Amin F. Majdalawieh

• PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Professor at American University of Sharjah

α-Mangostin, a bioactive xanthone derived from the Garcinia mangostana L. Clusiaceae (G. mangostana) fruit, has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Chronic inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including metabolic disorders, autoimmune conditions, and cancer. Conventional...

Plant-derived products have been proven as beneficial medicinal treatments for various cancers. Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Rosemary - RM) is gaining increasing attention as an agent in cancer chemoprevention and therapy, due to its antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties. Herein, the anti-proliferative effects of RM leaves m...

Atherosclerosis is a complex vascular disease characterized by the buildup of lipids, inflammatory cells and fibrous components in arterial walls leading to plaque formation and potential thrombotic events like myocardial infarction and strokes. Recently, there has been research on the roles of various types of lipids such as low-density lipoprotei...

Thymoquinone (TQ), a bioactive compound derived from Nigella sativa, has garnered significant attention for its potential as a natural anti-cancer agent, particularly in the context of colorectal cancer. This review provides a detailed synthesis of the current literature on the anti-cancer properties of TQ in colorectal cancer cells, exploring both...

α-Mangostin, a xanthone derivative extracted from the pericarp of the mangosteen fruit (Garcinia mangostana L.), has garnered significant attention for its potential as a natural anti-cancer agent. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current literature on the anti-cancer properties of α-mangostin across various cancer types. Throug...

The latest pandemic resulting from the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has significantly affected public health, the worldwide economy, and social life. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are currently being implemented in biosensors for rapid and accurate detection of viruses thanks to their exceptional properties. This research aims to develop a Zeolit...

Appropriate oral hygiene significantly reduces the possibility of oral infections. However, dental caries and periodontal diseases are major oral health issues causing chronic diseases due to poor oral health. Recently, herbal compounds have gained interest in maintaining oral health. Extracts of burdock root (Arctium), noni fruit (Morinda citrifol...

A metal-free combination of rGO/g-C3N4-coupled SrTiO3 (SRN) ternary nanocomposite prepared via a wet impregnation method for UV–Vis light photocatalytic applications. Various physicochemical properties of the samples were investigated by several spectroscopic techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, Raman, field emission scanning electr...

Mycobacterium leprae is the causative agent responsible for the chronic disease known as leprosy. This condition is characterized by dermal involvement, often leading to peripheral nerve damage, sensory-motor loss, and related abnormalities. Both innate and acquired immunological responses play a role in the disease, and even in individuals with le...

Background In the last decade, point of care testing (POCT) such as lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA) were developed for rapid TSH measurement. Most of these TSH-LFIAs are designed for qualitative measurements (i.e., if TSH values > 5, or >15 IU/L) and as screening tests for primary hypothyroidism in children and adults. Serum or plasma, but not ven...

Sesamol is a phenolic lignan isolated from Sesamum indicum seeds and sesame oil. Numerous studies have reported that sesamol exhibits lipid-lowering and anti-atherogenic properties. The lipid-lowering effects of sesamol are evidenced by its effects on serum lipid levels, which have been attributed to its potential for significantly influencing mole...

The recent emergence of different SARS-CoV-2 variants creates an urgent need to develop more effective therapeutic agents to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks. Among SARS-CoV-2 essential proteases is papain-like protease (SARS-CoV-2 PLpro), which plays multiple roles in regulating SARS-CoV-2 viral spread and innate immunity such as deubiquitinating and de...

Background Rapid hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) level monitoring is essential in slowing the progression of diabetes. This need becomes challenging in low resources countries where the social burden of the disease is overwhelming. Recently, fluorescent-based lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) gained wide attention for small laboratories and population surve...

The discovery of novel small molecules endowed with high 3D‐content remains a powerful tool for interrogating underrepresented biological space. To this end, the pseudo‐natural products (pseudo‐NP) strategy has become one of the most important tools to deliver biologically significant chemical probes. In this article, we describe the development of...

Azepino[3,4,5‐cd]indole derivatives represent the core scaffold of important natural products and biologically relevant compounds. Therefore, the establishment of step‐ and atom‐economic strategies to access this class of compounds is of paramount importance. To this end, complexity‐to‐diversity (CtD) strategy has become one of the most important t...

Background In the last decade, point of care testing (POCT) such as lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA) were developed for rapid TSH measurement. Most of these TSH-LFIAs are designed for qualitative measurements (i.e., if TSH values >5, or >15 IU/L) and as screening tests for primary hypothyroidism in children and adults. Serum or plasma, but not vene...

