Cytotoxic evaluation of new polyhydroxylated steroids from the Red Sea soft coral (Macfadyen, 1936).

An efficient column chromatography of the CHCl/MeOH crude extract from the soft coral (Macfadyen, 1936) yielded seven steroids, including five 4α-methylated steroids () and two 19-oxygenated steroids (). Notably, both compounds and are new, identified as (22)-4α,24-dimethyl-5α-cholesta-22,24(28)-dien-3β,8β-diol () and (22,24)-7β-acetoxy-24-methyl-cholesta-5,22-dien-3β,19-diol (). The chemical structures and relative configurations were elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, as well as HRESIMS analysis.

New Cytotoxic Monoalkyl Glycerol Ether from the Red Sea Soft Coral Nephthea mollis.

A new monoalkyl glycerol ether, 3-(n-henicosyloxy)propane-1,2-diol (1), was isolated from the CH Cl /MeOH crude extract of the Red Sea soft coral Nephthea mollis. Additionally, three known related analogs were identified: chimyl alcohol (2), batyl alcohol (3), and 3-(icosyloxy)propane-1,2-diol (4). The chemical structure of 3-(n-henicosyloxy)propane-1,2-diol was determined using advanced spectroscopic analyses, including 1D, 2D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Electron Ionization mass spectra (EI-MS), and High-Resolution Electron Spray Ionization mass spectra (HR-ESI-MS) analyses.

Cytotoxic and anti-bacterial evaluation of two new aromatic A-ring steroids isolated from the Red Sea soft coral .

A successful column chromatography of a CHCl/MeOH crude extract of soft coral led to the isolation of two new aromatic A-ring steroids (), together with three known compounds (). Both and are 19-norsteroids. The chemical structures were elucidated based on extensive 1D, 2D NMR, and EIMS analyses.

Sarcoconvolutums F and G: Polyoxygenated Cembrane-Type Diterpenoids from , a Red Sea Soft Coral.

Natural products and chemical analogues are widely used in drug discovery, notably in cancer and infectious disease pharmacotherapy. (Alcyoniidae) a Red Sea-derived soft coral has been shown to be a rich source of macrocyclic diterpenes and cyclized derivatives. Two previously undescribed polyoxygenated cembrane-type diterpenoids, sarcoconvolutums F () and G (), as well as four identified analogues (-) together with a furan derivate () were isolated from a solvent extract.

Oxygenated Cembrene Diterpenes from Cytotoxic Sarcoconvolutum A-E.

The soft coral genus contains the enzymatic machinery to synthesize a multitude of cembrene-type diterpenes. Herein, highly oxygenated cembrenoids, sarcoconvolutum A-E (-) were purified and characterized from an ethyl acetate extract of the red sea soft coral, . Compounds were assemblies according to spectroscopic methods including FTIR, 1D- and 2D-NMR as well as HRMS.

Isolation and characterization of marine sponge-associated Streptomyces sp. NMF6 strain producing secondary metabolite(s) possessing antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral activities.

Background: Actinomycetes associated with marine sponge represent a promising source of bioactive compounds. Herein, we report the isolation, identification, and bioactivity evaluation of Streptomyces sp. NMF6 associated with the marine sponge Diacarnus ardoukobae.

Cognitive effects of the GSK-3 inhibitor "lithium" in LPS/chronic mild stress rat model of depression: Hippocampal and cortical neuroinflammation and tauopathy.

Unlabelled: Low-dose repeated lipopolysaccharide pre-challenge followed by chronic mild stress (LPS/CMS) protocol has been introduced as a rodent model of depression combining the roles of immune activation and chronic psychological stress. However, the impact of this paradigm on cognitive functioning has not been investigated hitherto.

Methods: This study evaluated LPS/CMS-induced cognitive effects and the role of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activation with subsequent neuroinflammation and pathological tau deposition in the pathogenesis of these effects using lithium (Li) as a tool for GSK-3 inhibition.

Effects of lithium on cytokine neuro-inflammatory mediators, Wnt/β-catenin signaling and microglial activation in the hippocampus of chronic mild stress-exposed rats.

