Thymoquinone / Catalase Cancer Research Results

TQ, Thymoquinone: Click to Expand ⟱

Features: Anti-oxidant, anti-tumor

Thymoquinone is a bioactive compound found in the seeds of Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed or black cumin.
Pathways:
-Cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, ROS generation in cancer cells
-inhibit the activation of NF-κB, Suppress the PI3K/Akt signaling cascade
-Inhibit angiogenic factors such as VEGF, MMPs
-Inhibit HDACs, UHRF1, and DNMTs

-Note half-life 3-6hrs.
BioAv low oral bioavailability due to its lipophilic nature. Note refridgeration of Black seed oil improves the stability of TQ.
DIY: ~1 part lecithin : 2–3 parts black seed oil : 4–5 parts warm water. (chat ai)
Pathways:
- usually induce ROS production in Cancer cells, and lowers ROS in normal cells
- ROS↑ related: MMP↓(ΔΨm), ER Stress↑, GRP78↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspases↑, DNA damage↑, cl-PARP↑, HSP↓, Prx,
- May Low AntiOxidant defense in Cancer Cells: NRF2↓(usually contrary), GSH↓ HO1↓(contrary), GPx↓
- Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓, NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, Catalase↑">Catalase↑,
- lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, p38↓, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : NLRP3↓, IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓, IL-8↓
- inhibit Growth/Metastases : TumMeta↓, TumCG↓, EMT↓, MMPs↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, VEGF↓, FAK↓, NF-κB↓, CXCR4↓, TGF-β↓, ERK↓
- reactivate genes thereby inhibiting cancer cell growth : HDAC↓, DNMTs↓, EZH2↓, P53↑, HSP↓, Sp proteins↓, TET↑
- cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑, cyclin D1↓, cyclin E↓, CDK2↓, CDK4↓, CDK6↓,
- inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, TNF-α↓, FAK↓, ERK↓, EMT↓,
- inhibits glycolysis /Warburg Effect and ATP depletion : HIF-1α↓, PKM2↓, cMyc↓, GLUT1↓, LDH↓, LDHA↓, HK2↓, PDKs↓, GRP78↑, GlucoseCon↓
- inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓, Notch↓, EGFR↓, Integrins↓,
- Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, JAK↓, STAT↓, Wnt↓, β-catenin↓, AMPK, α↓, ERK↓, JNK,
- Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, RadioProtective, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective, CardioProtective,

- Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells

Rank	Pathway / Target Axis	Direction	Label	Primary Effect	Notes / Cancer Relevance	Ref
1	Reactive oxygen species (ROS)	↑ ROS	Driver	Upstream cytotoxic trigger	Primary studies show TQ rapidly increases ROS; antioxidant/ROS modulation attenuates downstream effects, supporting ROS as an initiating mechanism in multiple cancer contexts	(ref)
2	Glutathione (GSH) redox buffering	↓ GSH	Driver	Redox-collapse amplification	Same prostate cancer study reports early GSH depletion alongside ROS rise; together these form a redox “one-two punch” that helps explain selective stress in tumor cells	(ref)
3	Mitochondrial integrity (ΔΨm)	↓ ΔΨm	Driver	Mitochondrial dysfunction (MOMP axis)	Primary leukemia/cancer study reports disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential after TQ exposure (mitochondrial events central to TQ-mediated death)	(ref)
4	Intrinsic apoptosis (caspase-9 → caspase-3; PARP)	↑ caspases / ↑ apoptosis	Driver	Execution-phase cell death	Same primary paper reports activation of caspases (8/9/3) with mitochondrial involvement—core evidence for apoptosis as the major outcome pathway	(ref)
5	NF-κB signaling	↓ NF-κB activity	Secondary	Reduced pro-survival / inflammatory transcription	Colon cancer work: TQ induces cell death and chemosensitizes cells by inhibiting NF-κB signaling (explicit pathway-direction support)	(ref)
6	STAT3 signaling	↓ p-STAT3 / ↓ STAT3 activation	Secondary	Reduced survival/proliferation signaling	Gastric cancer study explicitly reports TQ suppresses constitutive STAT3 activation and related signaling readouts	(ref)
7	NRF2 antioxidant-response axis (NRF2/HO-1 program)	↑ NRF2 pathway (often as stress-response)	Adaptive	Cellular antioxidant counter-response	In TNBC context, a primary study reports TQ upregulates NRF2 (and evaluates downstream immune/checkpoint consequences), consistent with NRF2 acting as an adaptive response to redox stress	(ref)
8	HIF-1α hypoxia signaling	↓ HIF-1α protein / ↓ HIF-1α program	Adaptive	Loss of hypoxia survival signaling	Renal cancer hypoxia paper identifies TQ as suppressing HIF-1α and links this to selective killing under hypoxia	(ref)
9	Glycolysis / Warburg output (hypoxia-linked)	↓ glycolysis (↓ HIF-1α–mediated glycolytic genes; ↓ glycolytic metabolism)	Phenotypic	Metabolic suppression	In hypoxic renal cancer, TQ suppresses HIF-1α–mediated glycolysis; in CRC, TQ inhibits glycolytic metabolism alongside tumor growth limitation	(ref) \| (ref)

