Irfan Ahmad

King Khalid University | KKU · College of Applied Medical Sciences

CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is a member of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) superfamily and is specific for CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12, also known as SDF-1), which makes CXCL12/CXCR4 axis. CXCR4 interacts with its ligand, triggering downstream signaling pathways that influence cell proliferation chemotaxis, migration, and gene...

Liver cancer is the sixth most prevalent cancer and ranks third in cancer-related death, after lung and colorectal cancer. Various natural products have been discovered as alternatives to conventional cancer therapy strategies, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Curcumin (CUR) with antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor activi...

Background: Dates palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits are among the most widely used fruits in the Middle East and African nations. Numerous researchers confirmed the presence of phytochemicals in P. dactylifera L. fruit and its by-products with broad-ranging biological activities. Objectives: In the present work, phytochemical and biological asse...

Due to the limited availability of fossil fuels, pollution causing serious environmental issues, and their continuously rising price, the development of low-cost efficient enzymes and their implementation in biomass-based bioenergy industries are highly demanded. In the present work, phytogenic fabrication of copper oxide based nanocatalyst has bee...

Introduction: In developing countries, neonatal mortality is the most neglected health issue by the health system, leading to its emergence as a public health problem. A study was undertaken to assess the influence of factors and newborn care practices influencing newborn health in the rural area of Bareilly district. Methodology: The descriptiv...

Objectives The heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) gene is a very critical player in cell homeostasis and takes part in heme catabolism. The HMOX1 gene possesses antioxidant, antiapoptotic anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic properties. This study aimed to identify the deleterious SNPs which may alter the functional and structural attributes of the HMOX1 pr...

In women, breast cancer (BC) is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a subgroup of heterogeneous non-hematopoietic fibroblast-like cells that have the ability to differentiate into multiple cell types. Recent studies stated that MSCs can migrate into the tumor sites and...

The antibacterial, anticancer, and wound-healing effects of honey can vary according to the type, geographical region, honey bee species, and source of the flowers. Nanotechnology is an innovative and emerging field of science with an enormous potential role in medical, cosmetics, and industrial usages globally. Metal nanoparticles that derived fro...

Background FOXO3, a member of the FOX transcription factor family, is frequently described as being deregulated in cancer. Additionally, notable role of FOXO3 can be easily recognized in the process of ageing and survival. Even though various studies have been done to acknowledge the tumour-suppressive or oncogenic role of FOXO3 in cancer, still th...

Introduction: In the marginalised countries most neglected health issue is Newborn mortality. A study was undertaken to assess the influence of factors and newborn care practices influencing newborn health in the rural area of Bareilly district. Methodology: The Descriptive cross-sectional study was organized in the rural areas of Bareilly. Study p...

Background The detrimental role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) against cardio-metabolic health has been revealed in several previous reports. However, the results of studies regarding the association between AGEs and obesity measurements are inconsistent. In the current meta-analysis, we aimed to quantitatively summarize the results of s...

Hyaluronan is a biodegradable, biopolymer that represents a major part of the extracellular matrix and has the potential to be fabricated in a fibrous form conjugated with other polymers via electrospinning. Unique physicochemical features such as viscoelasticity, conductivity, and biological activity mainly affected by molecular weight attracted t...

In this study, thirty yeast strains isolated from the gut of coprophagous “Gymnopleurus sturmi” and twenty-four from the dung of ruminants were shown to be producers of cellulases. Cellulolytic yeast isolates could also produce other hydrolytic enzymes such as pectinase, lipase, β-glucosidase, catalase, inulinase, urease, gelatinase, and protease....

The present study reported the synthesis of SnS2 nanoparticles by using a thermal decomposition approach using tin chloride and thioacetamide in diphenyl ether at 200 °C over 60 min. SnS2 nanoparticles with novel morphologies were prepared by the use of different alkylamines (namely, octylamine (OCA), dodecylamine (DDA), and oleylamine (OLA)), and...

The present study was conducted to evaluate the growth, immunity, haematology, antioxidant components and resistances to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in the common carp, Cyprinus carpio fed quercetin (QUR) enriched diet. A number of 360 fish (30.5 ± 1.5 g) were distributed into 12 tanks (30 fish/tank) in three replicates and fed experimental diet...

Objectives: To evaluate the antibacterial activity of plumbagin (PGN) against multidrug resistance (MDR) clinical isolates. Methods: This study was carried out at the Department of Clinical Lab Sciences, King Khalid University from October 6, 2021 to December 14, 2021. We investigated the antibacterial and anti-virulence activity of PGN against...

Fractures in bone, a tissue critical in protecting other organs, affect patients' quality of life and have a heavy economic burden on societies. Based on regenerative medicine and bone tissue engineering approaches, stem cells have become a promising and attractive strategy for repairing bone fractures via differentiation into bone-forming cells an...

In this study, a magnetic solid-phase extraction method was developed based on multi-wall carbon nanotubes decorated by magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (Fe3O4@MWCNT-CdS) for trace extraction of cefixime and tetracycline antibiotics from urine and drug company wastewater. The adsorbent features were characterized by...

