Thymoquinone / H2O2 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↑,
- 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)


H2O2, Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2): Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
H2O2 is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can induce oxidative stress in cells. While low levels of ROS can promote cell signaling and proliferation, high levels can lead to DNA damage, apoptosis (programmed cell death), and other cellular dysfunctions. This dual role means that H2O2 can contribute to cancer development and progression, as oxidative stress can lead to mutations and genomic instability.
H2O2 can enhance the effectiveness of certain chemotherapeutic agents by increasing oxidative stress in cancer cells. Additionally, localized delivery of H2O2 has been explored as a means to selectively target and kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells.
Cancer cells often exhibit altered metabolism, leading to increased production of reactive oxygen species, including H2O2. This can result from enhanced mitochondrial activity, increased glycolysis, or other metabolic adaptations that are characteristic of cancer.


Reported H2O2 concentrations for representative compounds.
   Prooxidant          Dose                   Cell Line            H2O2 Produced
EGCG50 µMJurkat~1 µM
EGCG10 µMHCT116 and HT291.5 µM
EGCG100 µMJurkat20 µM
Quercetin70 µMHT292 µM
Menadione10 µMJurkat20 µM
Plumbagin4 µMSiHA and HeLa1 mM
β-Lap1 µMHL-6070 µM
Doxorubicin1 µMPC338 pM
Ascorbic Acid 1 mMHL-60161 µM
Ascorbic Acid0.2–2.0 mMLymphoma20–120 µM
Ascorbic Acidi.v. 0.5 mg/gRats0–20 µM
Ascorbic Acidi.p. 4.0 g/kgMice tumor> 125 µM
TiO210 µg/mLHepG2150 nmol/mL
Paclitaxel100 nMMCF7600 nM
Paclitaxel100 nMHL-601100 nM

Note: many products at lower concentrations act as antioxidants, instead of Prooxidants.

Generally, increased hydrogen peroxide and oxidative stress are associated with poor outcomes, while the specific context and cellular environment can modulate its effects.
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
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↓,
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↓,
3559- TQ,    Molecular signaling pathway targeted therapeutic potential of thymoquinone in Alzheimer’s disease
- Review, AD, NA - Review, Var, NA
*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↑,
3554- TQ,    Neuroprotective efficacy of thymoquinone against amyloid beta-induced neurotoxicity in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cholinergic neurons
- in-vitro, AD, NA
*GSH↑, *ROS↓, *neuroP↑, *Casp3↓, *Casp7↓, *antiOx↓, *H2O2↓,
2106- TQ,    Cancer: Thymoquinone antioxidant/pro-oxidant effect as potential anticancer remedy
- Review, Var, NA
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 5 of 5

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 5

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↑, 1,   Catalase↑, 2,   GCLM↑, 2,   GPx1⇅, 1,   GPx4↓, 1,   GSH↓, 1,   GSH↑, 2,   GSSG↑, 1,   H2O2↓, 2,   NQO1↑, 2,   NRF2↑, 3,   ROS↓, 2,   ROS↑, 1,   SOD↑, 2,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Akt↑, 1,   p‑Akt↓, 1,   Apoptosis↑, 2,   MAPK↑, 1,  

Kinase & Signal Transduction ⓘ

AMPKα↑, 1,  

DNA Damage & Repair ⓘ

P53↑, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence ⓘ

TumCCA↑, 2,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

GSK‐3β↑, 1,   PI3K↓, 1,   PI3K↑, 1,   p‑STAT3↓, 1,   TumCG↓, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

PRNP↑, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

angioG↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

NK cell↑, 1,   PD-L1↓, 2,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

BioAv↓, 1,   ChemoSen↑, 1,   Dose↝, 1,   eff↓, 1,   eff↑, 1,   RadioS↑, 1,   selectivity↑, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

PD-L1↓, 2,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

AntiCan↑, 1,   chemoPv↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 40

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↓, 1,   antiOx↑, 1,   Catalase↑, 2,   GPx↑, 2,   GSH↑, 2,   GSTA1↓, 1,   H2O2↓, 3,   HO-1↑, 1,   lipid-P↓, 2,   MDA↓, 1,   NRF2↑, 1,   ROS↓, 3,   SOD↑, 2,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

MMP↑, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

cMyc↓, 1,   LDH↓, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

BAX↓, 1,   Casp3↓, 2,   Casp7↓, 1,   iNOS↑, 1,   JNK↑, 1,   MAPK↑, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence ⓘ

cycD1/CCND1↓, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

MMP9↓, 1,   TGF-β↓, 1,   TumCI↓, 1,   TumCP↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

VEGF↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

COX2↓, 1,   CRP↓, 1,   IL10↑, 1,   IL12↓, 1,   IL1β↓, 1,   IL6↓, 1,   Inflam↓, 1,   MyD88↓, 1,   NF-kB↓, 1,   TLR2↓, 1,   TLR4↓, 1,   TRIF↓, 1,  

Synaptic & Neurotransmission ⓘ

AChE↓, 2,  

Protein Aggregation ⓘ

Aβ↓, 1,  

Hormonal & Nuclear Receptors ⓘ

GR↑, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

CRP↓, 1,   IL6↓, 1,   LDH↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

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

Infection & Microbiome ⓘ

IRF3↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 53

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: H2O2, Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
5 Thymoquinone
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#:138  State#:%  Dir#:%
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