Targeting MicroRNAs with Thymoquinone: a New Approach for Cancer Therapy

Overview

Journal Cell Mol Biol Lett

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Date 2021 Oct 10

PMID 34627167

Citations 12

Authors

Mina Homayoonfal

Zatollah Asemi

Bahman Yousefi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cancer is a global disease involving transformation of normal cells into tumor types via numerous mechanisms, with mortality among all generations, in spite of the breakthroughs in chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery for cancer treatment. Since one in six deaths is due to cancer, it is one of the overriding priorities of world health. Recently, bioactive natural compounds have been widely recognized due to their therapeutic effects for treatment of various chronic disorders, notably cancer. Thymoquinone (TQ), the most valuable constituent of black cumin seeds, has shown anti-cancer characteristics in a wide range of animal models. The revolutionary findings have revealed TQ's ability to regulate microRNA (miRNA) expression, offering a promising approach for cancer therapy. MiRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that modulate gene expression by means of variation in features of mRNA. MiRNAs manage several biological processes including gene expression and cellular signaling pathways. Accordingly, miRNAs can be considered as hallmarks for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. The purpose of this study was to review the various molecular mechanisms by which TQ exerts its potential as an anti-cancer agent through modulating miRNAs.

Citing Articles

Thymoquinone-protoflavone hybrid molecules as potential antitumor agents.

Ahmed S, Tayeb B, Gonda T, Girst G, Szori K, Berkecz R PLoS One. 2024; 19(1):e0291567.

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Thymoquinone Potentially Modulates the Expression of Key Onco- and Tumor Suppressor miRNAs in Prostate and Colon Cancer Cell Lines: Insights from PC3 and HCT-15 Cells.

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Thymoquinone Suppresses Angiogenesis in DEN-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting miR-1-3p.

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