Mervat A.ElAlfy | Al-Azhar University (original) (raw)

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Papers by Mervat A.ElAlfy

Research paper thumbnail of Improvement of Hematopoietic and Immunologic Findings in Sublethal Gamma Irradiated Rats Treated with Bone Marrow Transplantation and Wheat Germ Oil

Journal of Immune Based Therapies, Vaccines and Antimicrobials, 2015

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the wheat germ oil (WGO) and bone mar... more The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the wheat germ oil (WGO) and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in boosting the immuno response and protecting from oxidative stress in irradiated rats. BM was given by intravenous injection to male rats, one hour post gamma irradiation at the dose level of 5 Gy. Rats were orally administrated with 54 mg/Kg body wt of wheat germ oil daily for 2 weeks before irradiation. After 14 days, results revealed that total body irradiation induced significant decreases in RBCs, WBCs and lymphocytes, as well as Glutathione (GSH) and zinc superoxide dismutase (Zn/SOD), splenocyte count, bone marrow lymphocyte count and viability. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) also recorded significant decrease while interleukin 6 (IL-6) and lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehde (MDA) in serum and spleen were conversely elevated. In irradiated animals receiving BMT and WGO, values of MDA in serum and tissue were significantly depressed as compared with the irradiated group, while lymphocytes, bone marrow viability percentage, splenocytes percentage, IL-2, IL-6 and GSH were significantly elevated. The curative action of WGO enforcing significant innate response could trigger and augment adaptive immune response by BMT, thus protecting immune system from radiation induced damage as well as oxidative stress.

Research paper thumbnail of Amelioration of Insulin Resistance in Rats Treated with Rice Bran Oil

The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 2016

Background: insulin resistance (IR) is a pathological condition characterized by inadequate perip... more Background: insulin resistance (IR) is a pathological condition characterized by inadequate peripheral tissue metabolic response to circulating insulin. It plays pathophysiological role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). High dosage of fructose in the diet (60 g/100 g diet) may induce insulin resistance accompanied by deleterious metabolic consequences including hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Rice bran oil (RBO), is a rich source of antioxidants especially γ-oryzanol, αtocopherols and tocotrienols which contribute to high oxidative stability, longer shelf life than other edible oils and high antioxidant property against free radicals. The present work was undertaken to study if the addition of rice bran oil in rat's diets ameliorate the insulin resistance. Materials and methods: to achieve this target, plasma fasting glucose, serum insulin and calculated HOMA-IR, which assesse the presence of insulin resistance, was evaluated. Serum lipid profile (cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) and low-density lipoproteincholesterol (LDL) was also evaluated. In addition, the oxidative stress was assessed through hepatic malondialdehyd (MDA) as an oxidative biomarker and the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) was also estimated. Results: RBO ameliorated HOMA-IR, oxidative biomarker (MDA) and increased SOD activity. Conclusion: high fructose diet induced oxidative stress which lead to insulin resistance, this was ameliorated by addition of RBO.

Research paper thumbnail of Apoptotic genes expression in γ-irradiated rats treated with wheat germ oil, zinc and /or bone marrow

International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 2014

Background: Liver inflammation or injury is a hallmark of ionizing radiation. Natural radio-prote... more Background: Liver inflammation or injury is a hallmark of ionizing radiation. Natural radio-protectors are found in plant materials such as wheat germ oil, in addition to other dietary antioxidants, such as zinc. Objectives: The present study was designed to evaluate the amelioration of mRNA levels of Bax, bcl-2, p53 and caspase-3 in the liver of γ-irradiated rats treated with wheat germ oil, zinc sulphate and/or bone marrow. Methods: Animals were exposed to an acute single dose of 5Gy whole body irradiation of gamma radiation from Gamma-cell 40 (cesium-137) source. RNA was extracted from hepatic tissue homogenate and reverse transcribed into cDNA using RT-PCR kit. Results: A significant elevation was observed in hepatic level of mRNA of Bax and caspase 3, while levels of bcl-2 and p53 mRNA were decreased in irradiated rats as compared to control. A combination of bone marrow and wheat germ oil caused a significant reductions in hepatic mRNA levels of Bax and caspase 3 (3.1 and 1.5-fold, respectively), associated with a significant comparable elevation in hepatic mRNA level of p53 (2.7-fold), compared to the irradiated group. Conclusions: Results obtained from this study suggest that supplementation of wheat germ oil with either BM or zinc to irradiated rats down regulates the proapoptotic genes.

