Masood Alam Khan

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Verified

Masood verified their affiliation via an institutional email.

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• Ph.D. (Biotechnology) from A. M.U. Aligarh India; Postdoc (Virology/Immunology) from Indiana School of Medicine Indianapolis USA; Currently working as an Associate Professor in the College of Applied Medical Sciences Qassim University Buraydah KSA
• Professor (Associate) at Qassim University

Superoxide dismutase (SOD), a key antioxidant enzyme, plays a crucial role in neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintaining redox balance. However, SOD is highly susceptible to glycation, a non-enzymatic modification induced by reducing sugars and reactive carbonyl species such as methylglyoxal. This review aims to provide a comprehens...

Thymoquinone (TQ), a bioactive compound from black cumin (Nigella sativa), has demonstrated a broad range of therapeutic effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of TQ by targeting key virulence factors in Candida albicans, specifically focusing on isocitrate lyase (ICL) activity, biofilm formation, and gene expression....

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and challenging malignancy that needs some effective and safer chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment. In this study, anticancer agent epirubicin (Epi) was loaded in polymeric polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid-nanoparticles (mPEG-PLA-NPs) coated with a marine anti-cancer non-toxic polysaccharid...

A novel, simple and low-cost colorimetric sensor has been developed for the detection of bisphenol A (BPA). In the assay, laccase catalyses the reaction between BPA and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) [ABTS] radicals, resulting in a colored product showing λmax at 560 nm. Raman spectroscopy and mass spectra analysis of the pr...

Dengue fever poses a significant global health threat, with symptoms including dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Each year, India experiences fatal dengue outbreaks with severe manifestations. The primary cause of severe inflammatory responses in dengue is a cytokine storm. Individuals with a secondary dengue infection of a differ...

The escalation of environmental pathogenic microorganisms and disregard of public hygiene practices have resulted in the emergence of various skin infections within communities. Recent investigations have proposed that diverse snail mucus compositions may possess antimicrobial properties. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct further research to e...

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is extensively used in various diagnostic assays including ELISA. Diagnostic methods/biosensors having a high limit of detection are often modified by the incorporation of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are also known to enhance enzymatic activity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ions and nanoparticles...

Due to the high propensity of drug resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii, the number of currently available therapeutic drugs has become very limited. Thus, it becomes incredibly important to prepare an effective vaccine formulation capable of eliciting an effective immune response against A. baumannii. In this study, we prepared a liposomal vaccin...

Arsenic contamination is highly prevalent in food chain, soil and groundwater. Continuous exposure to elevated levels of this environmental toxin is a global concern. Studies have reported enriched accumulation of arsenic in the eyes compared to other body organs leading to various eye diseases. Here, the impact of arsenic exposure on the enzymatic...

In recent years, the emergence of multidrug-resistant Acientobacter baumannii has greatly threatened public health and depleted our currently available antibacterial armory. Due to limited therapeutic options, the development of an effective vaccine formulation becomes critical in order to fight this drug-resistant pathogen. The objective of the pr...

Newly designed series of indole-containing pyrazole analogs, pyrazolinylindoles, were synthesized, and their structures were confirmed based on the spectral data of the ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HR-MS analyses. Preliminary anti-cancer activity testings were carried out by the National Cancer Institute, United States of America (NCI, USA). Compounds HD02...

In recent years, the increased frequency of drug-resistant strains of Cryptococcus neoformans has depleted our antifungal armory. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory potential of ellagic acid (EA) against C. neoformans laccase through in silico and in vitro studies. For the first time, a homology modelling was established to model...

We are facing a high risk of exposure to emerging contaminants and increasing environmental pollution with the concomitant growth of industries. Persistence of these pollutants is a major concern to the ecosystem. Laccases, also known as “green catalysts” are multi-copper oxidases which offers an eco-friendly solution for the degradation of these h...

Objectives Here, we prepared a liposome-based vaccine formulation containing Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus papain-like protease (MERS-CoV-PLpro). Methods A persistent leukopenic condition was induced in mice by injecting cyclophosphamide (CYP) three days before each dose of immunization. Mice were immunized on days 0, 14 and 21 with...

Green nanotechnology is the evolution of cost-effective and environmentally friendly processes for the production of metal-based nanoparticles due to medicinal importance and economic value. The aim of the present study was to biosynthesize and characterize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the seed extract of Ajwa dates (Aw). The anti-bacteriosta...

Green nanotechnology is the evolution of cost-effective and environmentally friendly processes for the production of metal-based nanoparticles due to medicinal importance and economic value. The aim of the present study was to biosynthesize and characterize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the seed extract of Ajwa dates (Aw). The anti-bacteriosta...

