Investigation of Thionins from Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) Seeds Showing Cytotoxic, Regulatory and Antifungal Activity.

Thionins (NsW1 and NsW2), earlier isolated from the seeds of endemic Middle-Asian black cumin (Aligella sativa L.), showing signilicant inhibitory action on some bacterial and yeast pathogens were investigated for cytotoxic properties against several tumor cell lines (AsPC-1, Colo357, RD and Jukart) in vitro within nano- and micromolar ranges of the active concentrations and as modulators of expression of the genes controlling conversion of normal cells to malignant ones. Suppression of the expression of the genes from MMP, RhoA, miR21 families in human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells was observed, whereas the influence of the molecules on the genes in normal blood cells was not identified.