Research paper thumbnail of Trends in genetic divergence of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and Oreochromis niloticus fish in response to water quality of Lake Burullus, Egypt

Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries

Water quality of Lake Burullus was investigated through evaluating their impact on health and gen... more Water quality of Lake Burullus was investigated through evaluating their impact on health and genetic alterations of native Lake Burullus Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and Oreochromis niloticus fish samples and non-native ones exposed in simulating experiments for six weeks to lake-water/sediment from three lake sites; El-Hamoul, Mottobus and Sidi-Salem. Water in El-Hamoul and Sidi-Salem lake sites and their simulating experiments showed higher levels of total dissolved solids and conductivity while higher levels of Zn and Cd were recorded in their simulating experiments. Also, most of highest bioaccumulation levels in native and non-native samples were recorded in samples of either El-Hamoul or Sidi-Salem while Mottobus samples showed the least levels in most of water quality creiteria and bioaccumulation. Higher Cu bioaccumulation was observed in the native snails and in kidney of native Sidi-Salem fish samples while most non-native fish showed higher bioaccumulation in all organs. All snail hemolymph samples showed increase in granulocytes, decrease in hyalinocytes and total hemocytes while Hb decreased in native and slightly increased in non-native Sidi-Salem and El-Hamoul samples and vice versa in Mottobus. Fish blood showed highly significant increase in WBCs of native El-Hamoul and Sidi-Salem samples while samples of native and non-native Mottubus showed the highest Hb level. Genetic divergences were investigated by ISSR-PCR technique in snail and fish samples: native lake, non-native non-exposed (control), and non-natives of El-Hamoul, Sidi-Salem & Mottobus experiments. Results of PCR demonstrated 33 and 26 amplified bands of which 30 % and 35% were polymorphic among snail and fish samples, respectively. Cluster analysis using dendrograms based on genetic similarity matrices showed cluster between control, lake, and nonnative Mottobus groups; the non-native El-Hamoul sample was the most divergent followed by the non-native Sidi-Salem sample; indicating that water quality in Lake Burullus exerted divergence among snail and fish genomic DNA graded from El-Hamoul > Sidi-Salem > Mottobus samples.

Research paper thumbnail of Biochemical and histological assessment of some heavy metals on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and Oreochromis niloticus fish in Lake Burullus, Egypt

Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries

The quality of water in Lake Burullus was investigated to evaluate its effect on certain biochemi... more The quality of water in Lake Burullus was investigated to evaluate its effect on certain biochemical and histological aspects on Biomphalaria alexandrina snail and Oreochromis niloticus fish. The examined lake water quality criteria showed high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity (EC), and levels of Pb and Fe. Sites that adjacent to point of discharging of waste waters showed higher levels of heavy metals and the least levels in dissolved oxygen (DO). The results showed that most of the examined biochemical parameters indicated affected liver (high levels in AST, ALP & TP and alteration in glucose & urea levels). Samples of Bahr Tera site in El-Hamoul center and Shakhloba site in Sidi-Salem were the most affected, while samples of Prempal site in Mottobus center were the least. Snails' histopathological examination showed degeneration, edema, hyper trophy and vaculation in head-foot muscles, degeneration and necrotic changes in the digestive gland, irregular shape in mature ova and reduction in sperm number in hermaphrodite gland. As well, fish histopathological investigation illustrated by necrotic change in most examined organs, the common features were: fiber splitting in muscles, cognation of blood vessels of gill filaments, vacuolar degeneration in liver and atrophy in glomeruli and epithelial cells of renal tubules in kidney. It was concluded that Lake Burullus water quality in wastewater discharge areas, adversely affects B. alexandrina snails and O. niloticus fish, and both can be used as bio-indicators for the presence of pollutants in their habitats.

