Nutritional Value and Preventive Role of Nigella sativa L. and Its Main Component Thymoquinone in Cancer: An Evidenced-Based Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Abstract

In recent times, scientific attention has been paid to different foods and their bioactive components for the ability to inhibit the onset and progress of different types of cancer. Nigella sativa extract, powder and seed oil and its main components, thymoquinone and α-hederin, have showed potent anticancer and chemosensitizing effects against various types of cancer, such as liver, colon, breast, renal, cervical, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate and skin tumors, through the modulation of various molecular signaling pathways. Herein, the purpose of this review was to highlight the anticancer activity of Nigella sativa and it constitutes, focusing on different in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies and projects, in order to underline their antiproliferative, proapoptotic, cytotoxic and antimetastatic effects. Particular attention has been also given to the synergistic effect of Nigella sativa and it constitutes with chemotherapeutic drugs, and to the synthesized analogs of thymoquinone that seem to enhance the chemo-sensitizing potential. This review could be a useful step towards new research on N. sativa and cancer, to include this plant in the dietary treatments in support to conventional therapies, for the best achievement of therapeutic goals.

A Narrative Review on Various Oil Extraction Methods, Encapsulation Processes, Fatty Acid Profiles, Oxidative Stability, and Medicinal Properties of Black Seed (Nigella sativa)

“…Aging can cause prostate enlargement and become a reason of urine incontinency among old age males. Black seed oil can treat prostatitis and provide relief from this condition [ 174 ].…”

Safety, Stability, and Therapeutic Efficacy of Long-Circulating TQ-Incorporated Liposomes: Implication in the Treatment of Lung Cancer

“…in South Asian, Arab, African, and Mediterranean countries [13,14]. As evident from various studies, TQ has been reported to be a remarkable therapeutic agent affecting multiple molecular pathways that regulate cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis [12,15,16]. However, irrespective of its wide therapeutic efficacy, the clinical application of TQ is limited due to its poor solubility in aqueous medium.…”

Experimental and Theoretical Insights on Chemopreventive Effect of the Liposomal Thymoquinone Against Benzo[a]pyrene-Induced Lung Cancer in Swiss Albino Mice

“…22 , 23 Evidently, TQ has been shown its potential in the treatment of various types of cancer through the activation of multiple signalling pathways that lead to the apoptosis. 21 , 24 , 25 However, regardless of high potential, the major drawback of TQ is the low solubility in the aqueous solutions, which limits its uses in the clinical application. Thus, the preparation of suitable formulations of TQ can overcome this limitation to utilize its efficacy against several pathological conditions.…”