Sadiq Azam

Frequency distribution of HCV genotypes among chronic hepatitis C patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

BackgroundHepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes frequency is important for the predication of response to therapy and duration of treatment. Despite variable response rates experienced in the case of Interferon (IFN) -based therapies, there was scarcity of data on HCV genotypes frequency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).Study DesignA total of 200 blood samples were collected from chronic HCV patients prior to the initiation of anti-viral therapy. The study population included patients from 6 districts of KPK. Active HCV infection was confirmed in case of all the patients by real time PCR. HCV genotypes were determined in each case by Type-specific PCR.ResultsThe analysis revealed that out of 200 PCR positive samples; 78 (39%) were 2a, 62 (31%) were 3a, 16 (8%) were 3b, 34 (17%) were untypable while 1a, 2b and 1b were 3 (1.5%), 2 (1%) and 5 (2.5%), respectively.ConclusionGenotype determination is not carried out prior to therapy in KPK. Although, the abundantly prevalent types (2a and 3a) of HCV in KPK are susceptible to combination therapy, yet resistance experienced in some of the chronic HCV patients may partly be attributed to the prevalence of less prevalent resistant genotypes (1a, 1b) of HCV among the population.

Response rates of standard interferon therapy in chronic HCV patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)

BackgroundInterferon based therapy is used to eradicate the Hepatitis C Virus from the bodies of the infected individuals. HCV is highly prevalent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) that is why it is important to determine the response of standard interferon based therapy in Chronic HCV patients of the region.Study designA total of 174 patients were selected for interferon based therapy. The patients were selected from four different regions of KPK. After confirmation of active HCV infection by Real Time PCR, standard interferon with ribavirn was given to patients for 6 months. After completion of therapy, end of treatment virologic response (ETR) was calculated.ResultsOut of total 174 patients, 130 (74.71%) showed ETR and 44 (25.28%) did not show ETR. In district Bunir, out of 52 patients, 36 (69.23%) showed ETR and 16 (30.79%) did not show ETR. In district Mardan, out of the total 74 patients, 66 (89.18%) were negative for HCV RNA and 8 (10.81%) were resistant to therapy. In Peshawar, out of 22, 16 (60%) were negative and 6 (40%) were positive for HCV RNA at the end of 6 months therapy. In the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA), out of 18 only 10 (55.5%) were negative and 8 (44.45%) were positive for active HCV infection.ConclusionIt is concluded that the response of antiviral therapy against HCV infection in chronic HCV patients of KPK province is 74.71%. The high response rate may be due to the prevalence of IFN-responsive HCV genotypes (2 and 3) in KPK.

Insecticidal, brine shrimp cytotoxicity, antifungal and nitric oxide free radical scavenging activities of the aerial parts of Myrsine africana L.

The crude methanolic extract and various fractions derived from the aerial parts of Myrsine africana were screened in vitro for possible insecticidal, antifungal, brine shrimp lethality and nitric oxide free radical scavenging activities. Low insecticidal activity (20 %) was shown by chloroform (CHCl 3 ) and aqueous fractions against Tribolium castaneum and Rhizopertha dominic a, respectively. Good cytotoxic activity (66.66 %) was shown by the n-hexane fraction of the plant at 1000 μg/ml. The rest of the fractions showed low lethality at higher doses. No antifungal activity was observed for the crude extract and fractions screened against various fungal strains. The plant crude extract and fractions showed a concentration dependent nitric oxide free radical scavenging activity. Key words: Myrsine africana, insecticidal, brine shrimp lethality, antifungal and nitric oxide free radical scavenging assay.

Anti-inflammatory and enzyme inhibitory activities of a crude extract and a pterocarpan isolated from the aerial parts of Vitex agnus-castus.

A new compound, 6a,11a-dihydro-6H-[1] benzofuro [3,2-c][1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromen-9-ol was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Vitex agnus-castus. The structure of this compound was identified with the help of spectroscopic techniques ((13)C NMR, (1)H NMR, HMBC, HMQC, NOESY and COSY). The compound showed low urease- (32.0%) and chymotrypsin- (31.4%) inhibitory activity, and moderate (41.3%) anti-inflammatory activity. The crude extract and various fractions obtained from the aerial parts of the plant were also screened for possible in vitro hemagglutination, antibacterial and phytotoxic activities. No hemagglutination activity against human erythrocytes was observed in crude extracts and fractions of V. agnus-castus. The fractions and crude methanolic extract showed moderate and low antibacterial activity. Exceptions were the CHCl(3) fraction, which showed significant antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumonia (81% with MIC(50)=2.19 mg/mL), the n-hexane fraction, which exhibited no activity against Salmonella typhi, and the CHCl(3) and aqueous fractions, which showed no activity against Bacillus pumalis. Moderate phytotoxic activity (62.5%) was observed by n-hexane fraction of V. agnus-castus against Lemna minor L at 1000 μg/mL.

