Published online May 24, 2023. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v14.i5.203
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
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.
To establish a new therapeutic approach for oxidative stress induced cancers using a combination of natural agents from food and diets.
To investigate the antioxidant and anticancer potential of Lebanese propolis and TQ alone and in combination.
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.
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.
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.
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.