Microglial in vivo production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is central to the pathogenesis of multiple neurological disorders including depression, with a rising role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling as potential regulator of microglia-mediated neuro-inflammation. This study aimed at investigating the hippocampal expression of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in chronic mild stress (CMS)-exposed rats and the effects of Lithium (Li) on the expression of this pathway as a method to identify a plausible link between exposure to chronic stress, microglial activation, and neuroinflammation. METHODS: The effect of chronic administration of Li was investigated on behavioral changes, hippocampal expression of Wnt-DVL-GSK3β-β-catenin signaling pathway, and microglial activation in CMS-exposed male Wistar rats RESULTS: CMS induced a depressive-like behavior associated with increased pro-inflammatory microglial activation and reduced hippocampal expression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

TLR4 signaling modulation of PGC1-α mediated mitochondrial biogenesis in the LPS-Chronic mild stress model: Effect of fluoxetine and pentoxiyfylline.

Aim: The addition of repeated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to chronic mild stress was recently proposed in our lab as an alternative model of depression, highlighting the possible interaction between stress and immune-inflammatory pathways in predisposing depression. Given that CMS-induced depressive behavior was previously related to impaired hippocampal energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction, our current study aimed to investigate the interplay between toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivators-1-alpha (PGC1-α) as a physiological regulator of energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis in the combined LPS/CMS model.

Main Methods: Male Wistar rats were exposed to either LPS (50 μg/kg i.

Pentoxifylline ameliorates chronic stress/high-fat diet-induced vascular wall disease: the role of circulating endothelial progenitor cells.

Depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are two faces of one coin. A pro-inflammatory state was previously suggested in the pathology of both diseases. We investigated the effect of chronic administration (2 weeks) of imipramine (20 mg/kg/day) and pentoxifylline (50 mg/kg/day) on behavioral, aortic histological abnormalities, and level of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPCs) in peripheral blood of male Wistar rats exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS) and high-fat diet.

Potential neuroprotective effect of androst-5-ene-3β, 17β-diol (ADIOL) on the striatum, and substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease rat model.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with behavioral and motor abnormalities. Androst-5-ene-3β, 17β-diol (ADIOL), an estrogen receptor (ER) β agonist, was found to mediate a transrepressive mechanism that selectively modulates the extent of neuroinflammation and, in turn, neurodegeneration. In consensus, ERβ polymorphism was more frequently detected in early-onset PD patients.

Tetramethylpyrazine Ameliorates Rotenone-Induced Parkinson's Disease in Rats: Involvement of Its Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Apoptotic Actions.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder. Apoptosis, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress are the current hypothesized mechanisms for PD pathogenesis. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), the major bioactive component of Ligusticum wallichii Franchat (ChuanXiong), Family Apiaceae, reportedly has anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Paroxetine ameliorates changes in hippocampal energy metabolism in chronic mild stress-exposed rats.

The molecular mechanisms underlying stress-induced depression have not been fully outlined. Hence, the current study aimed at testing the link between behavioral changes in chronic mild stress (CMS) model and changes in hippocampal energy metabolism and the role of paroxetine (PAROX) in ameliorating these changes. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: vehicle control, CMS-exposed rats, and CMS-exposed rats receiving PAROX (10 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally).

Lipopolysaccharide repeated challenge followed by chronic mild stress protocol introduces a combined model of depression in rats: reversibility by imipramine and pentoxifylline.

Objectives: The present study examined the effect of combined exposure to repeated challenge using low doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and chronic mild stress (CMS) together. This combined exposure is thought to expose the animals to more realistic challenges, testable on different levels (behavioral, neurochemical, immunohistochemical and gene expression). The role of glial cells was examined, as well.

Behavioural, metabolic, and endothelial effects of the TNF-α suppressor thalidomide on rats subjected to chronic mild stress and fed an atherogenic diet.

There is accumulating evidence suggesting that depression is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to examine the hypothesis that the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α would partially explain the link between depression and atherosclerotic endothelial changes. Rats were distributed among 6 groups: (i) control group; (ii) group subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS); (iii) group fed a cholesterol-cholic acid-thiouracil (CCT diet); and (iv) CMS group fed the CCT diet and treated with the vehicle for 8 weeks.

