Important Bioactive From Plants!
Thymoquinone is a monoterpene compound appearing as orange to brown crystals and is the major bioactive constituent found in the volatile oil of Nigella sativa (Black Seed or Black Cumin). Other notable plant sources include a variety of species from the Lamiaceae family such as Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot), as well as species within Agastache, Origanum, Satureja, and Thymus.
Among its possible health benefits:
· Antioxidant
· Antiinflammatory
· Anticancer
· Antibacterial
· Antifungal
· Hepatoprotective
· Nephroprotective
· Cardioprotective
· Analgesic
· Anticonvulsant
· Angiogenesis inhibition
· Immunomodulatory
An interesting 2024 study isolated thymoquinone from Nigella sativa essential oil and demonstrated its significant antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic effects. The compound not only scavenged free radicals but also inhibited lung cancer A549 cell viability. In molecular docking and simulation, thymoquinone showed stable, strong binding with the Keap1 protein, suggesting a role in modulating the antioxidant response. These findings highlight thymoquinone’s promising potential for therapeutic applications targeting oxidative stress and cancer, and underscore the need for further research, especially in drug development and clinical settings.
Thymoquinone-
