1. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham R., et al.
(författare)
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Cardenolides : Insights from chemical structure and pharmacological utility
- 2019
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Ingår i: Pharmacological Research. - : Academic Press. - 1043-6618 .- 1096-1186. ; 141, s. 123-175
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cardiac glycosides (CGs) are a class of naturally occurring steroid-like compounds, and members of this class have been in clinical use for more than 1500 years. They have been used in folk medicine as arrow poisons, abortifacients, heart tonics, emetics, and diuretics as well as in other applications. The major use of CGs today is based on their ability to inhibit the membrane-bound Na + /K + -ATPase enzyme, and they are regarded as an effective treatment for congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiac arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, increasing evidence has indicated the potential cytotoxic effects of CGs against various types of cancer. In this review, we highlight some of the structural features of this class of natural products that are crucial for their efficacy, some methods of isolating these compounds from natural resources, and the structural elucidation tools that have been used. We also describe their physicochemical properties and several modern biotechnological approaches for preparing CGs that do not require plant sources.
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2. |
- Ibrahim, Mahmoud A. A., et al.
(författare)
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Blue Biotechnology : Computational Screening of Sarcophyton Cembranoid Diterpenes for SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibition
- 2021
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Ingår i: Marine Drugs. - : MDPI. - 1660-3397. ; 19:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The coronavirus pandemic has affected more than 150 million people, while over 3.25 million people have died from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As there are no established therapies for COVID-19 treatment, drugs that inhibit viral replication are a promising target; specifically, the main protease (M-pro) that process CoV-encoded polyproteins serves as an Achilles heel for assembly of replication-transcription machinery as well as down-stream viral replication. In the search for potential antiviral drugs that target M-pro, a series of cembranoid diterpenes from the biologically active soft-coral genus Sarcophyton have been examined as SARS-CoV-2 M-pro inhibitors. Over 360 metabolites from the genus were screened using molecular docking calculations. Promising diterpenes were further characterized by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on molecular mechanics-generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) binding energy calculations. According to in silico calculations, five cembranoid diterpenes manifested adequate binding affinities as M-pro inhibitors with Delta G(binding) < -33.0 kcal/mol. Binding energy and structural analyses of the most potent Sarcophyton inhibitor, bislatumlide A (340), was compared to darunavir, an HIV protease inhibitor that has been recently subjected to clinical-trial as an anti-COVID-19 drug. In silico analysis indicates that 340 has a higher binding affinity against M-pro than darunavir with Delta G(binding) values of -43.8 and -34.8 kcal/mol, respectively throughout 100 ns MD simulations. Drug-likeness calculations revealed robust bioavailability and protein-protein interactions were identified for 340; biochemical signaling genes included ACE, MAPK14 and ESR1 as identified based on a STRING database. Pathway enrichment analysis combined with reactome mining revealed that 340 has the capability to re-modulate the p38 MAPK pathway hijacked by SARS-CoV-2 and antagonize injurious effects. These findings justify further in vivo and in vitro testing of 340 as an antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2.
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3. |
- El-Garawani, Islam M., et al.
(författare)
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Angiotensinogen Gene Missense Polymorphisms (rs699 and rs4762) : The Association of End-Stage Renal Failure Risk with Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension in Egyptians
- 2021
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Ingår i: Genes. - : MDPI. - 2073-4425. ; 12:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension are common chronic diseases mainly associated with the development and progression of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) leading to morbidity and mortality. Gene polymorphisms linked to the renin–angiotensin (AGT)–aldosterone system (RAAS) were broadly inspected in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the association of AGT gene polymorphisms (rs699 and rs4762) with ESRD in T2DM hypertensive Egyptian patients. Genotyping of rs699 and rs4762 was conducted using the tetra-primers amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR). The allelic distribution analysis was performed on 103 healthy control subjects, 97 non-ESRD patients, and 104 patients with ESRD. The allelic frequencies of AGT gene polymorphisms (rs4762 and rs699) in all study participants were assessed. For the non-ESRD group, the frequencies of the alleles of AGT-rs4762 (χ2 = 31.88, p < 0.001, OR = 5.17, CI 95%: 2.81–9.51) and AGT-rs699 (χ2 = 4.85, p = 0.027, OR = 1.56, CI 95%: 1.05–2.33) were significantly associated with the non-ESRD group. However, for the ESRD group, the T allele was significantly higher than that in the controls (χ2 = 24.97, p < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 4.35, CI 95%: 2.36–8.02). Moreover, AGT (rs699) genotypes showed no significant difference between the ESRD group and controls. In conclusion, AGT gene polymorphisms rs699 and rs4762 were associated with non-ESRD versus controls, without any significant risk observed in all patient groups. However, the AGT (rs4762) variant showed a significant risk in the ESRD group in comparison to controls in Egyptians.
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4. |
- Abd El-Wahed, Aida A., et al.
(författare)
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Unravelling the beehive air volatiles profile as analysed via solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and chemometrics
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of King Saud University – Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1018-3647 .- 2213-686X. ; 33:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Beehive air therapy is recognized as a potential remedy for treating asthma, bronchitis, lung fibrosis, and respiratory tract infections. Developed countries in which beehive air therapy is currently authorized include Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, and Austria. However, scientific proof of its efficacy is lacking which warrants further chemical and biological analyses as a proof of concept. In this study, beehive air volatile profile was determined for the first time along with its individual components (bees, venom, honey, and beeswax).Methods: Volatile compounds were collected from beehive air using solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Antimicrobial assay of the air released from 4 beehive products was further performed against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and multi drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using the in vitro agar-well diffusion and microtiter plate assays.Results and conclusions: A total of 56 volatile compounds were identified from beehive air, venom, bee insect and wax air including 6 fatty acids, 6 alcohols, 10 aldehydes, 5 esters, 1 ether, 9 hydrocarbons, 1 phenol, 7 ketones, 1 nitrogenous compound and 10 terpenes. The most abundant constituents were short-chain fatty acids (26.32%) while the lowest were the nitrogenous compounds (0.82%). The principal component analysis (PCA) scores plot of the UPLC/MS dataset showed the similarity of the beehive air to the insect bee's aroma profile. With regards to antimicrobial assay, beehive air and venom exerted the strongest antimicrobial activity among the examined bee products against S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, and MRSA in agar-well diffusion assay but failing to exert an effect using microtiter plate assay as in case of bee venom against the aforementioned bacteria.
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5. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham, et al.
(författare)
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Saudi Arabian Plants : A Powerful Weapon against a Plethora of Diseases
- 2022
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Ingår i: PLANTS. - : MDPI AG. - 2223-7747. ; 11:24
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SA) ranks fifth in Asia in terms of area. It features broad biodiversity, including interesting flora, and was the historical origin of Islam. It is endowed with a large variety of plants, including many herbs, shrubs, and trees. Many of these plants have a long history of use in traditional medicine. The aim of this review is to evaluate the present knowledge on the plants growing in SA regarding their pharmacological and biological activities and the identification of their bioactive compounds to determine which plants could be of interest for further studies. A systematic summary of the plants’ history, distribution, various pharmacological activities, bioactive compounds, and clinical trials are presented in this paper to facilitate future exploration of their therapeutic potential. The literature was obtained from several scientific search engines, including Sci-Finder, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, MDPI, Wiley publications, and Springer Link. Plant names and their synonyms were validated by ‘The Plant List’ on 1 October 2021. SA is home to approximately 2247 plant species, including native and introduced plants that belong to 142 families and 837 genera. It shares the flora of three continents, with many unique features due to its extreme climate and geographical and geological conditions. As plants remain the leading supplier of new therapeutic agents to treat various ailments, Saudi Arabian plants may play a significant role in the fight against cancer, inflammation, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To date, 102 active compounds have been identified in plants from different sites in SA. Plants from the western and southwestern regions have been evaluated for various biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycation, and cytotoxic activities. The aerial parts of the plants, especially the leaves, have yielded most of the bioactive compounds. Most bioactivity tests involve in vitro assessments for the inhibition of the growth of tumour cell lines, and several compounds with in vitro antitumour activity have been reported. More in-depth studies to evaluate the mode of action of the compounds are necessary to pave the way for clinical trials. Ecological and taxonomical studies are needed to evaluate the flora of SA, and a plan for the conservation of wild plants should be implemented, including the management of the protection of endemic plants.
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6. |
- Khalifa, Shaden A. M., et al.
