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Can be pollen used as a biological indicator of environmental pollution. So this work aims to determine some of the heavy metals such as Pb, Cr, Cd, Zn, and Cu in bee pollen from different areas in the Pelagonija region. The concentration of heavy metals in pollen depends on the geographical area, plants, and soil. And also, the composition of pollen varies with the source location, source plant, etc. The concentrations of transition metals copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) Lead (Pb) were measured by Gas Chromatography. The samples were collected from four different places, as well as a general picture of the phenomenology of the targeted sites, and accordingly obtained the ecological picture of the possible contamination. Also, the data of the composition of the soil were collected from the same locations, and are taken into consideration. Pollen collected by bees (Apis mellifera Мacedonica sub-species) is used as a bioindicator for further eco monitoring. The concentration of heavy metals contents in pollen is varies from sample to sample, due to the difference in the geographical area, various plants species, and soil. The composition of pollen varies with the source location, source plant, and handling. We have collected samples during the same season from the bee apiaries, located in industrial-urban and rural areas. The availability of heavy metals in plants depends on soil reaction, mineral colloids, soil humidity, microbiological activity, and organic matter content. Hence pollen can be used as a biological indicator of environmental pollution.

Background During the last few decades, patients worldwide have been interested in using alternative medicine in treating diseases to avoid the increased side effects of chemical medications. Green coffee is unroasted coffee seeds that have higher amounts of chlorogenic acid compared to roasted coffee. Green coffee was successfully used to protect against obesity, Alzheimer disease, high blood pressure and bacterial infection. Methods This study aimed to investigate the probable protective activity of the green coffee methanolic extract, silymarin and their combination on CCl4-induced liver toxicity in male rats. Thirty Sprague – Dawley male albino rats were divided into 5 groups; control negative (G1) just got the vehicle (olive oil) and the other four groups received CCl4 dissolved in olive oil through an intraperitoneal injection and were divided into untreated control positive group (G2), the third group (G3) was treated with green coffee methanolic extract, the fourth group (G4) was treated with silymarin, and the fifth group (G5) was treated with a combination of green coffee methanolic extract and silymarin. Results In the positive control group treated with CCl4 (G2), the CCl4-induced toxicity increased lipid peroxidation, IL-6, kidney function parameters, liver function enzymes, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins, and decreased irisin, antioxidants, CYP450 and high-density lipoprotein levels. Hepatic tissues were also injured. However, treating the injured rats in G3, G4 and G5 significantly improved the altered parameters and hepatic tissues. Conclusions Green coffee methanolic extract, silymarin, and their combination succeeded in protecting the male rats against CCl4 hepatotoxicity due to their antioxidant activity. Effect of green coffee methanolic extract mixed with silymarin in G5 was more efficient than that of green coffee methanolic extract in G3 or silymarin in G4.

Contamination of fish feed (FF) with aflatoxigenic fungi is an ongoing hazardous risk and is the first route for transferring aflatoxins to consumers from fish products. Prevention is the gold stan...