Catalase, Catalase: Click to Expand ⟱

Source:

Type:

Caspases are a cysteine protease that speed up a chemical reaction via pointing their target substrates following an aspartic acid residue.1 They are grouped into apoptotic (caspase-2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) and inflammatory (caspase-1, 4, 5, 11 and 12) mediated caspases.
Caspase-1 may have both tumorigenic or antitumorigenic effects on cancer development and progression, but it depends on the type of inflammasome, methodology, and cancer.
Catalase is an enzyme found in nearly all living cells exposed to oxygen. Its primary role is to protect cells from oxidative damage by catalyzing the conversion of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a potentially damaging byproduct of metabolism, into water (H₂O) and oxygen (O₂). This detoxification process is crucial because excess H₂O₂ can lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage proteins, lipids, and DNA.

Catalase and Cancer
Oxidative Stress and Cancer:
Cancer cells often experience increased levels of oxidative stress due to rapid proliferation and metabolic changes. This stress can lead to DNA damage, promoting tumorigenesis.
Catalase helps mitigate oxidative stress, and its expression can influence the survival and proliferation of cancer cells.
Expression Levels in Different Cancers:
Overexpression: In some cancers, such as breast cancer and certain types of leukemia, catalase may be overexpressed. This overexpression can help cancer cells survive in oxidative environments, potentially leading to more aggressive tumor behavior.
Downregulation: Conversely, in other cancers, such as colorectal cancer, reduced catalase expression has been observed. This downregulation can lead to increased oxidative stress, contributing to tumor progression and metastasis.
Prognostic Implications:
Survival Rates: Studies have shown that high levels of catalase expression can be associated with poor prognosis in certain cancers, as it may enable cancer cells to resist apoptosis (programmed cell death) induced by oxidative stress.

Some types of cancer cells have been reported to exhibit lower catalase activity, possibly increasing their vulnerability to oxidative damage under certain conditions. This vulnerability has even been exploited in some therapeutic strategies (for example, approaches that generate excess H₂O₂ or other ROS specifically targeting cancer cells have been researched).

Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱

3410-

TQ,

Anti-inflammatory effects of thymoquinone and its protective effects against several diseases

Review,

Arthritis,

*Inflam↓, *antiOx↑, *COX2↓, *NRF2↑, *HO-1↑, *IL1β↓, *IL6↓, *TNF-α↓, *IFN-γ↓, *PGE2↓, *cardioP↑, *Catalase↑, *SOD↑, *Thiols↑, *neuroP↑, *IL12↓, *MCP1↓, *CXCc↓, *ROS↓,

3404-

TQ,

The Neuroprotective Effects of Thymoquinone: A Review

Review,

Var,

Review,

AD,

Review,

Park,

Review,

Stroke,

*Inflam↓, AntiCan↑, *TNF-α↓, *IL6↓, *IL1β↓, *NF-kB↓, *iNOS↓, *NRF2↑, *neuroP↑, *MMP↑, *ROS↓, *MDA↓, *GSH↑, *Catalase↑, *SOD↑, *IL12↓, *MCP1↓, *IP-10/CXCL-10↓, *PGE2↓,

