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
- 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
- Investigating the Link between Visceral Fat and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review of the Evidence December 5, 2024
- Obesity’s Epigenetic Memory: Unravelling the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Weight Loss Resistance November 20, 2024
Recent Comments
- Ailsa Reed on AFMCP Europe 2025 – Blended Online and In-Person
- Swathy Kothapalli on AFMCP Europe 2025 – Blended Online and In-Person
- Claire Gardin on AFMCP Europe 2025 – Blended Online and In-Person
- Dr Gurraj Singh Jabbal on AFMCP Europe 2025 – Blended Online and In-Person
- Ailsa Reed 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