TY - JOUR
T1 - Dissecting the roles of thymoquinone on the prevention and the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma
T2 - An overview on the current state of knowledge
AU - Bimonte, Sabrina
AU - Albino, Vittorio
AU - Barbieri, Antonio
AU - Tamma, Maria Luisa
AU - Nasto, Aurelio
AU - Palaia, Raffaele
AU - Molino, Carlo
AU - Bianco, Paolo
AU - Vitale, Andrea
AU - Schiano, Rita
AU - Giudice, Aldo
AU - Cascella, Marco
PY - 2019/4/16
Y1 - 2019/4/16
N2 - Thymoquinone (TQ) is the principal active monomer isolated from the seed of the medicinal plant Nigella sativa. This compound has antitumor effects against various types of cancer including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mainly due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Several pre-clinical studies showed that TQ, through the modulation of different molecular pathways, is able to induce anti-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects in HCC, without signs of toxicity. Moreover, it has been suggested that TQ has hepatoprotective effects by enhancing the tolerability and effectivity of neoadjuvant therapy prior to liver surgery, although the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Based on these findings, is assumable that TQ could represent a valuable therapeutic option for patients suffering from HCC. In this review, we summarize the potential roles of TQ in the prevention and treatment of HCC, by revising the preclinical studies and by highlighting the potential applications of TQ as a therapeutic choice for HCC treatment into clinical practices.
AB - Thymoquinone (TQ) is the principal active monomer isolated from the seed of the medicinal plant Nigella sativa. This compound has antitumor effects against various types of cancer including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mainly due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Several pre-clinical studies showed that TQ, through the modulation of different molecular pathways, is able to induce anti-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects in HCC, without signs of toxicity. Moreover, it has been suggested that TQ has hepatoprotective effects by enhancing the tolerability and effectivity of neoadjuvant therapy prior to liver surgery, although the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Based on these findings, is assumable that TQ could represent a valuable therapeutic option for patients suffering from HCC. In this review, we summarize the potential roles of TQ in the prevention and treatment of HCC, by revising the preclinical studies and by highlighting the potential applications of TQ as a therapeutic choice for HCC treatment into clinical practices.
KW - Cell apoptosis
KW - Cell proliferation
KW - Hepatocellular carcinoma
KW - Nigella sativa
KW - Thymoquinone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064464036&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85064464036&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s13027-019-0226-9
DO - 10.1186/s13027-019-0226-9
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85064464036
VL - 14
JO - Infectious Agents and Cancer
JF - Infectious Agents and Cancer
SN - 1750-9378
IS - 1
M1 - 10
ER -