Research paper thumbnail of Molecular effects of Moringa leaf extract on insulin resistance and reproductive function in hyperinsulinemic male rats

Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Some Cytokines and Gene Expressions in Pre-eclampsia

Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences

Research paper thumbnail of Rice bran oil ameliorates hepatic insulin resistance by improving insulin signaling in fructose fed-rats

Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders

Research paper thumbnail of Rice Bran Oil Improves Insulin Resistance by Affecting the Expression of Antioxidants and Lipid-Regulatory Genes

Lipids, 2018

The present study investigated the molecular effects of rice bran oil (RBO) on lipid-regulatory g... more The present study investigated the molecular effects of rice bran oil (RBO) on lipid-regulatory genes (sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 [Srebf1] and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-α [Ppara]) and the expression of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD1) genes in insulin-resistant rats. Rats were divided into five groups: animals that received standard diet (control); rats fed standard diet containing RBO as the sole source of fat (RBO); a high-fructose diet (HFD) group, which was further divided into two subgroups: rats fed HFD either for only 1 month (HFD1) or for 2 months (HFD2) and rats fed HFD containing RBO for 1 month; while rats in the last group fed HFD for 30 days then treated with RBO for another 30 days. The HFD induced a state of insulin resistance (IR) as indicated by the hyperinsulinemia and elevated homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index. Hepatic lipid levels and radical scavenging enzymes were altered by the HFD. Lipid-reg...

Research paper thumbnail of Lycopene: an effective neuroprotective option against neurodeterioration induced by formaldehyde inhalation

Comparative Clinical Pathology, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Cellular response of blood and hepatic tissue to gamma irradiation

Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Improvement of hematopoietic and immunologic findings in sublethal gamma irradiated rats treated with bone marrow transplantation and wheat germ oil

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the wheat germ oil (WGO) and bone mar... more The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the wheat germ oil (WGO) and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in boosting the immuno response and protecting from oxidative stress in irradiated rats. BM was given by intravenous injection to male rats, one hour post gamma irradiation at the dose level of 5 Gy. Rats were orally administrated with 54 mg/Kg body wt of wheat germ oil daily for 2 weeks before irradiation. After 14 days, results revealed that total body irradiation induced significant decreases in RBCs, WBCs and lymphocytes, as well as Glutathione (GSH) and zinc superoxide dismutase (Zn/SOD), splenocyte count, bone marrow lymphocyte count and viability. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) also recorded significant decrease while interleukin 6 (IL-6) and lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehde (MDA) in serum and spleen were conversely elevated. In irradiated animals receiving BMT and WGO, values of MDA in serum and tissue were significantly depressed as compared with the irradiated group, while lymphocytes, bone marrow viability percentage, splenocytes percentage, IL-2, IL-6 and GSH were significantly elevated. The curative action of WGO enforcing significant innate response could trigger and augment adaptive immune response by BMT, thus protecting immune system from radiation induced damage as well as oxidative stress.

Research paper thumbnail of Improvement of Hematopoietic and Immunologic Findings in Sublethal Gamma Irradiated Rats Treated with Bone Marrow Transplantation and Wheat Germ Oil

Journal of Immune Based Therapies, Vaccines and Antimicrobials, 2015

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the wheat germ oil (WGO) and bone mar... more The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the wheat germ oil (WGO) and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in boosting the immuno response and protecting from oxidative stress in irradiated rats. BM was given by intravenous injection to male rats, one hour post gamma irradiation at the dose level of 5 Gy. Rats were orally administrated with 54 mg/Kg body wt of wheat germ oil daily for 2 weeks before irradiation. After 14 days, results revealed that total body irradiation induced significant decreases in RBCs, WBCs and lymphocytes, as well as Glutathione (GSH) and zinc superoxide dismutase (Zn/SOD), splenocyte count, bone marrow lymphocyte count and viability. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) also recorded significant decrease while interleukin 6 (IL-6) and lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehde (MDA) in serum and spleen were conversely elevated. In irradiated animals receiving BMT and WGO, values of MDA in serum and tissue were significantly depressed as compared with the irradiated group, while lymphocytes, bone marrow viability percentage, splenocytes percentage, IL-2, IL-6 and GSH were significantly elevated. The curative action of WGO enforcing significant innate response could trigger and augment adaptive immune response by BMT, thus protecting immune system from radiation induced damage as well as oxidative stress.

Research paper thumbnail of Amelioration of Insulin Resistance in Rats Treated with Rice Bran Oil