Varieties of studies have been used to investigate the health benefits of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis); however, more research is needed to examine if its nano form may be utilized to treat or prevent several chronic diseases. So, we designed this study to explore the effect and the cellular intracellular mechanisms by which Arthrospira platensis Nanoparticles (NSP) alleviates the testicular injury induced by diabetes in male Wistar rats. Eighty Wistar male rats (n = 80) were randomly allocated into eight groups. Group 1 is untreated rats (control), Group 2 including STZ-induced diabetic rats with 65 mg/kg body weight STZ (STZ-diabetic), Group 3-5: including diabetic rats treated with NSP1, NSP2, and NSP3 at 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg body weight, respectively, once daily orally by the aid of gastric gavage for 12 consecutive weeks and groups 6-8 include normal rats received NSP (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg body weight once daily orally. The identical volume of normal saline was injected into both control and diabetic rats. After 12 weeks of diabetes induction, the rats were killed. According to our findings, NSP administration to diabetic rats enhances the total body weight and the weight of testes and accessory glands; in addition, NSP significantly reduced nitric oxide and malondialdehyde in testicular tissue improved sperm parameters. Intriguingly, it raises testicular GSH and SOD activity by a significant amount (p 0.05). As well, Oral administration of NSP to diabetic rats resulted in a decrease in the blood glucose levels, HA1C, induced in the diabetic group, which overcame the diabetic complications NSP caused down-regulation of apoptotic genes with upregulation of BCL-2 mRNA expression (p 0.05) and prominent up-regulation of steroidogenesis genes expression level in testes in comparison to the diabetic rats which resulted in improving the decreased levels of testosterone hormone, FSH, and LH induced by diabetes. In the same way, our histopathological findings support our biochemical and molecular findings; in conclusion, NSP exerted a protective effect against reproductive dysfunction induced by diabetes not only through its high antioxidant and hypoglycemic action but also through its down-regulation of Apoptotic genes and up-regulation of steroidogenesis regulatory genes expression level in diabetic testes.

Coffee is among the most commonly consumed beverage all over the world. Studies have increasingly suggested caffeine and coffee as effective therapeutic interventions against Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have therefore utilized the aluminum chloride rat model for AD to compare the influence of moderately caffeinated (Arabian) and decaffeinated (Date palm seed) coffee on cognitive impairment and pathological events in AD. AD rats given Arabian or Date palm seed coffee were protected against memory impairment and had lower serum levels of the abnormal protein (amyloid-beta; Aβ1-42), the central pathogenic contributor to AD, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Interestingly, Date palm seed (decaffeinated) coffee seems to provide more pronounced protection against AD than Arabian (moderately caffeinated) coffee as evidenced by the greater decrease in serum Aβ levels. These results suggest a surprising therapeutic potential of moderate caffeine intake in Arabian coffee to ameliorate AD through decreasing serum Aβ levels. However, Date palm seed (decaffeinated) coffee, rich in flavonoids, appears to provide a better AD-modifying ability through a direct reduction of Aβ production. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Consumption of moderately caffeinated Arabian coffee attenuated AD-induced cognitive impairment via its anti-amyloidogenic potential, decreasing Aβ levels. Moreover, intake of decaffeinated Date seed extract, rich in flavonoids, exerted a superior anti-AD potential through a direct reduction of Aβ production. Both of them were also safe and maintained hepatic and renal functions in a rat model of AlCl3 -induced AD. Further clinical studies are warranted to confirm current results and to recommend the regular drinking of Arabian coffee or Date seed extract as a protective approach to delay AD progression in vulnerable individuals or in early disease stages.

Advances in proteome research have opened the gateway to understanding numerous metabolic pathways and fundamental mechanisms involved in abiotic stress tolerance. In the present study, the antioxidant capacity of four tomato genotypes i.e., Kashi Amrit, Kashi Anupam, EC-317-6-1, and WIR-4360 was determined under drought stress to ascertain the scavenging potential for reactive oxygen species (ROS). A significant increase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD), Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT) activities in all the four genotypes under drought stress was observed, which seemed to be associated with a protective role against ROS (p &lt, 0.001). Based on the antioxidant enzyme activities, a proteomic approach was applied to study differential protein expression in two selected genotypes from different species i.e., EC-317-6-1 (Solanum pimpinellifolium) and Kashi Amrit (Solanum lycopersicum) grown under irrigated, drought, and re-watering conditions. To reveal the protein network regulated under these conditions, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was employed to identify and quantify the number of proteins in drought-sensitive (Kashi Amrit) and tolerant (EC-317-6-1) genotypes. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight analysis (MALDI-TOF) revealed a total of 453 spots after fine-tuning factors i.e., smoothness, saliency, and minimum area that responded to drought. Out of 453 total spots, 93 spots were identified in Kashi Amrit and 154 in EC-317-6-1 under irrigated conditions, whereas 4 spots were identified in Kashi Amrit and 77 spots in EC-317-6-1 under drought conditions. Furthermore, differentially expressed proteins were distinguished according to the fold change of their expression. Information provided in this report will be useful for the selection of proteins or genes in analyzing or improving drought tolerance in tomato cultivars. These findings may assist in the construction of a complete proteome database encompassing various divergent species which could be a valuable source for the improvement of crops under drought-stress conditions in the future.

