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Heiko Rischer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Biotechnology of the medicinal plant Rhazya stricta: a little investigated member of the Apocynaceae family
Biotechnology Letters, 2017Co-Authors: Amir Akhgari, Kirsi-marja Oksman-caldentey, Heiko RischerAbstract:Rhazya stricta Decne. (Apocynaceae) is an important medicinal plant that is widely distributed in the Middle East and Indian sub-continent. It produces a large number of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) some of which possess important pharmacological properties. However, the yields of these compounds are very low. Establishment of a reliable, reproducible and efficient transformation method and induction of hairy roots system is a vital prerequisite for application of biotechnology in order to improve secondary metabolite yields. In the present review, recent biotechnological attempts and advances in TIAs production through transformed hairy root cultures in R. stricta are reviewed to draw the attention to its metabolic engineering potential.
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Establishment of transgenic Rhazya stricta hairy roots to modulate terpenoid indole alkaloid production
Plant cell reports, 2015Co-Authors: Amir Akhgari, Into Laakso, Teijo Yrjönen, Heikki Vuorela, Kirsi-marja Oksman-caldentey, Heiko RischerAbstract:Transgenic hairy roots of R. stricta were developed for investigation of alkaloid accumulations. The contents of five identified alkaloids, including serpentine as a new compound, increased compared to non-transformed roots. Rhazya stricta Decne. is a rich source of pharmacologically active terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs). In order to study TIA production and enable metabolic engineering, we established hairy root cultures of R. stricta by co-cultivating cotyledon, hypocotyl, leaf, and shoot explants with wild-type Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain LBA 9402 and A. rhizogenes carrying the pK2WG7-gusA binary vector. Hairy roots initiated from the leaf explants 2 to 8 weeks. Transformation was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and in case of GUS clones with GUS staining assay. Transformation efficiency was 74 and 83% for wild-type and GUS hairy root clones, respectively. Alkaloid accumulation was monitored by HPLC, and identification was achieved by UPLC-MS analysis. The influence of light (16 h photoperiod versus total darkness) and media composition (modified Gamborg B5 medium versus Woody Plant Medium) on the production of TIAs were investigated. Compared to non-transformed roots, wild-type hairy roots accumulated significantly higher amounts of five alkaloids. GUS hairy roots contained higher amounts two of alkaloids compared to non-transformed roots. Light conditions had a marked effect on the accumulation of five alkaloids whereas the composition of media only affected the accumulation of two alkaloids. By successfully establishing R. stricta hairy root clones, the potential of transgenic hairy root systems in modulating TIA production was confirmed.
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Determination of terpenoid indole alkaloids in hairy roots of Rhazya stricta (Apocynaceae) by GC-MS.
Phytochemical analysis : PCA, 2015Co-Authors: Amir Akhgari, Into Laakso, Tuulikki Seppänen-laakso, Teijo Yrjönen, Heikki Vuorela, Kirsi-marja Oksman-caldentey, Heiko RischerAbstract:Introduction Rhazya stricta Decne. (Apocynaceae) is a medicinal plant rich in terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs), some of which possess important pharmacological properties. The study material including transgenic hairy root cultures have been developed and their potential for alkaloid production are being investigated. Objective In this study, a comprehensive GC-MS method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of alkaloids from Rhazya hairy roots was developed. Methods The composition of alkaloids was determined by using GC-MS. In quantification, the ratio between alkaloid and internal standard was based on extracted ion from total ion current (TIC) analyses. Results The developed method was validated. An acceptable precision with RSD ≤ 8% over a linear range of 1 to 100 µg/mL was achieved. The accuracy of the method was within 94–107%. Analysis of hairy root extracts indicated the occurrence of a total of 20 TIAs. Six of them, pleiocarpamine, fluorocarpamine, vincamine, ajmalicine and two yohimbine isomers are reported here for the first time in Rhazya. Trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatisation of the extracts resulted in the separation of two isomers for yohimbine and also for vallesiachotamine. Clearly improved chromatographic profiles of TMS-derivatives were observed for vincanine and for minor compounds vincamine and rhazine. Conclusion The results show that the present GC-MS method is reliable and well applicable for studying the variation of indole alkaloids in Rhazya samples. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Analysis of Indole Alkaloids from Rhazya stricta Hairy Roots by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
