Rafat Siddiqui

Virginia State University | VSU · Agricultural Research Station

Background: Obesity is the underlying risk factor for major metabolism complications, including non-alcoholic-fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. The adipose tissue is a vital endocrine organ that plays a role in the synthesis and storage of lipid and, therefore, is a contributory factor to the development and progress...

This student-led project studied the production of cilantro (greens stage) and coriander (seed stage) of Coriandrum sativum L. with the objective of developing this crop as an alternate specialty crop in Virginia. Results indicated that both fall-planted for spring harvest and spring-planted for summer harvest are possible in Virginia. Rows spaced...

Buckwheat has been grown in Virginia since late 1700s; however, today the crop is almost non-existent in Virginia. Since buckwheat flowers profusely in a few weeks after planting, it has potential to support honeybees but there is a lack of information about quality of buckwheat honey produced in Virginia. Our objective was to characterize composit...

Ethnopharmacological relevance Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. is native to Indo-Pak sub-continent and has high medicinal values in Ayureda. This plant has been used traditionally for the treatment of sciatica, rheumatism, chronic fever, diabetes, snakebite, dysentery, cachexia and cancer. Studies have shown many pharmacological properties such as a...

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a nutrient-rich grain native to South America and eaten worldwide as a healthy food, sometimes even referred to as a ”superfood”. Like quinoa grains, quinoa greens (green leaves, sprouts, and microgreens) are also rich in nutrients and have health promoting properties such as being antimicrobial, anticancer, an...

We determined the phenolic content and anti-oxidation properties of ginger at different harvesting time and tested its effects on lipid droplet formation and glucose uptake in HepG2 cells. Ginger samples at different stages of maturity were harvested every two weeks starting from mid-October for 16 weeks. Our data indicate that ginger has the highe...

SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic with limited treatment options available. Some studies have proposed that vitamin D may be associated with Covid-19 infection outcomes. The aim of this literature review is to analyze the evidence currently available from Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies regarding the impact...

Trojan horse technology institutes a potentially promising strategy to bring together a diagnostic or cell-based drug design and a delivery platform. It provides the opportunity to re-engineer a novel multimodal, neurovascular detection probe, or medicine to fuse with blood-brain barrier (BBB) molecular Trojan horse. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) thi...

Numerous edible plants have been reported to interfere with the carcinogenic process, and therefore, the regular consumption of these plant products may reduce the risk of developing cancer. We investigated the effect of papaya fruit and leaves on the cell proliferation of Jurkat T-lymphocytic and Daudi B-lymphocytic leukemia cells. Cells were trea...

Objectives The long-term objective of present research is to evaluate papaya for anti-diabetic properties. The current objectives were (1) To determine polyphenolic contents and antioxidation activity of leaves, skin, pulp, and seeds of green and yellow papaya and (2) to evaluate their effects on glucose uptake in HepG2 liver cells. Methods The le...

Objectives To determine the phenolic content and anti-oxidation properties of ginger at different harvesting time and to test its effects on lipid droplet and triglyceride formation, and expression of genes for adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3T3L1 adipocytes. Methods The biweekly ginger samples for 16 weeks were freeze dried and then extracted in...

The term “nutraceuticals” is derived from “nutrition” and “pharmaceuticals” and is used fornutrition products that are also used as medicine [1] [...]

Breast cancer is one the most aggressive cancer worldwide, especially Pakistan due to limited therapeutic options. This study was conducted to repurpose the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), in the treatment of breast cancers, and merit to pursue drug re-positioning in oncology. Anti-proliferative activity of SSRIs, such as fl...

Currently prescribed medications for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that are based on acetylcholinesterase inhibition only offer symptomatic relief but do not provide protection against neurodegeneration. There appear to be an intense need for the development of therapeutic strategies that not only improve brain functions but also preven...

(1) Introduction: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) are key signaling molecules that play important roles in the progression of inflammatory disorders. The objective of this study was to explore the use of myrtucommuacetalone-1 (MCA-1), as a novel compound of natural origin and a potential anti-inflammatory agent. (2) Methodology:...

Cancers of the lymphatic system are broadly classified into Hodgkin and non‐Hodgkin types. Although lymphomas can be effectively treated with chemotherapy, this approach is associated with the risk of adverse side effects. High intake of certain vegetables and fruits is associated with a reduced risk of cancer development. We hypothesized that Anno...

Preventing muscle wasting in certain chronic diseases including cancer is an ongoing challenge. Studies have shown that polyphenols derived from fruits and vegetables shows promise in reducing muscle loss in cellular and animal models of muscle wasting. We hypothesized that polyphenols derived from plums (Prunus domestica) could have anabolic and a...

Preventing muscle wasting in certain chronic diseases including cancer is an ongoing challenge. Studies have shown that polyphenols derived from fruits and vegetables show promise in reducing muscle loss in cellular and animal models of muscle wasting. We hypothesized that polyphenols derived from plum (Prunus domestica) could have anabolic and ant...