Fungal chitosan (ACT) extraction from Amylomyces rouxii, its transforming into nano-form, loading with fluconazole (Flu) and evaluation of synthesized nanoconjugates against drug-resistant (DR) Candida spp., were investigated. The produced ACT was characterized with 112.4 kDa molecular weight and 88.7% deacetylation degree. Synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles (NACT), and loading them with Flu were succeeded, using ionic gelation protocol, to generate stable Flu/NACT nanoconjugate' particles with mean size of 82 nm and zeta potential of +3.36 mV. The NACT entrapment efficiency was 78.7% and the drug loading capacity was 60.2%. Flu slowly released from NACT during the first 5 h, then release dramatically increased to the maximum (94.8%) after 12 h. The infra-red spectrum of Flu/NACT nanoconjugates confirmed the strong cross-linkage between their molecules. The antimycotic activity of NACT and Flu/NACT was proved against DR strains of C. albicans (2 strains), C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata, using qualitative and quantitative assays; Flu/NACT exhibited significant powerful activity, which was confirmed via observations with scanning microscopy. Finished cotton textiles with Flu/NACT had augmented potentiality for inhibiting challenged DR Candida spp., using in vitro assay. Accordingly, the synthesis and application of Flu/NACT nanoconjugates was astoundingly recommended for controlling DR Candida spp.

The formation of new scaffolds to enhance healing magnitude is necessarily required in biomedical applications. Granulation tissue formation is a crucial stage of wound healing in which granulation tissue grows on the surface of a wound by the formation of connective tissue and blood vessels. In the present study, porous hydrogels were synthesized using chitosan incorporating latex of the Calotropis procera plant by using a freeze–thaw cycle to stimulate the formation of granulation tissue and angiogenesis in wound healing applications. Structural analysis through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the interaction between chitosan and Calotropis procera. Latex extract containing hydrogel showed slightly higher absorption than the control during water absorption analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis showed high thermal stability of the 60:40 combination of chitosan (CS) and Calotropis procera as compared to all other treatments and controls. A fabricated scaffold application on a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) showed that all hydrogels containing latex extract resulted in a significant formation of blood vessels and regeneration of cells. Overall, the formation of connective tissues and blood capillaries and healing magnitude decreased in ascending order of concentration of extract.

Chitosan and its nanoparticles (NPs) could be extracted from numerous fungal species and used as effectual carriers for bioactive compounds. The fungal chitosan (FC) was innovatively acquired from Fusarium oxysporum grown mycelia, characterized and used for NP synthesis and loading with bee venom (BV). The nano-FC (NFC) had 192.4 nm mean NP diameter, 38.22% loading capacity, and 92.42% entrapment efficiency. BV release from NFC was pH and time dependent; burst BV release was detected at the first 6 h, followed by gradual releases up to 30 h. The in vitro anticancer potentiality valuation, of NFC, BV, and NFC/BV nanoconjugates against HeLa cervix carcinoma, revealed that they all had potent dose-dependent anticancer activity; BV/NFC nanoconjugates were the most effective with IC50=200 μg/mL. The fluorescent staining of treated HeLa cells with BV/NFC nanoconjugates, with DAPI and acridine orange/propidium iodide combination, indicated the appearance of early apoptosis, secondary apoptosis, and secondary necrosis markers and their increment with exposure prolongation. The production of NFC from F. oxysporum and their loading with BV are strongly counseled for production of potent natural antitumor agent with augmented activity against cervix carcinoma.