Pollution due to various heavy metals is increasing at an alarming rate. Removal of hexavalent chromium from the environment is a significant and challenging issue due to its toxic effects on the ecosystem. Development of a low-cost adsorbent with better adsorption efficiency is presently required. In this study, waste coconut fibers (CF) were used...

The present study is focused to biomass-based exploration via physiochemical characterization of biomass waste Bambusa vulgaris dust (BD) and Delonix regia pods peels (DRP) for the enhancement of biofuels production using suitable methods. Physiochemical characteristics of the selected biomass wastes were determined using proximate and ultimate ana...

All humans and animals need access to clean water in their daily lives. Unfortunately, we are facing water scarcity in several places around the world, and, intentionally or unintentionally, we are contaminating the water in a number of ways. The rise in population, globalization, and industrialization has simultaneously given rise to the generatio...

A new solid phase micro extraction (SPME) fiber coating composed of electrospun polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanofibrous mat doped with superhydrophobic nanosilica (SiO2) was coated on a stainless-steel wire without the need of a binder. The coating was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrome...

Oxysterols are cholesterol metabolites generated in the liver and other peripheral tissues as a mechanism of removing excess cholesterol. Oxysterols have a wide range of biological functions, including the regulation of sphingolipid metabolism, platelet aggregation, and apoptosis. However, it has been found that metabolites derived from cholesterol...

Novel Ta- MOF was synthesized under mild conditions by ultrasound irradiations. The sample was characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, XPS, TG and BET technique. The final structures showed high physicho-chemical properties including narrow particle size distribution, homogenous morphology, high thermal stability and remarkable surface area. Ta- MOF synth...

Currently, nanobiotechnology represents a leading research area that primarily focuses on the safe, eco-friendly synthesis of biocompatible metal oxide nanoparticles. Among these, biosynthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles have particularly received attention in medical science as their unique surface chemistry and dual oxidation state make them exc...

Citation: Afzal, O.; Akhter, M.H.; Ahmad, I.; Muzammil, K.; Dawria, A.; Zeyaullah, M.; Altamimi, A.S.A.; Khalilullah, H.; Mir Najib Ullah, S.N.; Rahman, M.A.; et al. A β-Sitosterol

In this study, Seed pods of B. ceiba were used as a novel, cheap, and sustainable feedstock for second-generation bioethanol production. B. ceiba waste was pretreated with NaOH under different conditions using a Box–Behnken design (BBD) with three factors and three levels. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), the...

Poly [adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose] polymerases (PARPs) are members of a family of 17 enzymes that performs several fundamental cellular processes. Aberrant activity (mutation) in PARP12 has been linked to various diseases including inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Herein, a large library of compounds (ZINC-FDA database) has...

Liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become a leading cause for cancer burden across the globe, and incidences have tripled since the last two decades. Poor diagnosis of primary liver cancer and limited treatment strategies aggravate the challenges. Researchers globally have shown a steep inclination toward the exploration of plant‐ba...

Mortality and morbidity from influenza and other respiratory viruses are significant causes of concern worldwide. Infections in the respiratory tract are often underappreciated because they tend to be mild and incapacitated. On the other hand, these infections are regarded as a common concern in clinical practice. Antibiotics are used to treat bact...

Background and objectives: The elicitation of a host's immune-inflammatory responses to overcome oral bacterial biofilm challenges is mediated by numerous cytokines. We explored the role of three such cytokines, viz. interleukin (IL)-17, 18 and 21, by measuring their levels in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of Indian individuals with healthy...

Punica granatum (Pomegranate fruit) and its constituents are proven effective against various cancer types. However, a kinome‐wide screening for the active phytochemicals against kinases is not reported. This study aims in validating pomegranate fruit extract (PFE) against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, and computationally identifying the phyt...

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has risen to become the world's most serious public health problem in recent years, and the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the onset and progression of T2DM, as well as special attention to vitamins, has gotten a lot of attention recently. Methods: The aim of the study was to analyze lncRNA L...

Nanomaterials are gaining enormous interests owing to their novel applications that have been explored nearly in every field of our contemporary society. In this scenario, preparations of nanomaterials following green routes have attracted widespread attention in terms of sustainable, reliable and environmentally friendly practice to produce divers...

Present study focused on the thermo-chemical potential of waste biomass of Eichhornia crassipes or water hyacinth root (WHR). The pyrolysis-kinetic parameters are investigated using thermo-gravimetric analysis at the various heating rates (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C/min). Three model-free techniques, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS)...

The development of metallic nanoparticles has attracted tremendous interest and has potential applications in multiple healthcare regimes. This study used irradiation from a conventional microwave oven, a straightforward, simple approach to fabricate gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and AuNPs reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (AuNPs-rGO). UV-visible...

Cellulases are the enzymes of enormous industrial interests. In this study, solid-state fermentation (SSF) of alkali-pretreated orange peel waste has been evaluated to produce fungal cellulase. Different concentrations of alkali solution for the pretreatment of substrate and its impact to maximize the cellulase production have been investigated. Fu...

