VALUE CHAIN OF Balanites aegyptiaca IN NORTH KORDOFAN STATE IN SUDAN

Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) is considered as one of the valuable tree species in Sudan. This study interrogated different actors involved in B. aegyptiaca value chain to estimate the gross margins associated with their segments. The study was conducted during season 2019 in Sheikan Locality, North Kordofan State in Sudan, and involved 86 household head (10% of the population). Results indicated that value chain actors of B. aegyptiaca included fruit collectors, village traders, city merchants, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. Based on gross margins, the wholesalers were the most benefited (36.4%) in the chain, followed by village traders (33.4%), city merchants (17.6%), collectors (9.65%) and lastly retailers (2.94%). It is clear that B. aegyptiaca value chain is mostly influenced by actors at local level.Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) est consid\ue9r\ue9e comme l\u2019une des esp\ue8ces d\u2019arbres les plus pr\ue9cieuses au Soudan. Cette \ue9tude a interrog\ue9 diff\ue9rents acteurs impliqu\ue9s dans la cha\ueene de valeur de B. aegyptiaca pour estimer les marges brutes associ\ue9es \ue0 leurs segments. L\u2019\ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9e au cours de la saison 2019 dans la localit\ue9 de Sheikan, dans l\u2019\uc9tat du Kordofan du Nord au Soudan. L\u2019\ue9tude a impliqu\ue9 86 chefs de m\ue9nage (10 % de la population). Les r\ue9sultats ont indiqu\ue9 que les acteurs de la cha\ueene de valeur de B. aegyptiaca comprenaient des collecteurs de fruits, des commer\ue7ants de village, des commer\ue7ants de ville, des grossistes, des d\ue9taillants et des consommateurs. Sur la base des marges brutes, les grossistes ont \ue9t\ue9 les plus avantag\ue9s (36,4 %) de la fili\ue8re, suivis des commer\ue7ants villageois (33,4 %), des commer\ue7ants de la ville (17,6 %), des collecteurs (9,65 %) et enfin des d\ue9taillants (2,94 %). Il est clair que la cha\ueene de valeur de B. aegyptiaca est principalement influenc\ue9e par des acteurs au niveau local

2-(2-(2,4-dioxopentan-3-ylidene)hydrazineyl)benzonitrile as novel inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinase and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in glioblastoma

Nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), a member of kinase protein, is emerging as an important target for Glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. Overexpression of NGFR is observed in many metastatic cancers including GBM, promoting tumor migration and invasion. Hydrazones have been reported to effectively interact with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). We report herein the synthesis of 23 arylhydrazones of active methylene compounds (AHAMCs) compounds and their anti-proliferative activity against GBM cell lines, LN229 and U87. Compound R234, 2-(2-(2,4-dioxopentan-3-ylidene)hydrazineyl)benzonitrile, was identified as the most active anti-neoplastic compound, with the IC 50 value ranging 87 μM - 107 μM. Molecular docking simulations of the synthesized compounds into the active site of tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA), demonstrated a strong binding affinity with R234 and concurs well with the obtained biological results. R234 was found to be a negative regulator of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and an enhancer of p53 expression. In addition, R234 treated GBM cells exhibited the downregulation of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases and other key molecules involved in cell cycle such as CCNE, E2F, CCND, CDK6, indicating that R234 induces cell cycle arrest at G1/S. R234 also exerted its apoptotic effects independent of caspase3/7 activity, in both cell lines. In U87 cells, R234 induced oxidative effects whereas LN229 cells annulled oxidative stress. The study thus concludes that R234, being a negative modulator of RTKs and cell cycle inhibitor, may represent a novel class of anti-GBM drugs. © 2019 Elsevier Masson SA

Alzheimer disease: amyloidogenesis, the presenilins and animal models

Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia. Neuropathogenesis is proposed to be a result of the accumulation of amyloid beta peptides in the brain together with oxidative stress mechanisms and neuroinflammation. The presenilin proteins are central to the gamma-secretase cleavage of the amyloid prescursor protein (APP), releasing the amyloid beta peptide. Point mutations in the presenilin genes lead to cases of familial Alzheimer’s disease by increasing APP cleavage resulting in excess amyloid beta formation. This review discusses the molecular mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease with a focus on the presenilin genes. Alternative splicing of transcripts from these genes and how these may function in several disease states is discussed. There is an emphasis on the importance of animal models in elucidating the molecular mechanisms behind the development of Alzheimer’s disease and how the zebrafish, Danio rerio, can be used as a model organism for analysis of presenilin function and Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis