Description
Thymoquinone is a phytochemical from Nigella sativa (black cumin) that exhibits chemopreventive, anticancer, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. In animal models of breast cancer carcinogenesis, thymoquinone decreases levels of malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase and suppresses expression of cancer-related genes. In animal models of airway inflammation, this compound prevents increases in levels of lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils. Thymoquinone also prevents acrylamide-induced motor deficiencies and decreases lipid peroxidation. In hepatocellular carcinoma cells, this compound induces G2 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, increases levels of Bax, and decreases levels of VEGF and Bcl-2.