The de novo assembly of stereochemically and skeletally diverse scaffolds is a powerful tool for the discovery of novel chemotypes. Hence, the development of modular, step- and atom-economic synthetic methods to access stereochemically and skeletally diverse compound collection is particularly important. Herein, we show a metal-free, stereodivergen...

Background Rapid and constant HbA1c level monitoring is essential in slowing the progression of Type 2 diabetes. This need becomes challenging in low resources countries where the social burden of the disease is overwhelming. Recently, fluorescent-based lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) gained wide attention for small or non-laboratory settings and...

Background: Limited commercial LFA assays are available to provide a reliable quantitative measurement of the total binding antibody units (BAU/mL) against the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S-RBD). Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the fluorescence LFA FinecareTM 2019-nCoV S-RBD test along with its read...

Natural products with known safety profiles are a promising source for the discovery of new drug leads. Berberine presents an example of one such phytochemical that has been extensively studied for its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties against myriads of diseases, ranging from respiratory disorders to viral infections. A growing bod...

Background Limited commercial LFA assays are available to provide a reliable quantitative measurement of the total binding antibody units (BAU/mL) against the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S-RBD). Aim To evaluate the performance of FinecareTM2019-nCoV S-RBD LFA and its fluorescent reader (FinecareTM-FIA Meter) against th...

Background: A sensitive method to investigate cellular stress and cytotoxicity is based on measuring mitochondrial membrane potential. Recently, JC-10, was developed to measure mitochondrial membrane potential in vitro and used as an indicator for cytotoxicity. Yet, JC-10 has never been used in vivo (whole organism). In normal cells, JC-10 concent...

The ongoing outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused an unprecedented global health crisis. Development of a cure for this devastating disease is currently at full speed, with several vaccines against COVID-19 already authorized and administered. Curren...

Atherosclerosis is a widespread and progressive chronic arterial disease that remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is generally accepted that atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease characterized by dyslipidemia and inflammation in the vessel walls. Nonpharmacological interventions to treat chronic diseases like at...

Chromenopyrrole derivatives with multiple stereocenters and variable ring fusion pattern are found in many natural products and biologically appealing molecules. By employing a build/couple/pair strategy, we have recently reported on the discovery of a serendipitous cascade to access a diverse collection of chromenopyrroles. This protocol features...

Inflammation is associated with the development and progression of various disorders including atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and cancer. Sesamin, a fat-soluble lignan derived from Sesamum indicum seeds and oil, has received increased attention due to its wide array of pharmacological properties including its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammat...

Objectives There is a lack of public awareness of the importance of engaging in physical activity (PA) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Nearly 58% of the UAE adult population self-reports as being physically inactive although little accelerometer data currently exists. The aim of this study was to obtain the first dataset that objectively quantif...

Background Fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether-7 (AEO-7), a non-ionic surfactant, has recently been receiving extensive attention from the ocean pipeline industry for its ability to inhibit corrosion. However, the present lack of information concerning the potential environmental toxicity of AEO-7, especially towards aquatic organisms, is a major i...

The last two decades or so have witnessed an upsurge in defining the art of designing complex natural products and nature-inspired molecules. Throughout these decades, fundamental insights into stereocontrolled, step-economic and atom-economical synthesis principles were achieved by the numerous synthetic accomplishments particularly in diversity-o...

Background Fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether-7 (AEO-7), a non-ionic surfactant, has recently been receiving extensive attention from the ocean pipeline industry for its ability to inhibit corrosion. However, the present lack of information concerning the potential environmental toxicity of AEO-7, especially towards aquatic organisms, is a major i...

Sesamin, a major lignin isolated from sesame (Sesamum indicum) seeds and sesame oil, is known to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Several studies have revealed that oxidative stress and inflammation play a major role in a variety of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This comprehensive review summarizes the evidence on the effects...

Sesamin is the major lignan constituent derived from Sesamum indicum seeds and sesame oil. Various studies have reported that sesamin possesses potent lipid-lowering properties. The lipid-lowering effects of sesamin have been mainly attributed to its ability in affecting key events in fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism and in lowering atherogene...

Nitrogen and Oxygen Medium-rings, in particular 9-membered rings, epitomize a unique area of chemical space that occur in many natural products and biologically appealing compounds. The scarcity of 8- to 12-membered rings among clinically approved drugs is indicative of the difficulties associated with their synthesis, principally owed to unfavorab...

