Recently we have evaluated the anticancer efficacy of thymoquinone in DMBA induced breast cancer. In the present study an attempt has been made to evaluate the modulatory effect of thymoquinone on the levels of total protein, carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, status of glycoprotein components, lysosomal enzymes in experimental groups of rats. A single dose of DMBA (20 mg/kg/rat) diluted in olive oil was given orally to induce breast cancer. After 13 weeks of experimentation all animals were sacrificed. The rats were orally administered with 25 mg/kg body weight of thymoquinone. The levels of total protein was determined. The serum and tissue levels of glycoproteins, lipid profile, lysosomal enzymes and carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes were assayed. Upon treatment with thymoquinone, the levels of the above enzymes were significantly normalized. The reduced level of protein was improved upon treatment with thymoquinone. Treatment with thymoquinone altered the levels of glycoprotein components and modulated the activities of lysosomal enzymes indicating the cytostabilising property. Oral treatment with thymoquinone altered the activities of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes. Also, the altered status of lipid profile in plasma and liver tissues were normalized in thymoquinone treated rats indicating the beneficial effect of thymoquinone in maintaining glucose and lipid homeostasis. __________________________________________________________
