Black cumin increases the effectiveness of many BC treatments

Posted: November 10, 2015

Study:	The combination of thymoquinone and paclitaxel shows anti-tumor activity through the interplay with apoptosis network in triple-negative breast cancer Cite Şakalar Ç, İzgi K, İskender B, Sezen S, Aksu H, Çakır M, et al. The combination of thymoquinone and paclitaxel shows anti-tumor activity through the interplay with apoptosis network in triple-negative breast cancer. Tumor Biology. Springer Science and Business Media LLC; 2015; 37:4467-4477 10.1007/s13277-015-4307-0
Source:	Food for Breast Cancer

Study:

The combination of thymoquinone and paclitaxel shows anti-tumor activity through the interplay with apoptosis network in triple-negative breast cancer Cite

Şakalar Ç, İzgi K, İskender B, Sezen S, Aksu H, Çakır M, et al. The combination of thymoquinone and paclitaxel shows anti-tumor activity through the interplay with apoptosis network in triple-negative breast cancer. Tumor Biology. Springer Science and Business Media LLC; 2015; 37:4467-4477 10.1007/s13277-015-4307-0

Source:

Food for Breast Cancer

Black cumin enhances breast cancer treatment

We have added a new food to Food for Breast Cancer: black cumin. Below is the write-up.

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds are used as a spice in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking. Thymoquinone, the major bioactive compound in black cumin seeds, has been shown to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive properties.

In addition to its role as a spice, black cumin has traditionally been used to treat various diseases, including fever, intestinal problems, diabetes, asthma and cancer.

Breast cancer effects of black cumin

Numerous studies have reported that thymoquinone or black cumin seed extract have anti-cancer activity in animal models of triple negative (ER-/PR-/HER2-) breast cancer, as well as in ER-/PR-/HER2- breast cancer cells. Thymoquinone has antiproliferative effects and promotes programmed cell death. The picture is less clear in hormone receptor positive (ER+/PR+) breast cancer—some studies have reported only a modest reduction in growth or proliferation as a result of treatment with thymoquinone.

Thymoquinone has been shown to increases the effectiveness of Taxol, Taxotere, Adriamycin and cisplatin in both ER+/PR+ and ER-/PR-/HER2- breast cancer models. For example, one study using tumor-bearing mice reported that the combination of thymoquinone plus Adriamycin suppressed tumor growth more than treatment with Adriamycin alone. Thymoquinone also potentiates the cytotoxic effects of tamoxifen in ER+/PR+ breast cancer. In addition, thymoquinone has been shown to radiosensitize ER+/PR+ breast cancer cells, thereby increasing the treatment effects of radiotherapy.

Additional comments

Black cumin is a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It is also known as black seed, Roman coriander, fennel flower, nutmeg flower and black caraway. Hence, it is important to verify that you are purchasing Nigella sativa. Organic is best since it reduces the likelihood of contamination or admixture of other spices. Black cumin can be ground and used similarly to black pepper in cooking. Black cumin is not related to cumin (Cuminum cyminum), which a member of the parsley family.

Although black cumin seed oil is available as a supplement, we do not recommend it. The safety of this more concentrated source of thymoquinone has not been established. Like other compounds with anti-cancer effects found in food, we favor using thymoquinone at the relatively low dose available in black cumin seeds rather than attempting to obtain pharmacological effects from a higher dose.