Fabrication of electrospun nanofibers based on the blending of modified natural polymer, hydroxyl propyl starch (HPS) as one of the most renewable resources, with synthetic polymers, such as polyurethane (PU) is of great potential for biomedical applications. The as-prepared nanofibers were used as antimicrobial sheets via blending with biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which were prepared in a safe way with low cost using the extract of Nerium oleander leaves, which acted as a reducing and stabilizing agent as well. The biosynthesized AgNPs were fully characterized by various techniques (UV-vis, TEM, DLS, zeta potential and XRD). The obtained results from UV-vis depicted that the AgNPs appeared at a wavelength equal to 404 nm affirming the preparation of AgNPs when compared with the wavelength of extract (there are no observable peaks). The average particle size of the fabricated AgNPs that mediated with HPS exhibited a very small size (less than 5 nm) with excellent stability (more than −30 mv). In addition, the fabricated nanofibers were also fully characterized and the obtained data proved that the diameter of nanofibers was enlarged with increasing the concentration of AgNPs. Additionally, the findings illustrated that the pore sizes of electrospun sheets were in the range of 75 to 350 nm. The obtained results proved that the presence of HPS displayed a vital role in decreasing the contact angle of PU nanofibers and thus, increased the hydrophilicity of the net nanofibers. It is worthy to mention that the prepared nanofibers incorporated with AgNPs exhibited incredible antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microbes that actually presented in human wounds. Moreover, P. aeruginosa was the most sensitive species to the fabricated nanofibers compared to other tested ones. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values of AgNPs-3@NFs against P. aeruginosa, and E. faecalis, were 250 and 500 mg/L within 15 min, respectively.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biological process, encompasses the treatment and stabilization of complex organic matter to extract renewable biomethane fuel through microbial interaction in the digester. The main aim of the current study is to investigate the microbial community of anaerobic digestion sludge (ADS), collected at different periods from a mesophilic operating anaerobic digester. The core group of bacteria in ADS including Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria represented more than 60% of the core bacterial community. In ADS (I), the supremacy of Cloacimonetes (18%) was also observed. In ADS (II), the dominance of Anaerobacter (8%) showed the effect of substrate composition on the microbial structure. However, 91% relative abundance of Firmicutes was observed in ADS (III). The hydrogenotrophic methanogens belonging to order Methanomicrobiales and Methanobacteriales exhibited dominance in all three ADSs (> 60%). No specific variations in the archaeal community might be attributed to the presence of beneficial bacterial species. This study provides all the detailed functional roles of microbes involved in AD which can further be used for additional environmental applications.

Fungal chitosan (FCt) from Amylomyces rouxii, with 88.7% deacetylation degree and 112.4 kDa molecular weight, was utilized for nanoparticles (NPs) formation via ionic gelation. FCt-NPs were employed as carriers for curcumin (CUR) to augment its availability and anticancer bioactivity. The synthesis of CUR/FCt-NPs composite was succeeded as evidenced from their FTIR spectra. The scanning micrographs of synthesized CUR/FCt-NPs indicated their spherical shapes and well-distribution; they had average diameters of 115 ± 21 nm and positive zeta potentials of +33.8 mV. The NPs loading capacity for CUR was 21.6% and the encapsulation efficiency reached 83.8%. The CUR was vastly released in the beginning 5 h then gradually released up to 90 h, with higher release in pH 5.2 than in pH 7.0. The treatment of cancer cells, HCT-116 and A-549, with CUR/FCt NPs lead to time-dependent decrement of cells' viability; the dead cells were 67.6% from HCT-116 and 73.8% from A-546 after 96 h of exposure. Fluorescent imaging indicated that most cancer cells entered the apoptosis phase after treatment with 150 μM of CUR/FCt-NPs for 72 h. The efficiency of FCt-NPs was proved as carriers for loading CUR and augmenting its anticancer activity toward human cancer cells, using these natural and biosafe agents.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) causes severe injury to the body particularly the liver and the kidney. The aim of the present study was testing the probable hepatonephro protective effect of Moringa oleifera seed methanolic extract against CCl4 toxicity in male rat. 24 male rats were divided into 4 groups (n=6); the first group (G1) was the negative control group, rats of the other three groups were injected with CCl4 twice a week. Rats of the second group (G2) were kept without treatment as positive CCl4 group, the third group (G3) received a daily dose of M. oleifera methanolic extract and the fourth group (G4) received a silymarin dose as a positive treated group. The HPLC analysis of M. oleifera seed methanolic extract revealed that it is rich in ascorbic and oleic acids. Rats of the CCl4 positive control group showed an increase in kidney and liver injury markers, interleukin-6, bilirubin and lipid peroxidation, and a decrease in antioxidants activity and total protein. In addition, liver and kidney tissues showed drastic histopathological changes. Treating the CCl4 hepatonephrotoxicity in G3 and G4 with either M. oleifera seed methanolic extract or silymarin, respectively significantly alleviated all altered biochemical and histological changes approaching the normal values. M. oleifera methanolic extract revealed more protection to liver and kidney in G3 than silymarin in G4. This protecting activity of M. oleifera seed methanolic extract against CCl4 hepatonephrotoxicity may be ascribed to its high content of phenols and flavonoids, in addition to ascorbic acid and oleic acid.

