Can Black cumin seed oil or Thymoquinone reduce cancer?

Nigella sativa, in old Latin it was called ‘Panacea’ meaning ‘cure-all’, described by ancient scholars as the Herb from Heaven is a flowering plant originally from the Mediterranean region. Growing to about half a meter tall, its flowers are bluish or bluish-white in color. The pod capsule, which is the fruit of the plant, has five compartments and breaks open on maturing to expose the seeds to sunlight and air. This turns the initially pale seeds into matte-black triangular seeds recognized widely by its color and shape.

Even though it does not belong to the cumin family, it is most commonly known in the English speaking world as the Black Cumin. Other English language names of the herb include Black Seed, Roman Coriander, Black Caraway, and Black Onion Seed. The seed is known by many different names in different parts of the world. The best of black cumin seeds come from Egypt where it is called ‘Habaat el Baraka’ (Seeds of Blessing) and is cultivated extensively. In other Arab countries, it is known as ‘Habaa Sawdaa.’ Other popular names of the black cumin includes Kalonji (India), Siyah Daneh (Pakistan), Corek Otu (Turkey), Cheveux de Vénus (France), Schwarzkümmel (Germany), Chernushka (Russia) and Ketzah (Israel).

Black cumin seed oil has anti-viral, anti-cancer, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties.

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Thymoquinone is the major bioactive compound present in the black seeds of the Nigella sativa plant.

HIF‐1α inhibitor: Thymoquinone has been shown to act as a HIF-1α inhibitor. This means that it has the ability to suppress the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a transcription factor that plays a role in the regulation of cellular responses to hypoxia (low oxygen levels).

Anti-angiogenic:

• Inhibits Akt and JNK phosphorylation
• Reduces FAK expression, ERK phosphorylation, secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9
• Inhibits NF-κB
• Suppresses the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways 
• Hampers ERK1/2 phosphorylation {review}
• FAK downregulation

Inhibits Galectin-3

α-Hederin (one of the active compounds of Nigella sativa) promotes ferroptosis and

reverses cisplatin chemoresistance in non-small cell lung cancer {study}

Synergies

Combination of Thymoquinone and Intermittent Fasting as a Treatment for Breast Cancer Implanted in Mice {study}

Curcumin and Thymoquinone Combination Attenuates Breast Cancer Cell Lines’ Progression {study}

Thymoquinone anticancer activity is enhanced when combined with royal jelly in human breast cancer {study}

Synergistic effect of thymoquinone and melatonin against breast cancer implanted in mice {study}


References & Sources

• History of Nigella Sativa
• Using Black Seed Oil To Treat Cancer
• In vitro inhibitory activity of black seed oil and potassium chloride against the biomarkers of triple negative breast cancer
• Thymoquinone inhibits proliferation in gastric cancer via the STAT3 pathway in vivo and in vitro
• https://www.dharmaparenting.com/modern-research-on-black-cumin/
• Prophetic Chemo Is the Safest, Cheapest and Most Effective Alternative to Modern Chemotherapy for the Cure of all Forms of Cancers – A Review
• Thymoquinone, as an anticancer molecule: from basic research to clinical investigation
• Anticancer Activity of Nigella sativa (Black Seed) — A Review
• Thymoquinone as a Potential Adjuvant Therapy for Cancer Treatment: Evidence from Preclinical Studies
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.Cancer chemopreventive potential of volatile oil from black cumin seeds, Nigella sativa L., in a rat multi-organ carcinogenesis bioassay.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3436209/