3422-

TQ,

Thymoquinone, as a Novel Therapeutic Candidate of Cancers

Review,

Var,

selectivity↑, P53↑, PTEN↑, NF-kB↓, PPARγ↓, cMyc↓, Casp↑, *BioAv↓, BioAv↝, eff↑, survivin↓, Bcl-xL↓, Bcl-2↓, Akt↓, BAX↑, cl‑PARP↑, CXCR4↓, MMP9↓, VEGFR2↓, Ki-67↓, COX2↓, JAK2↓, cSrc↓, Apoptosis↑, p‑STAT3↓, cycD1/CCND1↓, Casp3↑, Casp7↑, Casp9↑, N-cadherin↓, Vim↓, Twist↓, E-cadherin↑, ChemoSen↑, eff↑, EMT↓, ROS↑, DNMT1↓, eff↑, EZH2↓, hepatoP↑, Zeb1↓, RadioS↑, HDAC↓, HDAC1↓, HDAC2↓, HDAC3↓, *NAD↑, *SIRT1↑, SIRT1↓, *Inflam↓, *CRP↓, *TNF-α↓, *IL6↓, *IL1β↓, *eff↑, *MDA↓, *NO↓, *GSH↑, *SOD↑, *Catalase↑, *GPx↑, PI3K↓, mTOR↓,

3400-

TQ,

Chemo,

Thymoquinone Ameliorates Carfilzomib-Induced Renal Impairment by Modulating Oxidative Stress Markers, Inflammatory/Apoptotic Mediators, and Augmenting Nrf2 in Rats

in-vitro,

Nor,

10 and 20 mg/kg b.w.)

TQ against CFZ-induced renal toxicity in rats

*GSH↑, *SOD↑, *lipid-P↓, *IL1β↓, *IL6↓, *TNF-α↓, *Casp3↓, *Catalase↑, *NRF2↑, *RenoP↑,

3399-

TQ,

Anticancer Effects of Thymoquinone through the Antioxidant Activity, Upregulation of Nrf2, and Downregulation of PD-L1 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

in-vitro,

BC,

MDA-MB-231

NA,

BC,

MDA-MB-468

ROS↓, H2O2↓, Catalase↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, NQO1↑, GCLM↑, NRF2↑, PD-L1↓, GSSG↑, GPx1⇅, GPx4↓,

3398-

TQ,

5-FU,

Impact of thymoquinone on the Nrf2/HO-1 and MAPK/NF-κB axis in mitigating 5-fluorouracil-induced acute kidney injury in vivo

in-vivo,

Nor,

50-100mg/kg bw

Male albino Wistar rats

*RenoP↑, *TAC↑, *ROS↓, *lipid-P↓, *p38↓, *MAPK↓, *NF-kB↓, *NRF2↑, *HO-1↑, *MDA↓, *GPx↑, *GSR↑, *Catalase↑, *BUN↓, *LDH↓, *IL1β↓,

3397-

TQ,

Thymoquinone: A Promising Therapeutic Agent for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Review,

CRC,

6-112uM (table 1)

ChemoSen↑, *Half-Life↝, *BioAv↝, *antiOx↑, *Inflam↓, *hepatoP↑, TumCP↓, TumCCA↑, Apoptosis↑, angioG↑, selectivity↑, JNK↑, p38↑, p‑NF-kB↑, ERK↓, PI3K↓, PTEN↑, Akt↓, mTOR↓, EMT↓, Twist↓, E-cadherin↓, ROS⇅, *Catalase↑, *SOD↑, *GSTA1↑, *GPx↑, *PGE2↓, *IL1β↓, *COX2↓, *MMP13↓, MMPs↓, TumMeta↓, VEGF↓, STAT3↓, BAX↑, Bcl-2↑, Casp9↑, Casp7↑, Casp3↑, cl‑PARP↑, survivin↓, cMyc↓, cycD1/CCND1↓, p27↑, P21↑, GSK‐3β↓, β-catenin/ZEB1↓, chemoP↑,

4538-

TQ,

Thymoquinone Anticancer Effects Through the Upregulation of NRF2 and the Downregulation of PD‐L1 in MDA‐MB‐231 Triple‐Negative Breast Cancer Cells

in-vitro,

BC,

MDA-MB-231

in-vitro,

BC,

MDA-MB-468

antiOx↑, H2O2↓, Catalase↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, PRNP↑, NQO1↑, GCLM↑, NRF2↑, PD-L1↓, chemoPv↑, ROS↓,

5024-

TQ,

Thymoquinone: A Tie-Breaker in SARS-CoV2-Infected Cancer Patients?