The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 2016

Background: insulin resistance (IR) is a pathological condition characterized by inadequate perip... more Background: insulin resistance (IR) is a pathological condition characterized by inadequate peripheral tissue metabolic response to circulating insulin. It plays pathophysiological role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). High dosage of fructose in the diet (60 g/100 g diet) may induce insulin resistance accompanied by deleterious metabolic consequences including hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Rice bran oil (RBO), is a rich source of antioxidants especially γ-oryzanol, αtocopherols and tocotrienols which contribute to high oxidative stability, longer shelf life than other edible oils and high antioxidant property against free radicals. The present work was undertaken to study if the addition of rice bran oil in rat's diets ameliorate the insulin resistance. Materials and methods: to achieve this target, plasma fasting glucose, serum insulin and calculated HOMA-IR, which assesse the presence of insulin resistance, was evaluated. Serum lipid profile (cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) and low-density lipoproteincholesterol (LDL) was also evaluated. In addition, the oxidative stress was assessed through hepatic malondialdehyd (MDA) as an oxidative biomarker and the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) was also estimated. Results: RBO ameliorated HOMA-IR, oxidative biomarker (MDA) and increased SOD activity. Conclusion: high fructose diet induced oxidative stress which lead to insulin resistance, this was ameliorated by addition of RBO.

Research paper thumbnail of Apoptotic genes expression in γ-irradiated rats treated with wheat germ oil, zinc and /or bone marrow

International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 2014

Background: Liver inflammation or injury is a hallmark of ionizing radiation. Natural radio-prote... more Background: Liver inflammation or injury is a hallmark of ionizing radiation. Natural radio-protectors are found in plant materials such as wheat germ oil, in addition to other dietary antioxidants, such as zinc. Objectives: The present study was designed to evaluate the amelioration of mRNA levels of Bax, bcl-2, p53 and caspase-3 in the liver of γ-irradiated rats treated with wheat germ oil, zinc sulphate and/or bone marrow. Methods: Animals were exposed to an acute single dose of 5Gy whole body irradiation of gamma radiation from Gamma-cell 40 (cesium-137) source. RNA was extracted from hepatic tissue homogenate and reverse transcribed into cDNA using RT-PCR kit. Results: A significant elevation was observed in hepatic level of mRNA of Bax and caspase 3, while levels of bcl-2 and p53 mRNA were decreased in irradiated rats as compared to control. A combination of bone marrow and wheat germ oil caused a significant reductions in hepatic mRNA levels of Bax and caspase 3 (3.1 and 1.5-fold, respectively), associated with a significant comparable elevation in hepatic mRNA level of p53 (2.7-fold), compared to the irradiated group. Conclusions: Results obtained from this study suggest that supplementation of wheat germ oil with either BM or zinc to irradiated rats down regulates the proapoptotic genes.

Research paper thumbnail of Trends in genetic divergence of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and Oreochromis niloticus fish in response to water quality of Lake Burullus, Egypt

Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries

Water quality of Lake Burullus was investigated through evaluating their impact on health and gen... more Water quality of Lake Burullus was investigated through evaluating their impact on health and genetic alterations of native Lake Burullus Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and Oreochromis niloticus fish samples and non-native ones exposed in simulating experiments for six weeks to lake-water/sediment from three lake sites; El-Hamoul, Mottobus and Sidi-Salem. Water in El-Hamoul and Sidi-Salem lake sites and their simulating experiments showed higher levels of total dissolved solids and conductivity while higher levels of Zn and Cd were recorded in their simulating experiments. Also, most of highest bioaccumulation levels in native and non-native samples were recorded in samples of either El-Hamoul or Sidi-Salem while Mottobus samples showed the least levels in most of water quality creiteria and bioaccumulation. Higher Cu bioaccumulation was observed in the native snails and in kidney of native Sidi-Salem fish samples while most non-native fish showed higher bioaccumulation in all organs. All snail hemolymph samples showed increase in granulocytes, decrease in hyalinocytes and total hemocytes while Hb decreased in native and slightly increased in non-native Sidi-Salem and El-Hamoul samples and vice versa in Mottobus. Fish blood showed highly significant increase in WBCs of native El-Hamoul and Sidi-Salem samples while samples of native and non-native Mottubus showed the highest Hb level. Genetic divergences were investigated by ISSR-PCR technique in snail and fish samples: native lake, non-native non-exposed (control), and non-natives of El-Hamoul, Sidi-Salem & Mottobus experiments. Results of PCR demonstrated 33 and 26 amplified bands of which 30 % and 35% were polymorphic among snail and fish samples, respectively. Cluster analysis using dendrograms based on genetic similarity matrices showed cluster between control, lake, and nonnative Mottobus groups; the non-native El-Hamoul sample was the most divergent followed by the non-native Sidi-Salem sample; indicating that water quality in Lake Burullus exerted divergence among snail and fish genomic DNA graded from El-Hamoul > Sidi-Salem > Mottobus samples.

