The Egyptian queen Hatshepsut may have poisoned herself

A German university said the researchers discovered a carcinogen in the bottle of lotion believed to be Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt 3,500 years ago. This finding suggests that the Queen may accidentally poison herself.

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The University of Bonn said it took them two years to study the dried ingredient in this cream jar - which is in the Egyptian Museum's collection and has a note saying it belongs to Queen Hatshepshut.

The mummy of Hatshepsut Queen at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

This cream is said to be a skin cream or medicine used to deal with skin disorders like eczema.

Its ingredients include palm oil and nutmeg, along with fatty acids. The university said that in the Queen's family, Hatshepsut also had people with skin diseases.

The researchers also found benzopyrene - a highly carcinogenic and aromatic hydrocarbon.

Egyptian officials said that Queen Hatshepsut's mummy showed that she was obese, possibly suffering from diabetes, liver cancer and died at the age of 50.

Her two-decade rule in the 15th century BC was the longest reign of the ancient Egyptian Emperors.