidant effects involves the regulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, THQ has been found to modulate key components of inflammatory signaling pathways, including toll-like receptors (TLRs), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), thereby exerting anti-inflammatory effects. This comprehensive review explores the various beneficial effects of THQ and its NFs on neurological disorders and provides insights into the underlying mechanisms involved.

Thymoquinone attenuates olanzapine-induced metabolic disorders in rats

BACKGROUND

Olanzapine (OLZ) is an atypical antipsychotic agent for psychotic disorders. Evidence has shown that OLZ is related to metabolic side effects, including obesity, hypertension, and insulin resistance. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the principal bioactive component of Nigella sativa. Several studies have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of TQ in alleviating metabolic abnormalities. In the current research work, the protective effects of TQ on metabolic disorders induced by OLZ and possible underlying mechanisms were investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Wistar rats were exposed to TQ alone (10 mg/kg), OLZ (5 mg/kg), or OLZ plus TQ (2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg) given daily by intraperitoneal injection. After the treatment, variations in body weight, food intake, systolic blood pressure, serum leptin, biochemical factors, liver malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) content were evaluated. Protein expression of AMPK in the liver was also measured by a western blotting test. OLZ increased body weight, food intake, MDA levels, and blood pressure. OLZ also elevated glucose, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and leptin serum levels. It decreased GSH. In the western blot, decreased AMPK protein level was obtained. These changes were attenuated by TQ co-administration.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates the effectiveness of TQ on OLZ-induced metabolic abnormalities related to its antioxidant activity and regulation of glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism.

Involvement of Nrf2, JAK and COX pathways in acetaminophen-induced nephropathy: Role of some antioxidants

Objectives

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced nephrotoxicity is detrimental consequence for which there has not been a standardized therapeutic regimen. Although, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a well-known antidote used in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, its benefit in nephrotoxicity caused by APAP is almost lacking. This study aimed to compare the possible protective effect of thymoquinone (TQ), curcumin (CR), and α-lipoic acid (α-LA), either in solo or in combination regimens with that of NAC against APAP-induced renal injury.

Design and method

Rats were divided into nine groups; control group, APAP intoxicated group (1000 mg/kg; orally), and the remaining seven groups received, in addition to APAP, oral doses of NAC, TQ, CR, α-LA, CR plus TQ, TQ plus α-LA, or CR plus α-LA. The first dose of the aforementioned antioxidants was given 24 h before APAP, and then the second dose was given 2 h after APAP, whereas the last dose was given 10 h after administration of APAP.

Results

Treatment with APAP elevated kidney markers like serum uric acid, urea, and creatinine. In addition, it increased the serum level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS). Also, the protein expression of renal janus kinase (JAK) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 were all upregulated by APAP. In contrast, the expression of Nrf2 and the renal levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione were downregulated. Treatment with the indicated natural antioxidants resulted in amelioration of the aberrated parameters through exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and free radical-scavenging effects with a variable degree.

Conclusion

The combined administration of CR and TQ exerted the most potent protection against APAP-induced nephrotoxicity through its anti-inflammatory and free radical-scavenging effects (antioxidant) which were comparable to that of NAC-treatment.

Low-dose rosmarinic acid and thymoquinone accelerate wound healing in retinal pigment epithelial cells

PURPOSE

Thymoquinone (TQ) and rosmarinic acid (RA) are two biologically active compounds found in plants and that possess remarkable anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of RA and TQ, which have known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, on retinal damage by establishing a wound healing model for retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19).

METHOD

To this end, IC50 doses of RA and TQ in ARPE-19 cells were calculated by MTT assay. Both agents were administered at IC50, IC50/2 and IC50/4 doses for wound healing assay, and wound closure percentages were analyzed. Since the best wound healing was found at IC50/4 dose (low dose) for both agents, other biochemical and molecular analyses were planned to be performed using these doses. Following low dose RA and TQ treatments, the cells were lysed and TGF-β1 and MMP-9 levels were analyzed by ELISA technique from the cell lysates obtained. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of TLR3, IFN-γ and VEGF were calculated by RT-PCR technique.

RESULTS

Low dose of RA and TQ dramatically increased wound healing. RA may have achieved this by increasing levels of MMP-9 and TLR-3. In contrast, the mRNA expression level of VEGF remained unchanged. TQ accelerated wound healing by increasing both the protein levels of TGF-β1 and MMP-9. Furthermore, low dose of TQ decreased both TLR3 and IFN-γ mRNA expression levels.

CONCLUSION

Low doses of RA and TQ were clearly demonstrated to have protective properties against possible damage to retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Interleukin-35 and Thymoquinone nanoparticle-based intervention for liver protection against paracetamol-induced liver injury in rats

