Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Induction of Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma Cell Lines by Thymoquinone

• Author / Creator

  Abdualmjid,Reem J

• Thymoquinone, the plant-based bioactive constituent derived from the volatile oil of Nigella sativa, has been shown to possess considerable anti-neoplastic activity. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-tumour property of TQ against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and cholangiocarcinoma (HuCCT1) cells, the two most common primary hepatic tumours. All cell lines were treated with increasing concentrations of TQ for varying durations. The anti-proliferative effect of TQ was measured using the MTS assay and resulted in dose- and time-dependent growth inhibition in both cell lines. The analysis of cell cycle distribution, determination of apoptosis, assessment of morphological alterations and measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential changes were also investigated. TQ caused cell cycle arrest at different phases in the two cell types and induced apoptosis in both cell lines through the mitochondrial pathway. Overall, these findings suggest that TQ possesses promising therapeutic potential as an anti-tumour agent for treating hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Thymoquinone
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Cholangiocarcinoma

• Graduation date

  Spring 2015

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R37W9D

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.