An overview of in vivo toxicological profile of thymoquinone

Nigella sativa and Thymoquinone: A Natural Blessing for Periodontal Therapy

“…Various studies have investigated acute, subacute and, teratogenic and reproductive toxicities of TQ and various adverse effects of NS and its active constituents [ 70 ] ( Table 2 ).…”

“…This discrepancy in toxicity response between both routes of TQ administration can be attributed to a complete TQ absorption into the blood circulation after intraperitoneal injection, while in the oral route of administration, TQ is first bio-transformed in the gastrointestinal tract and metabolized in the liver [ 71 ]. In terms of potential genotoxicity and effects on embryonic development, it was also reported that TQ could possibly disrupt the embryonic development during the second trimester in rats and might cause chromosomal aberrations if its concentrations exceeded 80 mg/kg [ 70 ]. Further toxicity studies concluded that treatment with TQ can significantly induce oxidative effects, reduce cellular glutathione (GSH), elevate malondialdehyde (MDA) production and catalase (CAT) activity and also trigger p53 in a concentration and time-dependent way in various types of cells [ 70 ].…”

“…In terms of potential genotoxicity and effects on embryonic development, it was also reported that TQ could possibly disrupt the embryonic development during the second trimester in rats and might cause chromosomal aberrations if its concentrations exceeded 80 mg/kg [ 70 ]. Further toxicity studies concluded that treatment with TQ can significantly induce oxidative effects, reduce cellular glutathione (GSH), elevate malondialdehyde (MDA) production and catalase (CAT) activity and also trigger p53 in a concentration and time-dependent way in various types of cells [ 70 ].…”

“…Overall, based on the performed studies, it could be determined that TQ and NS are mostly safe compounds which have a human history of thousands of years with no significant safety issues. Yet, to fulfil the worldwide regulatory safety standards it is important to perform more safety studies in the future to completely prepare these compounds and establish safety guidelines for application by each route of administration in clinical therapy [ 70 ].…”

Thymoquinone (2-Isopropyl-5-methyl-1, 4-benzoquinone) as a chemopreventive/anticancer agent: Chemistry and biological effects

“…Nigella sativa L. is a flowering plant which is found in countries adjoining Mediterranean sea, India, Pakistan, and Iran. The plant has a varying composition of many constituents like fixed oils, volatile oils, alkaloids, saponins, coumarins, minerals, fibers etc (Mashayekhi-Sardoo et al, 2018). Nigella sativa L. contains the bioactive compound TQ which constitutes like 54% of the volatile oil in the annual herbal flowering plant.…”