(författare)
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Overview of Bee Pollination and Its Economic Value for Crop Production
- 2021
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Ingår i: Insects. - : MDPI AG. - 2075-4450. ; 12:8
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pollination plays a significant role in the agriculture sector and serves as a basic pillar for crop production. Plants depend on vectors to move pollen, which can include water, wind, and animal pollinators like bats, moths, hoverflies, birds, bees, butterflies, wasps, thrips, and beetles. Cultivated plants are typically pollinated by animals. Animal-based pollination contributes to 30% of global food production, and bee-pollinated crops contribute to approximately one-third of the total human dietary supply. Bees are considered significant pollinators due to their effectiveness and wide availability. Bee pollination provides excellent value to crop quality and quantity, improving global economic and dietary outcomes. This review highlights the role played by bee pollination, which influences the economy, and enlists the different types of bees and other insects associated with pollination.
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7. |
- Yosri, Nermeen, et al.
(författare)
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Anti-Viral and Immunomodulatory Properties of Propolis : Chemical Diversity, Pharmacological Properties, Preclinical and Clinical Applications, and In Silico Potential against SARS-CoV-2
- 2021
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Ingår i: Foods. - : MDPI AG. - 2304-8158. ; 10:8
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Propolis, a resin produced by honeybees, has long been used as a dietary supplement and folk remedy, and more recent preclinical investigations have demonstrated a large spectrum of potential therapeutic bioactivities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, anticancer, and antiviral properties. As an antiviral agent, propolis and various constituents have shown promising preclinical efficacy against adenoviruses, influenza viruses, respiratory tract viruses, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Over 300 chemical components have been identified in propolis, including terpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, with the specific constituent profile varying widely according to geographic origin and regional flora. Propolis and its constituents have demonstrated potential efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 by modulating multiple pathogenic and antiviral pathways. Molecular docking studies have demonstrated high binding affinities of propolis derivatives to multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins, including 3C-like protease (3CL(pro)), papain-like protease (PLpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein (S-protein), and helicase (NSP13), as well as to the viral target angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Among these compounds, retusapurpurin A has shown high affinity to 3CL(pro) (Delta G = -9.4 kcal/mol), RdRp (-7.5), RBD (-7.2), NSP13 (-9.4), and ACE2 (-10.4) and potent inhibition of viral entry by forming hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues within viral and human target proteins. In addition, propolis-derived baccharin demonstrated even higher binding affinity towards PLpro (-8.2 kcal/mol). Measures of drug-likeness parameters, including metabolism, distribution, absorption, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) characteristics, also support the potential of propolis as an effective agent to combat COVID-19.
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8. |
- Zayed, Muhammad, et al.
(författare)
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Structural Diversity, LC-MS-MS Analysis and Potential Biological Activities of Brevibacillus laterosporus Extract
- 2022
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Ingår i: Metabolites. - : MDPI AG. - 2218-1989 .- 2218-1989. ; 12:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lake Mariout is Egypt’s degraded coastal marine habitat that encompasses a variety of wastes. The biodiversity and hard environmental conditions allow the co-existence of organisms with high resistance and rich metabolism, making them potential candidates for screening and isolating novel microbial strains. A bacterial isolate (BF202) cultured from the marine sediments of Alexandria’s Mariout Lake (Egypt) was tested for its antimicrobial and anticancer potential. The phylogenetic analysis of the isolated strain’s 16S rDNA and gyrB revealed that BF202 belongs to Brevibacillus laterosporus (B. laterosporus). Antibiosis of B. laterosporus was confirmed against microbial pathogens including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, and Staphylococcus aureus. The highest antibacterial activity was detected on glucose peptone medium after 18 h of incubation at 35 °C, and at pH of 7.0 in the presence of mannose and ammonium carbonate as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the methanolic extract against breast cancer (MCF-7) and normal Vero cell lines, using the MTT test, revealed IC50 values of 7.93 and 23.79 µg/mL, respectively. To identify apoptotic and necrotic cells, a flow cytometric analysis using annexin V-FITC/PI dual-labeling was utilized and recorded a higher number of necrotic cells compared to apoptotic ones. Similarly, the cell cycle S-phase arrest was reported. The LC-MS-MS investigation of B. laterosporus extract and the molecular networking database analysis demonstrated five strategic diketopiperazine compounds with antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Taken together, this research shows that the crude extract of B. laterosporus might be an effective agent against drug-resistant bacteria and malignant disorders due to its richness in diketopiperazines.
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9. |
- Abosedera, Dalia A., et al.
(författare)
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Metabolomic profile and in vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of Asphodelus microcarpus against human malignant melanoma cells A375
- 2022
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Ingår i: Arabian Journal of Chemistry. - : Elsevier. - 1878-5352 .- 1878-5379. ; 15:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Melanoma is a huge worldwide health problem that must be handled more effectively with better therapeutic options. As a result, new treatment drugs are required to treat this condition. The goal of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic activity of the anthraquinone-rich fractions obtained from Asphodelus microcarpus against human melanoma cell A375. On these melanoma cell lines; the cytotoxicity of these fractions had never been studied before. Liquid chromatography linked to mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance was used to determine the chemical profiles of these fractions. The cytotoxicity of the fractions studied was determined by measuring cell viability and calculating IC50 values. Both ethyl acetate (EtOAC) and the precipitate fractions (PPT) exhibited selective cytotoxicity on human melanoma A 375 cell line with IC50 values of 83 and 65 mu g/mL, respectively. The antiproliferative properties of EtOAc fraction and PPT were supported by a noticeable decrease in cell numbers during the G2/M cell cycle arrest. Our findings suggest that the anthraquinone content of A. microcarpus tubers is responsible for its anti-proliferative and apoptotic properties and that further in vivo investigations should be conducted to establish the viability of using them to treat human melanomas.
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10. |
- Algethami, Jari S., et al.
(författare)
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Bee Pollen : Clinical Trials and Patent Applications
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 14:14
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bee pollen is a natural cocktail of floral nectar, flower pollen, enzymes, and salivary secretions produced by honeybees. Bee pollen is one of the bee products most enriched in proteins, polysaccharides, polyphenols, lipids, minerals, and vitamins. It has a significant health and medicinal impact and provides protection against many diseases, including diabetes, cancer, infectious, and cardiovascular. Bee pollen is commonly promoted as a cost-effective functional food. In particular, bee pollen has been applied in clinical trials for allergies and prostate illnesses, with a few investigations on cancer and skin problems. However, it is involved in several patents and health recipes to combat chronic health problems. This review aimed to highlight the clinical trials and patents involving bee pollen for different cases and to present the role of bee pollen as a supplementary food and a potential product in cosmetic applications.
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11. |
- Darwish, Amira M. G., et al.
(författare)
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Chemical Profiling and Nutritional Evaluation of Bee Pollen, Bee Bread, and Royal Jelly and Their Role in Functional Fermented Dairy Products
- 2023
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Ingår i: Molecules. - : MDPI AG. - 1431-5157 .- 1420-3049. ; 28:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Honeybee products, as multicomponent substances, have been a focus of great interest. The present work aimed to perform the nutritional and chemical profiling and biochemical characterization of bee pollen (BP), bee bread (BB), and royal jelly (RJ) and study their applications in the fortification of functional fermented dairy products. Their effects on starter cultures and the physicochemical and sensorial quality of products were monitored. A molecular networking analysis identified a total of 46 compounds in the three bee products that could be potential medicines, including flavonoids, fatty acids, and peptides. BB showed the highest protein and sugar contents (22.57 and 26.78 g/100 g), which cover 45.14 and 53.56% of their daily values (DVs), with considerable amounts of the essential amino acids threonine and lysine (59.50 and 42.03%). BP, BB, and RJ can be considered sources of iron, as 100 g can cover 141, 198.5, and 94.94% of DV%, respectively. BP was revealed to have the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents (105.68 and 43.91 µg/g) and showed a synergetic effect when mixed with RJ, resulting in increased antioxidant activity, while BB showed a synergetic effect when mixed with RJ in terms of both antioxidant and proteolytic powers (IC50 7.54, 11.55, 12.15, 12.50, and 12.65 cP compared to the control (10.55 cP)), reflecting their organoleptic properties and highlighting these health-oriented products as promising natural products for human health care.
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12. |
- El-Garawani, Islam M., et al.
