Table 2.
Combination effect of thymoquinone with other chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of colorectal cancer cell lines.
| Chemotherapeutic Agent | Mechanism of Action | CRC Line | Effect of Combination Treatment | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | Protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor | HCT116 | TQ-augmented cytotoxic activity of IM and synergized IM effect; TQ + IM decreases the expression of ABCB1, ABCG2 and hOCT1; TQ + IM increases the uptake/efflux ratio of imatinib |
[102] |
| DOX | DNA intercalation; Inhibitor of topoisomerase II; Generation of free radicals |
HT-29 | DOX + TQ was more effective than DOX alone against HT-29 cells desensitized by repeated DOX exposure | [142] |
| TP | Inhibitor of topoisomerase I | HT-29 | Increased production of fragmented DNA; Inhibiting proliferation and lowering toxicity through p53- and Bax/Bcl2-independent mechanisms |
[143] |
CRC—colorectal cancer; IM—imatinib; TQ—thymoquinone; ABCB1—ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1; ABCG2—ATP-binding cassette super-family G member 2; hOCT1—human organic cation transporter 1; DOX—doxorubicin; TP—topotecan; Bax—Bcl-2 associated X-protein; Bcl2—B-cell lymphoma 2.