ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF THYMOQUINONE ATTENUATES BENZO (A) PYRENE INDUCED LUNG CARCINOGENESIS IN MALE SWISS ALBINO MICE

Objective: The present study has been designed to unravel the anticancer potential of thymoquinone against Benzo(a)pyrene induced lung cancer in male swiss albino mice. Thymoquinone (C10H12O20 )is a bioactive compound derived from the medicinal plant Nigella sativa. Thymoquinone (TQ) has been shown to exert anticancer effect on various cancer cell lines and there is no study on the efficacy of TQ on Benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] induced lung carcinogenesis in male swiss albino mice. Methods: The changes in heme indices ( RBC, Hb, WBC, monocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils), membrane bound ATPases (Na+/K+ ATPase, Mg2+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase) in control and experimental animals were analysed in serum and lung tissue homogenate. Results: Lung cancer induced animals showed a considerably altered levels of heme indices with concomitant decreased levels of membrane bound ATPases in the lung tissue and erythrocyte membrane. Oral administration of TQ at a dose of 20mg/kg b.w brought back the levels of the biochemical parameters to near normal. Conclusion: TQ supplementation restored the detrimental effects induced by B (a) P, indicating its anticancer potential in the treatment of experimental lung carcinogenesis