Proximate Composition, Mineral Content and Secondary Metabolites of Three Medicinal Wild Fagonia Species

Proximate composition of the aerial parts of three Fagonia species (Fagonia arabica L., F. mollis Delile and F. cretica L.) collected from different habitats were analyzed. Macro- and micro-elements as well as some secondary metabolites were estimated. The obtained results revealed that F. creticus contains appreciable levels of nutritive components considering that its nutritional value (351.06 kcal/100g dry wt.) was remarkably higher than that of F. arabica and F. mollis (327.99 and 293.07 kcal/100g dry wt., respectively). The concentration of Na was relatively the highest among the other estimated macroelements in the studied species followed by K, Ca and Mg, respectively while Fe was the highest microelement followed by Cu, Mn and Zn, respectively. The phytochemical composition revealed that methanolic extract of F. creticus was the richest in total alkaloids and flavonoids, while F. arabica found to be the richest in total phenolics and tannins

Phytochemical analysis and biological activities of three wild Mesembryanthemum species growing in heterogeneous habitats

The objective of this study was to analyze the phytochemicals and to determine the antioxidant, antibacterial and allelopathic potential of three wild Mesembryanthemum species (M. crystallinum L., M. forsskaolii Hochst. Ex Boiss and M. nodiflorum L.). The phytochemical composition of the methanolic extract of studied species revealed the considerable quantities that might be responsible for their powerful antioxidant activity. The IC50 values were 386.51, 592.97, and 752.23µg/ml for M. nodiflorum, M. crystallinum and M. forsskaolii extracts respectively. The antibacterial activity index was calculated for each extract in comparison with the standard antibiotics. M. nodiflorum showed higher potency than ampicillin and penicillin G against against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The allelopathic potential showed that the studied Mesembryanthemum species expressed a significant phytotoxic activity against Chenopodium murale weed in a dose dependent manner. M. nodiflorum sample showed the most phytotoxic effect among the studied species

Diversity of inulinase-producing fungi associated with two Asteraceous plants, Pulicaria crispa (Forssk.) and Pluchea dioscoridis (L.) growing in an extreme arid environment

Inulinases are potentially valuable enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of plant’s inulin into high fructose syrups as sweetening ingredients for food industry and ethanol production. The high demands for inulinase enzymes have promoted interest in microbial inulinases as the most suitable approach for biosynthesis of fructose syrups from inulin. Arid land ecosystem represents a valuable bioresource for soil microbial diversity with unique biochemical and physiological properties. In the present study, we explored the fungi diversity associated with the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of two desert medicinal plants namely Pluchea dioscoridis and Pulicaria crispa growing in the South-Eastern desert of Aswan, Egypt. A total of 180 fungal isolates were screened based on their ability to grow on potato dextrose agar medium supplemented with 1% inulin. The isolated fungal colonies were morphologically identified according to cultural characteristics and spore-bearing structure. In addition, the inulinase activity of the isolated fungi was examined spectrophotometrically. Among these, Aspergillus terreus var. terreus 233, Botrytis cinerea, Aspergillus aegyptiacus, Cochliobolus australiensis 447 and Cochliobolus australiensis exhibited high inulinase activity ranging from 5.05 to 7.26 U/ml. This study provides a promising source of microbial inulinase, which can be scaled up for industrial applications. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.120564

Protein Energy Wasting in a Sample of Egyptian Children on Regular Hemodialysis: Relation to Anorexigenic Hormones

BACKGROUND: Increased incidence of pediatric end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with associated serious consequences indicating a major public health problem. Malnutrition and uremic wasting are leading causes of growth impairment and increasing morbidity and mortality of pediatric ESRD patients, predominantly those on regular hemodialysis (HD). Ghrelin and obestatin, which are known appetite regulatory hormones, might have a pivotal role in uremic wasting and growth impairment in hemodialyzed children. AIM: The aim of the present study was to measure serum unacylated ghrelin (UAG) and obestatin and to investigate their roles in the growth impairment of Egyptian hemodialyzed children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 50 hemodialyzed and 40 healthy children recruited from the Department of Nephrology, Pediatric Hospital, Ain Shams University. Full clinical examination and measurement of anthropometric indices were done. Routine labs were done as well, with an assessment of serum levels of obestatin, UAG, and insulin by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, we determined fasting serum glucose and lipid profile with the calculation of homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Anthropometric measurements were statistically significantly decreased in the hemodialyzed group than that of the control group (p < 0.05). Weight z-score was the most affected anthropometric parameter (37 patients = 74% with underweight and 13 patients = 26% with normal weight). The hemodialyzed children showed a significant increase of UAG, obestatin, insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, and TG, while a significant decrease of HDL-cholesterol and albumin (p < 0.01). UAG had a negative correlation with Wt-z score, Ht z-score, fat mass %, albumin, and TG while obestatin was inversely correlated to Wt-z score, BMI z-score, waist circumference, and waist-height ratio (W/H). CONCLUSION: UAG and obestatin hormones were elevated in a group of Egyptian children on regular HD. These hormones were strongly related to the impairment of renal functions, and anthropometric parameters, dyslipidemia, hypoalbuminemia, and insulin resistance in these pediatric hemodialyzed patients

Serum Apelin and Obesity-Related Complications in Egyptian Children

BACKGROUND: The rapidly increasing prevalence of childhood obesity became a major burden on health worldwide, giving an alarm to clinicians and researchers. Adipocytes act as an active endocrine organ by releasing plenty of bioactive mediators (adipokines) that play a major role in regulating metabolic processes. Apelin is a recently identified adipokine that is expressed in adipocytes.AIM: The current work aimed to uncover the relation between serum apelin and childhood obesity and its related complications as hypertension and hyperglycemiaMETHOD: A group of 50 obese and 31 non-obese; sex- and age-matched children were enrolled in our study with a mean age of (9.5 ± 2.1) and (8.7 ± 1.3) respectively. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, were assessed in all studied participants, we also determined the lipid profile, serum insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG) level, HOMA-IR and serum apelin.RESULTS: Obese children had higher levels of HbA1c, FBG, serum insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP Z-score); compared to controls (all P < 0.05). Apelin was significantly higher in obese children versus controls and correlated positively with BMI Z-Score (P = 0.008), DBP Z-Score (P = 0.02), cholesterol, TG (both P = 0.02), serum insulin (P = 0.003), FBG and HOMA-IR (both P = 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that FBG was the most effective factor in predicting the level of serum apelin (P = 0.04).CONCLUSION: This work supports the hypothesis that apelin may have a crucial role in the pathogenesis of health hazards related to obesity in children including insulin resistance, hypertension and a higher risk of occurrence of metabolic syndrome

Rose Bengal sensitized bilayered photoanode of nano-crystalline TiO–CeO for dye-sensitized solar cell application

There are two traditional ways to read Kant’s claim that every event necessarily has a cause: the weaker every-event some-cause (WCP) and the stronger same-cause same-effect (SCP) causal principles. The debate on whether and where he subscribes to the SCP has focused on the Analogies in the Critique of Pure Reason (Guyer, Allison, and Watkins) and on the Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science (Friedman). By analysing the arguments and conclusions of both the Analogies and the Postulates, as well as the two Latin principles non datur casus and non datur fatum that summarise their results, I will argue that the SCP is actually demonstrated in the Postulates section of the First Critique