Histopathological and genetic changes proved the anti‑cancer potential of free and nano‑capsulated sinapic acid

Doaa A. Badr,Mohamed E. Amer,Wagih M. Abd‑Elhay,Mohamed S. M. Nasr,Tamer M. M. Abuamara,Harbi Ali,Aly F. Mohamed,Maha A. Youssef,Nasser S. Awwad,Yi‑Hsu Ju,Ahmed E. Fazary 한국응용생명화학회 2019 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.62 No.5

Cancer is known to be a fierce disease that causes a large percentage of the deaths worldwide. The common cancer treatments; chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are known for their severe side effects; therefore scientists are working on finding solutions to reduce these drawbacks. One of these treatment systems is the sustained released drugs formulations, these systems depend on the encapsulation of the chemotherapy within an emulsifying agent, in order to obtain a slow drug release of low doses over long time intervals. In this study, the anti-cancer effects of free and encapsulated sinapic acid was tested against lung (A549), and colon (CaCo2) cancer cell lines, along with normal fibroblast cells (HFB4) as a negative control. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was performed for IC50 evaluation, also cell cycle assay was performed to detect cell cycle arrest status and related anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic; Blc-2, BAX, and P53 gene profile fold changes post cellular treatment. Data recorded revealed that encapsulated SA showed a lower toxicity than the free form to both cell lines and also to the normal cells. The cell cycle analysis showed a cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase post cell treatment with the free and encapsulated sinapic acid accompanied with up regulation of Bax and P53 and a down regulation of Blc-2 genes in both cell lines. The data suggest a promising anti-cancer and anti-proliferative potential of free and encapsulated sinapic acid. Also they show that the anti-cancer effect of free and encapsulated sinapic acid is quite close.

Anti-cancer Effect of Hyoscyamus muticus Extract via Its Activation of Fas/FasL-ASK1-p38 Pathway

Amer Ali Abd El-Hafeez,Hala Mohamed M. Marzouk,Mohamed A. A. Abdelhamid,Hazim O. Khalifa,Tamer H. A. Hasanin,Ahmed G. K. Habib,Fatma Mahmoud Abdelwahed,Fatma M. Barakat,Eslam M. Bastawy,Eman M. B. Abd 한국생물공학회 2022 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.27 No.5

Hyoscyamus muticus L. is a traditional medicine used as antispasmodic and sedative. Herein, we aimed to determine the phytochemical constituents and for the first time its anti-cancer activities. The phytochemical constituents of the different extracts were evaluated by calorimetric methods. The anti-cancer activities of the extracts were tested against leukemia, breast, renal, and prostate cancers cell lines. 4, 6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, flow cytometric analysis, knockdown of ASK1, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated to clarify the mechanism of action. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of wide range of phytoconstituents. Hyoscyamus muticus methanolic extracts (HMME) showed the highest anti-cancer activities against leukemia, breast, renal, and prostate cancers as compared to ethanol and aqueous extracts. Specifically, HMME exerted cytotoxic effect against the MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines with IC50 values of 8.75 and 7.25 μg/mL, respectively. Mechanistically, DAPI staining and flow cytometric analysis revealed that HMME induces apoptosis via the death receptor, FAS, but not the mitochondrial pathway. Moreover, ASK1 and p38 were rapidly activated in response to HMME, and knockdown of ASK1 by a small interference of RNA specific to Ask1 attenuated p38 and caspase-3 activation and suppressed apoptosis, implying that HMME-induced apoptosis relies on the ASK1-p38-caspase-3 pathway. Furthermore, we confirmed that cellular ROS generation was a critical mediator in HMME-induced apoptosis because the ROSscavenger N-acetyl cysteine significantly decreased the phosphorylation of ASK1 and HMME-induced apoptosis. Our results confirmed HMME cytotoxic effects in TNBCs via ROS-dependent activation of the Fas/FasL-ASK1-p38 axis.