Effects of pentoxifylline, 7-nitroindazole, and imipramine on tumor necrosis factor-α and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase enzyme activity in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of chronic mild-stress-exposed rats.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and the neuronal nitric oxide synthase enzyme in dysregulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) enzyme, and hence serotonin availability in chronic mild stress (CMS), an animal model of depression.

Methods: RATS WERE DIVIDED INTO FIVE GROUPS: two control and CMS-exposed for 6 weeks, and another three groups exposed to CMS and administered pentoxifylline 50 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally, 7-nitroindazole 40 mg/kg/day subcutaneously, or imipramine 20 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally for the previous 3 CMS weeks. Rats were assessed for neurochemical and immunohistochemical abnormalities.

Potential neuroprotective effects of hesperidin on 3-nitropropionic acid-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a spectrum of cognitive, behavioral, and motor abnormalities. The mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) effectively induces specific behavioral changes, primarily manifested as prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficit of acoustic startle stimuli, and selective striatal lesions in rats and primates mimicking those in HD. The implications of nitric oxide in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases attract attention to study the possible role of flavonoids in interaction with nitric oxide pathways involved in HD.

Diarrhea due to parasites particularly Cryptosporidium parvum in great Cairo, Egypt.

A total of 110 stool samples from out and in-patients from different areas in Great Cairo suffering from diarrhea were examined for parasitic causes. Stool samples were subjected to the direct wet smear method and Sheather's sugar flotation and stained with Giemsa and/or modified Ziehl-Neelsen. Also, stool samples were cultured on agar plates for strongyloidiasis.

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies among volunteer blood donors in eastern Saudi Arabia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in 100 volunteer blood donors at blood bank. Blood donors were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors toxoplasmosis. A required data were taken through a designed questionnaire.

Albendazole and its metabolites in the breast milk of lactating women following a single oral dose of albendazole.

Aims: Albendazole (ABZ) is used in several anthelminthic drug programs. ABZ side-effects are generally mild, but ABZ-induced pancytopenia may be serious. In filariasis programmes, it may be necessary to administer ABZ to breastfeeding women.

Diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii by ELISA and PCR in mothers and their infants.

Congenital Toxoplasma gondii infection may lead to abortion, stillbirth, neonatal death as well as severe congenital toxoplasmosis in the newborn infants. No doubt, early and proper diagnosis of infection pregnant women or her baby pave the way to effective treatment and minimize complications. In this study; the PCR and ELISA-IgM were used to diagnose active toxoplasmosis.

Helobdella nilae and Alboglossiphonia conjugata leeches as biological agents for snails control.

The efficacy of leeches, as biological agents, in control of snail intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis (Bulinus truncatus, Biomphalaria alexandrina) and fascioliasis (Lymnaea natalensis) as well as their effect on the non-target snails Physa acuta, Melanioides tuberculata and Cleopatra bulimoides was evaluated. Two glossiphoniid snail leeches, Helobdella nilae and Alboglossiphonia conjugata were used. They destroyed egg masses and young snails more rapidly than adult ones.

The kinetics of microfilaraemia and antigenaemia status among asymptomatic bancroftian filariasis before and after treatment.

In this study, a total of 54 male patients with asymptomatic cases of lymphatic filariasis were selected from the known endemic governorates; Damietta, Sharkia, Gharbia and Dakahlia. Medical sheets were filled out for each case. Diagnosis was based on detection of circulating microfilariae by specific ELISA.

Alpha-Glutathione S-transferase and serum aminotransferases in schistosomiasis mansoni patients with or without hepatitis C virus.

The present study evaluated alpha-Glutathione-S-transferase as a biochemical marker for hepatocellular damage in schistosomiasis mansoni patients, with or without chronic hepatitis C (HCV) patients as compared to controls. Alpha GST, ALT and AST were assayed in sera of GI: 20 schistosomiasis mansoni patients with HCV, GII: 16 schistosomiasis mansoni patients without HCV, GIII: 19 pure HCV patients and GIV: 20 normal controls. The results showed that alpha-Glutathione-S-transferase was less sensitive and less specific but more accurate than ALT & AST as a liver affection marker in HCV patients.