Maraia F Elmhdwi’s scientific contributions

The aim of the study was to investigate the antioxidant activity and curative effect of (MEAPL) and its role in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in male albino rats. The effect of (MEAPL) against hypercholesterolemia in rats was analyzed via examination of various types of parameters, (LDL), (HDL), (TC), and (TG), also liver enzymes (ALT, AST, G-GT, LDH, and ALP) besides proteins and MDA. Antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GR, GPx, and CAT), were measured in control and (HFD). We have found that the level of TC, LDL, TG, and liver enzymes were increased but the level of HDL decreased in HFD rats compared with control. Lipid peroxidation was determined by the level of MDA, which increased in HFD compared with control while antioxidant enzymes SOD, GR, GPx, and CAT were decreased. The results obtained revealed that MEAPL has a healing effect against hypercholesterolemia compared with the reference standard agent ˝Atorvastatin˝ and standard antioxidant vitamin C.

The aim of the current study is to detected the phytochemical compounds in the methanolic extract of Cynara cornigera roots. In addition quantify the total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC) using spectrophotometric methods. The total phenolic compounds determined by using Folin Ciocalteu. While, the total flavonoid contents of the extract determined using quercetin reference standard method. Phytochemical analyses of the extract was carried out using standard methods to assess the major classes of phytochemicals alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic, tannins, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, carbohydrate and glycosides. Phytochemical screening revealed that all the tests were positive except alkaloids, saponins, and steroids. The total phenol and flavonoids content of the methanolic extract of Cynara cornigera roots show high concentration. The estimated phenolics and flavonoids content are 17.59 mg/g and 18.62 mg/g respectively. These findings suggest that the methanol extract of Cynara cornigera roots has potential invitro antioxidant activities. According to the obtained results, the roots of Cynara cornigera considered as a rich source of natural antioxidants since its methanolic extract contains many effective chemical compounds that demonstrate the highest free radical scavenging capacity.

Abnormal thyroid function can have a key influence on diabetes control and increase a person's risk of evolving diabetic complications. Because of the complications that can result from untreated thyroid disorder, consistent screening is recommended to permit early detection and treatment. For people with Type 1 diabetes, yearly screening is advisable. For people with Type 2 diabetes, screening should be done at the time of diagnosis and then repeated every five years thereafter. The frequency of screening should increase with proceed age, since the occurrence of thyroid disorder increases with age. For people over the age of 60, annual screening is recommended. Since the thyroid gland acting a central role in the regulation of metabolism. In addition, untreated thyroid disorder be able to raise the risk of certain diabetic complications and can aggravate many diabetes symptoms. Fortunately, abnormal thyroid function can easily be diagnosed by simple blood tests, and effective treatment is existing. For all of these reasons, intermittent screening for thyroid disorder should be considered in diabetic patients. In this study, levels of thyroid hormones were measured in diabetics with age group 35-75 years. The samples were collected from the 50-sample Benghazi Center for diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. The results showed that 12% of diabetic patients had a thyroid disorder, as 8% had high levels of thyroid hormone, i.e., they had low or decreased thyroid function and 4% had hyperthyroidism. Rates of thyroid hormone are low. The results also showed a slight decrease in the rates of sugar and sugar cumulative in people with hypothyroidism and there are no significant differences in the pain of hyperthyroidism. Cholesterol and triglycerides were raised significantly in the SC-hypothyroidism compared to with Euthyroidism diabetic patient.

Antioxidants present in herbs and spices could be an effective tool to prevent the non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes and myocardial infarction as they have the capacity to stabilize the free radicals which are one of the causative factors of these diseases. In last decade, there is an increasing interest in researches for production of biologically active compounds from natural sources. Olea europaea L. is used in traditional medicine in the Mediterranean areas. The aim of the current study was to investigate the content of phenol compounds and flavonoids extracted from "Olea europaea" olive leaf followed by the assessment of in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, crude extracts from olive leaves were screened for its in vitro antibacterial activity by using well diffusion method against Gram-negative organisms Escherichia coli bacteria, neomycin (30) was used as a standard for the study of antibacterial activity. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of some active substances phenolic and flavonoids, to express the desired activities. Total phenols and total flavonoids were measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. The antioxidant properties have been determined by Reducing power ability where tested by FeCl 3 , in this procedure the Fe 3+ reduced to Fe 2+ by donating an electron. The ethanolic and water extract of green leaves showed good antibacterial activity with zone of inhibition (15mm, 13mm), respectively. These results suggest that leaves of olive have interesting antibacterial activities due to Polyphenol-rich extracts.

Medicinal plants keep on giving significant therapeutic agents, both in traditional and modern medicine.Traditional medicines are earning significant and being concentrated to locate the premise of their helpful activities. Date palm “The princess of the plant kingdom”, symbolize one of the most significant plant families with regarding human use. Essential oil extracted from the seed of date palm possesses a variety of pharmaceutical activities. This study investigate the effect of hypolipidemic in these oils by studying the curative effect in male albino mice for two weeks. Mice fed on high fat diet exhibit significant an increase in lipid profileand significant depletion in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level and antioxidant enzymes, the study revealed that the essential oil extracted from date seed was able to reduce the serum lipid and improvement in level of antioxidant enzymes and HDL. The result compared with gemfibrozil (lopid), a standard orally effective hypolipidemic drug

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive disorder, affecting up to 12 percent of all women. It is a disorder with many different faces, and it causes great emotional and physical distress to the millions of women worldwide who suffer from it. There's a significant overlap of symptoms between PCOS and Thyroid Disease, despite the fact that they are two very different conditions .This study measures the levels of TSH, T3, T4, FSH, LH and E2 in females suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The prevalence of TSH, LH and E2 are all significantly higher than those in healthy women. Level of FSH and T3 almost remained normal in polycystic ovarian syndrome. While the T4 slightly decreased in PCOS cases as compared with healthy control group. The data revealed that the patients of PCOS were found to be suffering from hypothyroidism as was evident by increased TSH and LH to FSH ratio. Thus, thyroid profile analysis may help in providing a better insight into symptomatology and treatment of PCOS.

Adverse effect of therapeutic drug renewed an interest in the use of medicinal plant product for treatment of a verity of chronic disorders. One such bioactive plant is syzygium aromaticum (clove). The oils extracted from S. aromaticum possess a variety of pharmaceutical activities. In this study we investigated the hypolipidemic effect of the volatile (Essential) and fixed oils extracted from the dry buds of S. aromaticum by studding the prophylactic effect of these oils in male albino mice for two weeks. Mice were fed a high-fat/cholesterol diet (1% cholic acid and 3% cholesterol). Blood was collected through inferior cava veins. The results of the present study indicate that serum TC, TG, LDL, VLDL and lipid peroxide (MDA) were significantly increased (p<0.05) than control, while the serum HDL level and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GR, GP X and CAT) values were significantly decreased (p<0.05). These results suggest that fixed and volatile oil extracted from clove reduced blood lipid parameters and MDA level and that this effect was associated with improvement in the level of antioxidant enzymes and HDL level. The histopathological studies also supported the prophylactic effects of S. aromaticum.