(författare)
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A newly isolated strain of Halomonas sp. (HA1) exerts anticancer potential via induction of apoptosis and G2/M arrest in hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line
- 2020
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 10:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Marine bacterial strains are of great interest for their ability to produce secondary metabolites with anticancer potentials. Isolation, identification, characterization and anticancer activities of isolated bacteria from El-Hamra Lake, Wadi El-Natrun (Egypt) were the objectives of this study. The isolated bacteria were identified as a moderately halophilic alkaliphilic strain. Ethyl acetate extraction was performed and identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (LC–MS–MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis (NMR). Cytotoxicity of the extract was assessed on the HepG2 cell line and normal human peripheral lymphocytes (HPBL) in vitro. Halomonas sp. HA1 extract analyses revealed anticancer potential. Many compounds have been identified including cyclo-(Leu-Leu), cyclo-(Pro-Phe), C17-sphinganine, hexanedioic acid, bis (2-ethylhexyl) ester, surfactin C14 and C15. The extract exhibited an IC50 of 68 ± 1.8 μg/mL and caused marked morphological changes in treated HepG2 cells. For mechanistic anticancer evaluation, 20 and 40 µg/mL of bacterial extract were examined. The up-regulation of apoptosis-related genes' expression, P53, CASP-3, and BAX/BCL-2 at mRNA and protein levels proved the involvement of P53-dependant mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. The anti-proliferative properties were confirmed by significant G2/M cell cycle arrest and PCNA down-regulation in the treated cells. Low cytotoxicity was observed in HPBL compared to HepG2 cells. In conclusion, results suggest that the apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of Halomonas sp. HA1 extract on HepG2 cells can provide it as a candidate for future pharmaceutical industries.
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13. |
- Khalifa, Shaden A. M., et al.
(författare)
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Beyond the Pandemic : COVID-19 Pandemic Changed the Face of Life
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI AG. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 18:11
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious challenge for societies around the globe as entire populations have fallen victim to the infectious spread and have taken up social distancing. In many countries, people have had to self-isolate and to be confined to their homes for several weeks to months to prevent the spread of the virus. Social distancing measures have had both negative and positive impacts on various aspects of economies, lifestyles, education, transportation, food supply, health, social life, and mental wellbeing. On other hands, due to reduced population movements and the decline in human activities, gas emissions decreased and the ozone layer improved; this had a positive impact on Earth's weather and environment. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has negative effects on human activities and positive impacts on nature. This study discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different life aspects including the economy, social life, health, education, and the environment.
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14. |
- Khalifa, Shaden A. M., et al.
(författare)
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Cyanobacteria-From the Oceans to the Potential Biotechnological and Biomedical Applications
- 2021
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Ingår i: Marine Drugs. - : MDPI AG. - 1660-3397. ; 19:5
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotic organisms which represent a significant source of novel, bioactive, secondary metabolites, and they are also considered an abundant source of bioactive compounds/drugs, such as dolastatin, cryptophycin 1, curacin toyocamycin, phytoalexin, cyanovirin-N and phycocyanin. Some of these compounds have displayed promising results in successful Phase I, II, III and IV clinical trials. Additionally, the cyanobacterial compounds applied to medical research have demonstrated an exciting future with great potential to be developed into new medicines. Most of these compounds have exhibited strong pharmacological activities, including neurotoxicity, cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against HCMV, HSV-1, HHV-6 and HIV-1, so these metabolites could be promising candidates for COVID-19 treatment. Therefore, the effective large-scale production of natural marine products through synthesis is important for resolving the existing issues associated with chemical isolation, including small yields, and may be necessary to better investigate their biological activities. Herein, we highlight the total synthesized and stereochemical determinations of the cyanobacterial bioactive compounds. Furthermore, this review primarily focuses on the biotechnological applications of cyanobacteria, including applications as cosmetics, food supplements, and the nanobiotechnological applications of cyanobacterial bioactive compounds in potential medicinal applications for various human diseases are discussed.
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15. |
- El-Garawani, Islam M., et al.
(författare)
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In Vitro Induction of Apoptosis in Isolated Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells : The Role of Anastatica hierochuntica Methanolic Extract
- 2022
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Ingår i: Metabolites. - : MDPI AG. - 2218-1989 .- 2218-1989. ; 12:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Anastatica hierochuntica L. (Cruciferae) has been known in Egyptian folk medicine as a remedy for gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes and heart diseases. Despite the wide usage, A. hierochuntica research provides insufficient data to support its traditional practice. The cytotoxicity of A. hierochuntica methanolic extract was investigated on acute myeloid leukemia blasts (AML) and normal human peripheral leucocytes (NHPL). The phytochemical identification of bioactive compounds using 1H-NMR and LC-ESI-MS was also performed. A. hierochuntica extract caused non-significant cytotoxicity on NHPL, while the cytotoxicity on AML was significant (IC50: 0.38 ± 0.02 μg/mL). The negative expression of p53, upregulation of Caspase-3 and increase in the BAX/BCL-2 ratio were reported at the protein and mRNA levels. The results suggest that A. hierochuntica extract induced AML cell death via the p53-independent mitochondrial intrinsic pathway and further attention should be paid to this plant as a promising natural anticancer agent.
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16. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham, et al.
(författare)
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A Spotlight on the Egyptian Honeybee (Apis mellifera lamarckii)
- 2022
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-2615. ; 12:20
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Egypt has an ongoing long history with beekeeping, which started with the ancient Egyptians making various reliefs and inscriptions of beekeeping on their tombs and temples. The Egyptian honeybee (Apis mellifera lamarckii) is an authentic Egyptian honeybee subspecies utilized in apiculture. A. m. lamarckii is a distinct honeybee subspecies that has a particular body color, size, and high levels of hygienic behavior. Additionally, it has distinctive characteristics; including the presence of the half-queens, an excessive number of swarm cells, high adaptability to climatic conditions, good resistance to specific bee diseases, including the Varro disorder, and continuous breeding during the whole year despite low productivity, using very little propolis, and tending to abscond readily. This review discusses the history of beekeeping in Egypt and its current situation in addition to its morphology, genetic analysis, and distinctive characters, and the defensive behaviors of native A. m. lamarckii subspecies.
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17. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham, et al.
(författare)
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Metal nanoparticles fabricated by green chemistry using natural extracts : biosynthesis, mechanisms, and applications
- 2019
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Ingår i: RSC Advances. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2046-2069. ; 9:42, s. 24539-24559
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nanoparticles (NPs) are new inspiring clinical targets that have emerged from persistent efforts with unique properties and diverse applications. However, the main methods currently utilized in their production are not environmentally friendly. With the aim of promoting a green approach for the synthesis of NPs, this review describes eco-friendly methods for the preparation of biogenic NPs and the known mechanisms for their biosynthesis. Natural plant extracts contain many different secondary metabolites and biomolecules, including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds and enzymes. Secondary metabolites can enable the reduction of metal ions to NPs in eco-friendly one-step synthetic processes. Moreover, the green synthesis of NPs using plant extracts often obviates the need for stabilizing and capping agents and yields biologically active shape- and size-dependent products. Herein, we review the formation of metallic NPs induced by natural extracts and list the plant extracts used in the synthesis of NPs. In addition, the use of bacterial and fungal extracts in the synthesis of NPs is highlighted, and the parameters that influence the rate of particle production, size, and morphology are discussed. Finally, the importance and uniqueness of NP-based products are illustrated, and their commercial applications in various fields are briefly featured.
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18. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham R., et al.
(författare)
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CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF THE RED SEA SOFT CORAL SARCOPHYTON TROCHELIOPHORUM
- 2016
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Ingår i: Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica. - : POLSKIE TOWARZYSTWO FARMACEUTYCZNE. - 0001-6837. ; 73:6, s. 1587-1592
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study describes the in vitro cytotoxic effects of soft coral (Sarcophyton trocheliophorum). Soft corals of genus Sarcophyton were reported to contain compounds that arc active against brine shrimp and promote paclitaxel cytotoxicity in the human colon cancer Caco-2 cell line. The a-hexane extract of the soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum induced significant dose-dependent toxicity (LC50 96.7 ppm) compared with ethyl acetate (LC50 120 ppm). We reported the most active cytotoxic level to be correspondence to LC50 values of 20.2, 59.2 ppm and 18.9 and 26 ppm. Accordingly, bio-assay guided fractionation was conducted to identify the bioactive compounds. Arachidonic acid. eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were characterized based on GC-MS analyses. Our results demonstrate the value of marine products as a natural source of medicinally interesting cytotoxic compounds.
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19. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham R., et al.
(författare)
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Naturally Occurring Xanthones; Biological Activities, Chemical Profiles and In Silico Drug Discovery
- 2024
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Ingår i: Current Medicinal Chemistry. - : Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.. - 0929-8673 .- 1875-533X. ; 31:1, s. 62-101
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Xanthones are widely distributed polyphenols, present commonly in higher plants; Garcinia, Calophyllum, Hypericum, Platonia, Mangifera, Gentiana and Swertia. Xanthone tricyclic scaffold is able to interact with different biological targets, showing antibacterial and cytotoxic effects, as well as potent effects against osteoarthritis, malaria, and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, in this article we focused on pharmacological effects, applications and preclinical studies with the recent updates of xanthon & PRIME;s isolated compounds from 2017-2020. We found that only a-mangostin, gambogic acid, and mangiferin, have been subjected to preclinical studies with particular emphasis on the development of anticancer, diabetes, antimicrobial and hepatoprotective therapeutics. Molecular docking calculations were performed to predict the binding affinities of xanthone-derived compounds against SARS-CoV-2 M-pro. According to the results, cratoxanthone E and morellic acid demonstrated promising binding affinities towards SARS-CoV-2 M-pro with docking scores of -11.2 and -11.0 kcal/mol, respectively. Binding features manifested the capability of cratoxanthone E and morellic acid to exhibit nine and five hydrogen bonds, respectively, with the key amino acids of the M-pro active site. In conclusion, cratoxanthone E and morellic acid are promising anti-COVID-19 drug candidates that warrant further detailed in vivo experimental estimation and clinical assessment.