Selected breast cancer studies

Dual drug-loaded paclitaxel–thymoquinone nanoparticles for effective breast cancer therapy Cite
Soni P, Kaur J, Tikoo K. Dual drug-loaded paclitaxel–thymoquinone nanoparticles for effective breast cancer therapy. Journal of Nanoparticle Research. Springer Science and Business Media LLC; 2015; 17 10.1007/s11051-014-2821-4
P0051 Immunomodulator effect of black cumin seed oil (BCO) in the inhibition of breast cancer carcinogenesis in Dimenthylbenzantracene (DMBA)-induced SD rats Cite
Akrom A, Marstyawan H, Mustofa M. P0051 Immunomodulator effect of black cumin seed oil (BCO) in the inhibition of breast cancer carcinogenesis in Dimenthylbenzantracene (DMBA)-induced SD rats. European Journal of Cancer. Elsevier BV; 2014; 50:e22 10.1016/j.ejca.2014.03.095
Proapoptotic and Antimetastatic Properties of Supercritical CO2 Extract of Nigella sativa Linn. Against Breast Cancer Cells Cite
Baharetha HM, Nassar ZD, Aisha AF, Ahamed MBK, Al-Suede FSR, Kadir MOA, et al. Proapoptotic and Antimetastatic Properties of Supercritical CO2 Extract of Nigella sativa Linn. Against Breast Cancer Cells. Journal of Medicinal Food. Mary Ann Liebert Inc; 2013; 16:1121-1130 10.1089/jmf.2012.2624
Thymoquinone Inhibits Tumor Growth and Induces Apoptosis in a Breast Cancer Xenograft Mouse Model: The Role of p38 MAPK and ROS Cite
Woo CC, Hsu A, Kumar AP, Sethi G, Tan KHB. Thymoquinone Inhibits Tumor Growth and Induces Apoptosis in a Breast Cancer Xenograft Mouse Model: The Role of p38 MAPK and ROS. PLoS ONE. Public Library of Science (PLoS); 2013; 8:e75356 10.1371/journal.pone.0075356
Targeted Apoptotic Effects of Thymoquinone and Tamoxifen on XIAP Mediated Akt Regulation in Breast Cancer Cite
Rajput S, Kumar BNP, Sarkar S, Das S, Azab B, Santhekadur PK, et al. Targeted Apoptotic Effects of Thymoquinone and Tamoxifen on XIAP Mediated Akt Regulation in Breast Cancer. PLoS ONE. Public Library of Science (PLoS); 2013; 8:e61342 10.1371/journal.pone.0061342
NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 mediates breast cancer cell resistance to thymoquinone-induced apoptosis Cite
Sutton KM, Doucette CD, Hoskin DW. NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 mediates breast cancer cell resistance to thymoquinone-induced apoptosis. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Elsevier BV; 2012; 426:421-426 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.08.111
Radiosensitization in human breast carcinoma cells by thymoquinone: role of cell cycle and apoptosis Cite
Velho‑Pereira R, Kumar A, Pandey BN, Jagtap AG, Mishra KP. Radiosensitization in human breast carcinoma cells by thymoquinone: role of cell cycle and apoptosis. Cell Biology International. Wiley; 2011; 35:1025-1029 10.1042/cbi20100701
Anticancer activity of thymoquinone in breast cancer cells: Possible involvement of PPAR-γ pathway Cite
Woo CC, Loo SY, Gee V, Yap CW, Sethi G, Kumar AP, et al. Anticancer activity of thymoquinone in breast cancer cells: Possible involvement of PPAR-γ pathway. Biochemical Pharmacology. Elsevier BV; 2011; 82:464-475 10.1016/j.bcp.2011.05.030
Antioxidant potency of cumin varieties—cumin, black cumin and bitter cumin—on antioxidant systems Cite
Thippeswamy NB, Naidu KA. Antioxidant potency of cumin varieties—cumin, black cumin and bitter cumin—on antioxidant systems. European Food Research and Technology. Springer Science and Business Media LLC; 2005; 220:472-476 10.1007/s00217-004-1087-y
Radical Scavenging Activity of Black Cumin (Nigella sativaL.), Coriander (Coriandrum sativumL.), and Niger (Guizotia abyssinicaCass.) Crude Seed Oils and Oil Fractions Cite
Ramadan MF, Kroh LW, Mörsel J. Radical Scavenging Activity of Black Cumin (Nigella sativaL.), Coriander (Coriandrum sativumL.), and Niger (Guizotia abyssinicaCass.) Crude Seed Oils and Oil Fractions. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. American Chemical Society (ACS); 2003; 51:6961-6969 10.1021/jf0346713

Breast cancer effects of black cumin

Additional comments

Selected breast cancer studies

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