Prospective of biosynthesized L.satiVum oil/PEG/Ag-MgO bionanocomposite film for its antibacterial and anticancer potential.

A substantial interest has been manifested in utilizing oil/metal oxide hybrid bionanocomposite, especially organic/ inorganic to design different biomedical applications. The present study reports the synthesis, characterization, antibacterial and anticancer properties of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and L.satiVum oil/PEG/Ag-MgO bionanocomposite. The fabricated AgNPs and L.sativum oil/PEG/Ag-MgO bionanocomposite were characterized by employing different spectroscopic (UV, FTIR, XRD) and microscopic (TEM, SEM) techniques. The particle size analysis showed that the mean size of 16.32 nm for AgNPS and 13.45 nm L.satiVum oil/PEG/Ag-MgO, indicating the excellent dispersion of Ag-MgO nanoparticles in the PEG- L.satiVum oil matrix. The antimicrobial activity of AgNPs and polymeric bionanocomposite was investigated against two pathogenic bacteria. The highest antibacterial effect was observed for bionanocomposite towards Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (27 mm) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (25 mm) at 40 µg/well. The bionanocomposite completely vanished the bacterial growth (100%) at 80 µgmL-1 concentrations. Moreover, the AgNPs and polymeric bionanocomposite was evaluated for anticancer activity against human cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) at different doses (50, 250, 500, and 1000 µgmL-1). The results showed polymeric bionanocomposite was stronger in inducing the HeLa cancer cell death than AgNPs. Overall, the fabricated L.satiVum oil/PEG/Ag-MgO bionanocomposite serve as a potential antimicrobial and anticancer agent and could be used in the development of novel drugs and health care products in near future.

Charge-transfer complexes of pyrimidine Schiff bases with aromatic nitro compounds.

Charge-transfer (CT) complexes of pyrimidine Schiff bases, derived from condensation of 2-aminopyrimidine and substituted benzaldehydes, with some aromatic polynitro compounds were prepared and investigated using IR, UV, visible and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. For all solid complexes, the main interaction between the donor and acceptor molecules takes place through the π-π* interaction. Strong and some weak acidic acceptors, in addition interact through proton transfer from the acceptor molecule to the basic centre of the electron donor. Also, an n-π* transition was detected in some complexes.

Metabolic biomarkers related to energy metabolism in Saudi autistic children.

OBJECTIVES: Energy metabolism is usually manipulated in many neurodegenerative diseases. Autism is considered a definable systemic disorder resulting in a number of diverse factors that may affect the brain development and functions both pre and post natal. The increased prevalence of autism will have enormous future public implications and has stimulated intense research into potential etiologic factors. This study aims to establish a connection between autism and the deterioration accompanied it, especially in the brain cognitive areas through a postulation of energy manipulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The biochemical changes in activities of enzymes and pathways that participate in the production of ATP as the most important high-energy compound needed by the human brain were measured in Saudi autistic children. Na(+)/K(+)ATPase, ectonucleotidases (NTPDases) (ADPase and ATPase) and creatine kinase (CK), were assessed in plasma of 30 Saudi autistic patients and compared to 30 age-matching control samples. In addition, adenosine mono, di and trinucleotides (ATP, ADP, and AMP) were measured calorimetrically in the red blood cells of both groups and the adenylate energy charge (AEC) was calculated. Moreover, lactate concentration in plasma of both groups was monitored. RESULTS: The obtained data recorded 148.77% and 72.35% higher activities of Na(+)/K(+)ATPase and CK respectively in autistic patients which prove the impairment of energy metabolism in these children compared to age and sex matching healthy controls. While ADPase was significantly higher in autistic patients, ATPase were non-significantly elevated compared to control. In spite of the significant increase of Na(+)/K(+)ATPase activity in autistic patients, there was no significant difference in the levels of ATP, ADP, and AMP in both groups and the calculated AEC values were 0.814+/-0.094 and 0.806+/-0.081 for autistic and control groups respectively. The unchanged AEC value in autistic patients was easily correlated with the induced activity of CK and ADPase as two enzymes playing a critical role in the stabilization of AEC. Lactate as an important energy metabolite for the brain was significantly higher in autistic patients compared to control showing about 40% increase. CONCLUSION: The present study confirmed the impairment of energy metabolism in Saudi autistic patients which could be correlated to the oxidative stress previously recorded in the same investigated samples. The identification of biochemical markers related to autism would be advantageous for earlier clinical diagnosis and intervention.

Metabolic biomarkers related to oxidative stress and antioxidant status in Saudi autistic children.