MDPI AG, 2015Co-Authors: Amir Akhgari, Into Laakso, Tuulikki Seppänen-laakso, Teijo Yrjönen, Heikki Vuorela, Kirsi-marja Oksman-caldentey, Heiko RischerAbstract:Rhazya stricta Decne. (Apocynaceae) contains a large number of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs). This study focused on the composition of alkaloids obtained from transformed hairy root cultures of R. stricta employing ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). In the UPLC-MS analyses, a total of 20 TIAs were identified from crude extracts. Eburenine and vincanine were the main alkaloids followed by polar glucoalkaloids, strictosidine lactam and strictosidine. Secodine-type alkaloids, tetrahydrosecodinol, tetrahydro- and dihydrosecodine were detected too. The occurrence of tetrahydrosecodinol was confirmed for the first time for R. stricta. Furthermore, two isomers of yohimbine, serpentine and vallesiachotamine were identified. The study shows that a characteristic pattern of biosynthetically related TIAs can be monitored in Rhazya hairy root crude extract by this chromatographic method
Amr Amin - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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antioxidant and anticancer activities of trigonella foenum graecum cassia acutifolia and Rhazya stricta
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018Co-Authors: Bayan Aldabbagh, Ismail Elhaty, Ala’a Al Hrout, Reem Al Sakkaf, Salman S. Ashraf, Amr Amin, Raafat ElawadyAbstract:Here, we determined in vitro antioxidant activity, total phenols and flavonoids and evaluated antiproliferative activity of three medicinal plant extracts: Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek), Cassia acutifolia (Senna) and Rhazya stricta (Harmal). The leaves of the three medicinal plants were extracted with 70% ethanol. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were determined by using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents were determined using colorimetric assays. MTT assay was used to estimate the antiproliferative activities of the extracts against human hepatoma (HepG2) cancer cell line. In addition, the effects of R. stricta extract on cell cycle, colony formation, and wound healing of HepG2 cells and tube formation of HUVEC cells were assessed. Percentage inhibition of DPPH scavenging activity were dose-dependent and ranged between (89.9% ± 0.51) and (28.6% ± 2.07). Phenolic contents ranged between (11.5 ± 0.013) and (9.7 ± 0.008) mg GAE/g while flavonoid content ranged between (20.8 ± 0.40) and (0.12 ± 0.0.01) mg QE/g. Antiproliferative results of the extracts were found to be consistent with their antioxidant activity. Among the extracts evaluated, that of R. stricta showed the best antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimetastatic activities at low concentration. It also inhibited the colony-formation capacity of HepG2 cells and exhibited antiangiogenic activity. Cell cycle analysis showed significant arrest of cells at G2/M phase 12 and 48 h after treatment and significant arrest at G1/S phase after 24 h of treatment. Consistent data were observed in western blot analysis of protein levels of Cdc2 and its cyclin partners. These findings introduce R. stricta as a potentially useful anti-metastatic agent and a novel potential anti-tumour agent for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment.
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Additional file 1: of Antioxidant and anticancer activities of Trigonella foenum-graecum, Cassia acutifolia and Rhazya stricta
2018Co-Authors: Bayan Al-dabbagh, Ismail Elhaty, Ala’a Al Hrout, Reem Al Sakkaf, Raafat El-awady, Salman S. Ashraf, Amr AminAbstract:Figure S1. Assessment of the cytotoxic effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum (Helba), Cassia acutifolia (Holoul), and Rhazya stricta (Harmal) extracts on HCT116 in vitro. MTT assay results of 9cHCT116 cells viability after treatment with increasing concentrations of Helba (a) Holoul (b) and Harmal (c) for 24 h. *P
Nabih A. Baeshen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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ITS2: An Ideal DNA Barcode for the Arid Medicinal Plant Rhazya stricta.
