The effect of conventional and sustained delivery of thymoquinone and levodopa on SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of thymoquinone on the viability and metabolic activity of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells alone or challenged with levodopa (L-dopa) using conventional and sustained drug delivery routes. The findings suggest that thymoquinone may protect SH-SY5Y cells against L-dopa toxicity to some degree although the exact mechanism for this is unknown. Thymoquinone may be a viable option to prevent quinone formation as a result of L-dopa auto-oxidation and could be investigated as a neuroprotective agent given the fact that inflammatory etiologies are strongly implemented in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.