OBJECTIVE: Measurement of oxidative stress and antioxidant-related parameters (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) in Saudi autistic children. DESIGN AND METHODS: 30 autistic children (22 males and 8 females) aged 3-15 years (25/30 of these were below 8 years old), and 30 healthy children as control group were included in this study. Levels of lipid peroxides, vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione together with enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase were determined in plasma while superoxide dismutase (SOD was measured in red blood cells of both groups. RESULTS: Lipid peroxidation was found to be significantly higher in autistic compared to control Saudi children. On the other hand, vitamin E and glutathione were remarkably lower in autistic patients while vitamin C shows non-significant lower values. Regarding the enzymatic antioxidants, both glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly higher in autistic compared to control while catalase recorded more or less similar activities in both groups. CONCLUSION: Saudi autistic children are under H(2)O(2) stress due to GSH depletion, over expression of SOD together with the unchanged catalase enzyme. This could be helpful in the early diagnosis of young autistic patients and suggesting the possibility of antioxidant supplementation for the early intervention with autistic children.

On the toxicity of therapeutically used nanoparticles: an overview.

Human beings have been exposed to airborne nanosized particles throughout their evolutionary stages, and such exposures have increased dramatically over the last century. The rapidly developing field of nanotechnology will result in new sources of this exposure, through inhalation, ingestion, and injection. Although nanomaterials are currently being widely used in modern technology, there is a serious lack of information concerning the human health and environmental implications of manufactured nanomaterials. Since these are relatively new particles, it is necessary to investigate their toxicological behavior. The objective of this review was to trace the cellular response to nanosized particle exposure. Therapeutic application of selected nanoparticles together with their range of toxic doses was also reviewed. Effect of therapeutically used nanoparticles on cell membrane, mitochondrial function, prooxidant/antioxidant status, enzyme leakage, DNA, and other biochemical endpoints was elucidated. This paper highlights the need for caution during the use and disposal of such manufactured nanomaterials to prevent unintended environmental impacts.

On the pathogenicity of attenuated Schistosoma mansoni cercariae released from metabolically disturbed Biomphalaria alexandrina.

Biomphalaria alexandrina were treated with sublethal concentrations (LC10) of dry powdered leaves Solanum nigrum or whole dry Ambrosia maritima. The two plants affected the development of schistosome parasite within snails by disturbing the glycolytic flux, the most important metabolic pathway for schistosome-infected snails. Attenuated cercariae released from treated snails were used to infect male albino mice to evaluate their pathogenicity compared to control cercariae shed from untreated snails. The mean number of worms established declined from about 70 +/- 17.6 worms/mouse infected with control cercariae to 23.4 +/- 20.33 and 14.18 +/- 10.06 worms/mouse infected with S. nigrum and A. maritima-attenuated cercariae respectively. Most males and females detected in these animals measured 0.4-0.6 and 0.6-1.2 mm respectively compared to 1.2-1.4 and 1.4-1.7 mm in males and females released from mice infected with normal cercariae. Egg count in the liver and intestine of mice infected with attenuated cercariae was remarkably lower showing reduced fecundity of worms developed from attenuated cercariae. Number and size of granulomatous reactions showed remarkable reduction in attenuated cercariae-infected mice. Biochemical analyses for pathogenicity achieved with attenuated cercariae showed that while serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST &ALT) were more or less similar, depleted glycogen and elevated lipid peroxides were normalized when compared to those infected with normal cercariae.

Effect of carnosine administration on metabolic parameters in bilharzia-infected hamsters.

Carnosine is a naturally occurring dipeptide (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) found in muscles, brain and other tissues. This study was designed to test the ability of carnosine to offset metabolic disturbances induced by Schistosoma mansoni parasitism. Results indicate that parasitic infection caused elevation of liver weight/body weight in S. mansoni-infected hamsters, induced lipid peroxidation and reduced glycogen levels. Moreover, adenylate energy charge (AEC) and ATP/ADP and ATP/AMP concentration ratios were markedly lower in infected hamsters. Administration of carnosine (10 mg/day) for 15 days concurrent with infection effectively reduced worm burden and egg count. Administration of carnosine 2 and 4 weeks post-exposure only partially ameliorated the S. mansoni effects on metabolism. Carnosine treatment also normalized most of the parameters measured, including glycogen repletion, the antioxidant status and AEC. These finding support the use of carnosine for possible intervention in schistosomiasis.

In vivo, attenuation of schistosome cercarial development and disturbance of egg laying capacity in Biomphalaria alexandrina using sublethal concentrations of plant molluscicides.