Pharmaceutical medicine, 2019Co-Authors: Samia Aqeel Khan, Mohammed N. Baeshen, Hassan A I Ramadan, Nabih A. BaeshenAbstract:In Saudi Arabia, Rhazya stricta is a widely used folkloric plant because of its various therapeutic properties. It is sold in herbal markets as a dried powder; however, the absence of visible phenotypic traits in the powder can mask its authenticity. Potential misidentification of this substance threatens consumer health. DNA barcoding could accurately identify this plant regardless of its physical state, however barcoding presents the challenge of variations in marker loci. The objective of this work was to assess barcode markers from the chloroplast and nuclear regions to determine their taxonomic accuracy in R. stricta barcoding, and select the best marker for this species that could fulfill the authentication test for its fresh and dried samples. In this study, we assessed seven barcode markers from the chloroplast (psbA-trnH, matK, rbcL, rpoB, and rpoC1) and nuclear regions (ITS1and ITS2). We compared DNA sequences of R. stricta from 50 fresh locally collected samples and 10 dried ground samples from the herbal market with the database sequences of R. stricta, R. orientalis, and eight other related species as controls. We utilized three methods (BLAST, nearest distance, and neighbor-joining tree) in this analysis. With the exception of psbA-trnH, all the chloroplast markers determined high similarity with other taxa. However, nuclear ITS2 best distinguished between R. stricta, R. orientalis, and other related species because of its secondary structures, which allowed for more accurate distinctions. A two-locus marker of ITS1 + ITS2 sequences also showed promising results. A two-dimensional image of our proposed marker was generated to more easily handle DNA barcoding applications. Our study indicates that ITS2 is a cost-effective barcoding marker capable of verifying the authenticity of R. stricta and other medicinal plants in order to protect consumer health.
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emergence of plastidial intergenic spacers as suitable dna barcodes for arid medicinal plant Rhazya stricta
American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2017Co-Authors: Samia Aqeel Khan, Mohammed N. Baeshen, Hassan A I Ramadan, Nabih A. BaeshenAbstract:The desert plant Rhazya stricta has anticancer and antimicrobial properties, and is widely used in indigenous medicines of Saudi Arabia. However, the therapeutic benefits rely on an accurate identification of this species. The authenticity of R. stricta and other medicinal plants and herbs procured from local markets can be questionable due to a lack of clear phenotypic traits. DNA barcoding is an emerging technology for rapid and accurate species identification. In this study, six candidate chloroplastid barcodes were investigated for the authentication of R. stricta. We compared the DNA sequences from fifty locally collected and five market samples of R. stricta with database sequences of R. stricta and seven closely related species. We found that the coding regions matK, rbcL, rpoB, and rpoC1 were highly similar among the taxa. By contrast, the intergenic spacers psbK-psbI and atpF-atpH were variable loci distinct for the medicinal plant R. stricta. psbK-psbI clearly discriminated R. stricta samples as an efficient single locus marker, whereas a two-locus marker combination comprising psbK-psbI + atpF-atpH was also promising according to results from the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool and a maximum likelihood gene tree generated using PHyML. Two-dimensional DNA barcodes (i.e., QR codes) for the psbK-psbI and psbK-psbI + atpF-atpH regions were created for the validation of fresh or dried R. stricta samples.