Insights into the Incidence of Watermelon chlorotic stunt virus Causing Yellowing Disease of Watermelon in Western and Southwestern Regions of Saudi Arabia

M. H. Ahmad,M. T. Shakeel,I. M. Al-Shahwan,M. A. Al-Saleh,M. A. Amer 한국식물병리학회 2018 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.34 No.5

During the spring season of 2014, a total of 148 melon and watermelon leaf samples were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic plants in the western and southwestern regions of Saudi Arabia and were tested for the presence of Watermelon chlorotic stunt virus (WmCSV) and other suspected cucurbit viruses by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Ninety-eight samples were found to be positive for the presence of WmCSV, nine samples were positive for the presence of Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), and 22 showed a mixed infection with both WmCSV and CYSDV. No other cucurbit viruses were detected in any of the samples. Host range experiments revealed that eight out of fourteen tested plant species were susceptible to WmCSV. PCR products of approximately 1.2 kb were obtained after amplification using primers specifically targeting the coat protein region of WmCSV. Positive PCR results were confirmed by dot blot hybridization. Coat protein gene sequences from eleven WmCSV isolates indicated that the highest identity was between the 104WMA-SA isolate from the Wadi Baish location and a previously reported isolate from the AL-Lith location in Saudi Arabia. The lowest identity was observed between the 42WMA-SA isolate and an isolate from Palestine.

Insights into the Incidence of Watermelon chlorotic stunt virus Causing Yellowing Disease of Watermelon in Western and Southwestern Regions of Saudi Arabia

Ahmad, M.H.,Shakeel, M.T.,Al-Shahwan, I.M.,Al-Saleh, M.A.,Amer, M.A. The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2018 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.34 No.5

During the spring season of 2014, a total of 148 melon and watermelon leaf samples were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic plants in the western and southwestern regions of Saudi Arabia and were tested for the presence of Watermelon chlorotic stunt virus (WmCSV) and other suspected cucurbit viruses by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Ninety-eight samples were found to be positive for the presence of WmCSV, nine samples were positive for the presence of Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), and 22 showed a mixed infection with both WmCSV and CYSDV. No other cucurbit viruses were detected in any of the samples. Host range experiments revealed that eight out of fourteen tested plant species were susceptible to WmCSV. PCR products of approximately 1.2 kb were obtained after amplification using primers specifically targeting the coat protein region of WmCSV. Positive PCR results were confirmed by dot blot hybridization. Coat protein gene sequences from eleven WmCSV isolates indicated that the highest identity was between the 104WMA-SA isolate from the Wadi Baish location and a previously reported isolate from the AL-Lith location in Saudi Arabia. The lowest identity was observed between the 42WMA-SA isolate and an isolate from Palestine.

Effect of chronic lead intoxication on the distribution and elimination of amoxicillin in goats

Ahmed M. Soliman,Ehab A. Abu-Basha,Salah A. H. Youssef,Aziza M. Amer,Patricia A. Murphy,Catherine C. Hauck,Ronette Gehring,Walter H. Hsu 대한수의학회 2013 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.14 No.4

A study of amoxicillin pharmacokinetics was conducted in healthy goats and goats with chronic lead intoxication. The intoxicated goats had increased serum concentrations of liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transferase),blood urea nitrogen, and reactivated δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase compared to the controls. Following intravenous amoxicillin (10 mg/kg bw) in control and lead-intoxicated goats,elimination half-lives were 4.14 and 1.26 h, respectively. The volumes of distribution based on the terminal phase were 1.19and 0.38 L/kg, respectively, and those at steady-state were 0.54and 0.18 L/kg, respectively. After intramuscular (IM)amoxicillin (10 mg/kg bw) in lead-intoxicated goats and control animals, the absorption, distribution, and elimination of the drug were more rapid in lead-intoxicated goats than the controls. Peak serum concentrations of 21.89 and 12.19 μg/mL were achieved at 1 h and 2 h, respectively, in lead-intoxicated and control goats. Amoxicillin bioavailability in the lead-intoxicated goats decreased 20% compared to the controls. After amoxicillin, more of the drug was excreted in the urine from lead-intoxicated goats than the controls. Our results suggested that lead intoxication in goats increases the rate of amoxicillin absorption after IM administration and distribution and elimination. Thus, lead intoxication may impair the therapeutic effectiveness of amoxicillin.

Lucerne transient streak virus; a Recently Detected Virus Infecting Alfafa (Medicago sativa) in Central Saudi Arabia

Ahmed Raza,Ibrahim M. Al-Shahwan,Omer A. Abdalla,Mohammed A. AL-Saleh,Mahmoud A. Amer 한국식물병리학회 2017 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.33 No.1

A survey was conducted to determine the status ofLucerne transient streak virus (LTSV) in three highyieldingalfalfa regions in central Saudi Arabia (Riyadh,Qassim, and Hail) during 2014. Three hundredand eight symptomatic alfalfa, and seven Sonchus oleraceussamples were collected. DAS-ELISA indicatedthat 59 of these samples were positive to LTSV. Twoisolates of LTSV from each region were selected formolecular studies. RT-PCR confirmed the presence ofLTSV in the selected samples using a specific primerpair. Percentage identity and homology tree comparisonsrevealed that all Saudi isolates were more closelyrelated to each other but also closely related to the Canadianisolate-JQ782213 (97.1–97.6%) and the NewZealand isolate-U31286 (95.8–97.1%). ComparingSaudi isolates of LTSV with ten other sobemovirusesbased on the coat protein gene sequences confirmedthe distant relationship between them. Eleven out offourteen plant species used in host range study werepositive to LTSV. This is the first time to documentthat Trifolium alexandrinum, Nicotiana occidentalis,Chenopodium glaucum, and Lathyrus sativus are newhost plant species for LTSV and that N. occidentalisbeing a good propagative host for it.