Review,

Covid,

*NRF2↑, *NF-kB↓, *Inflam↓, *ROS↓, *HO-1↑, antiOx↑, GSH↑, GSTs↑, GSR↑, SOD1↑, Catalase↑, GPx↑, p62↓, Beclin-1↑, Sepsis↓, cardioP↑, hepatoP↑, neuroP↑,

3559-

TQ,

Molecular signaling pathway targeted therapeutic potential of thymoquinone in Alzheimer’s disease

Review,

AD,

Review,

Var,

*antiOx↑, *Inflam↓, *AChE↓, AntiCan↑, *cardioP↑, *RenoP↑, *neuroP↑, *hepatoP↑, TumCG↓, Apoptosis↑, PI3K↓, Akt↑, TumCCA↑, angioG↓, *NF-kB↓, *TLR2↓, *TLR4↓, *MyD88↓, *TRIF↓, *IRF3↓, *IL1β↓, *IL6↓, *IL12↓, *NRF2↑, *COX2↓, *VEGF↓, *MMP9↓, *cMyc↓, *cycD1/CCND1↓, *TumCP↓, *TumCI↓, *MDA↓, *TGF-β↓, *CRP↓, *Casp3↓, *GSH↑, *IL10↑, *iNOS↑, *lipid-P↓, *SOD↑, *H2O2↓, *ROS↓, *LDH↓, *Catalase↑, *GPx↑, *AChE↓, *cognitive↑, *MAPK↑, *JNK↑, *BAX↓, *memory↑, *Aβ↓, *MMP↑,

2092-

TQ,

Dissecting the Potential Roles of Nigella sativa and Its Constituent Thymoquinone on the Prevention and on the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Review,

AD,

*iNOS↓, *ROS↓, *GSH↑, *neuroP↑, *MMPs↓, *MMP↑, *TXNIP↓, *Prx↑, *memory↑, *MDA↓, *SOD↑, *Catalase↑, *BioAv↑,

2086-

TQ,

Cardioprotective effects of Nigella sativa oil on cyclosporine A-induced cardiotoxicity in rats

in-vivo,

Nor,

 N. sativa oil (21 days, 2 ml/kg, orally)

24 male Wistar albino young healthy rats (8-12 weeks) weighing 150-200 g

*SOD↑, *Catalase↑, *GSH↑, *cardioP↑, *lipid-P↓,

2087-

TQ,

Nigella sativa thymoquinone-rich fraction greatly improves plasma antioxidant capacity and expression of antioxidant genes in hypercholesterolemic rats

in-vivo,

Nor,

rats

*LDL↓, *SOD1↑, *Catalase↑, *GPx↑, *antiOx↑,

2088-

TQ,

Nigella sativa L. and Its Bioactive Constituents as Hepatoprotectant: A Review

Review,

Nor,

*hepatoP↑, *lipid-P↓, *Thiols↑, *ROS↓, *Catalase↑, *SOD↑, *GSTs↑, *NF-kB↓, *COX2↓, *LOX1↓,

2089-

TQ,

Modulation of Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Neuronal Cells by Thymoquinone-Rich Fraction and Thymoquinone via Transcriptomic Regulation of Antioxidant and Apoptotic Signaling Genes

in-vitro,

Nor,

SH-SY5Y

*neuroP↑, *ROS↓, *SOD1↑, *Catalase↑,

1937-

TQ,

Migration and Proliferation Effects of Thymoquinone-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (TQ-NLC) and Thymoquinone (TQ) on In Vitro Wound Healing Models

NA,

Nor,

3T3

3-12uM

*ROS↓, *antiOx↓, *BioAv↓, *BioAv↑, *NO↑, *SOD↑, *GPx↑, *Catalase↑,

2121-

TQ,

Thymoquinone Inhibits Tumor Growth and Induces Apoptosis in a Breast Cancer Xenograft Mouse Model: The Role of p38 MAPK and ROS

in-vitro,

BC,

MCF-7

in-vitro,

BC,

MDA-MB-231

p‑p38↑, ROS↑, TumCP↓, eff↑, XIAP↓, survivin↓, Bcl-xL↓, Bcl-2↓, Ki-67↓, *Catalase↑, *SOD↑, *GSH↑, hepatoP↑, p‑MAPK↑, JNK↓, eff↓,