Cadmium, a heavy metal with no physiological function in the human body, is considered a bio-hazard. It is also considered to be a potent neurotoxin. The primary sources of cadmium exposure are diet and cigarette smoke. It has been postulated that nutritional deficiencies can increase the risk of cadmium toxicity. Nuts provide essential nutrients w...

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy in the world having a high mortality rate. Flavonoids possess many biological activities including anti-cancer activity. lawsonaringenin (LSG) is a flavonoid isolated from leaves of Lawsonia alba Lam. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the anti-cancer potential of LSG in colorectal c...

Aim: Breast cancer is typically detected either during a screening examination or after a woman notices a lump. Breast cancers have different phenotypes depending on the presence/absence of an estrogen receptor (ER) and/or an epidermal growth factor (Her-2) receptor. The objective of the present investigation was to investigate growth inhibitory ac...

Scopolamine, an anti-muscarinic agent, has been shown to induce amnesia and oxidative stress similar to that observed in the older age. The present study was designed to determine the relationship between the oxidative status and memory improvement in scopolamine injected rats pre-administered with almonds. Rats (n = 8) in the almond group were adm...

The brain is highly susceptible to the damaging effects of oxidative reactive species. The free radicals which are produced as a consequence of aerobic respiration can cause cumulative oxygen damage which may lead to age-related neurodegeneration. Scopolamine, the anti-muscarinic agent induces amnesia and oxidative stress similar to that observed i...

Aim: The study investigated the effect of papaya seeds on prostate cancer (PC) using PC-3 cell line because papaya seeds have effects on the male reproductive system notably decreasing sperm concentration, motility, and viability, leading to azoospermia after short-to-long-term treatment. Methods: The black seeds from yellow (ripe) papaya and white...

Benzothiazole and its natural or synthetic derivatives have been used as precursors for several pharmacological agents for neuroprotective, anti-bacterial, and anti-allergic activities. The objecctive of the present study was to evaluate effects of benzothiazole analogs (compounds 1–26) for their immunomodulatory activities. Eight compounds (2, 4,...

Background Thrombosis and immune dysfunction are two important complications that result from the administration of parenteral nutrition. Endothelial cells within the vasculature are crucial components necessary for maintenance of normal coagulation and immune function. Methods We compared the effects of three commercial lipid emulsions (LEs; Intr...

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in developed countries. NAFLD encompasses a spectrum of diseases, ranging from hepatic steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and liver failure. The etiology of NAFLD remains unclear but is thought to relate to increased f...

Benzothiazole and its natural or synthetic derivatives have been used as precursors for several pharmacological agents for neuroprotective, anti-bacterial, and anti-allergic activities. The objecctive of the present study was to evaluate effects of benzothiazole analogs (compounds 1-26) for their immunomodulatory activities. Eight compounds (2, 4,...

Parenteral lipid emulsions, which are made of oils from plant and fish sources, contain different types of tocopherols and tocotrienols (vitamin E homologs). The amount and types of vitamin E homologs in various lipid emulsions vary considerably and are not completely known. The objective of this analysis was to develop a quantitative method to det...

Object: Glioblastoma is a rapidly infiltrating tumor that consistently rematerializes despite various forms of aggressive treatment. Brain tumors are commonly treated with alkylating drugs, such as lomustine, which are chemotherapeutic agents. Use of these drugs, however, is associated with serious side effects. To reduce the side effects, one app...

Background: Tocopherols and tocotrienols possess vitamin E activity and function as the major lipid-soluble antioxidants in the human body. Commercial lipid emulsions are composed of different oils and supply different amounts of vitamin E. The objective of this study was to measure all 8 vitamin E homologs within 4 different commercial lipid emul...

Lipid emulsions are made by mixing vegetable and/or fish oils with egg yolk and contain different types and amounts of fatty acids and sterols. This study assessed the effects of oral diet, soybean oil (SO)-, fish oil (FO)-, a mixture of olive and soybean oil (OOSO)-, and a mixture of fish, olive, coconut, and soybean oil (FOCS)-based emulsions on...

The major obstacles to the successful use of individual nutritional compounds as preventive or therapeutic agents are their efficacy and bioavailability. One approach to overcoming this problem is to use combinations of nutrients to induce synergistic effects. The objective of this research was to investigate the synergistic effects of two dietary...

There is a clear need of dietary recommendations or guidelines at both population and/or individual levels, to prevent the Alzheimer's disease or reduce its symptoms. Though data from cellular and animal models of Alzheimer's disease indicate that dietary lipids ameliorate cognitive deficits or neuropathology associated with this disease. However,...

There is a clear need of dietary recommendations or guidelines at both population and/or individual levels, to prevent the Alzheimer's disease or reduce its symptoms. Though data from animal and cellular models of Alzheimer's disease indicate that dietary lipids ameliorate cognitive deficits or neuropathology associated with this disease. However,...

Parenteral nutrition lipid emulsions made from various plant oils contain steroidal compounds, called phytosterols. During parenteral administration of lipid emulsions, phytosterols can reach levels in the blood that are many fold higher than during enteral administration. The elevated phytosterol levels have been associated with the development of...

