AlDreini S, Fatfat Z, Abou Ibrahim N, Fatfat M, Gali-Muhtasib H, Khalife H. Thymoquinone enhances the antioxidant and anticancer activity of Lebanese propolis. World J Clin Oncol 2023; 14(5): 203-214 [PMID: 37275937 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v14.i5.203]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Hala Khalife, PhD, Professor, Rammal Rammal Laboratory (ATAC Group), Faculty of Sciences I, Rafic Hariri University Campus, Hadath 1003, Lebanon and Applied Biochemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Camerino University, Camerino 62032, Italy. hala-khalifeh@hotmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
Basic Study
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Clin Oncol. May 24, 2023; 14(5): 203-214 Published online May 24, 2023. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v14.i5.203
Thymoquinone enhances the antioxidant and anticancer activity of Lebanese propolis
Sima AlDreini, Zaynab Fatfat, Najwa Abou Ibrahim, Maamoun Fatfat, Hala Gali-Muhtasib, Hala Khalife
Sima AlDreini, Najwa Abou Ibrahim, Hala Khalife, Rammal Rammal Laboratory (ATAC Group), Faculty of Sciences I, Hadath 1003, Lebanon
Zaynab Fatfat, Maamoun Fatfat, Hala Gali-Muhtasib, Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
Hala Khalife, Applied Biochemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Camerino University, Camerino 62032, Italy
Author contributions: AlDreini S carried out lab work as part of her MSc thesis, performed analysis and interpretation of data; Fatfat Z drafted the manuscript; Abou Ibrahim N provided propolis, and contributed intellectually to the study; Fatfat M supervised the experimental work; Khalife H reviewed the manuscript and contributed in the critical appraisal of data; Gali-Muhtasib H conceived the project, supervised the work, and edited the manuscript draft; All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported bythe Lebanese University and the Undergraduate Research Experience funds at the American University of Beirut.
Institutional review board statement: There was no need to provide an Institutional Review Board Approval Form or Document since no human or animal subjects were involved in this study.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Hala Khalife, PhD, Professor, Rammal Rammal Laboratory (ATAC Group), Faculty of Sciences I, Rafic Hariri University Campus, Hadath 1003, Lebanon and Applied Biochemistry Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Camerino University, Camerino 62032, Italy. hala-khalifeh@hotmail.com
Received: December 28, 2022 Peer-review started: December 28, 2022 First decision: March 15, 2023 Revised: March 24, 2023 Accepted: April 12, 2023 Article in press: April 12, 2023 Published online: May 24, 2023 Processing time: 141 Days and 19.6 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background
Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases including cancer. Propolis, the third most important component of bee products, and Thymoquinone (TQ), the main constituent of Nigella sativa essential oil, were extensively reported to have antioxidant and anticancer effects. However, the antioxidant potential of the combination of these natural products as well as their anticancer activity against breast and colorectal cancer cells have not been investigated yet.
Research motivation
To establish a new therapeutic approach for oxidative stress induced cancers using a combination of natural agents from food and diets.
Research objectives
To investigate the antioxidant and anticancer potential of Lebanese propolis and TQ alone and in combination.
Research methods
Folin–Ciocalteu method was used to determine the total phenolic content of the methanolic extract of propolis. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay and the H2O2-induced oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes in vitro assay were employed to assess the antioxidant activity of TQ and Lebanese propolis. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the anticancer activity of these natural agents in single and dual treatment against HCT-116 human colorectal cancer cells and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells in vitro.
Research results
Combination of TQ with Lebanese propolis at half its concentration improved the antioxidant and anticancer activity of propolis as reflected by the enhanced DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibitory effects against breast and colorectal cancer cells.
Research conclusions
Our results suggest the use of a combination of TQ and Lebanese propolis as potential therapy for the management of oxidative stress and treatment of breast and colorectal cancer. This is the first study to report the promising enhancement in Lebanese propolis antioxidant and anticancer activity when combined with TQ.
Research perspectives
Further research on the antioxidant and anticancer mechanisms of the combination of these natural agents and its therapeutic effects in animal models of oxidative stress should be performed in the future.