Paracetamol (PAR) is a commonly used antipyretic and analgesic agent, but its excessive usage can induce liver damage and major health consequences. Interleukin-35 (IL-35) is utilized to treat immunological disorders, intestinal illness, arthritis, allergic disease, hepatitis, and cancer. Thymoquinone (THYO) is also effective against a wide range of disorders. Consequently, this study sought out to explore the ameliorative effects of IL-35 and THYO against PAR-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sixty male rats were separated into six groups (10 rats/group): I control (0.5 mL NaCl, 0.9%/rat via oral gavage); II (IL-35), and III (TYHO) received intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of IL-35 (200 ng/kg) or THYO (0.5 mg/kg), respectively. Group IV (PAR) received 600 mg/kg of PAR orally; V (PAR + IL-35) and VI (PAR + TYHO); rats received 600 mg/kg of PAR orally and i.p injection of IL-35 (200 ng/kg) or THYO (0.5 mg/kg), respectively. Administration of IL-35 or THYO markedly mitigated the increasing in the levels of liver parameters triggered by PAR and noticeable enhancement of antioxidant and immunological markers were observed. Additionally, IL-35 or THYO decreased TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-10, IL-6 and IFN-γ in contrast to the PAR control group. Moreover, levels of Capase-3, and cytochrome C were significantly reduced by THYO or IL35, while, levels of Bcl-2 were markedly increased. Furthermore, significant downregulation of IL1-β, TNF-α, TGF-β, and Caspas-3 genes, as well as significant upregulation of Bcl-2 and IL-10 expression were detected. In conclusion, IL-35 and THYO insulated liver from PAR toxicity by mitigating oxidative stress, tissue damage, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Cold plasma approach fortifies the topical application of thymoquinone intended for wound healing via up-regulating the levels of TGF-ß, VEGF, and α-SMA in rats

Wound healing is a series of coordinated events that involve tissue repair and regeneration. Cold atmospheric plasma approach sheds the light on the mechanism that initiates the inflammatory responses throughout the healing cascade. The present study was planned to assess the effect of thymoquinone treated with cold plasma (TQcp) on the rat wound model compared to thymoquinone (TQ). To assess the wound healing potential of TQcp, a full-thickness wound model was used. The induced wound was smeared, starting just after excision, twice daily with TQcp and TQ for 7 days. Our findings revealed that TQcp improved the skin healing potential by augmenting the skin regeneration indices as evidenced by enhancing the new production of hyaluronic acid and collagen type I. TQcp significantly reduced the skin content of tumor necrosis factor- α and inhibited the hypertrophic scarring by up-regulating the skin content of transforming growth factor-beta. Furthermore, TQcp enhanced the levels of interleukin-10, alpha smooth muscle actin and vascular endothelial growth factor, demonstrating a great potential for wound healing that also reflected in the histopathological and ultra-structural picture of the skin. Finally, our results demonstrated that TQcp revealed a significant potential for wound healing than TQ alone.

A mechanistic insight into the potential anti-cancerous property of Nigella sativa on breast cancer through micro-RNA regulation: An in vitro & in vivo study

Cancer continues to threat mortal alongside scientific community with burgeoning grasp. Most efforts directed to tame Cancer such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy, all came at a cost of severe side effects. The plant derived bioactive compounds on the other hand carries an inevitable advantage of being safer, bioavailable & less toxic compared to contemporary chemotherapeutics. Our strategic approach employed solvent extraction of Black Seed Oil (BSO) to highlight the orchestrated use of its oil soluble phytochemicals - Thymoquinone, Carvacrol & Trans-Anethole when used in cohort. These anti-cancer agents in unbelievably modest amounts present in BSO shows better potential to delineate migratory properties in breast cancer cells as compared to when treated individually. BSO was also observed to have apoptotic calibre when investigated in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines. We performed chemical characterization of the individual phytochemical as well as the oil in-whole to demonstrate the bioactive oil-soluble entities present in whole extract. BSO was observed to have significant anti-cancerous properties in cumulative proportion that is reportedly higher than the individual three components. Besides, this study also reports micro-RNA regulation on BSO administration, thereby playing a pivotal role in breast cancer alleviation. Thus, synergistic action of the integrants serves better combat force against breast cancer in the form of whole extract, hence aiming at a more lucrative paradigm while significantly regulating microRNAs associated with breast cancer migration and apoptosis.

Anticancer activity of thymoquinone against breast cancer cells: Mechanisms of action and delivery approaches

The rising incidence of breast cancer has been a significant source of concern in the medical community. Regarding the adverse effects and consequences of current treatments, cancers' health, and socio-economical aspects have become more complicated, leaving research aimed at improved or new treatments on top priority. Medicinal herbs contain multitarget compounds that can control cancer development and advancement. Owing to Nigella Sativa's elements, it can treat many disorders. Thymoquinone (TQ) is a natural chemical derived from the black seeds of Nigella sativa Linn proved to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. TQ interferes in a broad spectrum of tumorigenic procedures and inhibits carcinogenesis, malignant development, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis owing to its multitargeting ability. It effectively facilitates miR-34a up-regulation, regulates the p53-dependent pathway, and suppresses Rac1 expression. TQ promotes apoptosis and controls the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes. It has also been shown to diminish the phosphorylation of NF-B and IKK and decrease the metastasis and ERK1/2 and PI3K activity. We discuss TQ's cytotoxic effects for breast cancer treatment with a deep look at the relevant stimulatory or inhibitory signaling pathways. This review discusses the various forms of polymeric and non-polymeric nanocarriers (NC) and the encapsulation of TQ for increasing oral bioavailability and enhanced in vitro and in vivo efficacy of TQ-combined treatment with different chemotherapeutic agents against various breast cancer cell lines. This study can be useful to a broad scientific community, comprising pharmaceutical and biological scientists, as well as clinical investigators.