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20. |
- Morsi, Dalia S., et al.
(författare)
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Anti-proliferative and immunomodulatory potencies of cinnamon oil on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice
- 2022
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 12:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cinnamon is a well-known natural spice and flavoring substance used worldwide. The objective of the present work is to explore the possible antitumor and immunomodulatory potencies of cinnamon essential oil (Cinn) on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). A total of fifty female Swiss albino mice were sub-grouped into five groups (n = 10), namely, normal (a non-tumorized and non-treated) group; EAC-tumorized and non-treated group; Cinn (non-tumorized mice received Cinn, 50 mg/kg per body weight daily) group; a group of EAC-tumorized mice treated with Cinn and the final positive control group of EAC-tumorized mice received cisplatin. Eight compounds were identified from Cinn using UPLC-MS-Qtof and NMR analysis. Compared to EAC untreated group, Cinn successfully (P < 0.05) inhibited tumor growth by reducing tumor cell count (45%), viability (53%) and, proliferation accompanied by the inhibition of tumor growth rate. Moreover, a significant (P < 0.05) arrest in the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase was noticed following Cinn treatments (~ 24.5%) compared to EAC group. Moreover, Cinn markedly evoked an antitumor immune response by elevating the percentage of splenic T helper (CD3+CD4+) and T cytotoxic (CD3+CD8+) cells. It is noteworthy that Cinn treatments significantly restored different hematological alterations as well as liver and kidney functions in EAC-tumorized mice. In conclusion, results suggest that Cinn has a good antitumor and immunostimulatory potencies against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in vivo. The mechanism underlying its antitumor activity may be attributed to its immunostimulatory effects which increase its potential as a promising anticancer candidate.
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21. |
- Salama, Suzy M., et al.
(författare)
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A Zinc Morpholine Complex Prevents HCl/Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in a Rat Model
- 2016
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Zinc is a naturally occurring element with roles in wound healing and rescuing tissue integrity, particularly in the gastrointestinal system, where it can be detected in the mucosal and submucosal layers. Zinc chelates are known to have beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa and in cases of gastric ulcer. We synthesized complexes of zinc featuring a heterocyclic amine binding amino acids then investigated their ability to enhance the gastric self-repair. Zinc-morpholine complex, Zn(L)SCN, namely showed strong free-radical scavenging, promotion of the DNA and RNA polymerases reconstruction and suppression of cell damage. The complex's mode of action is proposed to involve hydrogen bond formation via its bis(thiocyanato-k) zinc moiety. Zn(L) SCN complex had potent effects on gastric enzymatic activity both in vitro and in vivo. The complex disrupted the ulcerative process as demonstrated by changes in the intermediate metabolites of the oxidative pathway - specifically, reduction in the MDA levels and elevation of reduced glutathione together with an attenuation of oxidative DNA damage. Additionally, Zn(L) SCN restored the gastric mucosa, inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF and the caspases), and preserved the gastric mucous balance. Zn(L) SCN thus exhibited anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities, all of which have cytoprotective effects on the gastric lining.
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22. |
- Shwter, Abdrabuh N., et al.
(författare)
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Chemopreventive effect of Phaleria macrocarpa on colorectal cancer aberrant crypt foci in vivo
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Ethnopharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-8741 .- 1872-7573. ; 193, s. 195-206
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ethnopharmacological relevance: Natural products are important ingredients for pharmaceutical applications specifically new entities for treating cancer and other diseases. Phaleria macrocarpa is native of Indonesia and considered as a prolific source of bioactive substances useful for chemoprevention. Aim of the study: To investigate the chemopreventive properties of Phaleria macrocarpa on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats. Methods: The biological activities of the ethanol extract of P. macrocarpa fruits were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. First the extract was investigated for its in vitro antioxidant activity by the total phenolic content and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Then the chemopreventive effect of P. macrocarpa was performed on AOM-induced aberrant crypt foci as colorectal carcinoma model in rats. Result: the crude ethanolic extract of P. macrocarpa has high antioxidant activity and modulated the oxidative stress as proved by the up-regulation of glutathione-s-transferase and superoxide dismutase. Immunohistochemical staining of the treated sections showed overexpression of PCNA and Bax, reduced crypt sizes and numbers, indicating the characteristic feature of apoptotic cancer cells. PCNA is a landmark of cell damage and turn-over and can be associated with clinical cancer mutation. The most potent doses were 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg as compared to 35 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil. Conclusion: In this sense, the potential modulation of the colorectal pathophysiological pathway by P. macrocarpa natural compounds mostly flavonoids offer a great possibility for the discovery of new leads towards the colorectal cancer.
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23. |
- Abd-El Azeem, Hoda H., et al.
(författare)
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Antifungal Activity of Soft Tissue Extract from the Garden Snail Helix aspersa (Gastropoda, Mollusca)
- 2022
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Ingår i: Molecules. - : MDPI AG. - 1431-5157 .- 1420-3049. ; 27:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Gastropods comprise approximately 80% of molluscans, of which land snails are used variably as food and traditional medicines due to their high protein content. Moreover, different components from land snails exhibit antimicrobial activities. In this study, we evaluated the antifungal activity of soft tissue extracts from Helix aspersa against Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus brasiliensis by identifying extract components using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Two concentrations of three extracts (methanol, acetone, and acetic acid) showed antifungal activity. Both acetone (1 g/3 mL) and acetic acid extracts (1 g/mL) significantly inhibited C. albicans growth (p = 0.0001, 5.2 +/- 0.2 mm and p = 0.02, 69.7 +/- 0.6 mm, respectively). A. flavus and A. brasiliensis growth were inhibited by all extracts at 1 g/mL, while inhibition was observed for acetic acid extracts against A. brasiliensis (p = 0.02, 50.3 +/- 3.5 mm). The highest growth inhibition was observed for A. flavus using acetic acid and acetone extracts (inhibition zones = 38 +/- 1.7 mm and 3.1 +/- 0.7 mm, respectively). LC-MS-MS studies on methanol and acetone extracts identified 11-α-acetoxyprogesterone with a parent mass of 372.50800 m/z and 287.43500 m/z for luteolin. Methanol extracts contained hesperidin with a parent mass of 611.25400 m/z, whereas linoleic acid and genistein (parent mass = 280.4 and 271.48900 m/z, respectively) were the main metabolites.
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24. |
- Abd El-Wahed, Aida, et al.
(författare)
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Wasp Venom Biochemical Components and Their Potential in Biological Applications and Nanotechnological Interventions
- 2021
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Ingår i: Toxins. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6651. ; 13:3
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Wasps, members of the order Hymenoptera, are distributed in different parts of the world, including Brazil, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and Argentina. The lifestyles of the wasps are solitary and social. Social wasps use venom as a defensive measure to protect their colonies, whereas solitary wasps use their venom to capture prey. Chemically, wasp venom possesses a wide variety of enzymes, proteins, peptides, volatile compounds, and bioactive constituents, which include phospholipase A2, antigen 5, mastoparan, and decoralin. The bioactive constituents have anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the limited quantities of wasp venom and the scarcity of advanced strategies for the synthesis of wasp venom’s bioactive compounds remain a challenge facing the effective usage of wasp venom. Solid-phase peptide synthesis is currently used to prepare wasp venom peptides and their analogs such as mastoparan, anoplin, decoralin, polybia-CP, and polydim-I. The goal of the current review is to highlight the medicinal value of the wasp venom compounds, as well as limitations and possibilities. Wasp venom could be a potential and novel natural source to develop innovative pharmaceuticals and new agents for drug discovery.
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25. |
- Arya, Ashwani, et al.
