THE EFFECTS OF HABBATUS SAUDA (NIGELLA SATIVA) ON CANCER CELL LINES: A SCIENTIFIC AND ISLAMIC APPROACH

Abstract

Nigella sativa or black cumin is a Sunnah remedy by the Prophet Muhammad which has been described as a cure for all diseases except death. Nigella sativa have shown significant antitumor and cytotoxic activity in vitro which may inhibit the growth of cancer cells. This could be considered as an alternative to conventional cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and immunized pig lymphocytes. Studies on the effect of Nigella sativa on cancer line have not been widely investigated; therefore, this study is carried out. Cancer cell lines such as HeLa, AsPC-1 Hep-2 and 911 Cells were tested in medium treated with Nigella sativa seed extract and oil. After 72 hours incubation, cell viability and the efficacy of Nigella sativa to treat cancer cell lines were tested by means of MTT assay through statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA and paired sample T-test. The cell activity will be observed via SEM (scanning electron microscope). Hopefully, this study will be beneficial as a preface study for an alternative treatment for cancer.