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Antibacterial activities of Rhazya stricta leaf extracts against multidrug-resistant human pathogens
Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 2016Co-Authors: Raziuddin Khan, Mohammed N. Baeshen, Roop Singh Bora, Ahmed M. Al-hejin, Kulvinder Singh Saini, Nabih A. BaeshenAbstract:ABSTRACTBacterial resistance to antibiotics, first a major concern in the 1960s, has re-emerged worldwide over the last 20 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health organizations have, therefore, declared ‘war’ against human microbial pathogens, particularly hospital-acquired infections, and have made drug discovery a top priority for these diseases. Because these bacteria are refractory to conventional chemotherapy, medicinal and herbal plants used in various countries should be assessed for their therapeutic potential; these valuable bio-resources are a reservoir of complex bioactive molecules. Earlier studies from our laboratory on Rhazya stricta, a native herbal shrub of Asia, have shown that this plant has a number of therapeutic properties. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activities of various concentrations of five solvent extracts (aqueous alkaloid, aqueous non-alkaloid, organic alkaloid, organic non-alkaloid and whole aqueous extracts) derived from R. stricta leave...
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The effect of Rhazya stricta aqueous leaves extract on MRSA genotypes in Jeddah province
Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 2016Co-Authors: Mohammed N. Baeshen, Sanaa G. Al-attas, Mohamed Morsi Ahmed, Amr A. El Hanafy, Yasir Anwar, Ibrahim Abdulrahman Alotibi, Nabih A. BaeshenAbstract:ABSTRACTMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that is resistant to a large group of beta-lactam antibiotics. Rhazya stricta is a local shrub that grows naturally as a normal flora and is used as a medicinal plant by several nations for a lot of infectious diseases, caused by microorganisms. Therefore, the effect of the plant against different genotypes of methicillin-resistant S. aureus was tested in the present study. Molecular identification was done for the medical sampling of 44 MRSA and biodiversity approaches were applied to detect the mecA gene. The 16S rRNA genes analysis was performed for the construction of a phylogenetic tree. Later on, the antimicrobial effect of the plant leaves’ water extract was tested on different genotypes. MecA gene appeared in all isolates, except in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. The selected MRSA 16S rRNA sequences were sent to GenBank and six accession numbers (KM893010, KM893011, KP091274, KP091275, KP137513 and KP137514) ...
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The effect of Rhazya stricta aqueous leaves extract on MRSA genotypes in Jeddah province
Taylor & Francis Group, 2016Co-Authors: Mohammed N. Baeshen, Sanaa G. Al-attas, Mohamed Morsi Ahmed, Amr A. El Hanafy, Yasir Anwar, Ibrahim Abdulrahman Alotibi, Nabih A. BaeshenAbstract:Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that is resistant to a large group of beta-lactam antibiotics. Rhazya stricta is a local shrub that grows naturally as a normal flora and is used as a medicinal plant by several nations for a lot of infectious diseases, caused by microorganisms. Therefore, the effect of the plant against different genotypes of methicillin-resistant S. aureus was tested in the present study. Molecular identification was done for the medical sampling of 44 MRSA and biodiversity approaches were applied to detect the mecA gene. The 16S rRNA genes analysis was performed for the construction of a phylogenetic tree. Later on, the antimicrobial effect of the plant leaves’ water extract was tested on different genotypes. MecA gene appeared in all isolates, except in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. The selected MRSA 16S rRNA sequences were sent to GenBank and six accession numbers (KM893010, KM893011, KP091274, KP091275, KP137513 and KP137514) were acquired. Also, an evolutionary analysis of these strains was done and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. Plant extracts showed that the interaction between pathogens and drugs is more efficient in a liquid environment than in a solid one
Jamal S. M. Sabir - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Rhazyaminine from Rhazya stricta Inhibits Metastasis and Induces Apoptosis by Downregulating Bcl-2 Gene in MCF7 Cell Line.
Integrative cancer therapies, 2018Co-Authors: Waqas Iqbal, Roop Singh Bora, Jamal S. M. Sabir, Saleh Al-karim, Tahseen Kamal, Hani Choudhry, Kulvinder Singh SainiAbstract:Background: The role of alkaloids isolated from Rhazya stricta Decne (Apocynaceae family) (RS) in targeting genes involved in cancer and metastasis remains to be elucidated. Objective: Identify and...