The dry powdered of Sinapis arvensis, Thymelaea hirsuta, Callistemon lanceolatus and Peganum harmala showed molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria alexandrina, specific intermediate hosts to Schistosoma mansoni. Effect of LC25 of dry powdered plant molluscicides on hexokinase (HK), glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI), AMP deaminase, adenosine deaminase and phenol oxidase (PO) of B. alexandrina was traced. C. lanceolatus showed the highest molluscicidal activity as it has the lowest LC50 compared to S. arvensis, T. hirsuta, and P. harmala. LC25 of the latter three plants resulted in more significant inhibition of HK, GPI, AMP-deaminase and PO than C. lanceolatus. Treatment of snails with LC10 of these plants markedly affected compatibility of B. alexandrina to S. mansoni infection. Significant decrease in cercarial production recorded in snails treated with sublethal concentrations of S. arvensis, T. hirsuta, and P. harmala. Remarkable impairment of the egg laying capacity of molluscicide-treated snails was also recorded. Correlation between activity levels of HK, GPI and AMP deaminase and compatibility to parasitic infection and role of PO in the egglaying capacity of these snail species were discussed.

Effect of carnosine administration on certain metabolic parameters in bilharzial infected hamsters.

This study was designed to test the ability of carnosine to cure the metabolic disturbances induced by Schistosoma mansoni parasite. Results indicate that parasitic infection caused elevation of liver weight/body weight of S. mansoni infected hamsters, induced lipid peroxidation and reduced glycogen level. Moreover, the adenylate energy charge (AEC), ATP/ADP and ATP/AMP concentration ratios were markedly lower in infected hamsters. Administration of carnosine (10 mg/day) for 15 days either concurrent with infection, 2 and 4 weeks post exposure was effective in reducing worm burden and egg count only when given at the time of infection. It was also effective in renormalizing most of the measured parameters confirming the glycogen repletion, the antioxidant and AEC correcting actions of carnosine.

Susceptibility of Biomphalaria alexandrina to infection with Schistosoma mansoni: correlation with the activity of certain glycolytic enzymes.

The importance of the glycolytic flux for the success of Biomphalaria-Schistosome sporocyst interaction was acertained in this study. Hexokinase (HK), pyruvate kinase(PK), glucose phosphate isomerase(GPI) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) as four important glycolytic enzymes were markedly stimulated in trematode infected Biomphalaria alexandrina when measured two weeks post exposure to infection with Schistosoma mansoni miracidia. On the other hand phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy kinase (PEPCK), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and fructose 1,6 diphosphatase(FDPase) as three gluconeogenic enzymes were slightly affected which confirm the importance of the glycolytic pathway for schistosome-exposed snails. Effect of LC25 of Solanum nigrum leaves dry powder as plant molluscicide on HK, PK and GPI were tested. Treatment with this plant resulted in a significant inhibition of these three investigated enzymes. LC10 concentrations of S. nigrum reduced considerably the infection rate of B. alexandrina with S. mansoni to be 34% compared to an infection rate of 80% in control, non-treated snails. Longer prepatent period and remarkable decrease in cercarial production was also recorded in snails treated with the sublethal concentrations of the molluscicide. As conclusion, susceptibility of B. alexandrina to infection with the digenetic trematode S. mansoni is correlated to the activity levels of the glycolytic enzymes. Moreover, sublethal and less pollutant concentration of S. nigrum could be recommended to control schistosomiasis by disturbing the intramolluscan environment of the parasite.

SDS-PAGE-separated tissue proteins of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails in the presence and absence of Schistosoma mansoni.

SDS-PAGE was used to separate tissue proteins of control and trematode-infected Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. The separated profiles demonstrate the occasional appearance of protein fractions and the remarkable increase of concentration of certain molecular masses in infected snails at one week interval over four weeks post exposure to Schistosoma mansoni. Proteins of molecular masses of 44, 56, 65 and 144 KDa were among these occasionally appeared protein masses. Post exposure to S. mansoni larval infection, a protein mass of 36 KDa was predominant giving a markedely higher absorbance (> 1) compared to control (0.0166). This was identified as lactate dehydrogenase enzyme. Moreover, a protein of 56 KDa mass was identified as Pyruvate kinase. The predicted induction of these two enzymes could be either of host and/or parasitic origin. This study revealed that S. mansoni- B. alexandrina complex has a completely different protein pattern compared to control with very low similarity coefficient "S" value. A correlation between the snail tissue protein or separation patterns and the metabolic redirection of the snail host by the developing sporocyst was discussed.

Sublethal concentration of Ambrosia maritima(Damsissa) affecting compatibility of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails to infection with Schistosoma mansoni through disturbing the glycolytic pathway.