Strengthening of capacity deficient RC beams - An experimental approach

M. Adil Dar,N. Subramanian,A.R. Dar,Amer Iliyas Rather,Mir Atif,Sayeeda Syed 국제구조공학회 2019 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.70 No.3

Any revision of seismic codes usually demands a higher capacity from structural members, making existing structures unsafe particularly from strength considerations. Retrofitting of capacity deficient members is very suitable for tackling such situations. This paper presents an experimental study on different retrofitting measures adopted for strengthening a series of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Four identical RC beam specimens were casted, out of which three specimens were strengthened by different schemes (viz., bolted hot rolled flat, bolted cold-formed steel channel, and carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate, respectively) on their tension face and tested under four-point monotonic loading. This study focuses on the investigation of the flexural behaviour of these retrofitted beams, observed in terms of strength and stiffness. It was concluded that all retrofitting measures improved the structural performance of these beams. However, the cost involved with each strengthening mode was proportional to the improvement in the performance achieved.

Lucerne transient streak virus; a Recently Detected Virus Infecting Alfafa (Medicago sativa) in Central Saudi Arabia

Raza, Ahmed,Al-Shahwan, Ibrahim M.,Abdalla, Omer A.,Al-Saleh, Mohammed A.,Amer, Mahmoud A. The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2017 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.33 No.1

A survey was conducted to determine the status of Lucerne transient streak virus (LTSV) in three high-yielding alfalfa regions in central Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Qassim, and Hail) during 2014. Three hundred and eight symptomatic alfalfa, and seven Sonchus oleraceus samples were collected. DAS-ELISA indicated that 59 of these samples were positive to LTSV. Two isolates of LTSV from each region were selected for molecular studies. RT-PCR confirmed the presence of LTSV in the selected samples using a specific primer pair. Percentage identity and homology tree comparisons revealed that all Saudi isolates were more closely related to each other but also closely related to the Canadian isolate-JQ782213 (97.1-97.6%) and the New Zealand isolate-U31286 (95.8-97.1%). Comparing Saudi isolates of LTSV with ten other sobemoviruses based on the coat protein gene sequences confirmed the distant relationship between them. Eleven out of fourteen plant species used in host range study were positive to LTSV. This is the first time to document that Trifolium alexandrinum, Nicotiana occidentalis, Chenopodium glaucum, and Lathyrus sativus are new host plant species for LTSV and that N. occidentalis being a good propagative host for it.

Physiological and molecular study on the anti-obesity effects of pineapple (Ananas comosus) juice in male Wistar rat

Samir A. El-Shazly,Mohamed M. Ahmed,Mohammad S. AL-Harbi,Mohamed E. Alkafafy,Hanan B. El-Sawy,Sayed A. M. Amer 한국식품과학회 2018 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.27 No.5

The present study was performed to assess antiobesity effects of raw pineapple juice in high fat diet (HFD)-induced fatness. Based on food type, rats were divided into normal diet and HFD groups. When animals of HFD group become obese, they were given pineapple juice along with either HFD or normal diet. Blood biochemistry, liver and muscle gene expressions were analyzed. HFD induced significant elevations in body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat accumulation, liver fat deposition and blood lipids while juice restored these parameters near to their normal values. Juice significantly decreased serum insulin and leptin while adiponectin was increased. Juice administration downregulated the increment of FAS and SERBP-1c mRNA expression in liver and upregulated HSL and GLUT-2 expressions. The muscular lipolytic CPT-1 expression was upregulted by juice treatment. Pineapple juice, therefore, may possibly be used as anti-obesity candidate where it decreased lipogenesis and increased lipolysis.

Atorvastatin: In-Vivo Synergy with Metronidazole as Anti-Blastocystis Therapy

Maha M. A. Basyoni,Shawky A. Fouad,Marwa F. Amer,Ahmed Fathy Amer,Dalia Ibrahim Ismail 대한기생충학열대의학회 2018 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.56 No.2