Protective role of thymoquinone in hyperlipidemia-induced liver injury in LDL-R-/-mice

BACKGROUND

Hyperlipidemia, a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by elevated plasma lipids in the blood, causes severe health problems, leading to fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Thymoquinone, the major active chemical component of Nigella sativa, reportedly exerts a vast array of biological effects. Various studies have reported that Thymoquinone protects against liver injury.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of Thymoquinone against liver injury in hyperlipidemia-induced LDL-R-/- mice.

METHODS

Eight-week-old male LDL-R-/- mice were randomly divided into three groups: a control group fed a normal diet and two groups fed a high-cholesterol diet or high-cholesterol diet mixed with Thymoquinone. All groups were fed different diets for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained from the inferior vena cava and collected in serum tubes. The samples were then stored at - 80 °C until used. Longitudinal sections of liver tissues were fixed in 10% formalin and then embedded in paraffin for histological evaluation. The remainder of the liver tissues were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or western blotting.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that Thymoquinone administration significantly reduced liver histological alterations by hyperlipidemia. Thymoquinone mitigated hyperlipidemia-induced liver injury as indicated by the suppression of metabolic characteristics, liver biochemical parameters, pyroptosis indicators, a macrophage marker, and the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Thymoquinone is a potential therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia-induced liver injury.

Therapeutic and Phytochemical Properties of Thymoquinone Derived from Nigella Sativa

BACKGROUND

Nigella sativa (N. sativa), commonly known as black seed or black cumin, belongs to the family Ranunculaceae. It contains several phytoconstituents, thymoquinone (TQ), thymol, thymohydroquinone, carvacrol, and dithymoquinone. TQ is the main phytoconstituent present in N. sativa that is used as an herbal compound, and it is widely used as an antihypertensive, liver tonic, diuretic, digestive, anti-diarrheal, appetite stimulant, analgesic, and antibacterial agent, and in skin disorders.

OBJECTIVE

The study focused on collecting data on the therapeutic or pharmacological activities of TQ present in N. sativa seed.

METHODS

Antidiabetic, anticancer, immunomodulator, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, hepato-protective, renal protective, and antioxidant properties of TQ have been studied by various scientists.

CONCLUSION

TQ seems to have a variety of consequences on how infected cells behave at the cellular level.

Protective effect of quercetin and thymoquinone against genotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by ZnO nanoparticles in the Wistar rat model

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are increasingly used in a variety of consumer and other commercial products. Hence, man faces the risk of exposure to ZnO-NPs and the consequent adverse health effects. Mitigation/prevention of such effects using natural products has drawn the attention of scientists. Therefore, the aim of the present study has been to find the toxic effects associated with exposure to ZnO-NPs, and the protective role of the phytochemicals thymoquinone (TQ) and quercetin (QCT) in the rat model. ZnO-NPs were administered to male Wistar rats through oral route; TQ / QCT was concurrently administered through intra-peritoneal route. The response in the animal was analyzed adopting chromosomal aberration test, micronucleus test, and comet assay of bone marrow cells to assess the genotoxicity, and biochemical assays of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO), total extractable protein of liver, and reduced glutathione (GSH) of liver homogenate to monitor the changes in the antioxidant defense mechanism in response to the oxidative stress. Treatment of 300 mg/kg body weight (bw) of ZnO-NPs produced adverse effects on all aspects analyzed viz., structural chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei formation, DNA damage, SOD, catalase, lipid peroxidation, GSH, and extractable total protein of liver. Co-treatment of TQ / QCT offered protection against the toxicity induced by ZnO-NPs. The most optimum doses of TQ and QCT that offered the best protection were 18 mg/kg bw and 500 mg/kg bw, respectively. The study reveals that TQ / QCT supplementation is beneficial in the context of toxic effects of ZnO-NPs.

Thymoquinone enhances the antioxidant and anticancer activity of Lebanese propolis

BACKGROUND

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by multiple cellular processes and are maintained at optimal levels in normal cells by endogenous antioxidants. In recent years, the search for potential exogenous antioxidants from dietary sources has gained considerable attention to eliminate excess ROS that is associated with oxidative stress related diseases including cancer. Propolis, a resinous honeybee product, has been shown to have protective effects against oxidative stress and anticancer effects against several types of neoplasms.

AIM

To investigate the antioxidant and anticancer potential of Lebanese propolis when applied alone or in combination with the promising anticancer compound Thymoquinone (TQ) the main constituent of Nigella sativa essential oil.

METHODS

Crude extracts of Lebanese propolis collected from two locations, Rashaya and Akkar-Danniyeh, were prepared in methanol and the total phenolic content was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity was assessed by the ability to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and to inhibit H₂O₂-induced oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes. The anticancer activity was evaluated by [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] MTT assay against HCT-116 human colorectal cancer cells and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.

RESULTS

The total phenolic content of propolis extract from Rashaya and Akkar-Danniyeh were 56.81 µg and 83.503 µg of gallic acid equivalent /mg of propolis, respectively. Both natural agents exhibited strong antioxidant activities as evidenced by their ability to scavenge DPPH free radical and to protect erythrocytes against H₂O₂-induced hemolysis. They also dose-dependently decreased the viability of both cancer cell lines. The IC₅₀ value of each of propolis extract from Rashaya and Akkar-Danniyeh or TQ was 22.3, 61.7, 40.44 µg/mL for breast cancer cells at 72 h and 33.3, 50.9, 33.5 µg/mL for colorectal cancer cells at the same time point, respectively. Importantly, the inhibitory effects of propolis on DPPH radicals and cancer cell viability were achieved at half its concentration when combined with TQ.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that Lebanese propolis extract has antioxidant and anticancer potential and its combination with TQ could possibly prevent ROS- mediated diseases.