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Cheminformatics studies to analyze the therapeutic potential of phytochemicals from Rhazya stricta
Chemistry Central Journal, 2017Co-Authors: Abdullah Y. Obaid, Roop Singh Bora, Jamal S. M. Sabir, Abdulkader M. Shaikh Omer, Nahid H. Hajrah, Sreedhara Voleti, Kulvinder Singh SainiAbstract:Rhazya stricta is a unique medicinal plant source for many indole alkaloids, non-alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenes and other unknown molecules with tremendous potential for therapeutic applications against many diseases. In the present article, we generated computational data on predictive properties and activity across two key therapeutic areas of cancer and obesity, and corresponding cheminformatics studies were carried out to examine druggable properties of these alkaloids. Computed physiochemical properties of the 78 indole alkaloids from R. stricta plant using industry-standard scientific molecular modeling software and their predictive anti-cancer activities from reliable web-source technologies indicate their plausible therapeutic applications. Their predictive ADME properties are further indicative of their drug-like-ness. We believe that the top-ranked molecules with anti-cancer activity are clearly amenable to chemical modifications for creating potent, safe and efficacious compounds with the feasibility of generating new chemical entities after pre-clinical and clinical studies.
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Analysis of transcriptional response to heat stress in Rhazya stricta
BMC plant biology, 2016Co-Authors: Abdullah Y. Obaid, Jamal S. M. Sabir, Nahid H. Hajrah, Mohammed H. Z. Mutwakil, Nour O. Gadalla, Sherif Edris, Ahmed Atef, Xuan Liu, Fotouh M. El-domyati, Magdy A. Al-kordyAbstract:Climate change is predicted to be a serious threat to agriculture due to the need for crops to be able to tolerate increased heat stress. Desert plants have already adapted to high levels of heat stress so they make excellent systems for identifying genes involved in thermotolerance. Rhazya stricta is an evergreen shrub that is native to extremely hot regions across Western and South Asia, making it an excellent system for examining plant responses to heat stress. Transcriptomes of apical and mature leaves of R. stricta were analyzed at different temperatures during several time points of the day to detect heat response mechanisms that might confer thermotolerance and protection of the plant photosynthetic apparatus. Biological pathways that were crosstalking during the day involved the biosynthesis of several heat stress-related compounds, including soluble sugars, polyols, secondary metabolites, phenolics and methionine. Highly downregulated leaf transcripts at the hottest time of the day (40–42.4 °C) included genes encoding cyclin, cytochrome p450/secologanin synthase and U-box containing proteins, while upregulated, abundant transcripts included genes encoding heat shock proteins (HSPs), chaperones, UDP-glycosyltransferase, aquaporins and protein transparent testa 12. The upregulation of transcripts encoding HSPs, chaperones and UDP-glucosyltransferase and downregulation of transcripts encoding U-box containing proteins likely contributed to thermotolerance in R. stricta leaf by correcting protein folding and preventing protein degradation. Transcription factors that may regulate expression of genes encoding HSPs and chaperones under heat stress included HSFA2 to 4, AP2-EREBP and WRKY27. This study contributed new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of thermotolerance in the wild plant species R. stricta, an arid land, perennial evergreen shrub common in the Arabian Peninsula and Indian subcontinent. Enzymes from several pathways are interacting in the biosynthesis of soluble sugars, polyols, secondary metabolites, phenolics and methionine and are the primary contributors to thermotolerance in this species.
