Comment: An herb recently found to kill pancreatic cancer cells also appears to inhibit development of pancreatic cancer as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties, according to researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson. The data were presented at the AACR 100th Annual Meeting 2009 in Denver. Thymoquinone, the major constituent of the oil extract from a Middle Eastern herbal seed called Nigella sativa, exhibited anti-inflammatory properties that reduced the release of inflammatory mediators in pancreatic cancer cells. Nigella sativa seeds and oil are used in traditional medicine by many Middle Eastern and Asian countries. It helps treat a broad array of diseases, including some immune and inflammatory disorders. The researchers used pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) cells, some of which were pretreated with the cytokine TNF-alpha to induce inflammation. Thymoquinone almost completely abolished the expression of several inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-8, Cox-2 and MCP-1. The herb also inhibited the activation and synthesis of NF-kappaB, a transcription factor that has been implicated in inflammation-associated cancer. Activation of NF-kappaB has been observed in pancreatic cancer and may be a factor in pancreatic cancer’s resistance to chemotherapeutic agents.

An Herbal Extract Inhibits the Development of Pancreatic Cancer
Reading Time: < 1 minute
Recent Posts
- Clinical Education and The Institute for Functional Medicine: Closing a Valued Chapter, Continuing a Shared Vision April 29, 2025
- The Evolution of Metabolic Health: From Gut to Brain and Beyond March 21, 2025
- The Emerging Concern of Microplastic Bioaccumulation in the Human Brain February 5, 2025
- Polygonal Theory and Its Impact on the Gut-Brain Axis January 22, 2025
- IBS Relief: Is Combining Low-FODMAP and Gluten-Free the Answer? January 9, 2025
Recent Comments
- Vanessa Williams on Clinical Education and The Institute for Functional Medicine: Closing a Valued Chapter, Continuing a Shared Vision
- Afifah Hamilton MNIMH on Clinical Education and The Institute for Functional Medicine: Closing a Valued Chapter, Continuing a Shared Vision
- Claire Tozer on IFM Advanced Practice Module: Environmental Health Europe
- Claire Tozer on AFMCP Europe 2025 – Blended Online and In-Person
- Farah Baig on AFMCP Europe 2025 – Blended Online and In-Person
Tags
A(H1N1)
allergies
anti-aging
antibiotics
antioxidants
autism
autoimmune
bacteria
brain
CAM
cancer
cardiovascular
coeliac
cytokines
depression
detoxification
diet
dysbiosis
EFAs
evidence
gut
gut health
IBD
IBS
immune
immunity
inflammation
Lifestyle
microbiome
microbiota
mucosal
nutrition
obesity
pandemic
prevention
probiotics
regulatory T cells
research
sleep
swine flu
treatment
virus
Vitamin A
vitamin D
vitamins