Thymoquinone enhanced the antitumor activity of cisplatin in human bladder cancer 5637 cells in vitro

PURPOSE

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is a primary alternative for treating bladder cancer. But drug resistance and various side effects are the main unsightliness challenges. In search of a novel chemotherapeutic approach, this study was conducted to investigate whether thymoquinone (TQ) chemosensitize 5637 bladder cancer cells to cisplatin (CDDP).

METHODS

The IC₅₀ for each drug was first determined. The cells were then pre-exposed to 40 µM of TQ for 24 h before being treated with 6 µM of cisplatin. The viability and the sub-G1 population of the 5673 cells were respectively evaluated by alamar blue assay and propidium iodide staining. RT-qPCR was also applied to analyze the expression profile of the apoptosis-related genes (Bax, Bcl-2, p53).

RESULTS

The viability of the cells treated with the combination of TQ and CDDP was significantly decreased compared to CDDP- or TQ-treated cells. TQ at the concentration of 40 µM increased the cytotoxicity of 6 µM CDDP by 35.5%. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis indicated that TQ pre-treatment of the cells resulted in a 55.5% increase in the population of 5637 cells in the sub-G₁ phase compared to cells treated with CDDP alone. The results from RT-qPCR exhibited that the exposure of the cells to both TQ and CDDP significantly elevated Bax/Bcl-2 ratio by down-regulating Bcl-2 expression.

CONCLUSION

TQ significantly increased the cytotoxicity of CDDP in 5637 cells and induced apoptosis by down-regulation of the Bcl-2. Therefore, TQ and CDDP might be an effective therapeutic combination for TCC bladder cancer treatment.

Molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of black cumin (Nigella sativa) and its active constituent, thymoquinone: a review

BACKGROUND

Nigella sativa and its main bioactive ingredient, thymoquinone, exhibit various pharmacological activities, including neuroprotective, nephroprotective, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and anti-cancer effects. Many studies have been conducted trying to elucidate the molecular signaling pathways that mediate these diverse pharmacological properties of N. sativa and thymoquinone. Accordingly, the goal of this review is to show the effects of N. sativa and thymoquinone on different cell signaling pathways.

METHODS

The online databases Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science were searched to identify relevant articles using a list of related keywords such as Nigella sativa, black cumin, thymoquinone, black seed, signal transduction, cell signaling, antioxidant, Nrf2, NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, apoptosis, JAK/STAT, AMPK, MAPK, etc. Only articles published in the English language until May 2022 were included in the present review article.

RESULTS

Studies indicate that N. sativa and thymoquinone improve antioxidant enzyme activities, effectively scavenges free radicals, and thus protect cells from oxidative stress. They can also regulate responses to oxidative stress and inflammation via Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways. N. sativa and thymoquinone can inhibit cancer cell proliferation through disruption of the PI3K/AKT pathway by upregulating phosphatase and tensin homolog. Thymoquinone can modulate reactive oxygen species levels in tumor cells, arrest the cell cycle in the G2/M phase as well as affect molecular targets including p53, STAT3 and trigger the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Thymoquinone, by adjusting AMPK, can regulate cellular metabolism and energy hemostasis. Finally, N. sativa and thymoquinone can elevate brain GABA content, and thus it may ameliorate epilepsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, the improvement of antioxidant status and prevention of inflammatory process by modulating the Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation through disruption of the PI3K/AKT pathway appear to be the main mechanisms involved in different pharmacological properties of N. sativa and thymoquinone.

The healing effects of thymoquinone on experimentally induced traumatic tendinopathy in rabbits

OBJECTIVES

Thymoquinone is a major bioactive compound present in the black seeds of the Nigella sativa. Tendon injuries are almost 50% of all musculoskeletal injuries. The recovery of tendon after surgery has become a significant challenge in orthopedics.

DESIGN

The purpose of this study was to investigate the healing effect of thymoquinone injections in 40 New Zealand rabbits tendon traumatic models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tendinopathy was induced by trauma using surgical forceps on the Achilles tendon. Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups: (1) normal saline injection (control), (2) DMSO injection, (3) thymoquinone 5% w/w injection, and (4) thymoquinone 10% w/w injection. Forty-two days after surgery, biochemical and histopathological evaluations were done, and biomechanical evaluation was conducted 70 days after surgery.

RESULTS

Breakpoint and yield points in treatment groups were significantly higher compared to control and DMSO groups. Hydroxyproline content in the 10% thymoquinone receiving group was higher than all groups. Edema and hemorrhage in the histopathological evaluation were significantly lower in the thymoquinone 10% and thymoquinone 5% receiving groups compared to control and DMSO groups. Collagen fibers, collagen fibers with fibrocytes, and collagen fibers with fibroblasts were significantly higher in the thymoquinone 10% and thymoquinone 5% receiving groups compared to control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Thymoquinone injection in the tendon in the concentration of 10% w/w is a simple and low-cost healing agent that could enhance mechanical and collagen synthesis in traumatic tendinopathy models in rabbit.

Carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase is a prospective molecular target for multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-computational modeling, molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAb), a priority-I pathogen declared by the World Health Organization, became a potential healthcare concern worldwide with a high mortality rate. Thus, the identification of putative molecular targets and potential lead molecules is an important concern in healthcare. The present study aimed to screen a prospective molecular target and effectual binders for the drug discovery of MDRAb by computational virtual screening approach. Based on the functional role, γ-carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase (CMD) was prioritized as the target and its three-dimensional (3D) structure was computationally modeled. Based on the availability of the 3D structure, twenty-five herbal molecules were selected by database search, and their drug-likeliness, pharmacokinetic, and toxicity features were predicted. The effectual binding of the selected molecules towards CMD was predicted by molecular docking. The stability of the best-docked complexes was predicted by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation for 100 ns and binding energy calculations were carried out by molecular mechanics generalized Born and surface area solvation (MM/GBSA) method. Out of twenty-five molecules screened, hirsutine (an indole alkaloid of Uncaria rhynchophylla) and thymoquinone (a phytochemical of Nigella sativa) were qualified for drug likeliness, pharmacokinetic, and toxicity features and demonstrated significant effectual binding to CMD when compared with the binding of co-crystallized inhibitor and CMD (control). The docked complexes of hirsutine and thymoquinone, and CMD were stabilized by the binding energies of -8. 30 and -8. 46 kcal/mol respectively. These molecules were qualified in terms of ideal drug likeliness, ADME, and toxicity properties. MD simulation studies showed that the ligand-protein complexes were stable throughout the simulation. The binding free energies of the complexes by MMGBSA were estimated to be -42.08157745 kcal/mol and -36.58618242 kcal/mol for hirsutine and thymoquinone respectively when compared with the calculated binding free energy of the control (-28.75032666 kcal/mol). This study concluded that hirsutine and thymoquinone can act as potential lead molecules against CMD and the present hypothesis can be scaled up to develop potential inhibitors against MDRAb.

Role of Supplements in the Management of COVID-19 - A Comprehensive Review

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) and patients with COVID-19 may be treated primarily with SARS CoV-2-targeting drugs and the therapeutic agents assisting in the management of COVID-19 complications. This review focuses on the supplements like vitamins, minerals, herbal constituents, and others that help prevent or manage negative outcomes among COVID-19 patients. The literature was searched in databases such as Medline/PubMed Central/PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, EBSCO, Scopus, EMBASE, the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and reference lists to identify relevant articles. The vitamins, including vitamin C, and vitamin D, minerals such as zinc, selenium, and copper, herbal constituents like thymoquinone, curcumin, naringenin, quercetin, and glycyrrhizin, and other supplements, including N-acetylcysteine and melatonin. Melatonin have been identified as having the potential to manage patients with COVID-19 along with standard care. Some of the ongoing clinical trials are investigating the effectiveness of different supplements among COVID-19 patients.

Thymoquinone, piperine, and sorafenib combinations attenuate liver and breast cancers progression: epigenetic and molecular docking approaches

BACKGROUND

Traditional herbal medicine has been used for centuries to cure many pathological disorders, including cancer. Thymoquinone (TQ) and piperine (PIP) are major bioactive constituents of the black seed (Nigella sativa) and black pepper (Piper nigrum), respectively. The current study aimed to explore the potential chemo-modulatory effects, mechanisms of action, molecular targets, and binding interactions after TQ and PIP treatments and their combination with sorafenib (SOR) against human triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and liver cancer (HepG2) cells.

METHODS

We determined drug cytotoxicity by MTT assay, cell cycle, and death mechanism by flow cytometry. Besides, the potential effect of TQ, PIP, and SOR treatment on genome methylation and acetylation by determination of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT3B), histone deacetylase (HDAC3) and miRNA-29c expression levels. Finally, a molecular docking study was performed to propose potential mechanisms of action and binding affinity of TQ, PIP, and SOR with DNMT3B and HDAC3.

RESULTS

Collectively, our data show that combinations of TQ and/or PIP with SOR have significantly enhanced the SOR anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects depending on the dose and cell line by enhancing G2/M phase arrest, inducing apoptosis, downregulation of DNMT3B and HDAC3 expression and upregulation of the tumor suppressor, miRNA-29c. Finally, the molecular docking study has identified strong interactions between SOR, PIP, and TQ with DNMT3B and HDAC3, inhibiting their normal oncogenic activities and leading to growth arrest and cell death.

CONCLUSION

This study reported TQ and PIP as enhancers of the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of SOR and addressed the mechanisms, and identified molecular targets involved in their action.

