N. sativa cuts pancreatic cancer in animal models

An herb recently found to kill pancreatic cancer cells also appears to inhibit development of pancreatic cancer as a result of its  anti-inflammatory properties, according to data presented at the annual  meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research, held in Denver,  Colorado.

Researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at the USA's Jefferson  University found that thymoquinone, the major constituent of the oil  extract from a Middle Eastern herbal seed called Nigella sativa,  exhibited anti-inflammatory properties that reduced the release of  inflammatory mediators in pancreatic cancer cells.

Nigella sativa seeds and oil are used in traditional medicine by many  Middle Eastern and Asian countries against some immune and inflammatory  disorders. Previous clinical studies have also shown it to have  anticancer effects on prostate and colon cancers.