Abeer Salama

National Research Center, Egypt | NRC · Department of Pharmacology

Rutin, a flavone glycoside, has shown to have a significant beneficial kidney protection effect in drug-induced nephropathy. However, its poor solubility and low oral bioavailability have limited its pharmacological applications. This study aimed at formulating rutin-loaded bilosomes to enhance the renal protective effect of rutin for oral applicat...

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate bilosomes loaded with Celecoxib (CXB) for the efficient treatment of Alzheimer. The thin-film hydration approach was utilized in the formulation of CXB bilosomes (CXB-BLs). The study used a 2³-factorial design to investigate the impact of several formulation variables. Three separate parameters were...

Poxviruses target innate immunity mediators such as tumor necrosis factors, interleukins, interferons, complement, and chemokines. It also targets adaptive immunity such as CD4+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and B cells. Emerging of the recent epidemic of monkeypox virus (MPXV), a zoonotic disease native to Central and Western Africa, besides the lack of...

Genus Phoenix is one of the most common genera in the palm family (Arecaceae) with 17 species distributed around the world. Phoenix spp. have been used for centuries as food and medicine by different cultures. Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) is the utmost significant, particularly in the Middle East and Arab World. This review displays the main...

Maesa indica (Roxb.) Sweet is one of the well-known traditionally-used Indian plants. This plant is rich in secondary metabolites like phenolic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, and carbohydrates. It contains numerous therapeutically active compounds like palmitic acid, chrysophanol, glyceryl palmitate, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol,...

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a crucial component in all human tissues. During injury, the ECM is damaged; wound healing phases as hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling result in ECM synthesized and return to its native state. Echinacea purpurea is one of the most important medicinal herbs and is well-known for its antioxidant...

Introduction: Countless individuals experience negative emotions as hair loss pattern affects their self-esteem and well-being. Rosuvastatin calcium (Ca-RUV) was reported to stimulate the growth of the hair in the applied area, hence, it was selected as a potential hair loss treatment drug. Significance: This study aims to develop and optimize (...

Background The Ancient system of medicine showed the limelight on the use of herbal remedies and was found to possess minimal side effects and acceptable therapeutic outcomes. In this context, Prosopis juliflora gained importance in managing chronic diseases such as cancer, dermatological diseases, and chronic inflammatory disorders. Hence, P. juli...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease which affects around 1% globally leading to joint inflammation and disability. Etorocoxib (ETR) is a potent COX-2 inhibitor traditionally used orally to alleviate RA induced inflammation, yet it causes hepatic side effects on prolonged use. This study aims for in silico optimization of ETR p...

The goal of this study was the development and evaluation of semisolid caffeine (CAF) loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for topical treatment of cellulite. CAF-loaded NLC formulations were prepared via high-speed homogenization followed by ultrasonication. A 32 full factorial design was employed for formulation optimization. The total lip...

Dunaliella salina, a green microalga, is among the main sources of bioactive β-carotene and zeaxanthin. Hence, it will be investigated for its antioxidant effectiveness in wound healing. The current study's objective is to create new chitosan nanoparticle loaded D. salina hexane: ethyl acetate extract (HEAE-CNPs) and methanol extract (ME-CNPs) to b...

Blood clot formation increases cases of myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke, thus urges directing much research works for treatment and prevention of the causes. One of these directions is the microbial production of fibrinolytic enzymes as thrombolytic agents. In the current work, Bacillus subtilis Egy has been used for enzyme production under...

IL-17 is associated with varied inflammatory and immune-related diseases. However, the biological function of IL-17 and its expression in acute lung damage are not entirely known. Thanks to the powerful antioxidant properties of β-carotene, we presumed that it would show a potent protecting effect against cyclophosphamide (CP) -induced acute lung i...

The purpose of this study was to develop and assess Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) loaded niosomes and spanlastics for efficient topical wound treatment. Thin-film hydration technique was adopted for the preparation of nanovesicular systems. Drug-loaded niosomes were formulated using the non-ionic surfactant Span 60 and cholesterol whereas spanlastics...

AMP kinase (AMPK)/liver kinase B1 (LKB1)/Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-α (PGC 1α) pathway has a vital role in regulating age-related diseases. It controls neurogenesis, cell proliferation, axon outgrowth and cellular energy homeostasis. AMPK pathway, also, regulates mitochondrial synthesis. The current study evaluated t...

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: Our research showed that apigenin has the potential to be a therapeutic medication for hepatic fibrosis. However, further studies are needed to establish the clinical applicability of APG treatment in active liver fibrogenesis human cases. Please cite this paper as: Abdel-Rahman RF,...