Hepatic Response to the Interaction Between Thymoquinone and Iron-Dextran: an In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Iron is one of the most important essential elements for cell function. However, iron overload can exert destructive effects on various tissues, especially the liver. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on hepatotoxicity induced by iron-overload in in vitro and mouse model. After in vitro studies, thirty mice were divided into five groups, six each. Group 1 received normal saline. Group 2 received five doses of iron dextran (i.p; 100 mg/kg, one dose every 2 days). Group 3 received TQ (orally, 2 mg/kg/day). Groups 4 and 5 were administrated iron dextran saline (i.p; 100 mg/kg, one dose every 2 days) following treatment with 0.5 and 2 mg/kg/day of TQ, respectively. Based on the findings of the DPPH experiment, although TQ has significant anti-radical potential, at a safe dose of 15 × 10⁺³ nM, it reduced the IC₅₀ of iron dextran on HepG2 cells by about 25%, in in vitro. Following administration of low-dose TQ (0.5 mg/kg), a significant improvement was observed in serum hepatic enzymes activity and hepatic lipid peroxidation compared to iron dextran. However, administration of TQ-high dose (2 mg/kg) led to decrease antioxidant defense alongside increased serum hepatic enzymes and pathological damages in iron dextran-treated animals. Due to the different efficacy of TQ in treatment groups, it seems that the TQ therapeutic index is low and does not have significant safety in the iron overload status.

Potential of Black Seeds (Nigella Sativa) in the Management of Long COVID or Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) and Persistent COVID-19 Symptoms - An Insight

BACKGROUND

Some individuals may experience symptoms persisting for many months after the recovery from COVID-19 and patients with Long COVID are managed mainly with symptomatic treatment and supportive care.

OBJECTIVE

This review article focuses on the beneficial effects of black seeds (Nigella Sativa) in the management of long COVID and persistent COVID symptoms.

METHODS

The literature was searched in databases such as LitCOVID, Web of Science, Google Scholar, bioRxiv, medRxiv, Science Direct, EBSCO, Scopus, Embase, and reference lists to identify studies, which evaluated various effects of black seeds (N. sativa) related to signs and symptoms of Long COVID.

RESULTS

Black seeds (N. sativa) have shown potential anti-COVID, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antihypertensive, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, and antiasthmatic properties in various clinical, animal, in-vitro, in-vivo, and in-silico studies, which would help the patients recovered from COVID to mitigate Long COVID complications.

CONCLUSION

Patients experiencing Long COVID may use black seeds (N. sativa) as adjunctive therapy in combination with symptomatic treatment and supportive care to prevent further deterioration and hospitalization. The safety and efficacy of N. sativa in patients with Long-COVID would further be established by future randomized controlled clinical trials.

Thymoquinone counteracts oxidative and inflammatory machinery in carrageenan-induced murine paw edema model

Thymoquinone (TQ) is an active constituent in Nigella sativa (black cumin) and is extensively reported for its distinguished antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. Despite the local protective response of acute inflammation, it contributes to the development of various disease conditions such as cell death, organ damage, or carcinogenesis. Hence, in this study, the effects of orally administered TQ (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) for 14 days against edema development, oxidative stress, and inflammation were investigated in paw edema induced by carrageenan in mice. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg) was used as a reference drug. The results revealed that TQ reduced the paw edema volume in a time-dependent manner, attenuated acetic acid-provoked writhing movements, and reduced xylene-triggered ear edema. Hematological findings revealed marked normalization of altered counts of WBCs, and platelets. Furthermore, paw tissue levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide showed marked decreases together with increases in nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase after TQ administration. Additionally, TQ decreased pro-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, C-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase, and nuclear factor kappa-B in the inflamed paw tissue. Moreover, appreciable decreases were recorded in cyclooxygenase-2 and its product prostaglandin E2 and the immune reaction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in TQ-treated mice. Histopathological findings further validated the potential antiedematous, anti-inflammatory power of TQ in inflamed tissues. Conclusively, the results encourage the potent application of TQ to subside acute inflammatory events because of its striking antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in inflamed paw tissue.

Downregulation of pro-inflammatory markers IL-6 and TNF-α in rheumatoid arthritis using nano-lipidic carriers of a quinone-based phenolic: an in vitro and in vivo study

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a joint ailment with multi-factorial immune-mediated degenerative pathogenesis, including genetic and environmental defects. Resistance to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) happens due to excessive drug efflux over time, rendering the concentration insufficient to elicit a response. Thymoquinone (TQ) is a quinone-based phenolic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that downregulate numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, its pharmaceutical importance and therapeutic utility are underexplored due to intrinsic physicochemical characteristics such as inadequate biological stability, short half-life, low hydrophilicity, and less systemic availability. Tamanu oil-stabilised nanostructured lipid carriers (TQ-NLCs) were prepared and optimised using Box-Behnken design (BBD) with the size of 153.9 ± 0.52 nm and surface charge of -30.71 mV. The % entrapment efficiency and drug content were found to be 84.6 ± 0.50% and 14.75 ± 0.52%, respectively. Furthermore, the TQ-loaded NLCs (TQ-NLCs) assayed for skin permeation for transdermal delivery which significantly (p < 0.05) increased skin enhancement ratio 14.6 times compared to the aqueous solution of TQ. Tamanu oil displayed the synergistic anti-inflammatory potential with TQ in comparison to pure TQ, as evidenced against carrageenan (CRG)-induced paw oedema model and Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritic model. The arthritic and X-ray scores significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in TQ-NLCs and standard formulation-treated groups. Moreover, serum pro-inflammatory marker TNF-α and IL-6 levels were also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in TQ-NLCs gel-treated group compared to the arthritic control group.

