thymoquinone and pomegranate extract as potential chemopreventive agents in a murine skin carcinogenesis model

Squamous cell carcinoma (scc) of the skin is a common non-melanoma skin cancer with significant malignant potential. this study investigates the chemo-preventive potential of thymoquinone (tq) and pomegranate fruit extract (pfe) using the dmba-tpa two-stage skin carcinogenesis model. it explores their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in mitigating tumor promotion and progression. short-term evaluations revealed that tq and pfe effectively restored antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (sod), catalase (cat), and glutathione peroxidase-1 (gpx-1), while significantly reducing lipid peroxidation, as indicated by decreased malondialdehyde (mda) levels. long-term assessments demonstrated a delayed tumor onset, a reduction in tumor incidence to 40%, and a substantial decrease in tumor volume compared to the untreated group. histopathological analysis confirmed preserved skin architecture with reduced hyperplasia and inflammation, aligning with the protective effects of tq and pfe. flow cytometry findings revealed increased reactive oxygen species (ros) levels and enhanced apoptosis, with apoptotic cell death reaching 16.8% in dmba/tpa-exposed cells treated with tq and pfe. these findings suggest that tq and pfe exert a chemo-preventive effect by modulating oxidative stress, suppressing tumor progression, and promoting apoptosis. as a non-toxic, phytochemical-based intervention, this combination holds promise for skin cancer prevention, warranting further exploration of its molecular mechanisms and translational potential in clinical settings.