Publications by authors named "Ashraf Abdel-Naim"

Background: Colistin (Cst) is one of the antimicrobial peptides and is reserved for use against multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. However, the clinical value of Cst is limited by its nephrotoxic adverse effects. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a honeybee propolis flavonoid recognised for its diverse pharmacological potential.

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Prostate enlargement due to benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a common, progressive disorder in elderly males with increasing prevalence. It causes devastating lower urinary tract symptoms with no satisfactory medication. Asiatic acid (AA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, is known to have antiproliferative, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities.

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Cisplatin (CP) is a highly effective broad-spectrum chemotherapeutic agent for several solid tumors. However, its clinical use is associated with ovarian toxicity. Icariin (ICA) is a bioactive flavonoid of Epimedium brevicornum with reported protective activities against inflammation, oxidative stress and ovarian failure.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hecogenin (HEC) and its derivative hecogenin acetate (HA) were studied for their diuretic effects compared to traditional diuretics like furosemide (FUR) and spironolactone (SPIR) in rats.
  • The research involved a seven-day treatment period where urine volume and electrolyte excretion were measured, revealing that HEC and HA significantly increased these metrics, especially at higher doses.
  • The study also found that HA had a stronger diuretic effect than HEC, likely due to its greater inhibition of aldosterone synthase gene expression, indicating a possible mechanism for their action.
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The activity of UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase/ManNAc kinase (GNE) is essential for the biosynthesis of sialic acid, which is involved in cellular processes in health and diseases. GNE contains an N-terminal epimerase domain and a C-terminal kinase domain (N-acetylmannosamine kinase, MNK). Mutations of the GNE protein led to hypoactivity of the enzyme and cause sialurea or autosomal recessive inclusion body myopathy/Nonaka myopathy.

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Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and progressively deteriorating lung condition that can be replicated in laboratory animals by administering bleomycin, a chemotherapeutic antibiotic known for its lung fibrosis-inducing side effects. L-arginine, a semi-essential amino acid, is recognized for its diverse biological functions, including its potential to counteract fibrosis. This study aimed to evaluate the antifibrotic properties of L-arginine on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

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Chlorpyrifos (CPS), an organophosphorus insecticide, is widely used for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes with hazardous health effects. Berberine (BBR) is a traditional Chinese medicine and a phytochemical with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. The present study evaluated the effects of BBR against kidney damage induced by CPS and the underlying mechanisms.

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Aim: Gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity limits its widespread use as an effective antibacterial agent. Oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic cell death are major participants in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. We therefore, investigated whether dihydromyricetin (DHM), the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoid, could protect against the nephrotoxic effects of gentamicin.

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Article Synopsis
  • Costunolide (COST), a compound found in Saussurea lappa, has anti-cancer properties but is limited by poor water solubility and cellular permeability.
  • The study focused on improving COST’s effects against LS174T colon cancer cells by using a bilosomal nanoformulation (COST-BILs), which showed significant cytotoxicity and better performance compared to raw COST.
  • The optimized COST-BILs enhanced apoptosis in cancer cells and regulated key apoptotic genes, promoting cell death more effectively while remaining safe for normal human colonic cells.
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Healing of wounds is the most deteriorating diabetic experience. Felty germander (Teucrium polium) possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities that could accelerate wound healing. Further, nanohydrogels help quicken healing and are ideal biomaterials for drug delivery.

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Short-wave UVB (ultraviolet B) causes rapid oxidative damage to the skin. Rose water is obtained mainly from the petals of Mill. (Rosaceae) and used traditionally to hydrate dry skin and reduce signs of aging.

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Chlorpyrifos (CPF), is an organophosphate pesticide that is widely used for agricultural purposes. However, it has well-documented hepatotoxicity. Lycopene (LCP) is a plant-derived carotenoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of metabolic disorders that can predispose individuals to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The inhibition of the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor has been used to treat metabolic disorders in animal models. This study reports the use of a peripherally restricted CB1 antagonist (AM6545) and a neutral CB1 antagonist (AM4113) to improve MetS-related BPH in rats.

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The current study was designed to develop a nanoconjugate of cordycepin-melittin (COR-MEL) and assess its healing property in wounded diabetic rats. The prepared nanoconjugate has a particle size of 253.5 ± 17.

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The soft-bodied corals of the genera Sarcophyton and Sinularia (Alcyoniidae) are known as a warehouse of casbane and cembranoid diterpenoids with remarkable antitumor effects. Two casbane-type diterpenoids (1, 2) along with four cembrane-type diterpenoids (3-6) were isolated from the diethyl ether soluble fraction of the organic extracts of the Red Sea soft corals Sinularia leptoclados and Sarcophyton glaucum, respectively. The antiproliferative activity of all isolated compounds (1-6) against three hepatocellular carcinoma cells, namely, Huh-7, SNU 499, and HepG2, along with the normal cells EA.

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Soft corals and their secondary metabolites represent an exceptional source of potential drugs. In this regard, Sarcophyton glaucum-derived secondary metabolites were examined for their preventive activities against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer. Extraction and chromatographic processing of a specimen of S.

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