High glycolytic flux as an emergency pathway for generating ATP was recorded as the most important metabolic pathway required for the success of Biomphalaria-Schistosome sporocyst interaction. Effect of LC25 of dry powdered Ambrosia maritima (Damsissa) as plant molluscicide on hexokinase (HK), pyruvate kinase(PK), glucose phosphate isomerase(GPI) was tested. It resulted in a significant inhibition of the three investigated enzymes. Treatment of snails with LC10 concentrations of A. maritima reduced considerably the infection rate of Biomphalaria alexandrina with Schistosoma mansoni to be 34% compared to an infection rate of 80% in control non-treated snails. Longer prepatent period and remarkable decrease in cercarial production was also recorded in snails treated with the sublethal concentrations of this molluscicide.

Colorimetric determination of amoxycillin in pure form and in pharmaceutical preparations.

A simple and selective method for the determination of amoxycillin in pure form and in pharmaceutical preparations is described. The procedure is based on the reaction of amoxycillin with 4-nitrophenol (I), 2,4-dinitrophenol (II), 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (III) or 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (IV) in alkaline medium. The method has been used for the determination of 1-24 mug/ml of amoxycillin trihydrate in solution. The method is selective for the determination of amoxycillin in the presence of its degradation products, other antibiotics and different amines that are normally encountered in dosage forms.

Kinetic potentials of certain scavenger enzymes in fresh water snails susceptible and non-susceptible to Schistosoma infection.

The activities of catalase (H2O2-oxidoreductase EC 1.11.1.6)- and glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) as two important scavenger enzymes, were measured in tissue homogenates of Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus, the snail vectors of Schistosomiasis. A parallel study was done on Lymnea truncatula snails which are not susceptible to Schistosoma infection. The apparent Michaelis constant (Km) for both anzymes were determined in tissue homogenates of the three studied species. The results obtained showed that both susceptible species have higher affinity to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) than the non-susceptible one.

Succinate-DCPIP and NADH-fumarate oxidoreductases in fresh water snails susceptible and non susceptible to schistosoma infection.

The activities of succinate-DCPIP oxidoreductase (SO) and NADH-fumarate oxidoreductase (FR) were determined in tissue homogenate of Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus, the snail vectors of Schistosomiasia. A parallel study was done on Lymnea truncatula snails which are not susceptible to Schistosoma infection. The Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum velocities (Vmax) for fumarate reduction and succinate oxidation by the tissue homogenates from the three species were determined. The results obtained showed that both susceptible species are aerobic and lactate is the sole end product of anaerobic glycolysis. Lymnea truncatula snails are facultative anaerobic producing succinate as a major end product in the glycolytic pathway.

Metabolic end-products in parasitic helminths and their intermediate hosts.

Oxidoreductases which control the metabolic end-products in helminth parasites and their intermediate hosts were reviewed, in a trial to elucidate the respiratory metabolism during host-parasite associations. Special attention was given to Schistosoma parasites and their molluscan hosts.

Activity of some hydrolytic enzymes in tissue homogenates and haemolymph of fresh water snails, intermediate hosts in schistosomiasis.

The activities of 5-nucleotidase (Ec.3.1.3.5), alkaline phosphatase (Ec.3.1.3.1), glucose-6-phosphatase (Ec.3.1.3.9), and ribonuclease (Ec.3.1.13) had been measured in tissue homogenate and in haemolymph of Biomphalaria alexandrina, the specific intermediate host for the parasitic disease schistosomiasis, induced by the parasite Schistosoma mansoni.

Variation of transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase in irradiated Biomphalaria alexandrina snails.

Effect of ultraviolet and gamma radiations on the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) in Biomphalaria alexandrina snails, the specific intermediate host of schistosomiasis, was investigated. Changes in the electrophoretic pattern of LD in the species under study were also taken as a measured parameter and the effect of gamma-irradiation on the glutathione content in the haemolymph of the snails have been included.

Inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme associated with anaerobic respiration in schistosomiasis intermediate host snails.

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme (LD5) which is associated with anaerobic respiration was inhibited to a certain degree in Biomphalaria alexandrina snails, the intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni. Urea and thiourea were used as inhibitors. The effect of LD5 inhibition on the mortality rate of infected Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and on the susceptibility of the snails to the trematode infection was also studied.

Measurement of some selected enzymatic activities in infected Biomphalaria alexandrina snails.

The activities of aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) aminotransferases and that of lactate dehydrogenase (LD) were measured in the homogenate of infected Biomphalaria alexandrina snails, the specific intermediate hosts for the parasite Schistosoma mansoni which is the cause of the disease schistosomiasis. The isoenzymatic pattern of LD was also studied in the infected snails tissue.