ArticlesAbstractPharmacognosy Research,2013,5,3,200-206.DOI:10.4103/0974-8490.112428Published:May 2013Type:Original Article Authors:Marjaneh Motaghed, Faisal Muti Al-Hassan, and Shahrul Sahul Hamid Author(s) affiliations:Marjaneh Motaghed, Faisal Muti Al-Hassan, Shahrul Sahul Hamid Oncology and Radiological Science Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia Abstract:Background: Nigella sativa or black seed extract has been reported to show various medicinal benefits. Thymoquinone which is an active compound of its seed has been reported to contain anti-cancer properties. Objective: The study addressed the anti-cancer efficiency of long-term in vitro treatment with thymoquinone towards human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7. Materials and Methods: Cell proliferation was determined with CellTiter 96 Aqueous. Non-Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay Kit. It was followed with trypan blue exclusion test to determine the percentage of viable cells. The study incorporated cell cycle assay to distinguish cell distribution at various cell cycle phases using Cycletest Plus DNA Reagent Kit. The apoptosis detection kit was used to determine the percentage of apoptotic and necrotic cells using flow cytometry. Results: The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) value determined using the proliferation assay was 25 μM thymoquinone. Late apoptotic cell percentage increased rapidly when treatment duration was increased to 24 h with 25 and 100 μM thymoquinone. Further analysis using cell cycle assay showed thymoquinone inhibition of breast cancer cell proliferation at minimal dose 25 μM and led to S phase arrest significantly at 72 h treatment (P = 0.009). It was also noted elevation sub-G 1 peak following treatment with 25 μM thymoquinone for 12 h. Increase in thymoquinone to 50 μM caused G 2 phase arrest at each time-point studied. Conclusion: In general thymoquinone showed sustained inhibition of breast cancer cell proliferation with long-term treatment. Specificity of phase arrest was determined by thymoquinone dose. Keywords:Apoptosis, cytotoxicity, Long-term Exposure, MCF-7 cell line, ThymoquinoneView:PDF (1.68 MB) PDF Thumbnails Document Outline Search Document Find Toggle Sidebar Previous Next Page: Fullscreen Print Download Current View Zoom Out Zoom In Automatic Zoom Actual Size Fit Page Full Width 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 200% More Information Less Information Close Click here to download the PDF file. Images Percentage of cell viability assay with trypan blue extraction test at different concentration ( KeywordsApoptosiscytotoxicityCytotoxicityLong-term ExposureMCF-7 cell lineMCF-7 Cell LineThymoquinone ‹ Synergistic Effect of Aged Garlic Extract and Naltrexone on Improving Immune Responses to Experimentally Induced Fibrosarcoma Tumor in BALB/c Mice up Protective Effects of Vernonia Amygdalina Against Sodium Arsenite-induced Genotoxicity in Rat ›