Effect of thymoquinone on pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil in rats and its effect on human cell line in vitro

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and thymoquinone induce apoptosis and alteration in mitochondria in colorectal cancer cells

Colon cancer is on the rise in both men and women. In addition to traditional treatment methods, herbal treatments from complementary and alternative medicine are actively followed. Naturally derived from plants, thymoquinone (TQ) has drawn a lot of attention in the field of cancer treatment. MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate agonist, is used to improve memory and plasticity, but it has also lately been explored as a potential cancer treatment. This study aimed to determine the roles of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate agonists and Thymoquinone on mitochondria and apoptosis. HT-29 cells were treated with different TQ and MK-801 concentrations. We analyzed cell viability, apoptosis, and alteration of mitochondria. Cell viability significantly decreased depending on doses of TQ and MK-801. Apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunctions induced by low and high doses of TQ and MK-801. Our study emphasizes the need for further safety evaluation of MK-801 due to the potential toxicity risk of TQ and MK-801. Optimal and toxic doses of TQ and MK-801 were determined for the treatment of colon cancer. It should be considered as a possibility that colon cancer can be treated with TQ and MK-801.

Thymoquinone: A Promising Therapeutic Agent for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and is responsible for approximately one million deaths each year. The current standard of care is surgical resection of the lesion and chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). However, of concern is the increasing incidence in an increasingly younger patient population and the ability of CRC cells to develop resistance to 5-FU. In this review, we discuss the effects of thymoquinone (TQ), one of the main bioactive components of Nigella sativa seeds, on CRC, with a particular focus on the use of TQ in combination therapy with other chemotherapeutic agents. TQ exhibits anti-CRC activity by inducing a proapoptotic effect and inhibiting proliferation, primarily through its effect on the regulation of signaling pathways crucial for tumor progression and oxidative stress. TQ can be used synergistically with chemotherapeutic agents to enhance their anticancer effects and to influence the expression of signaling pathways and other genes important in cancer development. These data appear to be most relevant for co-treatment with 5-FU. We believe that TQ is a suitable candidate for consideration in the chemoprevention and adjuvant therapy for CRC, but further studies, including clinical trials, are needed to confirm its safety and efficacy in the treatment of cancer.

Interaction of quercetin and 5-fluorouracil: cellular and pharmacokinetic study

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, and its uncontrolled blood levels contribute to toxicity. Quercetin, as an important flavonoid, has many biological effects, including anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory features. The current study investigated the synergistic effect between 5-FU and quercetin using HT-29 cell line and fibroblast cells. Rats were assigned to two groups. The 5-FU/quercetin group received intraperitoneal quercetin (10 mg/kg) and the Tween was injected to the control group for 14 consecutive days. On the 15th day, both groups received 50 mg/kg of 5-FU. Upon the final injection, blood samples were obtained at different times. Pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The mean (±SD) of maximum plasma concentration (C_max) of 5-FU in combination therapy group was 3.10 ± 0.18 μg/ml and the area under the curve (AUC) was 153.89 ± 21.36, which increased by 113% and 128% compared to control group, respectively. Quercetin increased anti-tumor activity of 5-FU and enhanced C_max and AUC of 5-FU. These findings confirm the synergistic effects between quercetin and 5-FU at the usual doses in cancer treatment, which may lead to reduced toxicity.