(författare)
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Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Potential of Various Sesquiterpene Analogues for Alzheimer's Disease Therapy
- 2021
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Ingår i: Biomolecules. - : MDPI AG. - 2218-273X. ; 11:3
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a gradually growing irreversible illness of the brain that almost affects every fifth person (aged > 80 years) in the world. World Health Organization (WHO) also revealed that the prevalence of this disease will enhance (upto double) significantly upto 2030. The poor cholinergic transmission at the synapse is considered to be one of the main reasons behind the progression and occurrence of this disorder. Natural inhibitors of acetylcholine (ACh) such as galanthamine and rivastigmine are used commercially in the treatmentof AD. The biomolecules such assesquiterpenes, possess a great structural diversity and are responsible for a plethora of pharmacological properties. The potential of various sesquiterpenes as anticholinesterase has been reviewed in this article. For this purpose, the various databases, mainly PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were investigatedwith different keywords such as “sesquiterpenes+acetylcholinesterase” and “sesquiterpenes+cholinesterase+inhibitors” in the surveyed time frame (2010–2020). A vast literature was evident in the last decade, which affirms the potential of various sesquiterpenes in the improvement of cholinergic transmission by inhibiting the AChE. After data analysis, it was found that 12 compounds out of a total of 58 sesquiterpenes were reported to possess IC50 < 9 μM and can be considered as potential candidates for the improvement of learning and memory. Sesquiterpene is an important category of terpenoids, found to possess a large spectrum of biological activities. The outcome of the review clearly states that sesquiterpenes (such as amberboin, lipidiol, etc.) from herbs could offer fresh, functional compounds for possible prevention and treatment of AD.
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26. |
- Attia, Nour F., et al.
(författare)
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Iron oxide nanoparticles and their pharmaceutical applications
- 2022
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Ingår i: Applied Surface Science Advances. - : Elsevier BV. - 2666-5239. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The importance of different polymorphic forms of iron oxide nanoparticles attracted a lot of attentions in various applications due to their unique electrical, optical and magnetic properties. Moreover, the excellent biocompatibility, high surface area, spherical shape, tunable nanoscale size and the availability of synthesis route make them desirable in various biological and pharmaceutical applications. To this aim, in this review, different synthesis methods of iron oxide nanoparticles were discussed, also the main characterization techniques used for elucidation of the iron oxide nanoparticles were reviewed. The exploitation of iron oxide nanoparticles-based systems as anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial agents and its involvement in drug delivery system were reviewed in details. Additionally, the influence of nanoparticles size and the reagent type and conditions utilized in synthesis and their pharmaceutical applications was highlighted.
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27. |
- El-Kemary, Maged, et al.
(författare)
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Calendula officinalis-mediated biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and their Electrochemical and Optical Characterization
- 2016
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Ingår i: International Journal of Electrochemical Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1452-3981. ; 11:12, s. 10795-10805
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The metal nanoparticles synthesis is highly explored field of nanotechnology. The biological methods seem to be more effective. A simple and elegant method is adopted to prepare Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in a single step using Calendula officinalis extract (COE) as reducing and stabilizing agent. The plant extract is mixed with AgNO3 to get biosynthesized AgNPs. The biosynthesized AgNPs were both optically and electrochemically characterized by UV-Vis, Infrared spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Zeta potential and Cyclic Voltammetry. The results showed Calendula officinalis extract is a useful bioreductant for the synthesis of AgNPs. This study infers that the size of biosynthesized AgNPs ranges from 30 to 50 nm. The surface plasmon resonance peak in the UV-Vis absorption spectra shows maximum absorption at 435 nm. Fluorescence spectra of silver nanoparticles, which show an emission peak at 468 nm have also been studied. Zeta potential analysis ensured the biosynthesized AgNPs are highly stable. Using this environmentally friendly method of biological AgNPs production supplies rates of biosynthesis facile in comparison with other chemical and engineered routes. The employment of traditional medicine in biosynthesis protocols can potentially open new doors in various human health and well-being implications such as cosmetics, foods and medicine.
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28. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham, et al.
(författare)
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Bee Stressors from an Immunological Perspective and Strategies to Improve Bee Health
- 2022
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Ingår i: Veterinary Sciences. - : MDPI AG. - 2306-7381. ; 9:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Honeybees are the most prevalent insect pollinator species; they pollinate a wide range of crops. Colony collapse disorder (CCD), which is caused by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors, incurs high economic/ecological loss. Despite extensive research to identify and study the various ecological stressors such as microbial infections, exposure to pesticides, loss of habitat, and improper beekeeping practices that are claimed to cause these declines, the deep understanding of the observed losses of these important insects is still missing. Honeybees have an innate immune system, which includes physical barriers and cellular and humeral responses to defend against pathogens and parasites. Exposure to various stressors may affect this system and the health of individual bees and colonies. This review summarizes and discusses the composition of the honeybee immune system and the consequences of exposure to stressors, individually or in combinations, on honeybee immune competence. In addition, we discuss the relationship between bee nutrition and immunity. Nutrition and phytochemicals were highlighted as the factors with a high impact on honeybee immunity.
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29. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham, et al.
(författare)
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Chemistry and the Potential Antiviral, Anticancer, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Cardiotonic Steroids Derived from Toads
- 2022
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Ingår i: Molecules. - : MDPI AG. - 1431-5157 .- 1420-3049. ; 27:19
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cardiotonic steroids (CTS) were first documented by ancient Egyptians more than 3000 years ago. Cardiotonic steroids are a group of steroid hormones that circulate in the blood of amphibians and toads and can also be extracted from natural products such as plants, herbs, and marines. It is well known that cardiotonic steroids reveal effects against congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation; therefore, the term cardiotonic has been coined. Cardiotonic steroids are divided into two distinct groups: cardenolides (plant-derived) and bufadienolides (mainly of animal origin). Cardenolides have an unsaturated five-membered lactone ring attached to the steroid nucleus at position 17; bufadienolides have a doubly unsaturated six-membered lactone ring. Cancer is a leading cause of mortality in humans all over the world. In 2040, the global cancer load is expected to be 28.4 million cases, which would be a 47% increase from 2020. Moreover, viruses and inflammations also have a very nebative impact on human health and lead to mortality. In the current review, we focus on the chemistry, antiviral and anti-cancer activities of cardiotonic steroids from the naturally derived (toads) venom to combat these chronic devastating health problems. The databases of different research engines (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Sci-Finder) were screened using different combinations of the following terms: cardiotonic steroids, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticancer, toad venom, bufadienolides, and poison chemical composition. Various cardiotonic steroids were isolated from diverse toad species and exhibited superior anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral activities in in vivo and in vitro models such as marinobufagenin, gammabufotalin, resibufogenin, and bufalin. These steroids are especially difficult to identify. However, several compounds and their bioactivities were identified by using different molecular and biotechnological techniques. Biotechnology is a new tool to fully or partially generate upscaled quantities of natural products, which are otherwise only available at trace amounts in organisms.
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30. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham, et al.
(författare)
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Gelatin nanofibers : Recent insights in synthesis, bio-medical applications and limitations
- 2023
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Ingår i: Heliyon. - : Elsevier. - 2405-8440. ; 9:5
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The use of gelatin and gelatin-blend polymers as environmentally safe polymers to synthesis electrospun nanofibers, has caused a revolution in the biomedical field. The development of efficient nanofibers has played a significant role in drug delivery, and for use in advanced scaffolds in regenerative medicine. Gelatin is an exceptional biopolymer, which is highly versatile, despite variations in the processing technology. The electrospinning process is an efficient technique for the manufacture of gelatin electrospun nanofibers (GNFs), as it is simple, efficient, and cost-effective. GNFs have higher porosity with large surface area and biocompatibility, despite that there are some drawbacks. These drawbacks include rapid degradation, poor mechanical strength, and complete dissolution, which limits the use of gelatin electrospun nanofibers in this form for biomedicine. Thus, these fibers need to be cross-linked, in order to control its solubility. This modification caused an improvement in the biological properties of GNFs, which made them suitable candidates for various biomedical applications, such as wound healing, drug delivery, bone regeneration, tubular scaffolding, skin, nerve, kidney, and cardiac tissue engineering. In this review an outline of electrospinning is shown with critical summary of literature evaluated with respect to the various applications of nanofibers-derived gelatin.
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31. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham, et al.
(författare)
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Honey Bee Products : Preclinical and Clinical Studies of Their Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Nutrition. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-861X. ; 8
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inflammation is a defense process triggered when the body faces assaults from pathogens, toxic substances, microbial infections, or when tissue is damaged. Immune and inflammatory disorders are common pathogenic pathways that lead to the progress of various chronic diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. The overproduction of cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, is an essential parameter in the clinical diagnosis of auto-inflammatory diseases. In this review, the effects of bee products have on inflammatory and autoimmune diseases are discussed with respect to the current literature. The databases of Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Sci-Finder and clinical trials were screened using different combinations of the following terms: immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, bee products, honey, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, bee pollen, bee bread, preclinical trials, clinical trials, and safety. Honey bee products, including propolis, royal jelly, honey, bee venom, and bee pollen, or their bioactive chemical constituents like polyphenols, demonstrate interesting therapeutic potential in the regulation of inflammatory mediator production as per the increase of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, Il-2, and Il-7, and the decrease of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Additionally, improvement in the immune response via activation of B and T lymphocyte cells, both in in vitro, in vivo and in clinical studies was reported. Thus, the biological properties of bee products as anti-inflammatory, immune protective, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and antimicrobial agents have prompted further clinical investigation.