The use of insects as a feasible and useful natural product resource is a novel and promising option in alternative medicine. Several components from insects and their larvae have been found to inhibit molecular pathways in different stages of cancer. This study aimed to analyze the effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Vespa orientalis larvae on breast cancer MCF7 cells and investigate the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that individual treatment with 5% aqueous or alcoholic larval extract inhibited MCF7 proliferation but had no cytotoxic effect on normal Vero cells. The anticancer effect was mediated through (1) induction of apoptosis, as indicated by increased expression of apoptotic genes (Bax, caspase3, and p53) and decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2, (2) suppression of intracellular reactive oxygen species, (3) elevation of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, and GPx) and upregulation of the antioxidant regulator Nrf2 and its downstream target HO-1, (4) inhibition of migration as revealed by in vitro wound healing assay and downregulation of the migration-related gene MMP9 and upregulation of the anti-migratory gene TIMP1, and (5) downregulation of inflammation-related genes (NFκB and IL8). The aqueous extract exhibited the best anticancer effect with higher antioxidant activities but lower anti-inflammatory properties than the alcoholic extract. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of several flavonoids and phenolic compounds with highest concentrations for resveratrol and naringenin in aqueous extract and rosmarinic acid in alcoholic extract. This is the first report to explain the intracellular pathway by which flavonoids and phenolic compounds-rich extracts of Vespa orientalis larvae could induce MCF7 cell viability loss through the initiation of apoptosis, activation of antioxidants, and inhibition of migration and inflammation. Therefore, these extracts could be used as adjuvants for anticancer drugs and as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

The present study evaluated the antioxidant activity of two low doses of moringa seed powder (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) in hypercholesterolemic male rats. Twenty-four albino rats were divided into four groups. The first group (G1) was the negative control group and was fed fat-rich diet. The second group (G2) was the hypercholesterolemic positive control and was fed 2% cholesterol in the fat-rich diet. The third group (G3) and the fourth group (G4) were also fed 2% cholesterol in the fat-rich diet and co-supplemented with 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) moringa seed powder, respectively, for 8 weeks. The hypercholesterolemic positive control group (G2) showed increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in antioxidants in the serum and kidney tissue homogenate compared with the negative control group. In addition, the serum urea, uric acid, and creatinine were increased in G2. The histology of the kidney showed some pathological alterations compared with the negative control group. Treating the hypercholesterolemic rats with 50 or 100 mg moringa seeds powder/kg b.w. in G3 and G4, respectively, ameliorated the above altered parameters restoring them nearly to the normal levels, and also restored the normal histology of the kidney. The overall study showed that moringa seed powder has antioxidant activity in hypercholesterolemic male rats.