Anti-spasmodic action of crude methanolic extract and a new compound isolated from the aerial parts of Myrsine africana

BackgroundMyrsine africana is an herbaceous plant that is traditionally used as appetizer and carminative. Locally, it is used for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatism and diarrhea by healers. The aims of the current study were to screen the crude methanol extract obtained from the aerial parts (leaves and stem) of M. africana, for antispasmodic actions on isolated tissues and further to subject the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of plant to column chromatography for isolation of pure compounds.MethodsThe antispasmodic action of the crude methanol extract was measured on the spontaneous rabbits jejunum preparations at concentration 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/ml. The crude extract was also applied, in similar concentrations, on KCl (80 mM) induced contractions to explain its possible mode of action.ResultsA new compound Myrsigenin was isolated from the EtOAc fraction of M. africana. The structure of the compound was identified with the help of 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR, HMBC, HMQC, NOESY and COSY. The plant crude methanol extract showed a significant antispasmodic action on rabbit jejunum and abolished the tissue contraction completely at concentration of 5.0 mg/ml.ConclusionThe study concludes that the methanol crude extract of aerial parts of M. africana has antispasmodic action possibly through the calcium channel blocking mechanisms. A new compound Myrsigenin was isolated from the EtOAc fraction of the plant.

Anti-spasmodic action of crude methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Vitex agnus castus

The aim of the current study was to screen the crude methanol extract (Cr. MeOH Ext.) of the aerial parts (leaves and stem) of Vitex agnus castus, for antispasmodic actions on isolated tissues. The Cr. MeOH Ext. was screened to measure antispasmodic action on the spontaneous rabbit’s jejunum preparations at different concentration(s) (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/ml). Similarly, the Cr. MeOH Ext was also applied at same concentrations, on potassium chloride (KCl) (80 mM) induced contractions to explain its possible mode of action. The plant Cr. MeOH Ext. showed a significant antispasmodic action on rabbit jejunum and abolished the spontaneous tissue contractions, completely at concentration 3.0 mg/ml. The study concludes that the Cr. MeOH Ext. of aerial parts of V. agnus castus has significant antispasmodic action possibly through the calcium channel blocking mechanisms.

Green synthesis, characterisation and biological evaluation of AgNPs using Agave americana, Mentha spicata and Mangifera indica aqueous leaves extract

The current study was performed to synthesize stable, eco-friendly and bio-compatible silver nano-particles (AgNPs) of Agave americana, Mentha spicata and Mangifera indica leaves and to screen them for biological activities. The ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic analysis revealed that λ-max for AgNPs range from 350-500 nm. All AgNPs possessed polycrystalline structure as notified as intense graphical peaks in complete spectrum of 20 values ranging from 10-80° in X-ray diffraction measurements and supported by scanning electron microscopy data. The size of the nano-particles was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (30-150 nm). Mass loss at variable temperatures was evaluated by simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis revealed reduction in mass and activity of compounds was notified by temperature increase from 200 to 800 °C, thus concluding it as thermally sensitive compounds. A. americana AgNPs showed significant (96%) activity against Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli (95%) and Fusarium oxysporum (89%). Good antioxidant activity was shown by M. spicata AgNPs at 300 µl (79%). M. indica AgNPs showed significant phytotoxic activity (88%) at highest concentration. No haemagglutination reaction was observed for the test samples. The above results revealed that AgNPs synthesized from selected plant species possesses significant antimicrobial and phytotoxic effect.

The status of trace elements in lymphoma and esophageal cancer patients: A case study

Cancer is a life threatening disease. Many people die of cancer every year. Epidemiological studies suggest that alteration of trace elements in the body can contribute to the development of cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg) in the blood, hair and nails of lymphoma and esophageal cancer (EC) patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The results reveal that the mean concentration of Cu, Pb and Ni increased significantly, while the concentration of Zn, Fe and Mg significantly decreased in the blood, hair and nails of lymphoma and EC patients. From this study it can be concluded that increased Pb, Cu, Ni and decreased Zn, Fe and Mg concentration in lymphoma and esophageal cancer patients suggest that these may play some role in carcinogenesis. Key Words: Trace elements, lymphoma, esophageal cancer

Isolation and Structure Elucidation, Molecular Docking Studies of Screlotiumol from Soil Borne Fungi Screlotium rolfsii and their Reversal of Multidrug Resistance in Mouse Lymphoma Cells.

A new compound namely (13-(3,3-dihydroxypropyl)-1,6-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isochromen-8(5H)-one (1) was isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the borne fungi Screlotium rolfsii. Its chemical structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Screlotiumol 1 were evaluated for their effects on the reversion of multidrug resistant (MDR) mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) of the soil borne fungi. The multidrug resistant P-glycoprotein is a target for chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer cells. In the present study rhodamine-123 exclusion screening test on human mdr1 gene transfected mouse gene transfected L5178 and L5178Y mouse T-cell lymphoma which showed excellent MDR reversing effect in a dose dependent manner against mouse T-lymphoma cell line. Moreover, molecular docking studies of compound-1 also showed better results as compared with the standard. Therefore the preliminary results obtained from this study suggest that screlotiumol 1 could be used as a potential agent for the treatment of cancer.

Microsatellite based investigation of genetic diversity in 24 synthetic wheat cultivars

Common bread wheat has very low genetic diversity. Plant breeders find it difficult to get appropriate germplasm which can be used for bread wheat improvement. Wild plant species is one of the potential sources for conferring resistant genes which can be exploited for bread wheat improvement. The challenge is to utilize these wild relatives into existing food crops without losing the genetic diversity. This study aimed to monitor genetic variability in the synthetic hexaploid wheats using microsatellites molecular markers. The polymorphism revealed by microsatellites was not very prevalent; however more Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) need to be used to select diverse synthetic lines which can be crossed with common bread wheat to enhance the crop yield and resistance against various stresses. Keywords: Microsatellite, germplasms, hexaploids, polymerase chain reaction, wheat