Article Summary:
- Thymoquinone, a major component of black cumin or Nigella sativa seed, is widely used for its health benefits. The beneficial effects of thymoquinone are attributed to its antioxidant properties.*
- Unfortunately, the poor bioavailability and absorption of thymoquinone hinder its efficacy as an antioxidant.
- Thymoquinone supplement formulations utilizing nutrient delivery nanotechnology provide enhanced solubility and absorption compared to unformulated thymoquinone.
- ThymoQuell® is an innovative formulation developed by Tesseract Medical Research that utilizes the proprietary CyLoc® —Dexkey® nutrient delivery system for optimal absorption of thymoquinone.
Black cumin or Nigella sativa seeds are used as a spice, condiment, and traditional medicine across many cultures. Although black cumin contains several naturally bioactive compounds, its health benefits are attributable to thymoquinone (2-Isopropyl-5-methylbenzo-1, 4-quinone), a major component of the volatile oil extracted from the seeds. Extensive research on thymoquinone’s antioxidant properties indicates that it limits the oxidative degradation of lipids and the production of lipid peroxides as free radicals.* This post discusses thymoquinone’s antioxidant properties and how it up-regulates signaling pathways to maintain beneficial levels of antioxidant enzymes and promote various health functions.*
An Overview of Thymoquinone’s Antioxidant Properties
Oxidative stress is a key contributor to several adverse health conditions.* An excess of free radicals can damage critical cellular components, including DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids. Protection against oxidative stress is largely provided by the body’s antioxidant enzymatic system, which includes enzymes such as catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glyoxalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Additionally, antioxidant protection of the cell is closely associated with transcription factor Nrf2, which regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins to protect against oxidative damage.
Mitochondria are the major site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation within the cell. A study1 on thymoquinone’s antioxidant properties on cardiac muscle cells demonstrated that the compound significantly reduces ROS-induced cytotoxicity and mitochondrial damage in the cells.* Oxidative degradation of lipids, known as lipid peroxidation, leads to the undesirable formation of malondialdehyde (MDA). A study2 on animal models found that daily administration of thymoquinone effectively lowered MDA levels in brain tissues, supporting its antioxidant benefits.*
Furthermore, thymoquinone’s cytoprotective effects are associated with the up-regulation of antioxidant mechanisms that protect various health functions, offering protections to vital organs and systems, including the liver, kidneys, brain, heart, and gastrointestinal tract, from oxidative stress.*
Thymoquinone’s antioxidant properties and immunomodulatory effects can down-regulate inflammatory cascade enzymes and specific inflammatory cytokines to help maintain a normal inflammatory response in the body.* The following table highlights how thymoquinone down-regulates the antioxidant enzymatic system to limit oxidative stress in cells.*
How Does Thymoquinone’s Antioxidant Properties Limit Oxidative Stress? |
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Although numerous studies report the beneficial pharmacological properties of thymoquinone, its poor bioavailability severely limits its absorption, which adversely impacts its overall efficacy. Because thymoquinone is a hydrophobic compound, its low solubility and poor absorption result in low blood serum levels. Nanostructured carriers loaded with thymoquinone have been shown to address this bioavailability challenge. An advanced supplement formulation that utilizes nutrient delivery nanotechnology can achieve thymoquinone’s antioxidant benefits.*
Including A Thymoquinone Supplement in Your Diet
ThymoQuell® and ThymoQuell® Plus are two innovative thymoquinone nutritional supplements developed by Tesseract Medical Research. The formulations utilize Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® —DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology for optimal thymoquinone absorption and bioavailability. The CyLoc® technology envelopes thymoquinone molecules in its smart delivery system to protect them from degradation during their transit through the stomach. The accompanying DexKey® reactors release each molecule at the desired point in the intestinal tract to achieve maximum absorption.
Whereas ThymoQuell® is a standalone thymoquinone formula, ThymoQuell® Plus includes five other beneficial nutrients — turmeric oil and four different types of terpenes (borneol, farnesol, geraniol, and nerol) to promote and maintain the body’s normal inflammatory response.* Both formulations are available in sustained-release format. Tesseract’s nutrient delivery system’s unprecedented absorption capabilities enable micro-dosing, which involves using lower doses of the active nutrients in the formulations than previously required to achieve thymoquinone’s antioxidant benefits.*
With Tesseract’s two potent thymoquinone supplement formulations, caring for your gut health and overall wellness has never been so easy!
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they can support your gastrointestinal health.*
Citations:
1Hafez, Asghar Ashrafi et al. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s archives of pharmacology vol. 394,8 (2021): 1675-1684. doi:10.1007/s00210-021-02095-1
2Al-Majed, Abdulhakeem A et al. European journal of pharmacology vol. 543,1-3 (2006): 40-7. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.05.046
3Isaev, Nickolay K et al. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 12,2 433. 9 Feb. 2023, doi:10.3390/antiox12020433
4Khader, Mohannad, and Peter M Eckl. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences vol. 17,12 (2014): 950-7.