Alpha-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) effectively activates the natural killer T (NKT) cells to secrete remarkable amounts of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and therefore, acts as a potential immunoadjuvant in vaccine formulation. In the present study, we prepared α-GalCer-bearing or α-GalCer-free liposomes and loaded them with Middle East Respiratory Syndrom...

Purpose Thymoquinone (TQ), a phytoconstituent of Nigella sativa seeds, has been studied extensively in various cancer models. However, TQ’s limited water solubility restricts its therapeutic applicability. Our work aims to prepare the novel formulation of TQ and assess its chemopreventive potential in chemically induced lung cancer animal model. M...

Garlic’s main bioactive organosulfur component, diallyl trisulfide (DATS), has been widely investigated in cancer models. However, DATS is not suitable for clinical use due to its low solubility. The current study seeks to improve DATS bioavailability and assess its chemopreventive and chemosensitizing properties in an AOM-induced colorectal cancer...

Patients treated with cyclophosphamide (CP) usually suffer from severe hemorrhagic cystitis (HC). Our previous study exhibited that mesna + celery cotherapy partially ameliorated HC. Therefore, there is a substantial need to seek alternative regimens to get complete protection against CP-induced HC. The current study investigated the effects of mes...

Despite the current advancements in the gene silencing therapy in vitro, the systemic delivery of siRNA still remains a challenging task for its transition into clinics. We have previously developed the Her2-targeted fatty acid synthase (FASN) siRNA-encapsulating immunoliposomes (ILs) with a great stability in the presence of serum. We report here...

Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is one of the main bioactive organosulfur compounds of garlic, and its potential against various cancer models has been demonstrated. The poor solubility of DADS in aqueous solutions limits its uses in clinical application. The present study aimed to develop a novel formulation of DADS to increase its bioavailability and th...

Thymoquinone (TQ), which is one of the main bioactive constituents of Nigella sativa seeds, has demonstrated its potential against various cancer models. The poor solubility of TQ in aqueous solution limits its uses in clinical application. The present study aimed to develop a novel formulation of TQ to increase its bioavailability and therapeutic...

The advancements in the field of nanotechnology have provided a great platform for the development of effective antiviral vaccines. Liposome-mediated delivery of antigens has been shown to induce the antigen-specific stimulation of the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Here, we prepared dried, reconstituted vesicles (DRVs) from DPPC lipos...

The Arabian Camelus dromedarius contains significant concentration of eye lens ζ-crystallin. This enzyme is also present in other life forms including humans, however in lower catalytic amounts. The recombinant camel ζ-crystallin was expressed in the E. coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS strain and purified using HisTrap column. The Km of the enzyme for 9,10-ph...

Acinetobacter baumannii has recently been increasing as an aggressive pathogen in immunocompromised persons. In the present study, we determined the in vitro antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of thymoquinone (TQ) against A. baumannii. A liposomal formulation of TQ (Lip-TQ) was prepared and its therapeutic potential was investigated in the tre...

Phthalate plasticizers are commonly used in various consumer-end products. Human salivary aldehyde dehydrogenase (hsALDH) is a detoxifying enzyme which defends us from the toxic aldehydes. Here, the effect of phthalates [Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), Diethyl phthalate (DEP) and Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)] on hsALDH has been investigated. These pla...

Natural killer T (NKT) cells, a small population of T cells, are capable of influencing a wide range of the immune cells, including T cells, B cells, dendritic cells and macrophages. In the present review, the antiviral role of the NKT cells and the strategies of viruses to evade the functioning of NKT cell have been illustrated. The nanoparticle-b...

Bronchial asthma (BA) is a heterogeneous allergic respiratory disease with diverse inflammatory symptoms, pathology, and responses to treatment. Thyme is a natural product which is consisted of multiple phenolic compounds of therapeutic significance for treatment of cough and bronchitis. This study evaluated the efficacy of thyme oil against ovalbu...

Cryptococcus neoformans infections rose sharply due to rapid increase in the numbers of immunocompromised individuals in recent years. Treatment of Cryptococcosis in immunocompromised persons is largely very challenging and hopeless. Hence, this study aimed to determine the activity of ellagic acid (EA) in the treatment of C. neoformans in cyclopho...

In the present study, we investigated the activity of free thymoquinone (TQ) or liposomal thymoquinone (Lip-TQ) in comparison to standard antibiotic amoxicillin (AMX) against the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. A liposomal formulation of TQ was prepared and characterized and its toxicity was evaluated by analyzing the hem...

Background Azoles are the most common antifungal drugs used in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). The frequency of azole-resistant Candida isolates has increased dramatically in the last two decades. Here, we assessed the antifungal activity of a combination of fluconazole (FLZ) and methanolic extract of ginger (Meth-Gin) against drug...

