Effects of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) on patients with cancer and tumor: A systematic Review

Abstract

Experimental studies demonstrated a positive effect of administration of Nigella sativa L. (Black cumin) and its active chemical components on cancer and tumor through the antioxidant and anticancer activity. This study aimed to determine the beneficial effect of the use of black cumin in patients with cancer and tumor. This systematic review includes 4 randomized controlled trials that investigated the effect of the administration of black cumin in human cancer. Articles were searched in PubMed, Cochrane library, Semantic scholar and directory of open access journal (DOAJ), open grey and grey literature report databases for studies from 1983 to 2020 before May using the following keywords, Nigella sativa, black cumin, cancer, tumor, etc. The results examined that N. sativa is much effective in treating breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, brain tumor, and acute myeloid leukemia. According to the limited evidence from the study, black cumin may have favorable effects on cancer and tumor. However, more research is needed on different types of cancer to confirm and establish the above findings.

Common Applications of Black Cumin Seed (Nigella sativa) Oil in Folk Medicine

“…The combination of BCSO (10 mL/Kg) with sodium valproate (100 mg/kg) and phenytoin sodium (25 mg/kg) as standard medicines in PTZ-induced convulsion has potentiated antioxidant activity and enhanced the level of GABA in the brain, increased neuroprotective effects and prevent episode development 184,185 . Similarly, in another investigation, BCSO in a dose of 10 mL/kg orally for 7 days was shown to improve malonaldehyde (MDA) level as well as a decrease in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels in the brains of mice who had a PTZinduced seizure 4 .…”

“…The interplay between TQ and downregulation of the epigenetic regulators which typically promote cell proliferation and shield cells from apoptosis by blocking the expression of a variety of tumor suppressor genes could be the underlying mechanism 193 . In human adeno-and ductal carcinoma cells including Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7), TQ demonstrated antiproliferative effects by promoting apoptosis through p38 phosphorylation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, activating caspases, and Bax while decreasing Bcl-2 4,194 . Moreover, TQ mediated apoptosis in human colon adenocarcinoma HCT116 cells as it inhibited STAT3 pathway 195 .…”