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Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of mortality among the gynecologic cancers and is the 5th most common cancer among women. Recent studies have indicated that antioxidant exposure may slow the progression in major neoplastic diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the pathophysiological effects of Thymoquinone (TQ) and Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) using the SK-OV-3 cell line as a model. A total of 72 wells were plated with (10^5) SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells according to standard lab protocols. Each group was subdivided into 4 groups of 6 wells each. Group 1 served as control and groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated with TQ (16 µM), EGCG (3 µg/ml), and TQ + EGCG, respectively. Biomarker and morphological evaluations were performed following standard lab techniques. The results of the study revealed: (1) there were no differences in protein levels for all time periods (p<0.05); (2) an increase in nitric oxide following the administration of EGCG alone and in combination with TQ compared with TQ alone or untreated control cells with the difference being approximately three-fold higher and this difference was statistically different (p<0.05) at 24, 48, 72 hours; (3) glutathione levels were not statistically different at all time periods (p<0.05); and (4) the MDA levels showed no damage to the SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells. The results of this study provided the literature with more insights regarding manipulation of ovarian cancer behavior through potent antioxidants such as TQ and EGCG in culture.

The objective of this study was to investigate the synergistic effect of Thymoquinone (TQ) and Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) using Caov-3 cell line as a model. A total of 144 wells were plated with 10^5 Caov-3 ovarian cancer cells. The wells were divided into groups of 72 wells for conventional and sustained delivery, respectively. Each group was subdivided into 4 groups of 6 wells. Group 1 served as control and groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated with TQ (16 µM), EGCG (3 µg/ml), and TQ plus EGCG, respectively. Biomarkers evaluations were performed following standard lab techniques. The results of the study revealed: conventional delivery of TQ, EGCG, and the combination did not induce intracellular oxidative stress (glutathione levels) at 24, 48, and 72 hours; however, sustained delivery of all agents showed significant difference from the control at 72 hours; and there was no significant difference at 24 and 48 hours. Overall conclusion: the route of potent agents to manipulate ovarian cancer cells is highly dependent on the route of administration.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the leading cause of mortality among the gynecologic cancers. Ovarian cancer is a very devastating disease it is rarely diagnosed in its early stages, and it is usually quite advanced by the time diagnosis is made leading to very poor outcomes. It is believed that in advanced stage ovarian cancer cells produce a protein that enables the tumor cells to proliferate and become resistance to conventional drug treatments. Development of new treatment options strongly relies on understanding the ovarian carcinoma ability to proliferate and to attack the cells using combination drug treatments that are synergistic. Recent studies in our laboratory have indicated that the exposure of Thymoquinone (TQ) and Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) to adenocarcinoma of the prostate, colon, and pancreas. This study was executed to investigate the effectiveness of TQ and EGCG on reducing early stage ovarian cancer cells. A total of 72 wells were plated with (105) Caov-3 ovarian cancer cells according to standard lab protocols. Each group was subdivided into 4 groups. Group 1 served as control and groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated with TQ (16 µM), EGCG (3 µM), and TQ + EGCG, respectively. Biomarkers and morphological evaluations were performed following standard lab techniques. The results of the study revealed: (1) an increase in nitric oxide following administration of EGCG and the combination at 24 and 48 hours (p<0.05) and (2) no membrane or cellular damage to the cells at all phases. The results of this study suggest used in combination have shown to be more effective method for manipulating Caov-3 ovarian cancer cells than when used alone.