title: Pathophysiological Effects of Thymoquinone and Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate on SK-OV-3 Ovarian Cancer Like Cell Line.
abstract: Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of mortality among the gynecologic cancers and is the 5th most common cancer among women. Recent studies have indicated that antioxidant exposure may slow the progression in major neoplastic diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the pathophysiological effects of Thymoquinone (TQ) and Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) using the SK-OV-3 cell line as a model. A total of 72 wells were plated with (10^5) SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells according to standard lab protocols. Each group was subdivided into 4 groups of 6 wells each. Group 1 served as control and groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated with TQ (16 µM), EGCG (3 µg/ml), and TQ + EGCG, respectively. Biomarker and morphological evaluations were performed following standard lab techniques. The results of the study revealed: (1) there were no differences in protein levels for all time periods (p<0.05); (2) an increase in nitric oxide following the administration of EGCG alone and in combination with TQ compared with TQ alone or untreated control cells with the difference being approximately three-fold higher and this difference was statistically different (p<0.05) at 24, 48, 72 hours; (3) glutathione levels were not statistically different at all time periods (p<0.05); and (4) the MDA levels showed no damage to the SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells. The results of this study provided the literature with more insights regarding manipulation of ovarian cancer behavior through potent antioxidants such as TQ and EGCG in culture.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Health Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Harpole
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Benghuzzi