Disease relevance of NSC 2228

• Rats were divided randomly into five groups: control, sham, ischemia, thymoquinone and ischemia+thymoquinone [1].
• We investigated the effects of thymoquinone (TQ) against HCT-116 human colon cancer cells and attempted to identify its potential molecular mechanisms of action [2].
• The protective effect of Nigella sativa seed extract and its main constituents thymoquinone (TQ) was studied on mouse cells infected with schistosomiasis [3].
• This spectacular protection makes thymoquinone a promising agent in pathologies implicating neurodegenaration such as cerebral ischemia [1].
• Pretreatment of thymoquinone attenuated forebrain ischemia-induced neuronal damage manifested by significantly decreasing the number of dead hippocampal neuronal cells (24% in thymoquinone-treated versus 77% for ischemia, P<0.001), which confirm the protective role of thymoquinone in ischemia-reperfusion injury [1].
• Because of its selective effect on cancer cells, we believe that thymoquinone can also be used safely to help prevent the development of prostate cancer [4].

Psychiatry related information on NSC 2228

• We also studied the effect of thymoquinone on pentobarbital-induced hypnosis, locomotor activity, and motor coordination [5].
• The anticonvulsant effects of thymoquinone, the major constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, were investigated using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)- and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizure models [5].

High impact information on NSC 2228

• Thymoquinone induces apoptosis through activation of caspase-8 and mitochondrial events in p53-null myeloblastic leukemia HL-60 cells [6].
• Thymoquinone (TQ) is the bioactive constituent of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa L. and has been shown to exert antioxidant antineoplastic and anti-inflammatory effects [7].
• Thymoquinone and thymohydroquinone inhibited the in vitro non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation in hippocampal homogenate induced by iron-ascorbate [1].
• This suggests that the protection of thymoquinone and its metabolite involve increased resistance to oxidative stress [1].
• Neuroprotective effects of thymoquinone against transient forebrain ischemia in the rat hippocampus [1].

Chemical compound and disease context of NSC 2228

• The separate effects of alpha-hederin and thymoquinone, the two principal bioactive constituents of Nigella sativa, on four human cancer cell lines [A549 (lung carcinoma), HEp-2 (larynx epidermoid carcinoma), HT-29 (colon adenocarcinoma) and MIA PaCa-2 (pancreas carcinoma)] were investigated [8].
• The present work was done to investigate the possible effects of thymoquinone on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats [9].
• The findings suggest that thymoquinone may protect SH-SY5Y cells against L-dopa toxicity to some degree although the exact mechanism for this is unknown [10].
• Rats with arthritis induced by Freund's incomplete adjuvant were assigned into five groups: group 1: controls 0.9% NaCl (n = 7); group 2: 2.5 mg/kg thymoquinone (n = 7); group 3: 5 mg/kg thymoquinone (n = 7); group 4: Bacilli Chalmette Guerin (BCG) 6 x 10(5) CFU (n = 7); group 5: methotrexate 0.3 mg/kg (n = 7) [11].
• The aim of this study was to use the androgen-dependent LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line as a cell model to evaluate the physiological effects to conventional treatments with both low (LD) and high doses (HD) of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), thymoquinone (TQ), and tannic acid (TA) [12].

Biological context of NSC 2228

• However, the inhibition of eicosanoid generation and lipid peroxidation by the fixed oil of N. sativa is greater than is expected from its content of thymoquinone (ca. 0.2% w/v), and it is possible that other components such as the unusual C20:2 unsaturated fatty acids may contribute also to its anti-eicosanoid and antioxidant activity [13].
• The IC50 for thymoquinone and thymohydroquinone were found to be 12 and 3 microM respectively [1].
• Thymoquinone extracted from black seed triggers apoptotic cell death in human colorectal cancer cells via a p53-dependent mechanism [2].
• Cytogenetic studies on Nigella sativa seeds extract and thymoquinone on mouse cells infected with schistosomiasis using karyotyping [3].
• Molecular pathway for thymoquinone-induced cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in neoplastic keratinocytes [14].

Anatomical context of NSC 2228

• In vitro inhibition of growth and induction of apoptosis in cancer cell lines by thymoquinone [15].
• In conclusion, thymoquinone is effective in protecting rats against transient forebrain ischemia-induced damage in the rat hippocampus [1].
• Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of thymoquinone against transient forebrain ischemia-induced neuronal damage in the rat hippocampus [1].
• Fixed oil of Nigella sativa and derived thymoquinone inhibit eicosanoid generation in leukocytes and membrane lipid peroxidation [13].
• Hepatoprotective activity of thymoquinone in isolated rat hepatocytes [16].

Associations of NSC 2228 with other chemical compounds

• Moreover, dithymoquinone and thymoquinone showed a limited COX-2-specific inhibition [17].
• Alpha-hederin and thymoquinone separately induced a dose- and time-dependent effect on the cell lines tested [8].
• The goal of this investigation was to study the protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and methotrexate (MTX) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats [18].
• The antioxidative and antihistaminic effect of Nigella sativa and its major constituent, thymoquinone on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage [19].
• Pre-treatment of cells with alpha-hederin, followed by thymoquinone or cisplatin, did not enhance the cytotoxicity or apoptosis induced by either drug [8].

Gene context of NSC 2228

• The modulating effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on benzo(a)pyrene (BP)-induced forestomach tumours was investigated in female Swiss albino mice, receiving oral administration of BP at a dose of 1 mg twice weekly for 4 weeks [20].
• Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase and leukotriene C4 synthase in human blood cells by thymoquinone [21].
• Effects of thymoquinone (volatile oil of black cumin) on rheumatoid arthritis in rat models [11].
• Thymoquinone may have a role in treatment of Multiple Sclerosis [22].
• Thymoquinone was very potent, with approximate IC50 values against 5-lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase of < 1 microgram/ml and 3.5 micrograms/ml, respectively [13].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of NSC 2228

• Thymoquinone was administered (5 mg/kg/day p.o.) 5 days before ischemia and continued during the reperfusion time [1].
• Samples of the expressed fixed oil from different sources of Nigella sativa seeds were examined by thin-layer and gas chromatography for content of fixed oils and thymoquinone, and these substances were tested as possible inhibitors of eicosanoid generation and membrane lipid peroxidation [13].
• An HPLC method for quantifying the putative pharmacologically active constituents: thymoquinone (TQ), dithymoquinone (DTQ), thymohydroquinone (THQ), and thymol (THY), in the oil of Nigella sativa seed is described [23].
• Crystal structure determination of thymoquinone by high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction [24].

References