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The nuclear genome of Rhazya stricta and the evolution of alkaloid diversity in a medically relevant clade of Apocynaceae
Scientific Reports, 2016Co-Authors: Jamal S. M. Sabir, Mohammed N. Baeshen, Meshaal J. Sabir, Seongjun Park, Robert K. Jansen, Dhivya Arasappan, Virginie Calderon, Emmanuel Noutahi, Chunfang Zheng, Nahid H. HajrahAbstract:Alkaloid accumulation in plants is activated in response to stress, is limited in distribution and specific alkaloid repertoires are variable across taxa. Rauvolfioideae (Apocynaceae, Gentianales) represents a major center of structural expansion in the monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) yielding thousands of unique molecules including highly valuable chemotherapeutics. The paucity of genome-level data for Apocynaceae precludes a deeper understanding of MIA pathway evolution hindering the elucidation of remaining pathway enzymes and the improvement of MIA availability in planta or in vitro . We sequenced the nuclear genome of Rhazya stricta (Apocynaceae, Rauvolfioideae) and present this high quality assembly in comparison with that of coffee (Rubiaceae, Coffea canephora , Gentianales) and others to investigate the evolution of genome-scale features. The annotated Rhazya genome was used to develop the community resource, RhaCyc, a metabolic pathway database. Gene family trees were constructed to identify homologs of MIA pathway genes and to examine their evolutionary history. We found that, unlike Coffea , the Rhazya lineage has experienced many structural rearrangements. Gene tree analyses suggest recent, lineage-specific expansion and diversification among homologs encoding MIA pathway genes in Gentianales and provide candidate sequences with the potential to close gaps in characterized pathways and support prospecting for new MIA production avenues.
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Genotoxic and Molecular Evaluation of Genetic Effects of Rhazya stricta (Decne) Leaf Extract on Aspergillus terreus
Egyptian Journal of Genetics and Cytology, 2016Co-Authors: N. A. Baeshin, Jamal S. M. Sabir, Sameer H. Qari, Ahmed M. Al-hejinAbstract:Rhazya stricta plant (Decne), a member of the Apocynaceae family, is widely distributed in Saudi Arabia. Extract of its leaves is prescribed in folkloric medicine for the treatment of various disorders such as diabetes, sore throat, helminthiasis, inflammatory conditions and rheumatism (Ageel et al., 1987; Ali et al., 1995; Ali et al., 1998). The plant extract contains mainly alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoides, tannins and triterpenes (Ahmad et al., 1983; Al- Yahya et al., 1990). Several studies on rats and mice reported that the leaf extract caused sedation, analgesia, decrease motor activity and have anti-depressant, anti-oxidant activities, complex effects on brain endogenous monoamine oxidase activity and centrally-mediated hypotension (Ali et al., 1998; Tanira et al., 2000; Ali et al., 2000). Another study has described the anticancer effects of the indole alkaloids of Rhazya stricta (Mukhopadhyay et al., 1981). Moreover, the genotoxicity of Rhazya stricta leaf aqueous extract was demonstrated for the first time by Baeshin et al. (2005), against Saccharomyces cerevicae auxotrophic mutant. However, more investigations are required to establish its genotoxic effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the genotoxic effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Rhazya stricta following the Aspergillus terreus auxotrophic mutant test and detect polymorphism across mutants and their wild type counterpart strain of Aspergillus terreus on the molecular (RAPD and SDS-PAGE) levels.
Musbah O. M. Tanira - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the effect of a strongly basic alkaloidal fraction of Rhazya stricta a traditional medicinal plant on cytochrome p450 mediated metabolism of theophylline in mice
Phytotherapy Research, 2003Co-Authors: A O Elkadi, A. K. Bashir, Musbah O. M. Tanira, Badreldin H. Ali, P Du SouichAbstract:The strongly basic alkaloidal fraction of the traditional medicinal plant Rhazya stricta (RS) was given orally to mice, in a single dose of 10 mg/kg (group 1) or, twice daily for 3 days at the same dose (group 2). A third group (control) received normal saline. Liver homogenates from all animals were used to assess the microsomal activity of cytochrome P450 and its isoforms as well as its catalytic activity (using theophylline as a substrate). RS alkaloidal fraction had no significant effect on the total amount of microsomal cytochrome P450, but it caused a significant increase in the cytochrome P450 isoforms CYPs 1A1 and 1A2. It also significantly increased the concentrations of some metabolites of theophylline. These results suggest that RS has the potential to interact with other drugs that are biotransformed by cytochrome P450, when given concomitantly with it.
