Composition of eye cosmetics (kohls) used in Cairo

A total of 18 kohl samples were analysed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All the samples were purchased in Cairo and eleven of them originated in Egypt. The main component of six samples was found to be galena (PbS); where four of these samples originated in Egypt and two in India. For a further ten samples the main component was found to be one of the following: amorphous carbon, calcite (CaCO3), cuprite (Cu2O), goethite (FeO(OH)), elemental silicon or talc (Mg3Si4O10(OH)2). For the last two samples the main component of each was an unknown amorphous organic compound

Pharmacology and Therapeutics: Principles to Practice

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Re: Prevalence and Determinants of Waterpipe (‘sheesha’) Tobacco use among Adolescents in Oman

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Chronic Dietary Supplementation of 4% Figs on the Modification of Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer’s Disease Transgenic Mouse Model

We assessed the changes in the plasma Aβ, oxidative stress/antioxidants, and membrane bound enzymes in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) transgenic mice (Tg2576) after dietary supplementation of Omani figs fruits for 15 months along with spatial memory and learning test. AD Tg mice on control diet without figs showed significant impairment in spatial learning ability compared to the wild-type mice on same diet and figs fed Tg mice as well. Significant increase in oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant status were observed in AD Tg mice. 4% figs treated AD Tg mice significantly attenuated oxidative damage, as evident by decreased lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls and restoration of antioxidant status. Altered activities of membrane bound enzymes (Na+ K+ ATPase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE)) in AD Tg mice brain regions and was restored by figs treatment. Further, figs supplementation might be able to decrease the plasma levels of Aβ (1–40, 1–42) significantly in Tg mice suggesting a putative delay in the formation of plaques, which might be due to the presence of high natural antioxidants in figs. But this study warrants further extensive investigation to find a novel lead for a therapeutic target for AD from figs

Nine months of dietary supplementation of Omani fruits (pomegranate, figs and dates) improves the memory, anxiety and learning skills in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice

Active components present in the fruits have been shown to be neuro-protective in different disease states including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We have studied the comparative effect of 9 month dietary supplementation of pomegranate, figs and dates on the memory, anxiety and learning skills in AD mouse model. The experimental groups of APP-transgenic mice from the age of 4 months were fed custom-mix diets (pellets) containing 4% pomegranate or 4% figs or 4% dates. These experimental and control mice were examined at the age of 4-5 months, 7-8 months and 10-11 months by Morris water maze test (for spatial memory & learning ability), T maze test (for position discrimination learning ability), rota rod test (for psychomotor coordination), elevated plus maze test (for anxiety-related behavior) and open field test to analyze the effect of diet rich in pomegranate, figs and dates on memory, anxiety and learning skills. AD mice without fruits in diet showed memory deficit, anxiety-related behavior, and severe impairment in spatial learning ability, position discrimination learning ability and motor coordination compared to the wild type mice on the same diet. All the diets rich in 4% pomegranate or 4% figs or 4% dates fed tg mice showed a significant improvement above factors compared to the AD tg mice on diet without pomegranate or figs. The more effect was found in the animals fed with 4% pomegranate compared to 4% figs and 4% date pal fruit diets. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation of pomegranate; figs and dates may have the beneficial effect in reducing the risk, delaying the onset or slowing the progression of AD. Supported by a research grant from The Research Council, Oman (RC/AGR/FOOD/11/01)2 page(s

Pomegranate ameliorates Alzheimer's disease-type neurodegeneration in tg 2576 mouse model

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease which is characterized by the presence of extracellular senile plaques mainly composed of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, and selective synaptic and neuronal loss. AD brains revealed elevated levels of oxidative stress markers which have been implicated in Aβ-induced toxicity. Multiple components present in pomegranate and various pomegranate preparations are known to exert pleiotropic protective effects as demonstrated in various in vitro and in vivo model systems. The present study was designed to investigate the dietary supplementation of 4% pomegranate fruit grown in Oman on oxidative stress in the hippocampus, and hippocampal neuron injury in Tg2576 mice. The Tg 2576 mice were treated with 4% pomegranate by dietary supplementation for 15 months. After 15 months, the mice were sacrificed for measuring non-enzymatic [4-hydroxynonenal, TBARS, hydrogen peroxide, reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin A, E, C and enzymatic antioxidants activity in the hippocampus, and expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) positive neuron. The non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants were significantly reduced along with elevated oxidative stress markers. Loss of ChAT positive neuron and severe damage to hippocampal neurons in Tg 2576 were also found. These abnormalities were significantly improved by 4% pomegranate treatment. In contrast, administration of 4% pomegranate diet to mice strongly suggested a putative delay in the formation of plaques, as indicated by a decreasing tendency of soluble and fibrillar Aβ levels in hippocampus which correlated with a decrease in Aβ (1-40, 1-42) plasma content. The study suggests that pomegranate could offer protection against neuronal injury and oxidative stress, and may be used as a potential agent in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. This project was supported by a research grant from The Research Council, Oman (RC/AGR/FOOD/11/01).1 page(s