Purpose The plant Trigonella foenum-graecum, well-known as fenugreek, has been shown to control type-2 diabetes, the level of cholesterol, inflammation of wounds, disorders related to gastrointestinal tracts, and cancer as well. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-cancer potential of methanolic fenugreek seed extract (FSE) and its possible...

The presence of nanoparticles in the reaction mixture greatly affects the properties of the bio-macromolecules. Citrate, used as a stabilizing and functionalizing agent assists in forming monodispersed spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Here, an insight into the role of enzyme:cit-AuNPs ratio in modulating the activity of yeast alcohol dehydroge...

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a widespread pathological coronary heart disease (CHD), which, along with other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), is the primary cause of global mortality. It is initiated by the accumulation of cholesterol-laden macrophages in the artery wall, thereby forming the foam-cells, the hallmark of AS. Increased influx of oxidized LD...

Garlic, Allium sativum L., is a culinary herb that has been employed medicinally since ancient times. Garlic has been regarded as the oldest of all cultivated plants. Various experimental as well as human studies have demonstrated that garlic is used in preventing the initiation and evolution of several ailments such as hypertension, atherosclerosi...

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third among all cancer-related deaths around the globe. Chemotherapy may prolong the survival of CRC patients to some extent, but its clinical use is associated with grave side effects on overall health. Contrary to chemotherapy, the use of plant-derived therapeutic molecules offered advantages because of th...

Purpose Diallyl sulfide (DAS), one of the organo-sulfur secondary metabolites in garlic, has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. The present study aimed to evaluate the mechanism of DAS in the prevention of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)-induced lung cancer in a murine model. Materials and Methods The mice were exposed to 50 mg/kg of Ba...

Tuftsin, a tetrapeptide (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg), acts as an immunopotentiating molecule with its ability to bind and activate many immune cells, including macrophages or monocytes, neutrophils and dendritic cells. The specific targeting activity of tuftsin has been further increased by its palmitoylation followed by its incorporation into the lipid bilay...

Door handles are being reported to harbor a diverse group of microorganisms, mainly bacteria. Presence of pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the door handles carry risk to the health of the public. For this reason, a study was carried in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia by isolating bacteria from the pharmacy door handles from four di...

Door handles are being reported to harbor a diverse group of microorganisms, mainly bacteria. Presence of pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the door handles carry risk to the health of the public. For this reason, a study was carried in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia by isolating bacteria from the pharmacy door handles from four di...

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the current pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The progression of COVID-19 is related to an excessive host inflammatory immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is considered a major cause of disease severity and death. Dysregulate...

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are widely reported to harbor diverse group of microorganisms, particularly bacteria. Presence of pathogenic and antibiotic resistant bacteria in the ATM keypads pose threat to the health of the users. For this reason, a study was carried out to evaluate the health risk for the users of ATM in the Qassim region of S...

Purpose The overexpression of Her-2 in 25–30% breast cancer cases and the crosstalk between Her-2 and fatty acid synthase (FASN) establishes Her-2 as a promising target for site-directed delivery. The present study aimed to develop the novel lipid base formulations to target and inhibit the cellular proliferation of Her-2-expressing breast cancer c...

In this study, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of a combination of liposomal amphotericin B (Lip-Amp B) and Methylglyoxal (Lip-MG) against Candida albicans in the leukopenic mice. The antifungal efficacy of Lip-Amp B or Lip-MG or a combination of Lip-Amp B and Lip-MG was evaluated by the analysis of the survival rate and the fungal load in...

Cancer is one of the most leading causes of deaths worldwide. It is one of the primary global diseases that cause morbidity and mortality in millions of people. It is usually caused by different carcinogenic agents that damage the genetic material and alter the cell signaling pathways. Carcinogens are classified into two groups as genotoxic and non...

Asthma is characterized by the elevated level of Th2 immune responses, oxidative stress, and airway inflammation. Bilsaan, an exudate from the stem of Sambucus nigra, has been traditionally used in the treatment of various ailments in Saudi Arabia. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Bilsaan against ovalbumin- (OVA-) induced allergic...

Laccases which are considered as “green tools” in biotechnology have potential to degrade toxic contaminants/synthetic dyes present in industrial effluents. The loss in activity and stability of laccases are key challenges faced in their potential industrial applications. Here, laccase from Trametes versicolor (polypore mushroom) was immobilized on...

Background Fungal infections are becoming more prevalent and threatening because of the continuous emergence of azole-resistant fungal infections. The present study was aimed to assess the activity of free Methylglyoxal (MG) or MG-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles (MGCN) against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans. Materials and Methods A novel...

