Epigenetic role of thymoquinone: impact on cellular mechanism and cancer therapeutics.

Abstract

Thymoquinone is a natural product known for its anticancer activity. Preclinical studies indicated numerous mechanisms of action by which thymoquinone exerts its effects on cancer cells. Recent evidence has indicated that thymoquinone can modulate epigenetic machinery, like modifying histone acetylation and deacetylation, DNA methylation and demethylation, which are among the major epigenetic changes that can contribute to carcinogenesis. Moreover, thymoquinone can alter the genetic expression of various noncoding RNAs, such as miRNA and lncRNA, which are the key parts of cellular epigenetics. This review focuses on cellular epigenetic systems, epigenetic changes responsible for cancer and the counteraction of thymoquinone to target epigenetic challenges, which might be among the mechanisms of the thymoquinone effect in cancer cells.

• Authors: Md Asaduzzaman Khan, Mousumi Tania, Junjiang Fu
• Journal: Drug discovery today (Drug Discov Today) Vol. 24 Issue 12 Pg. 2315-2322 (12 2019) ISSN: 1878-5832 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31541714 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Benzoquinones
• Histones
• RNA, Untranslated
• thymoquinone

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (pharmacology)
• Benzoquinones (pharmacology)
• DNA Methylation (genetics)
• Epigenesis, Genetic
• Histones (metabolism)
• Humans
• Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics)
• RNA, Untranslated (genetics)