Surfactants are widely used in the industry of detergents, household products, and cosmetics. SAPDMA is a cationic surfactant that is used mostly in cosmetics, conditioning agents and has recently gained attention as a corrosion inhibitor in the sea pipelines industry. In this regard, literature concerning the ecotoxicological classification of SAP...

Adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1) is a transcriptional repressor involved in the regulation of critical biological processes including adipogenesis, mammary gland development, inflammation, macrophage cholesterol homeostasis, and atherogenesis. Several years ago, we first reported the ability of AEBP1 to exert a positive control over the...

Bioluminescence imaging (BLI), an optical preclinical imaging modality, is an invaluable imaging modality due to its low-cost, high throughput, fast acquisition times, and functional imaging capabilities. BLI is being extensively used in the field of cancer imaging, especially with the recent developments in genetic-engineering, stem cell, and gene...

The employment of plant extracts in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles is a very attractive approach in the field of green synthesis. To benefit from the potential synergy between the biological activities of the Moringa oleifera and metallic bismuth, our study aimed to achieve a green synthesis of phytochemical encapsulated bismuth nanoparticles...

The synthesis of metal nanoparticles using plant extracts is a very promising method in green synthesis. The medicinal value of Moringa oleifera leaves and the antimicrobial activity of metallic copper were combined in the present study to synthesize copper nanoparticles having a desirable added-value inorganic material. The use of a hydroalcoholic...

Objective: To evaluate the potential immunomodulatory effects of an aqueous extract of Sesamum indicum seeds with regard to splenocyte proliferation, Th1/Th2 balance, macrophage function, and the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells. Methods: Splenocyte proliferation was measured by [3H]- thymidine incorporation. Griess assay was perform...

The use of plant extracts in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles is a very attractive approach in the field of green synthesis. To benefit from the potential synergy between the biological activities of the Moringa oleifera leaves extract and metallic bismuth, our study aimed at synthesizing bismuth nanoparticles using a hydroalcoholic extract of...

p> Terminalina bellirica is considered to be a sacred plant with five distinctive tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and pungent). It stimulates the proper functioning of the digestive system, sensory organs and it is very effective in treating several medical conditions. Four types of extracts were prepared (aqueous extracts of T. bellirica fruit...

The synthesis of metal nanoparticles using plant extracts is a very promising method in green synthesis. The medicinal value of Moringa oleifera leaves and the anti-microbial activity of metallic copper were combined in the present study to synthesize copper nanoparticles having a desirable added-value inorganic material. The use of a hydroalcoholi...

p>The different commercial samples of Terminalia chebula ( T. chebula ) standard extracts and finished products were taken for elemental analysis studies and were evaluated by ICP-OES and compared with standard reference data. Trace elements are naturally occurring and its daily requirement as dietary supplement form is only a few milligrams and ev...

Sesamol is a natural phenolic compound and a major lignan isolated from sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum)and sesame oil. The therapeutic potential of sesamol was investigated intensively, and there is compelling evidence that sesamol acts as a metabolic regulator that possesses antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-agi...

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an RNA virus that is an important cause of both acute and chronic hepatitis worldwide. To date, there are eight HEV genotypes that can infect mammals. HEV-1 and HEV-2 infect exclusively humans, while HEV-3 and HEV-4 infect humans and various animals, mainly pigs and deer. Additionally, two new genotypes (HEV-5 and HEV-6)...

Sesamin is the major active ingredient is Sesamum indicum seeds. Several studies revealed that sesamin possesses potent anti-cancer properties. The anti-cancer effects of sesamin have been mainly attributed to its anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-metastatic, anti- and pro-angiogenic, and pro-autophagocytic activities. In t...

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an RNA virus with 4 main genotypes. HEV-1 and HEV-2 infect solely humans, while HEV-3 and HEV-4 infect humans and various animals such as pigs, deer, and rabbits. HEV-5 and HEV-6 infect mainly wild boar. Recently, new genotypes, known as HEV-7 and HEV-8, were found to infect camels and humans. HEV is globally distributed...

The microbial contamination in food packaging has been a major concern that paved the way to search for novel, natural anti-microbial agents, such as modified alpha-mangostin. In the present study, twelve synthetic analogs were obtained through semi-synthetic modification of alpha-mangostin by Ritter reaction, reduction by palladium-carbon (Pd-C),...