Effect of dietary supplementation of dates in Alzheimer’s disease APPsw/2576 transgenic mice on oxidative stress and antioxidant status

Oxidative stress may play a key role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) neuropathology. Changes in the oxidative stress, antioxidants, and membrane-bound enzymes were investigated in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of AD transgenic mice model after long-term dietary supplementation of date palm fruits from Oman. The 4-month-old mice with double Swedish APP mutation (APPsw/Tg2576) were purchased from Taconic Farm, NY, USA; mice were fed two different doses of dates (such as 4 and 2%) or control diet for 15 months and then assessed for the influence of diet on oxidative stress. Significant increase in oxidative stress in terms of enhanced levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein carbonyls and parallel decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes were observed in control diet-treated Tg2576 AD mice. Dates (4 and 2%) treated APPsw/Tg2576 AD mice exhibited significantly attenuated oxidative damage, evidenced by decreased LPO and protein carbonyl levels and restoration in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and glutathione reductase). The activities of membrane-bound enzymes (Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase and acetyl cholinesterase) were altered in control diet-treated APPsw/Tg2576 AD mice brain regions. Meanwhile, both the percentages of date supplementation were able to restore the activity of enzymes to comparable values observed in controls. In summary, we have shown that chronic dietary supplementation of date palm fruits grown in Oman showed possible beneficial effects concomitant with oxidative stress reduction and increased antioxidant enzymes in AD transgenic mice model. These results warrant further exploration of how anti-reactive oxygen species properties of dates offer such beneficial effects on the AD-like brain.8 page(s

Memory deficits and learning skills improved in transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease after date-rich diet supplementation

Although there are no proven ways to delay onset or slow progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), studies suggest that diet can affect risk. Dates palm fruit are good sources of minerals (Se, Cu, K and Mg), vitamins (C, A, B6, B9, B2, B3), dietary fiber and total phenolics and natural antioxidants (anthocyanins & ferulic acid). Polyphenols have been shown to be neuroprotective in different model systems. We asked whether dietary supplementation with 2% dates or 4% dates would influence behavior and AD like pathology in a transgenic mouse model. The four month old mice with double Swedish APP mutation (APPsw/Tg2576) were purchased from Taconic Farm, NY, USA. The experimental groups of APP-transgenic mice from the age of 4 months were fed custom-mix diets (pellets) containing 2% dates or 4% dates. The control groups, i.e. tg mice and wild-type mice were fed diet without dates. Animals from all groups were undergone behavioral assessments at the age of 4-5 months and 14-15 months by Morris water maze test (for spatial memory and learning ability), T maze test (for position discrimination learning ability), rota rod test (for psychomotor coordination), elevated plus maze test (for anxiety-related behavior) and open field test (anxiety) to analyze the effect of diet rich in dates on learning skills, memory, anxiety, locomotors activity, and motor coordination. Both the diets rich in 2% dates & 4% dates fed tg mice showed a significant improvement in memory, learning ability, anxiety and motor development compared to the AD tg mice on diet without 2% dates & 4% dates. The more effect was observed in 4% dates diet fed animals than 2% fed. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation of date palm fruits may have beneficial effect in reducing the risk, delaying the onset or slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.This project was supported by a research grant from The Research Council, Oman (RC/AGR/FOOD/11/01).2 page(s

Pomegranate from Oman Alleviates the Brain Oxidative Damage in Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Oxidative stress may play a key role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) neuropathology. Pomegranates (石榴 Shí Liú) contain very high levels of antioxidant polyphenolic substances, as compared to other fruits and vegetables. Polyphenols have been shown to be neuroprotective in different model systems. Here, the effects of the antioxidant-rich pomegranate fruit grown in Oman on brain oxidative stress status were tested in the AD transgenic mouse. The 4-month-old mice with double Swedish APP mutation (APPsw/Tg2576) were purchased from Taconic Farm, NY, USA. Four-month-old Tg2576 mice were fed with 4% pomegranate or control diet for 15 months and then assessed for the influence of diet on oxidative stress. Significant increase in oxidative stress was found in terms of enhanced levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein carbonyls. Concomitantly, decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes was observed in Tg2576 mice treated with control diet. Supplementation with 4% pomegranate attenuated oxidative damage, as evidenced by decreased LPO and protein carbonyl levels and restoration in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), and Glutathione S transferase (GST)]. The activities of membrane-bound enzymes [Na+ K+-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE)] were altered in the brain regions of Tg2576 mouse treated with control diet, and 4% pomegranate supplementation was able to restore the activities of enzymes to comparable values observed in controls. The results suggest that the therapeutic potential of 4% pomegranate in the treatment of AD might be associated with counteracting the oxidative stress by the presence of active phytochemicals in it