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a chemotherapeutic agent that causes pulmonary damage by generating free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pulmonary damage has a high mortality rate due to the severe inflammation and edema occurred in lung. PPARγ/Sirt 1 signaling has been shown to be cytoprotective effect against cellular inflammatory stress and ox...

Aim: There is a well-founded relation between bullying and depression, which may eventually lead to suicidal behavior. Repurposing of antidiabetic drugs for the treatment of depression started to glow, which open new horizons to introduce the antidiabetic medications as new treatment picks in depression. Dulaglutide has been approved as remedy of...

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a very critical cause of death in the whole world. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces kidney damage by activating various deleterious inflammatory and oxidative pathways. Protocatechuic acid, a natural phenolic compound, has shown to exert beneficial effects against oxidative and inflammatory responses. The study aimed to...

Background: Carbohydrates are known as the main natural products of life activities. Results: Streptomyces rochie strain OF1 isolated from a mangrove tree produced exopolysaccharide S5 (EPSS5) (14.2 gl-1) containing uronic acid 21.98% sulfate content of 11.65 mg/ml, and a viscosity of 1.35 mm2/s. while total hexose amine content was 24.72%. The...

The aim of the current study is the development of a vitamin D3 (VD3)-loaded nanoemulsion (NE) formulation to improve VD3 oral bioavailability for management of vitamin D inadequacy in autistic children. Eight NE formulations were prepared by high-speed homogenization followed by ultrasonication. Four vegetable oils were employed along with two con...

Aim: Aging is the leading risk factor for diminishing lung function, as well as injury and lung disorder. The target of our research was to examine the potential protective effect of naringin and the possible role of SIRT1 in mice with D-galactose-induced lung aging, by evaluating its effects on antioxidant systems, mitochondrial biogenesis, autop...

Acute kidney injury is a complication of using gentamicin in high doses and is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. Astaxanthin, the red xanthophyll carotenoid pigment, has an antioxidant power higher than 100 times that of vitamin E and 10 times more than that of β-carotene, making it one of the strongest bioactive carotenoids. Haematoc...

Background and purpose: Obesity is a public health problem and the existence of beige adipocytes has got interested as a potential therapeutic involvement for obesity and obesity-associated diseases. Adipose tissue M1 macrophage inhibition, also, has a vital role in obesity via down-regulating adipose tissue inflammation and the use of natural comp...

Aims: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial degenerative disease marked by the progressive deterioration of articular cartilage with inflammation of the synovium. OA's main symptoms include pain and function loss. Monosodium Iodoacetate (MIA) experimental model is widely-used for OS induction since it produces symptoms comparable to those occurr...

Background: Carpet dust exposure in the carpet industry causes various respiratory hazards that lead to permanent loss of lung function. This study investigated the potentially toxic effects of knotted and tufted carpet dust on rat lungs and the possible involvement of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-a...

One of the promising drug delivery approaches is performed by nanosizing the administered drug product using the nanospray drying technique. In this study, a combination of several formulation factors was integrated and exploited to augment the bioavailability of galantamine hydrobromide (GAL) via the intranasal route. Nanosized polymeric particles...

The present study aimed to improve the neuroprotective effect of chrysin (CHR) by combining two formulation techniques, phospholipid complexation and solid dispersion (SD). CHR-phospholipid complex (CHR-PLC) was prepared through solvent evaporation. The molar ratio CHR/PL (1:3), which exhibited the highest complexation efficiency, was selected for...

Lutein is a naturally potent antioxidant carotenoid synthesized in green microalgae with a potent ability to prevent different human chronic conditions. To date, there are no reports of the immune-stimulating effect of pure lutein isolated from Scenedesmus obliquus. Thus, we isolated the natural lutein from S. obliquus and evaluated its effectivene...

The pharmacologically privileged DHP derivatives were synthesized using the pragmatic multicomponent Hantzsch synthesis to screen the antidiabetic activity. Initially, the candidates were screened using an in vivo blood glucose test, where compound 8b showed the most prominent antidiabetic effect (% potency = 218%) compared to glimepiride. Then, a...

Neuroinflammatory status produced via activation of toll like receptor-4 (TLR-4) and interleukin-17 receptor (IL-17R) is one of the principal mechanisms involved in dopaminergic neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease (PD). Activation of TLR-4 and IL-17R stimulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-17, IL-1β, TNFα, IL-6)...

Background Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-5 (IL-5) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as well as immunoglobulin-E (IgE) appear to play a role in asthma. N -acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, might have clinical benefits in asthma prevention. The possible preventive effects of NAC against experimentally induced asthma in rats...