Neuroprotective effects of niosomes loaded with thymoquinone in the cerebral ischemia model of male Wistar rats

The complex stroke pathophysiology, like oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions, causes substantially challenged in stroke treatment. Thymoquinone (TQ) is attributed to pharmacological actions like antioxidant and anti-inflammation. Thymoquinone is chemically hydrophobic, which causes poor solubility and bioavailability. To overcome this challenge Thymoquinone niosome was applied in this in-vivo study. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in rats treated with Thymoquinone niosome compared to free Thymoquinone and control groups (SOD), (TAC), and (GPX) activities were increased in the TQN group compared to the MCAO control group. The decrease in (MDA) level was seen in the Thymoquinone niosome group compared to the MCAO control group. The inflammation factors expression rates of IL-IB, IL-6, TNFα in I/R Thymoquinone niosome group were decreased. This study indicated that Thymoquinone niosome might be utilized as a promising novel carrier to improve Thymoquinone bioavailability and therapeutic effect in treating cerebral I/R injury.

Renoprotective Effect of Thymoquinone against Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy: Role of NOX2 and Nrf2 Signals

OBJECTIVE

Diabetic nephropathy is an unavoidable complication of chronic uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. The pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy is multifactorial, and the development of an effective therapy remains to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to assess the role of NOX2 and Nrf2 in the protective mechanism of thymoquinone (THQ) against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy.

METHODS

Rats were injected with STZ (55 mg/kg) to induce diabetes. The diabetic rats were orally treated with THQ (10 mg/kg/day) for eight weeks.

RESULTS

STZ-treated rats exhibit an elevation of serum creatinine, serum urea, and creatinine clearance. The renal abnormalities were associated with increased NADPH oxidase isoform, NOX2 protein expression, and activity, along with elevated malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, the tumor necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-α) level and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, as well as the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF)-β, were markedly increased. On the other hand, the nuclear factor-E2-related factor (Nrf2) protein expression was significantly reduced in diabetic rats compared to the control. However, treatment with THQ significantly reversed these alterations with subsequent ameliorating renal dysfunction and pathological abnormalities.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates that THQ could protect against STZ-induced diabetic nephropathy by modulating the Nrf2/NOX2 signaling pathway.

The effect of thymoquinone and propranolol combination on epidermoid laryngeal carcinoma cell

PURPOSE

We aimed to evaluate the effects of thymoquinone and propranolol on Hep-2 cells representing laryngeal Ca cell type in comparison with cisplatin. We also evaluated their combined effects.

METHODS

Apoptotic effects were directly analyzed via mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-3 assays. In addition, effects on apoptosis and cell cycle via Bcl-2, Bax, P53, and Cyclin D1 mRNA expressions and effects on angiogenesis via VEGFA mRNA expression were evaluated by RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

According to our results, it was determined that the anticancer effects of thymoquinone on Hep-2 cells were higher than propranolol. Our JC-1 and caspase-3 results showed an effect close to cisplatin, especially for 50 µM thymoquinone. Significant differences were also obtained in Bcl-2, Bax, P53, and cyclin D1 results for similar concentrations compared to the control. No effect of thymoquinone was seen for VEGFA. Propranolol alone had no significant effect on JC-1 and Caspase-3. Propranolol had an effect on Bcl-2, Bax mRNA expressions compared to the control, only at 250 µM concentration. Propranolol and its combinations increased VEGFA mRNA expression-like cisplatin.

CONCLUSION

Thymoquinone induced apoptosis and blocked the cell cycle in Hep-2 cells. The effects of propranolol, which was reported to have an antiangiogenesis effect in some studies, on apoptosis and cell cycle were limited except at high concentrations. For this cell line, why propranolol causes an increase in VEGFA expression should be evaluated extensively. Thymoquinone shows promise for cancer therapy, but studies need to be designed in vivo to evaluate the effects more reliably.

Thymoquinone-treated mouse mesenchymal stem cells-derived conditioned medium inhibits human breast cancer cells in vitro

Breast cancer is now the most prevalent cancer in females, therefore, it is essential to identify factors affecting its initiation and progression. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have received considerable attention in stem cell-based therapies and drug delivery applications. Because the therapeutic potential of MSCs is primarily achieved by their paracrine effects, thus identifying and employing bioactive molecules that promote the paracrine activity of MSCs is crucial for their efficient use in cancer treatment. Thymoquinone (TQ) has many biomedical properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-aging, anti-cancer, etc. In addition, it has been found that TQ affects the self-renewal and immunomodulatory properties of MSCs. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of TQ-treated mouse bone marrow-derived MSCs conditioned medium (TQ-MSC-CM) on the biological characteristics of breast cancer cell line MCF7. MSCs were cultured and treated with TQ for 24 h. The TQ-MSC-CM and MSC-CM were collected, and their effects were investigated on ROS production, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell death, cell cycle, and migration of MCF7 cells by DCFDA-cellular ROS assay, Rhodamine-123 MMP assay, Annexin-PI staining and Caspase-3/7 activity assays, PI-staining and flow-cytometry, and in vitro wound healing assay, respectively. Moreover, the effects of TQ-MSC-CM and MSC-CM were studied on Cdk4, Sox2, c-Met, and Bcl2 gene expression by real-time PCR. Results demonstrated that MSC-CM and TQ-MSC-CM did not have a significant effect on the apoptosis induction in MCF7 cells; however, they significantly stimulated necrosis in the cells. Although TQ-MSC-CM promoted ROS production in MCF7 cells, it decreased the MMP of the cells. TQ-MSC-CM also induced Bcl2 anti-apoptosis gene expression and Casp-3/7 activity in cells. In addition, although MSC-CM induced MCF7 cells to enter the cell cycle, TQ-MSC-CM inhibited its progression. TQ-MSC-CM also downregulated the Cdk4 and Sox2 gene expression. Furthermore, TQ-MSC-CM induced the migration potential of MCF7 in a c-Met-independent manner. Altogether, we conclude that TQ may induce programmed necrosis and inhibits the proliferation and migration of the breast cancer cells by affecting the paracrine activity of MSCs.