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32. |
- Elmeligy, Sahar, et al.
(författare)
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Pharmaceutical manipulation of citrus flavonoids towards improvement of its bioavailability and stability. A mini review and a meta-analysis study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Food Bioscience. - : Elsevier BV. - 2212-4292 .- 2212-4306. ; 44
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Citrus flavonoids are well recognized for their health benefits and contribution to daily nutritional dietary supplements. Their biological effects include anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Nevertheless, their low solubility, stability, and bioavailability challenge their potential industrial formulations. This review summarizes the state-of-the art optimization of citrus flavonoid formulations representing the possible physicochemical modifications and their potential implications. These modifications could be achieved using different techniques such as nanonization and encapsulation in nanoscale carriers. This review summarizes the recent research on chemical modifications of citrus flavonoids to facilitate their commercial use and or applications. Applications of these technologies are presented to the reader highlighting their advantages, limitations and needed future improvements. Furthermore, a meta-analysis study was conducted to prove-by-evidence the superiority of drugs-loaded nanocarriers regarding bioavailability compared to their conventionally delivered counterparts.
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33. |
- Elrasoul, Ahmed Shaaban Abd, et al.
(författare)
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Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Apoptotic Effects of Azolla pinnata Ethanolic Extract against Lead-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats
- 2020
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Ingår i: Antioxidants. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-3921. ; 9:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The current study investigated the protective potential of Azolla pinnate ethanolic extract (APE) against lead-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sixty male Wistar albino rats were randomly allocated into six groups (n = 10). The control group was orally administrated with saline. The second group received lead acetate (100 mg/kg body weight (BW) orally for 60 days). The third group was fed with APE (10 mg/kg BW orally for 60 days). The fourth group was administrated with lead acetate like the second group and APE like the third group, concomitantly, for 60 days. The fifth group was administrated with APE like the third group for 30 days, then orally administrated with the lead acetate like the second group for another 30 days. The sixth group was administrated with lead acetate like the second group for 30 days, then with APE like the third group for a further 30 days. Phytochemical analysis of APE indicated the presence of peonidin 3-O-glucoside cation, vitexin, rutin, thiamine, choline, tamarixetin, hyperoside, astragalin, and quercetin. The latter has been elucidated using one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 2D NMR) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS). Lead acetate increased the serum levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and that of urea, creatinine, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin 1β, hepatic tissue malondialdehyde contents, and caspase 3 protein expression, as well as altering the hepatic tissue architecture. However, it decreased the serum levels of interleukin 10 and glutathione (GSH) contents, and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase in hepatic tissue. In contrast, the administration of APE ameliorated the lead-induced alterations in liver function and structure, exemplifying the benefits of Azolla’s phytochemical contents. Collectively, A. pinnate extract is a protective and curative agent against lead-induced hepatotoxicity via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic impacts.
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34. |
- Farag, Mohamed A., et al.
(författare)
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An updated multifaceted overview of sweet proteins and dipeptides as sugar substitutes; the chemistry, health benefits, gut interactions, and safety
- 2022
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Ingår i: Food Research International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0963-9969 .- 1873-7145. ; 162
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Artificial sweeteners have become increasingly popular worldwide owing to their lower calorie content in addition to the claims of health benefits such as weight control, blood glucose level regulation in diabetics, and protection against dental caries. Nevertheless, there is still controversy regarding their safety, especially when administered over the long term, taking into account that most of the safety studies are based on animal models and only a few human studies. This review focuses on low-calorie protein/peptide sweeteners. These include artificial sweeteners, i.e. aspartame, advantame, neotame, and alitame which are synthetic, versus those of natural origin such as thaumatin, monellin, brazzein, pentadin, mabinlin, curculin, and egg white lysozyme. We conducted a systematic literature survey to ensure the accuracy of the data regarding the chemical properties, synthesis, and industrial applications. The health benefits and safety of these sweeteners in humans are presented for the first time in context to their metabolic profiles and gut interaction.
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35. |
- Fayed, Marwa A. A., et al.
(författare)
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Chemical profiling and cytotoxic potential of the n-butanol fraction of Tamarix nilotica flowers
- 2023
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Ingår i: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 2662-7671. ; 23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Cancer represents one of the biggest healthcare issues confronting humans and one of the big challenges for scientists in trials to dig into our nature for new remedies or to develop old ones with fewer side effects. Halophytes are widely distributed worldwide in areas of harsh conditions in dunes, and inland deserts, where, to cope with those conditions they synthesize important secondary metabolites highly valued in the medical field. Several Tamarix species are halophytic including T.nilotica which is native to Egypt, with a long history in its tradition, found in its papyri and in folk medicine to treat various ailments.Methods LC–LTQ–MS–MS analysis and 1H-NMR were used to identify the main phytoconstituents in the n- butanol fraction of T.nilotica flowers. The extract was tested in vitro for its cytotoxic effect against breast (MCF-7) and liver cell carcinoma (Huh-7) using SRB assay.Results T.nilotica n-butanol fraction of the flowers was found to be rich in phenolic content, where, LC–LTQ–MS–MS allowed the tentative identification of thirty-nine metabolites, based on the exact mass, the observed spectra fragmentation patterns, and the literature data, varying between tannins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. 1H-NMR confirmed the classes tentatively identified. The in-vitro evaluation of the n-butanol fraction showed lower activity on MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 > 100 µg/mL, while the higher promising effect was against Huh-7 cell lines with an IC50= 37 µg/mL.Conclusion Our study suggested that T.nilotica flowers' n-butanol fraction is representing a promising cytotoxic candidate against liver cell carcinoma having potential phytoconstituents with variable targets and signaling pathways.
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36. |
- Gadallah, Adel S., et al.
(författare)
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Anti-Inflammatory Principles from Tamarix aphylla L. : A Bioassay-Guided Fractionation Study
- 2020
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Ingår i: Molecules. - : MDPI AG. - 1431-5157 .- 1420-3049. ; 25:13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Natural products have served as primary remedies since ancient times due to their cultural acceptance and outstanding biodiversity. To investigate whether Tamarix aphylla L. modulates an inflammatory process, we carried out bioassay-guided isolation where the extracts and isolated compounds were tested for their modulatory effects on several inflammatory indicators, such as nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), proinflammatory cytokine; tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), as well as the proliferation of the lymphocyte T-cells. The aqueous ethanolic extract of the plant inhibited the intracellular ROS production, NO generation, and T-cell proliferation. The aqueous ethanolic crude extract was partitioned by liquid-liquid fractionation using n-hexane (n-C6H6), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc),n-butanol (n-BuOH), and water (H2O). The DCM and n-BuOH extracts showed the highest activity against most inflammatory indicators and were further purified to obtain compounds 1-4. The structures of 3,5-dihydroxy-4',7-dimethoxyflavone (1) and 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester (2) from the DCM extracts; and kaempferol (3), and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-(E)-cinnamic acid (4) from then-BuOH extract were elucidated by different spectroscopic tools, including MS, NMR, UV, and IR. Compound 2 inhibited the production of ROS and TNF-alpha, whereas compound 3 showed inhibitory activity against all the tested mediators. A better understanding of the potential aspect of Tamarix aphylla L. derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents could open the door for the development of advanced anti-inflammatory entities.
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37. |
- Kabir, Md. Tanvir, et al.
(författare)
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Potential Role of Curcumin and Its Nanoformulations to Treat Various Types of Cancers
- 2021
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Ingår i: Biomolecules. - : MDPI AG. - 2218-273X. ; 11:3
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cancer is a major burden of disease globally. Each year, tens of millions of people are diagnosed with cancer worldwide, and more than half of the patients eventually die from it. Significant advances have been noticed in cancer treatment, but the mortality and incidence rates of cancers are still high. Thus, there is a growing research interest in developing more effective and less toxic cancer treatment approaches. Curcumin (CUR), the major active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), has gained great research interest as an antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory agent. This natural compound shows its anticancer effect through several pathways including interfering with multiple cellular mechanisms and inhibiting/inducing the generation of multiple cytokines, enzymes, or growth factors including IκB kinase β (IκKβ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), signal transducer, and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), cyclooxygenase II (COX-2), protein kinase D1 (PKD1), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), epidermal growth factor, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Interestingly, the anticancer activity of CUR has been limited primarily due to its poor water solubility, which can lead to low chemical stability, low oral bioavailability, and low cellular uptake. Delivering drugs at a controlled rate, slow delivery, and targeted delivery are other very attractive methods and have been pursued vigorously. Multiple CUR nanoformulations have also been developed so far to ameliorate solubility and bioavailability of CUR and to provide protection to CUR against hydrolysis inactivation. In this review, we have summarized the anticancer activity of CUR against several cancers, for example, gastrointestinal, head and neck, brain, pancreatic, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. In addition, we have also focused on the findings obtained from multiple experimental and clinical studies regarding the anticancer effect of CUR in animal models, human subjects, and cancer cell lines.
