Effect of black seeds (Nigella sativa) volatile oil on the cervical cancer: In vitro study, on Hela cell lines

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the second most common type of gynecological tumors in North America. Most chemotherapeutic agents used by oncologists were found to kill cancer cells as well as healthy ones. Unfortunately, the side effects may overwhelm its beneficial effect. Seeds of Nigella sativa, often referred to as black seeds or black cumin, have been used by traditional medicinal practitioners for centuries to treat inflammation, infections, and cancers. In fact, previous studies have shown the herb to have anti-cancer effects on colon and prostate cancers. In the present study, volatile oil was prepared from 2 patches of N. sativa seeds (Alqassim and Ethiopia). HeLa cell lines (derived from cervical cancer cells) were used. N. sativa volatile oil was incubated with the cells at different concentrations (10, 100, 1000) and compared with cisplatin. Hela cells were used to assess the cytotoxic effect of N. sativa. Study showed decrease in Hela cells survival rate at 100 concentration. A decrease the adhesion protein of Hela cells in a dose dependant manner with extract from Alqassim patch was reported. Anti-cancer effect was confirmed by morphological study where shrinkage and apoptotic changes were observed in cultured cells. In conclusion, N. sativa volatile oil has a similar anti-cancer effect to cisplatin and could be used as adjuvant therapy.

Keywords: Nigella sativa, Hela cells, cytotoxicity..

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