Chemopreventive and Anticancer Effects of Thymoquinone: Cellular and Molecular Targets

Rohini Gomathinayagam; Ji Hee Ha; Muralidharan Jayaraman; Yong Sang Song; Ciro Isidoro; Danny N Dhanasekaran

doi:10.15430/JCP.2020.25.3.136

Chemopreventive and Anticancer Effects of Thymoquinone: Cellular and Molecular Targets

J Cancer Prev. 2020 Sep 30;25(3):136-151. doi: 10.15430/JCP.2020.25.3.136.

Authors

Rohini Gomathinayagam¹, Ji Hee Ha¹, Muralidharan Jayaraman¹, Yong Sang Song², Ciro Isidoro³, Danny N Dhanasekaran¹

Affiliations

¹ Stephenson Cancer Center, Department of Cell Biology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
³ Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and NanoBioImaging, Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.

Abstract

Thymoquinone (TQ) is a bioactive component derived from the seeds of Nigella sativa that are commonly as black cumin. Evidences indicate that the medicinal properties of TQ have been recognized for more than 2000 years. TQ has been shown to possess potent chemopreventive properties that include anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic activities. Recent studies have unraveled the multiple mechanisms through which TQ exerts its chemopreventive and anticancer activity in different cancer cells in a contextual manner. The present review aims to provide a brief compendium on the molecular mechanisms through which TQ inhibits signaling pathways underlying cancer genesis, progression, and metastasis.

Keywords: Antineoplastic agent; Chemoprevention; Neoplasms; Nigella sativa; Thymoquinone.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

Publication types

Grants and funding