Herbal antioxidants have been successfully used to reduce oxidative stress and treat many diseases such as diabetes, obesity and coronary heart diseases. The antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract of carob legume and parsley seed was evaluated in hypercholesterolemic male rats in a study conducted for 8 w. 24 male rats were randomly divided into four 6-rat groups. The 1st group (G1) was fed fat rich diet, the 2nd group (G2) was the hypercholesterolemic positive group fed 2% cholesterol in the fat rich diet, and the 3rd (G3) and the 4th (G4) groups were supplemented with 2% cholesterol in the fat rich diet as in G2 and co-treated with 20 mg/Kg bw parsley seeds methanol extract and carob legume methanol extract, respectively. The G2 hypercholesterolemic rats showed significant increase in serum lipid peroxidation and kidney function, and decrease in antioxidants. While the methanolic extract of parsley and carob extract in G3 and G4, respectively significantly decreased lipid peroxidation and kidney functions, and increased antioxidants. In conclusion, the methanolic extracts of both parsley and carob have an antioxidant activity and a protective effect against oxidative stress. The methanolic extract of parsley seed appeared more efficient than that of carob legumes.

A new isoflavonoid, 5,6-dimethoxy-2',3'-methylenedioxy-7-C-β-d-gluco-pyranosyl isoflavone was isolated from the seeds of Lepidium sativum L. along with two known isoflavonoids, 7-hydroxy-4',5,6-trimethoxyisoflavone and 7-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxy-2',3'-methylenedioxyisoflavone. The structures of all compounds were elucidated with NMR spectrometry. Compounds 1, 2 and the new isoflavonoid 3 were evaluated for their ability to reduce the hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol in male rats by reducing the damage and toxicity effects on liver cells with a significant improvement of total antioxidant capacity, normalizing the levels of liver enzymes GSH, SOD, GPX, CAT and GST compared to control group.

A series of the newly substituted pyrano[1,2,3]triazine derivatives 3–14 were synthesized using compounds 1 and 2 as starting materials. Compound 2 was methylated using methyl iodide to compound 3, which was treated with aromatic aldehydes to give acryloyl derivatives 4a–c. Compounds 4a,b were reacted with ethyl cyano-acetate to give pyran-3-carboxylates 5a,b which were reacted with ethyl glycinate hydrochloride to give 6a,b. Treatment of 6a,b with hydrazine hydrate gives acid hydrazides 7a,b, which were reacted with 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione to give acetohydrazides 8a,b. Cyclization of 8b with 2-(4-nitrobenzylidene)malononitrile afforded hexahydroquinoline 9. However, the acridindione 10 was synthesized by heating of 8b with 2-(4-nitrobenzylidene)malononitrile in acetic acid containing few drops of triethylamine. Treatment of 7a,b with phenyl isothiocyanate or 2,5-hexanedione or phthalic anhydride gave compounds 11a,b, 13a,b and 14a,b, respectively. In the present work, all the selected pyrano[1,2,3]trizine derivatives were soluble in DMSO at concentrations high enough to allow cell experiments, and the in vitro biological activity of these compounds was evaluated by their growth inhibitory potency in liver HEPG2 cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic potency of compounds 3–14 was studied in comparison to the known anticancer drugs 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin.

The activity of lipase-catalysed hydrolysis of olive oil in SDS-1-butanol-olive oil-water microemulsions was investigated. The kinetics of lipases in reverse microemulsions and water were also compared. The influences of the characteristic parameters of these systems, such as pH, temperature (T), molar ratio (ωo) of water to SDS, the concentrations of enzyme and substrate, on the activity of an enzyme were examined. According to the optimum conditions the production and activity were measured at pH = 4, T = 40 °C, ωo = 12. The activation energy of the reaction was calculated from the Arrhenius plot. It was found that the hydrolysis reaction obeyed Michaelis–Menten kinetics and the apparent Michaelis Km,a and the apparent maximal reaction rate Vmax were determined. The effect of microemulsion's surfactant (SDS) on enzymatic activity was also discussed.