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effect of Rhazya stricta decne on monoamine oxidase and cholinesterase activity and brain biogenic amine levels in rats
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2000Co-Authors: Badreldin H. Ali, Musbah O. M. Tanira, Ahmed K. Bashir, A A AlqarawiAbstract:The effect of treatment with the medicinal plant Rhazya stricta Decne, on monoamine oxidase (MAO) and cholinesterase activity, and on the concentration of brain biogenic amines was studied in rats. R. stricta extract, at doses of 0.2 and 0.5 g kg−1, significantly (P < 0.05-0.01) increased the hepatic and cerebral activity of MAO by 36–127%. The higher doses used (2.0 and 8.0 g kg−1) produced smaller (10–26%) and statistically insignificant increases in MAO activity in liver and brain. Cholinesterase activity in blood, liver and brain was not significantly influenced by treatment with R. stricta. The concentrations of the measured biogenic amines (noradrenaline, adrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine) were significantly lowered in rats treated with R. stricta. The observed increase in MAO activity may be responsible for the lowered biogenic amines levels and may, in part, be responsible for the pharmacological effects of R. stricta extract in rats.
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mechanism of the hypotensive action of Rhazya stricta leaf extract in rats
Pharmacological Research, 2000Co-Authors: Musbah O. M. Tanira, A. K. Bashir, B H Ali, S Dhanasekaran, E M Tibirica, L M AlvesAbstract:The hypotensive action of Rhazya stricta lyophilized leaf extract was found to be partly caused by the electrolyte content of the extract, and partly caused by a strongly basic alkaloidal fraction (AF). AF (0.05-1.6 mg animal(-1)) caused a dose-dependent reduction in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) of urethane-anaesthetized rat preparations. In naiuml;ve pithed rats, AF administration (0.5-2.0 mg animal(-1)) significantly increased MAP. In pithed or spinalized rats made normotensive by noradrenaline infusion, AF (0.25 mg animal(-1)) did not cause any significant changes. Direct intracerebroventricular injection of AF (0.1-0.4 mg) markedly and significantly reduced MAP. It is suggested that the hypotensive action of AF to be mediated by a central mechanism.
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Phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of Rhazya stricta Decne: A review
Phytotherapy research : PTR, 2000Co-Authors: Badreldin H. Ali, A. A. Al-qarawi, Ahmed K. Bashir, Musbah O. M. TaniraAbstract:Phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of the medicinal plant Rhazya stricta Decne. are reviewed. Several types of alkaloids and a few flavonoids have been isolated and their structures and stereochemistry characterized. However, in most cases the biological activity of these compounds has not been studied. Most of the pharmacological activity of the plant resides in its alkaloidal fractions which cause depression of the central nervous system and hypotension. Extracts of R. stricta appear to have low toxicity, although its use in pregnant women may be inadvisable.
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Antioxidant action of extract of the traditional medicinal plant Rhazya stricta Decne. in rats.
Phytotherapy research : PTR, 2000Co-Authors: Badreldin H. Ali, A. K. Bashir, A. A. Al-qarawi, Musbah O. M. TaniraAbstract:The effects of a leaf extract of the traditional medicinal plant Rhazya stricta (0.25, 1.0 and 4.0 g/kg/day for 3 days) on reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LP) and ascorbic acid (AA) concentrations in the liver and kidneys were studied in rats 24 h after the last dose. The plant extract, at a dose of 0.25 g/kg, did not significantly affect the concentrations of GSH, LP or AA in the liver or kidneys. At a dose of 1.0 g/kg, the plant extract significantly increased the GSH concentration in the liver, but did not affect the GSH concentration in the kidneys, or LP or AA in the liver or kidneys. The plant extract (4.0 g/kg) significantly increased the GSH and decreased LP peroxidation, but did not affect the AA concentrations in the liver and kidneys. It may be concluded that the R. stricta extract, at some of the doses used, has antioxidant actions in the rat.