The current study intended to develop a new treatment of schizophrenia having a sustained release activity. Quetiapine fumarate (QF)-loaded polymer/lipid hybrid nanoparticulate systems of polycaprolactone (PCL) and Geleol™ were fabricated using polyvinyl alcohol (3% w/v). The proposed hybrid systems were formed conducting the emulsion/solvent evapo...

The aim of this study was to develop novel cubosomes as an oral delivery system to improve the ‎permeation and anti-clotting activity of Rivaroxaban (RX). The experimental design (23 full factorial design) was employed to study individual and combined impacts of the assigned ‎formulation variables. The variables RX amount (X1), Poloxamer (PX): GMO...

Budesonide (BUD), a glucocorticoids drug, inhibits all steps in the inflammatory response. It can reduce and treat inflammation and other symptoms associated with acute lung injury such as COVID-19. Loading BUD into bilosomes could boost its therapeutic activity, and lessen its frequent administration and side effects. Different bilosomal formulati...

Background: Obesity is considered to be a pandemic that has increased during the last decades. The energy burning capacity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) makes it an attractive target in anti obesity therapies. Several strategies are being examined to activate and recruit BAT with no side effects. Objective: To evaluate the possible effects of melat...

Tizanidine hydrochloride (TZN) is one of the most effective centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants. The objective of this study is to prepare TZN-loaded proniosomes (TZN-PN) aiming at enhanced oral delivery and therapeutic activity. TZN-PN were prepared by coacervation phase separation method. The developed vesicles were characterized via entra...

Modulation of the inflammasome NLRP3 and SIRT1 are new combat strategy for brain injury protection. The inflammasome activates proinflammatory cytokines releasing interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 which in turn affect the toxins release from immune cells. In addition, SIRT1 controls many biological functions, such as immune response and oxidative s...

Bunchosia armeniaca (Cav.) DC (Malpighiaceae) is one of the well-known traditionally used remedies worldwide. This study aims to explore the leaves' metabolome via Quadrupole-Time-of-Flight-Liquid-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and to investigate the neuroprotective effect of leaves using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced Alzheimer's disease model...

Cyclophosphamide is an anticancer and immunosuppressive agent used in the treatment of various malignancies but causing gastrointestinal distress. Cannabis sativa (C. sativa) and its derivatives have been used for the treatment of human gastrointestinal disorders. A purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of C. sativa on nausea induced...

Dates have been consumed since ancient times as functional foods which besides their high nutritional value possess various biological activities. Phoenix rupicola T. Anderson (Cliff date palm) produces non-conventional edible dates, however, due to low natural abundance, these dates aren’t commercially important as the dates of Phoenix dactylifera...

Background: Liver fibrosis is a chronic wound-healing response to liver injury of various origins and represents a major health problem. Objective: The current study endeavored to investigate the repressing effect of fisetin on hepatic fibrosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in rats. Materials and methods: Rats were injected with TAA (200 mg/k...

Background and purpose: Growing evidence advocates that upregulation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been suggested as a causative influence in the development and complications of diabetes mellitus. We aimed to study the antidiabetic activity of chrysin against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes via down-regulation of TLR4/nuclear factor (N...

The objective of this study was to formulate and evaluate Lornoxicam (LOX) loaded bilosomes for effective treatment of osteoarthrotis. Lornoxicam bilosomes were formulated using thin film hydration method. A 2³ full factorial design was employed to evaluate the effect of different formulation variables. Three independent variables were studied; bil...

Jatropha integerrima Jacq., family: Euphorbiaceae, is used in India and subtropical Africa to treat different skin conditions. In this study we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of J. integerrima leaves extract (JILE) using rat paw edema model. The extract was administered orally (200 and 400 mg/kg) or applied topically as creams at 2.5, 5,...

Background Kelch-like erythroid cell-derived protein 1 (Keap1)/nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) are transcription factors that can protect against oxidative stress and inflammation. Its deficiency has a contributory role in depression. Inositol is a nutritional supplement that is linked to various neurotransmitter receptors, such...

The objective of the current study is to investigate the effect of rice bran oil (RBO) on hepatic fibrosis as a characteristic response to persistent liver injuries. Rats were randomly allocated into five groups: the negative control group, thioacetamide (TAA) group (thioacetamide 100 mg/kg thrice weekly for two successive weeks, ip), RBO 0.2 and 0...

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) fruit and oil are traditionally used for their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐aging properties. We investigated chemical variability between two avocado cultivars (Duke and Fuerte) in relation to their antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. Duke cultivar showed higher β‐carotene and α‐tocopherol cont...