The microbial contamination in food packaging has been a major concern that has paved the way to search for novel, natural anti-microbial agents, such as modified α-mangostin. In the present study, twelve synthetic analogs were obtained through semi-synthetic modification of α-mangostin by Ritter reaction, reduction by palladium-carbon (Pd-C), alky...

Over the past two decades, studies have documented the wide-range anti-cancer effects of Nigella sativa, known as black seed or black cumin. Thymoquinone (TQ), its major active ingredient, has also been extensively studied and reported to possess potent anti-cancer properties. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the findings related to the...

The use of naturally-occurring agents to regulate tumorigenesis is on the rise. Several herbal extracts, pure plant-derived active constituents, and food additives have been reported to possess potent anti-cancer properties and cancer-ameliorating effects. The wide-range anti-cancer effects of Nigella sativa, also known as black seed or black cumin...

“Drug likeness” of a molecule is the prime criterion for a molecule to exhibit the desired pharmaceutical activity. A pharmacophore, which describes molecular features that are necessary for molecular recognition of a ligand by a biological macromolecule, is well altered by the Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) guidelines through Hydrophobic Li...

Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate gatifloxacin-loaded sodium alginate hydrogel membranes, supplemented with glycerol (a plasticizer), glutaraldehyde (a cross-linking agent), and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) or hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) polymers, as potential wound dressing materials based on their physicochemical prope...

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Dyslipidemic patients display abnormal lipid profiles associated with elevated levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), as well as reduced levels of highdensity lipop...

Many herbal products are now used as remedies to treat various infectious and non-infectious conditions. Even though the use of herbs and natural products is much more evident in the Eastern world, their use in Western cultures is continuously increasing. Although the immunomodulatory effects of some herbs have been extensively studied, research re...

Fungicidal chemicals in crude form have been in use for several decades worldwide. This study aims at evaluating the anti-fungal activity of several novel chiral Schiff bases 3 and their reduction products 4, which were derived from various salicylaldehydes 1 and naturally occurring amino acid L-valine 2, against plant and food pathogens. The anti-...

Purpose: Cholesterol clearance by macrophages is a vital process to eliminate excess cholesterol from the body. Internalization of modified cholesterol by macrophages triggers overexpression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ1 (PPARγ1) and liver X receptor α (LXRα), two transcription factors that are critically involved in macrophage...

In the last decade, gold and silver nanomaterials have received considerable attention due to their attractive electronic and chemical properties and their potential applications in the development of new technologies. Recent advances in the study of various gold and silver nanomaterials have led to their utilization in a number of very important a...

The geometries and harmonic vibration frequencies of the Cu+ ·O2 and Cu+ ·N2 are determined by various density functional theory (DFT) methods employing different basis sets. The potential energy surfaces (PES) are examined. The Cu+ ·O2 adduct exhibits a bent structure with a binding energy of 12.4 kcal mol−1, whereas Cu+ ·N2 exhibits a linear conf...

Foam cell formation resulting from disrupted macrophage cholesterol efflux, which is triggered by PPARγ1 and LXRα, is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. Sesamin and sesame oil exert anti-atherogenic effects in vivo. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying such effects are not fully understood. This study examines the potential effects of ses...

The ability to decipher the genetic code of different species would lead to significant future scientific achievements in important areas, including medicine and agriculture. The importance of DNA sequencing necessitated a need for efficient automation of identi-fication of base sequences from traces generated by existing sequencing machines, a pro...

In the last three decades, nuclear factor B (NF-B) has been the focus of many researchers who are interested in understanding the various molecular mechanisms involved in inflammatory diseases and cancer. Interference with NF-B activity can cause many cellular abnormalities including tumorigenesis. In this study, we focus on examining the potent...

Disruption of mammary stromal-epithelial communication leads to aberrant mammary gland development and induces mammary tumorigenesis. Macrophages have been implicated in carcinogenesis primarily by creating an inflammatory microenvironment, which promotes growth of the adjacent epithelial cells. Adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1), a novel...

The geometries and harmonic vibration frequencies of the Cu+ ̇ O 2 and Cu+ ̇ N 2 are determined by various density functional theory (DFT) methods employing different basis sets. The potential energy surfaces (PES) are examined. The Cu+ ̇ O 2 adduct exhibits a bent structure with a binding energy of 12.4 kcal mol-1, whereas Cu+ ̇ N 2 exhibits a lin...

