Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, India
  • 2 ULTI Pharmaceuticals, Hamilton, New Zealand
  • 3 Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia
  • 4 School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
  • 5 Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  • 6 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India
  • 7 School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, India
  • 8 Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
Expert Opin Drug Deliv, 2020 04;17(4):479-494.
PMID: 32077770 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2020.1730808

Abstract

Introduction: Thymoquinone (TQ), 2-isopropyl-5-methylbenzo-1, 4-quinone, the main active constituent of Nigella sativa (NS) plant, has been proven to be of great therapeutic aid in various in vitro and in vivo conditions. Despite the promising therapeutic activities of TQ, this molecule is not yet in the clinical trials, restricted by its poor biopharmaceutical properties including photo-instability.Area covered: This review compiles the different types of polymeric and lipidic nanocarriers (NCs), encapsulating TQ for their improved oral bioavailability, and augmented in vitro and in vivo efficacy, evidenced on various pathologies. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive overview of TQ in relation to its encapsulation approaches advancing the delivery and improving the efficacy of TQ.Expert opinion: TQ was first identified in the essential oil of Nigella sativa L. black seed. TQ has not been used in formulations because it is a highly hydrophobic drug having poor aqueous solubility. To deal with the poor physicochemical problems associated with TQ, various NCs encapsulating TQ have been tried in the past. Nevertheless, these NCs could be impending in bringing forth this potential molecule to clinical reality. This will also be beneficial for a large research community including pharmaceutical & biological sciences and translational researchers.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.