The structure of the natural dipyranocoumarin dipetalolactone has been confirmed by an unambiguous synthetic route from resorcinol. This sequence was initiated by a pyran ring formation step which introduced the 3-chloro-3-methylbut-1-yne moiety. Then, the expected product undergoes a Fremy’s salt-meditated oxidative addition followed by ring closure to yield dipetalolactone. Dipetalolactone was also found to have immunological activity in a mouse carcinoma S180-bearing mice cell line.

A series of novel coumarin derivatives were synthesized from 6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-4-methyl coumarin which was isolated from the aerial parts of the Egyptian medicinal plant Ammi majus L. (Apiaceae). The key intermediate 3-amino-5-methoxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-10-methyl-8-oxo-1,8-dihydropyrano[3,2-f]chromene-2-carbonitrile (3c) was obtained in one-pot synthesis by treating α-cyanocinnamonitrile (1-c) with the natural compound: 6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-4-methyl coumarin (2). Chemical, elemental and spectroscopic evidences confirmed the structures of the synthesized compounds. Some of the newly synthesized compounds exhibited better anti-inflammatory activities at low concentrations compared with indomethacin as positive control.

A series of newly substituted thieno[3,2-g]chromene derivatives were synthesized from 1-(7-mercapto-2,2-dimethylchroman-6-yl)ethanone (3) as starting material. The compound 3 in turn was synthesized by reacting of 1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethanone with isoprene to get compound 2 followed by its reaction with phosphorus pentasulfide. Condensation of 3 with N-phenylchloroacetamide or phenacylbromide gave the corresponding thienochromene derivatives 5 and 6. Also, compound 3 was reacted with maleic anhydride and acrylonitrile to afford the corresponding derivatives 8 and 9, respectively. Alkylation of 3 with diazomethane or ethyl bromoacetate afforded the corresponding S-substituted derivatives 10 and 11. The latter compound 11 was cyclized to ester derivative 12, which was obtained directly from 3 on reaction with ethyl bromoacetate. Treatment of 12 with hydrazine hydrate afforded the corresponding hydrazide 13, which was condensed with aromatic aldehydes or acetyl acetone to yield the corresponding Schiff’s bases 14a–d S-pyrazolo derivative 15, respectively. Finally, compound 13 was treated with 2,5-hexandione or carbon disulfide to give the corresponding compounds 16 and 17, respectively. Some of the newly synthesized compounds exhibited better anti-inflammatory activities than the reference controls with low concentrations. The structures of newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by chemical, elemental, and spectroscopic evidences. The detailed synthesis, spectroscopic data, and pharmacological activities were reported.

The Protective Effect of a Novel Coumarinic Derivative on Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects more than 415 million persons worldwide. It is one of the most important causative factors of mortality in the developing countries. It was established that Streptozotocin (STZ) is a chemical compound that induces diabetic complications in rats. This study aimed to examine the ability of novel coumarine-caffeic acid derivative: Ethyl-3-(3, 4- dihydroxyphenyl) acrylamido--5-methoxy-1-(4- methoxyphenyl)-10-methyl-8-oxo-1, 8-dihydropyrano [3, 2-f] chromene-2-carboxylate (Compound I) to reduce the diabetic complications induced by STZ.Diabetes was induced in the rats by the injection with STZ (65 mg/Kg b.w). Diabetes was confirmed then we allowed 7 days to stabilize blood glucose level in these rats. Compound I (25 and 50 mg/kg b.w daily for 4 weeks) was injected into diabetic rats. The treated diabetic rats with Compound I had significantly reduced the high blood glucose level, Homeostatic index of insulin resistance (HOMA IR), Triglycerides (TG), Total-Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-c), Very Low Density Lipoprotein- Cholesterol (VLDL-c) and atherogenic index. The treatment with Compound I also resulted in the improvement of the insulin and insulin resistance and significantly increased serum High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-c), Reduced Glutathione (GSH), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) as well as decreased TBARS in the liver of diabetic rats. Compound I showed protective effects against hyperglycemia. It decreases the blood glucose level and improves the lipid profile by scavenging of free radicals and reducing the risk of diabetic complications.