Human salivary aldehyde dehydrogenase (hsALDH) protects us from the toxic effect of aldehydes. It has both diagnostic and therapeutic importance. Citral possesses many biological and pharmacological properties. The aim of this work was to investigate the inhibitory effect and the mechanism of inhibition of citral on hsALDH. Citral inhibits the dehy...

Objective The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of an aqueous extract of Tinospora cordifolia (AETC) against cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced immunesuppression and systemic candidiasis in a murine model. Methods Mice injected with a single dose of CYP (200 mg/kg) were treated with AETC at the doses of 25 and 100 mg/kg for 7 days. The se...

Objective: Cancer chemotherapy at the recommended doses is largely associated with toxicity, and also it is not effective enough to reduce the advancement of the disease at lower doses. Thymoquinone (TQ) is an active compound derived from black seeds (Nigella sativa) which exhibits anticancer activities. The aim of the present study was to investig...

Objective: The present study was aimed to assess the antifungal activity of Tinospora cordifolia aqueous extract (TCAE) against Aspergillus fumigatus infection. Methods: TCAE was tested for in vitro antifungal activity against the isolates of A. fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger. To evaluate in vivo activity, various doses (10, 2...

The present study was aimed to develop a liposomal formulation of thymoquinone (Lip-TQ) to treat Candida albicans infection in diabetic mice. Streptozotocin (STZ) was injected to induce hyperglycemia and on day 3 post STZ administration, mice were intravenously infected with C. albicans. Various doses (2, 5 and 10 mg/kg) of Free or Lip-TQ were admi...

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells play critical roles in autoimmune, anti‐tumor, and anti‐microbial immune responses, and are activated by glycolipids presented by the MHC class I‐like molecule, CD1d. How the activation of signaling pathways impacts antigen (Ag)‐dependent iNKT cell activation is not well‐known. In the current study, we found...

Thymoquinone (TQ), derived from Nigella sativa, has lately been shown as a miracle drug because of it's a wide range of therapeutic effects against various diseases, including cancer, asthma, diabetes, colitis, infectious diseases etc. In the present review, we aimed to decipher the molecular mechanisms of therapeutic action of TQ. Many in vivo and...

In recent years, pathogens have adopted various mechanisms to combat the onslaught of currently available antibiotics. This led to the emergence of the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms. Antibiotic resistance has rendered many previously effective antibiotics into useless chemicals that are resulting in the dearth of available t...

Background: Dates are a plant species in the palm family, Arecaceae and is used as staple food in the Middle East for thousands of years. Aim: The current study was undertaken to evaluate the protective role of ajwa dates extract (ADE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on mice mo...

Background: Dates are a plant species in the palm family, Arecaceae and is used as staple food in the Middle East for thousands of years. Aim: The current study was undertaken to evaluate the protective role of ajwa dates extract (ADE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on mice mo...

Treatment based on traditional medicine is very popular in developing world due to inexpensive properties. Nowadays, several types of preparations based on medicinal plants at different dose have been extensively recognized in the diseases prevention and treatment. In this vista, latest findings support the effect of Curcuma longa and its chief con...

Natural Killer T (NKT) cells play an important role in host`s anti-tumor immune response. Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) isolated from Sphingomonas paucimobilis have the ability to stimulate NKT cells. In the present study, the activity of free GSLs or GSLs-incorporated liposomes (glycosphingosomes) was investigated against Dimethyl-α-benzanthracene (DM...

Neurofibromin 1 (NF1) is a tumor suppressor gene encoding a Ras GTPase that negatively regulates Ras signaling pathways. Mutations in NF1 are linked to neurofibromatosis type 1, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia and Watson syndrome. In terms of antitumor immunity, CD1d-dependent natural killer T (NKT) cells play an important role in the innate antit...

The present study was aimed at determining the activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Tinospora cordifolia (AETC and METC) against Salmonella typhimurium . In vitro anti- Salmonella activity of T. cordifolia was determined through the broth dilution and agar well diffusion assays. The immune-stimulating potential of AETC or METC was determi...

Objective: Cyclophosphamide (CYP), a cytotoxic anticancer drug, causes a substantial reduction in leukocytes numbers, called leukopenia. Leukopenia is a major predisposing factor to infections caused by opportunistic pathogens. The aim of the present study is to assess the effects of camel milk consumption against CYP-induced leukopenia and other t...

Objective: Cyclophosphamide (CYP), a cytotoxic anticancer drug, causes a substantial reduction in leukocytes numbers, called leukopenia. Leukopenia is a major predisposing factor to infections caused by opportunistic pathogens. The aim of the present study is to assess the effects of camel milk consumption against CYP-induced leukopenia and other...