The present study was designed to develop dorzolamide HCl (DRZ) loaded cationic nanoemulsions (CNEs) for enhanced ocular delivery. CNEs were prepared employing high-speed homogenization followed by ultrasonication. A three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design was utilized for formulation optimization. The oil content (%), surfactant content (%) a...

BACKGROUND: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is commonly used in various food industries as a flavor enhancer. MSG is reported to cause increased neurotoxicity. AIM: The study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of thymol against MSG-induced neurotoxic cerebral and hippocampal injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS:...

Objective: This study aims to prepare and optimize indomethacin freeze-dried sublingual tablets (IND-FDST) by utilizing a quality by design (QbD) approach to achieve rapid drug dissolution and simultaneously bypassing the GIT for better patient tolerability. Methods: A screening study was utilized to determine the most significant factors which the...

Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has a crucial role in neuroprotection. It phosphorylates serine/threonine kinase (Akt) Substrate inhibiting the inflammatory responses induced by the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Exposure to chromium VI dust among workers has been reported and induced brain injury, as the absorption of chromium...

Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill cladodes are considered to be a source of an abundance of bioactive compounds. To identify a natural product that can be used in the chemoprevention and treatment of cancer, this study was conducted to produce an anticancer agent extracted from in vitro-derived cladodes of prickly pear cactus. Toward this goal, assays o...

Dunaliella salina (D. salina) is rich in natural potent antioxidants as beta carotene and zeaxanthin. It exhibits several therapeutic effects for diabetes, cancer, eye, and cardiovascular disorders. This study assesses the anti-inflammatory effect of beta carotene and zeaxanthin enrich fractions of D. salina against carrageenan induced inflammation...

The current research article focused on formulating an easily applied, water-based buccal film loaded with the antiepileptic drug, lamotrigine (LTG). The designed film can be comfortably administered by epileptic patients to ensure a controllable therapeutic efficacy against seizures. The solubility of LTG in water was significantly improved by mic...

Amikacin (AMK) is one of the most effective aminoglycoside antibiotics. However, nephrotoxicity is a major deleterious and dose-limiting side effect associated with its clinical use especially in high dose AMK-treated patients. The present study assessed the ability of taurine (TAU) to alleviate or prevent AMK-induced nephrotoxicity if co-administr...

The extensive recorded environmental and occupational dispersal of hexavalent chromium (CrVI) dust contributes to an increased interest in its toxicological consequences. A previous study of our team described a brain injury induced by acute intranasal instillation of Cr(VI) in rats, which was characterized by oxidative stress and inflammation. Thi...

The historic DHP nucleus was serendipitously discovered by Arthur Hantzsch about 130 years ago and is still considered a hidden treasure for various pharmacological activities. Twenty-one DHP analogues were synthesized using the expedient one pot Hantzsch synthesis for screening as anticancer agents. Initially, the in vitro anti-proliferative singl...

The activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway regulates cellular antioxidant stress and exerts anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects against acute lung injury (ALI). The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic role of L-carnitine (LC) against potassium dichromate (PD) - induced acute lung injury in adult male albino rats via modu...

Many authors have suggested the association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and inflammation through various mechanisms among which increased serum cytokines.30 newly diagnosed ADHD children, aged 6-12and of both sexes were collected from outpatient clinic, Psychiatry Department, Al Zahraa University Hospital and a matched c...

Background Depression affects people feeling to be anxious, worried, and restless. They also lose interest in activities, concentrating and appetite, they finally may attempt suicide. Depression is the second chronic disease, as a source of the global burden of disease, after heart disease. Its prevalence elevated seven times during the COVID-19....

The present study aims to formulate all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) loaded chitosan/tripolyphosphate lipid hybrid nanoparticles (CTLHNs) for enhancing its solubility and oral delivery. This is to improve ATRA therapeutic effect on diabetic nephropathy (DN). CTLHNs were prepared by o/w homogenization, employing stearic acid, to form lipid nanoparticl...

Diabetes is the most common metabolic disorder in both developing and non-developing countries, and a well-recognized global health problem. The WHO anticipates an increase in cases from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million by 2030. In the present study, we focus on the preparation of pyrimidine derivatives as potential antidiabetic and antimicrobial...

In the present study, gabapentin (GBP)-loaded chitosan nanosized particles were fabricated applying the nanospray drying technique. Different preparation parameters (spray mesh diameter, chitosan concentration and presence of D-α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) were studied while fixing other parameters (spraying rate, inlet te...