Effects of black cumin-based antimalarial drug loaded with nano-emulsion of bovine and human serum albumins by spectroscopic and molecular docking studies

The growing understanding of nanoemulsion biomedical applications necessitates a basic understanding of protein-drug-loaded nanoemulsion interaction. In our present study, we investigated the binding interactions of Mefloquine (MEF)-loaded black cumin seed oil (Thymoquinone) nanoemulsion of different concentrations towards human and bovine serum albumin (HSA&BSA).Fluorescenceemission,three-dimensionalspectra,UV-visible spectroscopy, and FTIR-spectroscopy, techniques were used together with molecular docking studies to identify the binding effects. The ground state complex formation between Mefloquine-loaded black cumin seed oil nanoemulsion and protein fluorophores was confirmed by a decrease in fluorescence intensity and disputed hyper-chronicity found in the UV-visible spectra of albumins. According to three-dimensional fluorescence spectral analysis, the addition of MEF in thymoquinone impacted the microenvironment around aromatic amino acid (tryptophan and tyrosine) residues in HSA. The quenching mechanism is determined to be static contact by stern-volmer analysis, resulting in the formation of a stable bioconjugate. Significant modifications in the amide FTIR frequencies at around 1600 cm^-1 correlate to variations in the secondary alpha-helical structures of biomolecules at the MEF-loaded nanoemulsion interface. Molecular dynamic studies have shown the binding affinity scores of the proteins BSA and HSA with the drug, MEF-loaded black cumin seed oil nanoemulsion. The determined thermodynamic parameters were found to agree with molecular docking data, indicating that vander-waals and hydrogen bonding forces were important in the interaction process. MEF prefers a highly polar binding site at the exterior area of domains in HSA than BSA, as shown in the molecular model, and the hydrogen bonds are highlighted. From our results, we have observed that drug delivery has a detrimental effect on protein frame confirmation by altering its physiological function.

Thymoquinone Attenuates Retinal Expression of Mediators and Markers of Neurodegeneration in a Diabetic Animal Model

BACKGROUND

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a slow eye disease that affects the retina due to a long-standing uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress can lead to neuronal damage leading to DR.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current investigation is to assess the protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) as a potential compound for the treatment and/or prevention of neurovascular complications of diabetes, including DR.

METHODS

Diabetes was induced in rats by the administration of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg intraperitoneally, i.p.). Subsequently, diabetic rats were treated with either TQ (2 mg/kg i.p.) or vehicle on alternate days for three weeks. A healthy control group was also run in parallel. At the end of the treatment period, animals were euthanized, and the retinas were collected and analyzed for the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), and caspase-3 using Western blotting techniques in the retina of diabetic rats and compared with the normal control rats. In addition, dichlorofluorescein (DCF) levels in the retina were assessed as a marker of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and blood-retinal barrier breakdown (BRB) was examined for vascular permeability. The systemic effects of TQ treatments on glycemic control, kidney and liver functions were also assessed in all groups.

RESULTS

Diabetic animals treated with TQ showed improvements in the liver and kidney functions compared with control diabetic rats. Normalization in the levels of neuroprotective factors, including BDNF, TH, and NGFR, was observed in the retina of diabetic rats treated with TQ. In addition, TQ ameliorated the levels of apoptosis regulatory protein caspase-3 in the retina of diabetic rats and reduced disruption of the blood-retinal barrier, possibly through a reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that TQ harbors a significant potential to limit the neurodegeneration and retinal damage that can be provoked by hyperglycemia in vivo.

Thymoquinone played a protective role against tartrazine-induced hepatotoxicity

Objectives

The current study, the first of its kind in the literature, aimed to observe the toxic effects of Tartrazine, a commonly used dyestuff in industries and foods, on the liver, and investigate whether this toxicity could be eliminated with thymoquinone coadministration.

Materials and Methods

32 male Wistar albino rats were procured from İnönü University Experimental Animals Breeding and Research Center. The rats were randomly assigned to 4 equal groups: Control group, Thymoquinone group, Tartrazine group, and Thymoquinone + Tartrazine group. Rat liver tissue and blood samples were obtained and biochemical and histopathological examinations were conducted on the samples.

Results

Tartrazine administration increased the oxidant (malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase) and oxidative stress index parameters (total oxidant status) in the liver tissue and decreased the antioxidant parameters (glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and total antioxidant status) leading to histopathological problems (hematoxylin-eosin staining and Caspase-3 immunoreactivity) and inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) in the serum samples. Thymoquinone, on the other hand, improved antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Conclusion

At this time and dose, thymoquinone has a protective effect against tartrazine hepatotoxicity. Thymoquinone can be used as a protective agent against tartrazine toxicity.