A novel and mild protocol for the synthesis of phosphonotripeptide 16 were achieved from novel formylpyrazolofuran 3 , benzyl carbamate 5 , triphenyl phosphite 6 by Birum-Oleksyszyn reaction using copper (II) trifliate as Lewis acid catalyst in dry dichloromethane at room temperature which synthesis of novel N-benzyloxy-α-aminophosphonate 7 . A mechanism for this condensation reaction is proposed. Cleavage of the N-benzyloxy carbonyl group under acid hydrolysis afford the free α-aminophosphonate 9 in quantitative yield. This in turn, by reaction with N-phthaloylglycine 12 via TUBU to phthalimido group 13 .Cleavage of phthalimido group under hydrazinedihydrochloride afford free peptide 14 .the result phosphonotripeptide 16 obtained by the reaction of free peptide with bioactive cyclic moiety-COCl 15 . The structures of all new compounds were established by IR, 1 HNMR and mass spectral data. Also anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and biochemical activities of all these compounds were reported.

This study was performed to analyze various demographic data such as age, gender, nationality, status of the patients, and the causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) of 349 patients who were undergoing hemodialysis (HD) during the period from January 2013 to December 2015 at the Dialysis Center of King Khalid Hospital in Tabuk City. One hundred and fifty-two patients (43.6%) were on HD in 2015. Age of the patients ranged from 9 to 93 years and the mean age was 51.3 ± 17.6 years. Majority of the patients, i.e., 140 (40.1%) were in the age group of 40–59 years, followed by the age group of 60–79 years by 27.8% (97 patients). Saudis constituted 84.2% (294) and non-Saudis accounted 15.8% (55) of the patients over the years studied. There were 198 males (56.7%) and 151 females (43.3%). The death rate in 2014 was 6.2%, whereas it increased in 2015 to 10.5%. The high escape rate (10.3%) of patients was in 2014. Diabetic nephropathy was the most common cause of ESRD, accounting for 30.4% of all cases, followed by unknown etiologies accounting for 25.2%. Nearly 22.6% of all ESRD cases had hypertension. Primary glomerular disease was seen in 8.9% and obstructive uropathy in 3.7%. Other causes constituted 7.4% of the cases. The data of ERSD patients in Tabuk City are comparable with that of other regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We conclude that analysis studies of HD centers help to understand the problems and the needs of the patients, find the solutions, and create a connection between the consumers and health-care providers.

Aim: This study aims to correlate the association of serum Adenosine deaminase activity (ADA) with fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels. Patients and Methods: Serum FBS levels and serum ADA activity were measured in 71 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and 24 controls. Results: Serum ADA activity and FBS levels were elevated in type 2 DM group in comparison to control group significantly (p

Urease, one of the highly efficient known enzymes, catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The present study aimed to extract urease from pea seeds (Pisum Sativum L). The enzyme was then purified in three consequence steps: acetone precipitation, DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography (Sephacryl S-200 column). The purification fold was 12.85 with a yield of 40%. The molecular weight of the isolated urease was estimated by chromatography to be 269,000 Daltons. Maximum urease activity (190 U/g) was achieved at the optimum conditions of 40°C and pH of 7.5 after 5 min of incubation. The kinetic parameters, K m and V max , were estimated by Lineweaver-Burk fits and found to be 500 mM and 333.3 U/g, respectively. The thermodynamic constants of activation, ΔH, E a , and ΔS, were determined using Arrhenius plot and found to be 21.20 kJ/mol, 23.7 kJ/mol, and 1.18 kJ/mol/K, respectively. Urease was purified from germinating Pisum Sativum L. seeds. The purification fold, yield, and molecular weight were determined. The effects of pH, concentration of enzyme, temperature, concentration of substrate, and storage period on urease activity were examined. This may provide an insight on the various aspects of the property of the enzyme. The significance of extracting urease from different sources could play a good role in understanding the metabolism of urea in plants.