The geometries and harmonic vibration frequencies of the Cu+ center dot O-2 and Cu+ center dot N-2 are determined by various density functional theory (DFT) methods employing different basis sets. The potential energy surfaces (PES) are examined. The Cu+ center dot O-2 adduct exhibits a bent structure with a binding energy of 12.4 kcal mo1(-1), whe...

Adipocyte enhancer binding protein 1 (AEBP1) is a multifunctional protein that negatively regulates the tumor suppressor PTEN and IκBα, the inhibitor of NF-κB, through protein-protein interaction, thereby promoting cell survival and inflammation. Mice homozygous for a disrupted AEBP1 gene developed to term but showed defects in growth after birth....

Atherogenesis is a long-term process that involves inflammatory response coupled with metabolic dysfunction. Foam cell formation and macrophage inflammatory response are two key events in atherogenesis. Adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1) has been shown to impede macrophage cholesterol efflux, promoting foam cell formation, via peroxisome...

Chronic inflammation is often the perpetrator of mammary tumorigenesis by aberrant signaling interactions between the epithelial ducts and the surrounding stromal microenvironment, composed of primarily adipocytes as well as other cells such as macrophages. AEBP1 is a stromal protein that augments the activity of the pro-inflammatory transcription...

Information acquired from any species genomic sequence is expected to contribute massively to advances in various fields, such as medicine, forensics and agriculture. This huge impact of DNA sequencing leads to the need for efficient automation of mapping chromatogram traces to their corresponding string of bases through base-calling. This paper at...

Adipocyte-Enhancer Binding Protein 1 (AEBP1) Promotes Mammary Gland Tumourigenesis Through Modulation of Inflammatory Signalling Pathways. R. W. Holloway1, O. Bogachev1, A.F. Majdalawieh2, L. Zhang3, S. P. Reidy1, X. Pan1, H.-S. Ro1 1Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2Department of Biology &...

Nigella sativa, also known as blackseed, has long been used in traditional medicine for treating various conditions related to the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems as well as different types of cancers. In this study, the potential immunomodulatory effects of Nigella sativa are investigated in light of splenocyte proliferation, macrophage f...

Base-calling is one of many problems that can be solved using pattern recognition, the act of classifying raw data based on prior or statistical information extracted from the data into various classes. In this paper, we propose a new framework using polynomial classifiers to model electropherogram traces obtained from ABI sequencing machines to pe...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma1 (PPARgamma1) and liver X receptor alpha (LXRalpha) are nuclear receptors that play pivotal roles in macrophage cholesterol homeostasis and inflammation; key biological processes in atherogenesis. The activation of PPARgamma1 and LXRalpha by natural or synthetic ligands results in the transactivation...

Although the immunomodulatory effects of many herbs have been extensively studied, research related to possible immunomodulatory effects of various spices is relatively scarce. Here, the potential immunomodulatory effects of black pepper and cardamom are investigated. Our data show that black pepper and cardamom aqueous extracts significantly enhan...

NF-kappaB comprises a family of transcription factors that are critically involved in various inflammatory processes. In this paper, the role of NF-kappaB in inflammation and atherosclerosis and the regulation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway are summarized. The structure, function, and regulation of the NF-kappaB inhibitors, IkappaBalpha and Ika...

Macrophages facilitate clearance of cholesterol from the body via reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). The first event in RCT is internalization of modified low density lipoprotein by macrophages, upon which PPARgamma1 and LXRalpha signaling pathways are turned on, leading to the transactivation of a cascade of genes (e.g. ABCA1 and ABCG1), whose p...

The adipocyte-derived secretory protein adiponectin functions as an insulin-sensitizing agent. In plasma, adiponectin exists as low, medium, and high molecular weight oligomers. Treatment with trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (t-10, c-12 CLA) reduces levels of adiponectin as well as triglyceride (TG) in mice and adipocyte cell culture mode...

Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) subunits comprise a family of eukaryotic transcription factors that are critically involved in cell proliferation, inflammation, and apoptosis. Under basal conditions, NF-kappaB subunits are kept under inhibitory regulation by physical interaction with NF-kappaB inhibitors (IkappaB subunits) in the cytosol. Upon st...

To determine whether adipocyte enhancer binding protein (AEBP) 1, a transcriptional repressor that is down-regulated during adipogenesis, functions as a critical regulator of adipose tissue homeostasis through modulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) tumor suppressor activity and mitogen-activated protein kinase...