Research paper thumbnail of Biochemical and histological assessment of some heavy metals on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and Oreochromis niloticus fish in Lake Burullus, Egypt

Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries

The quality of water in Lake Burullus was investigated to evaluate its effect on certain biochemi... more The quality of water in Lake Burullus was investigated to evaluate its effect on certain biochemical and histological aspects on Biomphalaria alexandrina snail and Oreochromis niloticus fish. The examined lake water quality criteria showed high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity (EC), and levels of Pb and Fe. Sites that adjacent to point of discharging of waste waters showed higher levels of heavy metals and the least levels in dissolved oxygen (DO). The results showed that most of the examined biochemical parameters indicated affected liver (high levels in AST, ALP & TP and alteration in glucose & urea levels). Samples of Bahr Tera site in El-Hamoul center and Shakhloba site in Sidi-Salem were the most affected, while samples of Prempal site in Mottobus center were the least. Snails' histopathological examination showed degeneration, edema, hyper trophy and vaculation in head-foot muscles, degeneration and necrotic changes in the digestive gland, irregular shape in mature ova and reduction in sperm number in hermaphrodite gland. As well, fish histopathological investigation illustrated by necrotic change in most examined organs, the common features were: fiber splitting in muscles, cognation of blood vessels of gill filaments, vacuolar degeneration in liver and atrophy in glomeruli and epithelial cells of renal tubules in kidney. It was concluded that Lake Burullus water quality in wastewater discharge areas, adversely affects B. alexandrina snails and O. niloticus fish, and both can be used as bio-indicators for the presence of pollutants in their habitats.

Research paper thumbnail of Molecular effects of Moringa leaf extract on insulin resistance and reproductive function in hyperinsulinemic male rats

Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Some Cytokines and Gene Expressions in Pre-eclampsia

Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences

Research paper thumbnail of Rice bran oil ameliorates hepatic insulin resistance by improving insulin signaling in fructose fed-rats

Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders

Research paper thumbnail of Rice Bran Oil Improves Insulin Resistance by Affecting the Expression of Antioxidants and Lipid-Regulatory Genes

Lipids, 2018

The present study investigated the molecular effects of rice bran oil (RBO) on lipid-regulatory g... more The present study investigated the molecular effects of rice bran oil (RBO) on lipid-regulatory genes (sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 [Srebf1] and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-α [Ppara]) and the expression of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD1) genes in insulin-resistant rats. Rats were divided into five groups: animals that received standard diet (control); rats fed standard diet containing RBO as the sole source of fat (RBO); a high-fructose diet (HFD) group, which was further divided into two subgroups: rats fed HFD either for only 1 month (HFD1) or for 2 months (HFD2) and rats fed HFD containing RBO for 1 month; while rats in the last group fed HFD for 30 days then treated with RBO for another 30 days. The HFD induced a state of insulin resistance (IR) as indicated by the hyperinsulinemia and elevated homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index. Hepatic lipid levels and radical scavenging enzymes were altered by the HFD. Lipid-reg...

Research paper thumbnail of Lycopene: an effective neuroprotective option against neurodeterioration induced by formaldehyde inhalation

Comparative Clinical Pathology, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Cellular response of blood and hepatic tissue to gamma irradiation

Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Improvement of hematopoietic and immunologic findings in sublethal gamma irradiated rats treated with bone marrow transplantation and wheat germ oil

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the wheat germ oil (WGO) and bone mar... more The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the wheat germ oil (WGO) and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in boosting the immuno response and protecting from oxidative stress in irradiated rats. BM was given by intravenous injection to male rats, one hour post gamma irradiation at the dose level of 5 Gy. Rats were orally administrated with 54 mg/Kg body wt of wheat germ oil daily for 2 weeks before irradiation. After 14 days, results revealed that total body irradiation induced significant decreases in RBCs, WBCs and lymphocytes, as well as Glutathione (GSH) and zinc superoxide dismutase (Zn/SOD), splenocyte count, bone marrow lymphocyte count and viability. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) also recorded significant decrease while interleukin 6 (IL-6) and lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehde (MDA) in serum and spleen were conversely elevated. In irradiated animals receiving BMT and WGO, values of MDA in serum and tissue were significantly depressed as compared with the irradiated group, while lymphocytes, bone marrow viability percentage, splenocytes percentage, IL-2, IL-6 and GSH were significantly elevated. The curative action of WGO enforcing significant innate response could trigger and augment adaptive immune response by BMT, thus protecting immune system from radiation induced damage as well as oxidative stress.