Propolis (bee glue) is a complex, phyto-based resinous material obtained from beehives. Its chemical and biological properties vary with respect to bee species, type of plants, geographical location, and climate of a particular area. This study was planned with the aim of determining the chemical composition and to investigate various properties (a...

Adenium obesum commonly known as "desert rose" belongs to the family Apopcynaceae and has previously been reported for its anti-influenza, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic efficacies and well-known for their ethno-medicinal applications. In the present study, ethanolic extracts of A. obesum (AOE) were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (G...

Cirsilineol has been reported to exhibit anticancer effects against several human cancer cell lines. The present study was designed to evaluate the anticancer effects of cirsilineol against the human DU-145 prostate cancer cells. The results showed that cirsilineol suppressed the proliferation of DU-145 cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner with...

Akkermanisia muciniphila imparts important health benefits and is considered a next-generation probiotic. It is imperative to understand the genomic diversity and metabolic potential of the species for safer applications as probiotics. As it resides with both health-promoting and pathogenic bacteria, understanding the evolutionary patterns are cruc...

Carya illinoinensis (Family Juglandaceae) is frequently used in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-rheumatic, anti-diabetic, and diuretic activities. Column chromatography was used to separate phytoconstituents from an ethanolic extract of powered bark. The terpenoid glycosidic compound, CI-01, was isolated as light-yello...

The objective of this study is to investigate the adsorption behavior of an electrospun ceria-nanofiber adsorbent in removing pollutants from a simulated solution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize this nanofiber composite. Adsorption parameters including contact time, pH, starting arsenic conce...

Among various treatment methods photocatalysis is considered the most efficient method owing to the high efficiency and use of abundant sunlight. The use of photocatalysts not only removes harmful bacteria but also degrades toxic organic pollutants. From TiO2 by Fujiyama and Honda (1972) as photocatalyst [1], the materials studies have been evolved...

In today's world, Parkinson's disease (PD) has been introduced as a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system which mainly affects approximately more than ten million people worldwide. The vast majority of diagnostic methods for PD have operated based on conventional sensing platforms, while the traditional laboratory tests are...

2D-WS2 incorporated polyaniline nanocomposites (WS2-PANI) with varying WS2 loadings were synthesized by a facile in situ oxidative polymerization technique which effectively promoted photocatalytic waste-water remediation using methylene blue (MB) as the probe molecules. The physicochemical properties of WS2-PANI (1–5) nanocomposites were investiga...

Crocus sativus (C. sativus) is considered as the costliest spice and an important medicinal plant. Herein, we investigated the effects of tepal extract (TE) of C. sativus on the viability of the human glioblastoma cells. Results revealed that TE significantly ( P < 0.05 ) inhibited the proliferation of U87 glioblastoma cells in a dose-dependent man...

In the present investigation, Ichnocarpus frutescens, Ficus dalhousiae, Crateva magna, Alpinia galanga, and Swertia chirata plants were selected to formulate polyherbal tea bag. e infusion obtained from these polyherbal tea bags was used to formulate 5% and 10% ointment formulation to perform its wound healing activity. e excision wound model was u...

Plants generally secrete secondary metabolites in response to stress. These secondary metabolites are very useful for humankind as they possess a wide range of therapeutic activities. Secondary metabolites produced by plants include alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids. Flavonoids are one of the classes of secondary metabolites of plants...

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play significant roles in numerous physiological, and are considered an attractive drug target for cancer, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we have aimed to investigate the binding affinity and inhibitory potential of selonsertib toward CDK6. Using the drug repurposing approach, we...

Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench (Family Compositae) is a medicinal herb endowed with several pharmacological activities. Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of the plant was used for the isolation of lignoceric acid (HS-02), lanost-5- en-3β-ol- 26-oic acid (HS-03), and lanost-5-en-26-oic acid-3β-olyl palmitate (HS-04). All molecules were screene...

e present study aims to prepare a polyherbal formulation (PHF) of Azadirachta indica (Neem), Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera), Allium sativum (garlic), Acacia arabica (Babul), and Aegle marmelos (Bel) and evaluation of antidiabetic and antioxidant activity utilizing the in vitro model. Air-dried powder of 5 medicinal plants, which are divided into equa...

The unique structures and multifunctionalities of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, such as graphene, have aroused increasing interest in the construction of novel scaffolds for biomedical applications due to their biocompatible and antimicrobial abilities. These two-dimensional materials possess certain common features, such as high surface area...

Lactobacillus (LAB) genera are considered important functional food but are found to have a short shelf life. In this study, two LAB, Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Lr), were isolated from sheep's milk, and whole-genome sequencing was carried out by using 16s rRNA Illumina Nextseq, the Netherlands. e LAB were encapsulated...

Dietary arsenic (As) contamination is a major public health issue. In the Middle East, the food supply relies primarily on the import of food commodities. Among different age groups the main source of As exposure is grains and grain-based food products, particularly rice and rice-based dietary products. Rice and rice products are a rich source of c...

Cellulase enzymes have wide range of industrial application, but high production cost and relatively low efficiency are the main issues, which are needed to resolve. Substrate is known as the main contributor which can bring down the production cost of these enzymes at large scale. Therefore, in the present study, corn cob (Cc) waste has been emplo...