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Thymoquinone inhibits murine leukemia WEHI-3 cells in vivo and in vitro.
- Source :
-
PloS one [PLoS One] 2014 Dec 22; Vol. 9 (12), pp. e115340. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Dec 22 (Print Publication: 2014). - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Background: Thymoquinone is an active ingredient isolated from Nigella sativa (Black Seed). This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anti-leukemic effects of thymoquinone on WEHI-3 cells.<br />Methodology/principal Findings: The cytotoxic effect of thymoquinone was assessed using an MTT assay, while the inhibitory effect of thymoquinone on murine WEHI-3 cell growth was due to the induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by chromatin condensation dye, Hoechst 33342 and acridine orange/propidium iodide fluorescent staining. In addition, Annexin V staining for early apoptosis was performed using flowcytometric analysis. Apoptosis was found to be associated with the cell cycle arrest at the S phase. Expression of Bax, Bcl2 and HSP 70 proteins were observed by western blotting. The effects of thymoquinone on BALB/c mice injected with WEHI-3 cells were indicated by the decrease in the body, spleen and liver weights of the animal, as compared to the control.<br />Conclusion: Thymoquinone promoted natural killer cell activities. This compound showed high toxicity against WEHI-3 cell line which was confirmed by an increase of the early apoptosis, followed by up-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl2, and down-regulation of the apoptotic protein, Bax. On the other hand, high reduction of the spleen and liver weight, and significant histopathology study of spleen and liver confirmed that thymoquinone inhibited WEHI-3 growth in the BALB/c mice. Results from this study highlight the potential of thymoquinone to be developed as an anti-leukemic agent.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antineoplastic Agents chemistry
Antineoplastic Agents therapeutic use
Benzoquinones chemistry
Benzoquinones therapeutic use
Body Weight drug effects
Cell Line, Tumor
Down-Regulation drug effects
HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins metabolism
Killer Cells, Natural immunology
Leukemia drug therapy
Leukemia metabolism
Leukemia pathology
Liver anatomy & histology
Liver pathology
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Nigella sativa chemistry
Nigella sativa metabolism
Organ Size drug effects
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 metabolism
S Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints drug effects
Spleen anatomy & histology
Spleen pathology
Transplantation, Homologous
Up-Regulation drug effects
bcl-2-Associated X Protein metabolism
Antineoplastic Agents pharmacology
Apoptosis drug effects
Benzoquinones pharmacology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1932-6203
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PloS one
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25531768
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115340