Epidemiological data have shown an association of the intake of industrial produced trans fatty acids (TFA) and sudden cardiac death. The present study examines the impact of elaidic acid (t18:1n-9) and linoelaidic acid (t18:2n-6) on the human aortic endothelial cell functional response. Trans fatty acids predominately incorporated into the phospho...

Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is an organic compound that has several cardio-beneficial effects. However, its use is limited due to the induction of a variable flushing response in most individuals. Flushing occurs from a niacin receptor mediated generation of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid metabolism. This study examined the ability...

Epidemiological studies have linked fish oil consumption to a decreased incidence of cancer. The anticancer effects of fish oil are mostly attributed to its content of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). However, DHA, because of its unique effect of altering membrane composition, is often regarded as the...

We have previously characterized the effects of 2,6-diisopropylphenyl-docosahexaenoamide (DIP-DHA) conjugates and their analogs on the proliferation and progression of breast cancer cell lines. For this study, we investigated the effects of the DIP-DHA conjugate on 2 representative T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell lines: CEM and Jur...

We previously described a lipid-accumulating phenotype of estrogen receptor negative (ER(-)) breast cancer cells exemplified by the MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436 cell lines. These cells had more lipid droplets, a higher uptake of oleic acid and LDL, a higher ratio of cholesteryl ester (CE) to triacylglycerol (TAG), and higher expression of acyl-CoA:cho...

Extracting identities of genes that did not respond to one treatment but did respond to another treatment. In order to assemble the heatmap in Figure 3, it was necessary for each gene to have a cell value across all three treatments, including those instances in which a particular gene had no response to a given treatment. The Excel file "Supplemen...

Extracting ratio, fold-change and P values for genes that did not respond to one treatment but did respond to another treatment. The microarray element identities compiled in Supplementary Data-1.2 were then used in "Supplementary Data-1.3.xlsx" to query the gene ratio lists (comprehensive data for all microarray elements) for each replicate of the...

Mean ratio, fold-change and P values for "ALL not Zadd" microarray element list, checked against three-replicate responders for Zadd. In the Excel file "Supplementary Data 1.4.xlsx", mean ratio, mean fold-change and mean P values are calculated for all microarray elements compiled in Supplementary Data-1.2. These are then sorted by gene ID, and eac...

Final set of Zadd gene responses for all genes that responded to any of the three treatments. This final data set contains treatment/control ratios, fold-change values and P values, from Zadd treatment replicates, for all transcripts that responded ≥ 2-fold, P ≤ 0.01, in any of the three treatments. For any transcript that was not a three-replicate...

Possible routes to phosphorylation of p53 and upregulated transcription of PPARγ. p53 and PPARγ were each used as single beginning nodes around which to build one-step expansion networks within MetaCore™ version 6.3 (GeneGo).

Literature annotation for transcript functional categories in Figure 3. Numbered references included in this file match reference numbers appearing to the right of each HGNC symbol in Figure 3.

Extracting three-replicate responsive genes from Miltenyi Biotec microarray data. The Excel file "Supplementary Data-1.1.xlsx" demonstrates the first step in logical filtering of preselected candidate gene lists (PCGL) that are provided as pre-processed microarray data by Miltenyi Biotec. Each PCGL is a list of the microarray elements that returned...

Distribution of fold change by treatment for whole human genome transcript analysis. This figure represents the raw distribution of fold change magnitude for all transcripts that exhibited fold change ≥ 2.0 (p < 0.01) in all three replicates of at least one treatment.

Data represented by Figure 3. Fold change values and associated P-values for transcripts represented in Figure 3.

Breast cancer is a collection of diseases in which molecular phenotypes can act as both indicators and mediators of therapeutic strategy. Therefore, candidate therapeutics must be assessed in the context of multiple cell lines with known molecular phenotypes. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and curcumin (CCM) are dietary compounds known to antagonize br...

Saturated fatty acids (SFAs), significant components of both enteral/parenteral nutritional formulations (including diet), are linked to cardiovascular disease complications, such as atherosclerosis. We investigated whether oleic acid (C18:1n-9) reduces the growth inhibitory and pro-inflammatory effects of the stearic acid (C18:0) in human aortic e...

The role of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)-induced Rho kinase (ROCK) activation in the angiogenic responses of pulmonary artery-derived endothelial cells (PAEC) and smooth muscle cells (PASMC) was examined. S1P, a biologically active phospholipid that regulates angiogenesis, promoted PAEC chemotaxis and capillary morphogenesis; furthermore, this act...

The present study describes the characterization and evaluation of novel anticancer conjugates, 2,6-diisopropylphenol-docosahexaenoate (PP-DHA), and its analogues including 2,4-diisopropylphenol-docosahexaenoate (DIPP-DHA), 2-isopropylphenol-docosahexaenoate (IPP-DHA), 2-cyclohexanephenol-docosahexaenoate (CHP-DHA) and phenol-docosahexaenoate (P-DH...