2106-

TQ,

Cancer: Thymoquinone antioxidant/pro-oxidant effect as potential anticancer remedy

Review,

Var,

Apoptosis↑, TumCCA↑, ROS↑, *Catalase↑, *SOD↑, *GR↑, *GSTA1↓, *GPx↑, *H2O2↓, *ROS↓, *lipid-P↓, *HO-1↑, p‑Akt↓, AMPKα↑, NK cell↑, selectivity↑, Dose↝, eff↑, GSH↓, eff↓, P53↑, p‑STAT3↓, PI3K↑, MAPK↑, GSK‐3β↑, ChemoSen↑, RadioS↑, BioAv↓, NRF2↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 18 of 18

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 18

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:

Infection & Microbiome ⓘ

Sepsis↓, 1,
Total Targets: 111

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:

Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↓, 1, antiOx↑, 4, Catalase↑, 15, GPx↑, 7, GSH↑, 7, GSR↑, 1, GSTA1↓, 1, GSTA1↑, 1, GSTs↑, 1, H2O2↓, 2, HO-1↑, 4, lipid-P↓, 6, MDA↓, 5, NRF2↑, 6, Prx↑, 1, ROS↓, 10, SOD↑, 12, SOD1↑, 2, TAC↑, 1, Thiols↑, 2,

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

MMP↑, 3,

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

BUN↓, 1, cMyc↓, 1, LDH↓, 2, LDL↓, 1, NAD↑, 1, SIRT1↑, 1,

Cell Death ⓘ

BAX↓, 1, Casp3↓, 2, iNOS↓, 2, iNOS↑, 1, JNK↑, 1, MAPK↓, 1, MAPK↑, 1, p38↓, 1,

Cell Cycle & Senescence ⓘ

cycD1/CCND1↓, 1,

Migration ⓘ

MMP13↓, 1, MMP9↓, 1, MMPs↓, 1, TGF-β↓, 1, TumCI↓, 1, TumCP↓, 1, TXNIP↓, 1,

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

LOX1↓, 1, NO↓, 1, NO↑, 1, VEGF↓, 1,

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

COX2↓, 4, CRP↓, 2, CXCc↓, 1, IFN-γ↓, 1, IL10↑, 1, IL12↓, 3, IL1β↓, 7, IL6↓, 5, Inflam↓, 6, IP-10/CXCL-10↓, 1, MCP1↓, 2, MyD88↓, 1, NF-kB↓, 5, PGE2↓, 3, TLR2↓, 1, TLR4↓, 1, TNF-α↓, 4, TRIF↓, 1,

Synaptic & Neurotransmission ⓘ

AChE↓, 2,

Protein Aggregation ⓘ

Aβ↓, 1,

Hormonal & Nuclear Receptors ⓘ

GR↑, 1,

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

BioAv↓, 2, BioAv↑, 2, BioAv↝, 1, eff↑, 1, Half-Life↝, 1,

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

CRP↓, 2, IL6↓, 5, LDH↓, 2,

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

cardioP↑, 3, cognitive↑, 1, hepatoP↑, 3, memory↑, 2, neuroP↑, 5, RenoP↑, 3,

Infection & Microbiome ⓘ

IRF3↓, 1,
Total Targets: 83

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: Catalase, Catalase

18 Thymoquinone
1 Chemotherapy
1 5-fluorouracil

Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:162  Target#:46  State#:%  Dir#:2
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

Thymoquinone / Catalase Cancer Research Results

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:

Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

Cell Death ⓘ

Kinase & Signal Transduction ⓘ

Transcription & Epigenetics ⓘ

Autophagy & Lysosomes ⓘ

DNA Damage & Repair ⓘ

Cell Cycle & Senescence ⓘ

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

Migration ⓘ

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

Infection & Microbiome ⓘ

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:

Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

Cell Death ⓘ

Cell Cycle & Senescence ⓘ

Migration ⓘ

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

Synaptic & Neurotransmission ⓘ

Protein Aggregation ⓘ

Hormonal & Nuclear Receptors ⓘ

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

Infection & Microbiome ⓘ

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