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38. |
- Khalifa, Shaden A. M., et al.
(författare)
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Bee Pollen : Current Status and Therapeutic Potential
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 13:6
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bee pollen is a combination of plant pollen and honeybee secretions and nectar. The Bible and ancient Egyptian texts are documented proof of its use in public health. It is considered a gold mine of nutrition due to its active components that have significant health and medicinal properties. Bee pollen contains bioactive compounds including proteins, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and polyphenols. The vital components of bee pollen enhance different bodily functions and offer protection against many diseases. It is generally marketed as a functional food with affordable and inexpensive prices with promising future industrial potentials. This review highlights the dietary properties of bee pollen and its influence on human health, and its applications in the food industry.
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39. |
- Khalifa, Shaden A. M., et al.
(författare)
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Frankincense of Boswellia sacra: Traditional and modern applied uses, pharmacological activities, and clinical trials
- 2023
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Ingår i: Industrial crops and products (Print). - : Elsevier. - 0926-6690 .- 1872-633X. ; 203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Since Boswellia sacra (Burseraceae) was studied in the 19th century, it has been known for its economic and cultural values. It is cultivated mainly in the southwest regions of Oman and some regions of Yemen, and is a natural source of frankincense, "Luban" in Arabic, around the world. Frankincense, the aromatic resin of B. sacra, is used widely both for traditional purposes and for the treatment of various ailments; e.g., dental infections, tumors, dysentery, vomiting, and fevers. Recently, many reports provided evidence for the potential biological activities of B. sacra, its synonym Boswellia carteri, and their constituent chemical compounds. These activities include cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-diabetes, immunomodulatory, and anticoagulant effects. B. sacra was also tested for effects against gastric, hepatic, neurological, and skin disorders in vitro and in vivo. Clinical trials revealed good effects against carcinomas and gliomas, as well as against bladder and brain tumors. Its uses as a plant-based agent in nanotechnology displayed promising results. More efforts should be directed to further investigate these safe, plant-based bio-preservatives, and best practices should be outlined to protect these trees from extinction.
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40. |
- Khalifa, Shaden A. M., et al.
(författare)
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Marine Natural Products : A Source of Novel Anticancer Drugs
- 2019
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Ingår i: Marine Drugs. - : MDPI AG. - 1660-3397. ; 17:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cancer remains one of the most lethal diseases worldwide. There is an urgent need for new drugs with novel modes of action and thus considerable research has been conducted for new anticancer drugs from natural sources, especially plants, microbes and marine organisms. Marine populations represent reservoirs of novel bioactive metabolites with diverse groups of chemical structures. This review highlights the impact of marine organisms, with particular emphasis on marine plants, algae, bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, sponges and soft corals. Anti-cancer effects of marine natural products in in vitro and in vivo studies were first introduced; their activity in the prevention of tumor formation and the related compound-induced apoptosis and cytotoxicities were tackled. The possible molecular mechanisms behind the biological effects are also presented. The review highlights the diversity of marine organisms, novel chemical structures, and chemical property space. Finally, therapeutic strategies and the present use of marine-derived components, its future direction and limitations are discussed.
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41. |
- Khalifa, Shaden A. M., et al.
(författare)
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Truffles : From Islamic culture to chemistry, pharmacology, and food trends in recent times
- 2019
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Ingår i: Trends in Food Science & Technology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0924-2244 .- 1879-3053. ; 91, s. 193-218
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Many years back, during Islamic civilization, truffle (Kama'ah) was mentioned by Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) to be well recognized as a therapeutic for eye diseases. (In the Sahihain, it is narrated that the Prophet said: The Kama'ah (truffle) is among the manna (which is a food mentioned in the Qura'n, Surah alBagarah), and its water (extract or juice) cures the eye diseases). Truffles represent a large group of soil fungi belonging to Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Zygomycota. Because of their exceptionally profitable protein, fat, polysaccharide, carbohydrate, ash, mineral, phenolic and other organic molecule contents, truffles have been appreciated as food, nutritional and therapeutic sources for many years. Scope and approach: The main aim of this review is to highlight a comprehensive compile of truffles traditional uses, mycochemistry, pharmacological properties and nutritional value with special focus on desert truffles. Such review represents a good candidate reference for future truffle research. Key findings and conclusions: In this review, we discuss the traditional aspects of truffles with reference to Prophetic Traditional Medicine (al-Tibb al-Nabawi) to cure aliments such as trachoma. The use of truffles is justified by many recent research findings with regards to their anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer properties. Although the molecular mechanism and functions of the different truffle species have been intensively studied, we look forward to translating these traditional remedies into preclinical and clinical applications.
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42. |
- Zahra, Maram Hussein, et al.
(författare)
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Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) : Food and Medicinal Plant with Potential In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Cancer Activities
- 2019
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Ingår i: Molecules. - : MDPI AG. - 1431-5157 .- 1420-3049. ; 24:13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background/Aim: Plants play an important role in anti-cancer drug discovery, therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the biological activity of Alpinia zerumbet (A. zerumbet) flowers. Methods: The phytochemical and biological criteria of A. zerumbet were in vitro investigated as well as in mouse xenograft model. Results: A. zerumbet extracts, specially CH2Cl2 and MeOH extracts, exhibited the highest potent anti-tumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. The most active CH2Cl2 extract was subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation leading to isolatation of the naturally occurring 5,6-dehydrokawain (DK) which was characterized by IR, MS, H-1-NMR and C-13-NMR. A. zerumbet extracts, specially MeOH and CH2Cl2 extracts, exhibited significant inhibitory activity towards tumor volume (TV). Furthermore, A. zerumbet extracts declined the high level of malonaldehyde (MDA) as well as elevated the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in liver tissue homogenate. Moreover, DK showed anti-proliferative action on different human cancer cell lines. The recorded IC50 values against breast carcinoma (MCF-7), liver carcinoma (Hep-G2) and larynx carcinoma cells (HEP-2) were 3.08, 6.8, and 8.7 mu g/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings open the door for further investigations in order to explore the potential medicinal properties of A. zerumbet.
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43. |
- Abd El-Wahed, Aida A., et al.
(författare)
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Cosmetic Applications of Bee Venom
- 2021
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Ingår i: Toxins. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6651. ; 13:11
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bee venom (BV) is a typical toxin secreted by stingers of honeybee workers. BV and BV therapy have long been attractive to different cultures, with extensive studies during recent decades. Nowadays, BV is applied to combat several skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, alopecia, vitiligo, and psoriasis. BV is used extensively in topical preparations as cosmetics and used as dressing for wound healing, as well as in facemasks. Nevertheless, the safety of BV as a therapeutic choice has always been a concern due to the immune system reaction in some people due to BV use. The documented unfavorable impact is explained by the fact that the skin reactions to BV might expand to excessive immunological responses, including anaphylaxis, that typically resolve over numerous days. This review aims to address bee venom therapeutic uses in skin cosmetics.
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44. |
- Amr, Alaa, et al.
(författare)
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UPLC-MS/MS Analysis of Naturally Derived Apis mellifera Products and Their Promising Effects against Cadmium-Induced Adverse Effects in Female Rats
- 2023
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Ingår i: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 15:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Honeybee products arouse interest in society due to their natural origin and range of important biological properties. Propolis (P) and royal jelly (RJ) attract scientists’ attention because they exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory abilities. In this study, we tested whether P and RJ could mitigate the adverse effects of cadmium (Cd) exposure, with particular emphasis on the reproductive function in female rats. In this line, one week of pretreatment was established. Six experimental groups were created, including (i) the control group (without any supplementation), (ii) the Cd group (receiving CdCl2 in a dose of 4.5 mg/kg/day), (iii) the P group (50 mg of P/kg/day), (iv) RJ group (200 mg of RJ/kg/day), (v) P + Cd group (rats pretreated with P and then treated with P and Cd simultaneously), (vi) RJ + Cd group (animals pretreated with RJ before receiving CdCl2 simultaneously with RJ). Cd treatment of rats adversely affected a number of measured parameters, including body weight, ovarian structure and ultrastructure, oxidative stress parameters, increased ovarian Cd content and prolonged the estrous cycle. Pretreatment and then cotreatment with P or RJ and Cd alleviated the adverse effects of Cd, transferring the clusters in the PCA analysis chart toward the control group. However, clusters for cotreated groups were still distinctly separated from the control and P, or RJ alone treated groups. Most likely, investigated honeybee products can alter Cd absorption in the gut and/or increase its excretion through the kidneys and/or mitigate oxidative stress by various components. Undoubtedly, pretreatment with P or RJ can effectively prepare the organism to overcome harmful insults. Although the chemical composition of RJ and P is relatively well known, focusing on proportion, duration, and scheme of treatment, as well as the effects of particular components, may provide interesting data in the future. In the era of returning to natural products, both P and RJ seem valuable materials for further consideration as anti-infertility agents.
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45. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring natural products-based cancer therapeutics derived from egyptian flora
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Ethnopharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-8741 .- 1872-7573. ; 269
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ethnopharmacological relevance: Egyptian plants are a rich source of natural molecules, representing considerable biodiversity due to climate variations between the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western regions of the country. Sinai is considered a precious nature reserves preserving flora, fauna, marine organisms, and historical habitats with ancient origins. Here, traditional medicinal approaches have been used for hundreds of years. Healthy lifestyles, low levels of stress and microbial infections, and a dependence on flora and herbal medicine might in combination explain why the burden of cancer is lower in some regions than in others.Aim of the study: The primary aim of this review is to document the plants and natural products that are used as foods and medicines in Egypt, in general, and in Sinai, in particular, with a focus on those with demonstrated anticancer activities. The documented traditional uses of these plants are described, together with their chemical and pharmacological activities and the reported outcomes of clinical trials against cancer.Materials and methods: A literature search was performed to identify texts describing the medicinal plants that are cultivated and grown in Egypt, including information found in textbooks, published articles, the plant list website (http://www.theplantlist.org/), the medicinal plant names services website (http://mpns.kew.org/mpns-portal/), and web databases (PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar).Results and discussion: We collected data for most of the plants cultivated or grown in Egypt that have been previously investigated for anticancer effects and reported their identified bioactive elements. Several plant species, belonging to different families and associated with 67 bioactive compounds, were investigated as potential anticancer agents (in vitro studies). The most potent cytotoxic activities were identified for the families Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Gramineae, and Liliaceae. The anticancer activities of some species, such as Punica granatum L., Nerium oleander L., Olea europea L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Cassia acutifolia L., Nigella sativa L., Capsicum frutescens L., Withania somnifera L., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe, have been examined in clinical trials. Among the various Egyptian plant habitats, we found that most of these plants are grown in the North Sinai, New-Delta, and Giza Governorates.Conclusion: In this review, we highlight the role played by Egyptian flora in current medicinal therapies and the possibility that these plants may be examined in further studies for the development of anticancer drugs. These bioactive plant extracts form the basis for the isolation of phytochemicals with demonstrated anticancer activities. Some active components derived from these plants have been applied to preclinical and clinical settings, including resveratrol, quercetin, isoquercetin, and rutin.
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46. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Royal Jelly in Metabolic Disorders and Gastrointestinal Diseases
- 2024
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Ingår i: Nutrients. - : MDPI. - 2072-6643. ; 16:3
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Metabolic disorders, encompassing diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, etc., pose a substantial global health threat, with rising morbidity and mortality rates. Addressing these disorders is crucial, as conventional drugs often come with high costs and adverse effects. This review explores the potential of royal jelly (RJ), a natural bee product rich in bioactive components, as an alternative strategy for managing metabolic diseases. RJ exhibits diverse therapeutic properties, including antimicrobial, estrogen-like, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. This review's focus is on investigating how RJ and its components impact conditions like diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and gastrointestinal illnesses. Evidence suggests that RJ serves as a complementary treatment for various health issues, notably demonstrating cholesterol- and glucose-lowering effects in diabetic rats. Specific RJ-derived metabolites, such as 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), also known as the "Queen bee acid," show promise in reducing insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Recent research highlights RJ's role in modulating immune responses, enhancing anti-inflammatory cytokines, and suppressing key inflammatory mediators. Despite these promising findings, further research is needed to comprehensively understand the mechanisms underlying RJ's therapeutic effects.
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47. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham, et al.
(författare)
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Insights into the Role of Natural Products in the Control of the Honey Bee Gut Parasite (Nosema spp.)
- 2022
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI AG. - 2076-2615. ; 12:21
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The honey bee is an important economic insect due to its role in pollinating many agricultural plants. Unfortunately, bees are susceptible to many pathogens, including pests, parasites, bacteria, and viruses, most of which exert a destructive impact on thousands of colonies. The occurrence of resistance to the therapeutic substances used against these organisms is rising, and the residue from these chemicals may accumulate in honey bee products, subsequently affecting the human health. There is current advice to avoid the use of antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and other drugs in bees, and therefore, it is necessary to develop alternative strategies for the treatment of bee diseases. In this context, the impact of nosema diseases (nosemosis) on bee health and the negative insults of existing drugs are discussed. Moreover, attempts to combat nosema through the use of alternative compounds, including essential oils, plant extracts, and microbes in vitro and in vivo, are documented.
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48. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham R., et al.
(författare)
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Essential oils of aromatic Egyptian plants repel nymphs of the tick Ixodes ricinus (Acari : Ixodidae)
- 2017
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Ingår i: Experimental & applied acarology. - : Springer. - 0168-8162 .- 1572-9702. ; 73:1, s. 139-157
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Due to the role of Ixodes ricinus (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae) in the transmission of many serious pathogens, personal protection against bites of this tick is essential. In the present study the essential oils from 11 aromatic Egyptian plants were isolated and their repellent activity against I. ricinus nymphs was evaluated Three oils (i.e. Conyza dioscoridis L., Artemisia herba-alba Asso and Calendula officinalis L.) elicited high repellent activity in vitro of 94, 84.2 and 82%, respectively. The most active essential oil (C. dioscoridis) was applied in the field at a concentration of 6.5 A mu g/cm(2) and elicited a significant repellent activity against I. ricinus nymphs by 61.1%. The most repellent plants C. dioscoridis, C. officinalis and A. herba-alba yielded essential oils by 0.17, 0.11 and 0.14%, respectively. These oils were further investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. alpha-Cadinol (10.7%) and hexadecanoic acid (10.5%) were the major components of C. dioscoridis whereas in C. officinalis, alpha-cadinol (21.2%) and carvone (18.2%) were major components. Artemisia herba-alba contained piperitone (26.5%), ethyl cinnamate (9.5%), camphor (7.7%) and hexadecanoic acid (6.9%). Essential oils of these three plants have a potential to be used for personal protection against tick bites.
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49. |
- El-Seedi, Hesham R., et al.
(författare)
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Honeybee products : An updated review of neurological actions
- 2020
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Ingår i: Trends in Food Science & Technology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0924-2244 .- 1879-3053. ; 101, s. 17-27
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: According to the World Health Organization, two billion people will attain the age of 60 years or more by 2050. Ageing is a major risk factor for a number of neurodegenerative disorders, which currently possess challenge to the global health status, carrying economic and social consequences. Therefore, attention has been dedicated towards the development of neuroprotective agents derived from natural sources. Honeybee products, such as honey, bee pollen, bee bread, propolis, royal jelly, beeswax, and bee venom have been used for therapeutic purposes since ancient times in Egypt, Greece, and China. Despite the emergence of modern medicine, bee products remain clinically relevant owing to their potential as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective agents.Scope and approach: This review demonstrates the potential of bee products against neurological disorders in the light of the current literature.Key findings and conclusions: Bee products and individual isolated components have enormous therapeutic potential for multiple neurological disorders. The different studies show overall neuroprotective and nerve-tonic characteristics of bee products, mainly due to their anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic features. However, some limitations such as allergic reactions and the cytotoxic effect of some bee products warrant a special care in its development as drug leads in future studies.
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50. |
- Gomaa, Mohamed N., et al.
(författare)
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Antibacterial effect of the red sea soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum
- 2016
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Ingår i: Natural Product Research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1478-6419 .- 1478-6427. ; 30:6, s. 729-734
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The marine soft corals Sarcophyton trocheliophorum crude extracts possessed antimicrobial activity towards pathogenic bacterial strains, i.e. Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bioassay-guided fractionation indicated that the antimicrobial effect was due to the presence of terpenoid bioactive derivatives. Further biological assays of the n-hexane fractions were carried out using turbidity assay, inhibition zone assay and minimum inhibitory concentration for investigating the growth-inhibition effect towards the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The fractions were screened and the structure of the isolated compound was justified by interpretation of the spectroscopic data, mainly mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The structure was assigned as (5S)-3-[(3E,5S)-5-hydroxy-3-hepten-6-yn-1-yl]-5-methyl-2(5H)-furanone and was effective at concentrations as low as 0.20mg/mL. The above findings, in the course of our ongoing research on marine products, may implicate that the profound anti-microbial activity of the S. trocheliophorum soft corals, inhabiting the red sea reefs, is attributed to the presence of growth-inhibiting secondary metabolites mainly terpenoids.
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