Aroona Razzaq - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Aroona Razzaq

Bailey's Industrial Oil and Fat Products

Journal of Virology

ORF4b was an accessory protein unique to MERS-CoV and was not present in SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 ... more ORF4b was an accessory protein unique to MERS-CoV and was not present in SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 which can also cause severe respiratory disease. Moreover, ORF4b inhibited the production of antiviral cytokines in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, which was likely to be associated with the high lethality of MERS-CoV.

Background: Emerging evidences suggest the critical role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in disease d... more Background: Emerging evidences suggest the critical role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in disease development especially in various cancers. However, the oncogenic role of circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still largely unknown.Methods: RNA sequencing was performed to identify significantly upregulated circRNAs in paired HCC and non-tumor tissues. CCK-8 assay, colony formation, transwell, and xenograft mouse models were used to investigate the role of circRNAs in HCC proliferation and metastasis. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to silence gene expression. RNA immunoprecipitation, biotin pull-down, RNA pull-down, luciferase reporter assay and western blot were used to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.Results: Hsa_circ_0095868, derived from exon 5 of the MDK gene (named circMDK), was identified as a new oncogenic circRNA that was significantly upregulated in HCC. The upregulation of circMDK was associated with the modification of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) an...

Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 2019

Peripheral nerve injury is a complex condition which results in restricted physical activity. Des... more Peripheral nerve injury is a complex condition which results in restricted physical activity. Despite the tremendous efforts to figure out effective remedies, the complete functional retrieval is still a goal to be achieved. So, the need of hour is the exploration of potential natural compounds to recover this functional loss. Here, we have investigated the role of a local plant "Neurada procumbens" in ameliorating the functional recovery after an induced nerve compression injury in a mouse model. A dose of N. procumbens (50mg/kg of body weight) was administered orally from the day of injury to onwards. The motor functional recovery was assessed by evaluating muscle grip strength and sciatic functional index; while the sensory functions were gauged by the hotplate test. The serological parameters were carried out to analyze the effect of N. procumbens on oxidative stress level. The recovery of sensory and motor functions was significantly improved and perceived earlier in ...

Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 2019

Peripheral nerve injury is a common condition with a multitude of signs and symptoms. The major c... more Peripheral nerve injury is a common condition with a multitude of signs and symptoms. The major consequence of injury is limited physical activity. Presently, we are lacking effective therapies for PNI and it is need of the hour is to explore potential remedies for the recovery of functional loss. Here, we have investigated the role of crude Cannabis sativa L. leaf powder in promoting functions recovery, in mouse model subjected to a traumatic sciatic nerve injury. A dose of 200mg/kg of the body weight per day was administered orally from the day of nerve crush till the end of the experiment. The motor functions were evaluated by measuring sciatic functional index, muscle grip strength and muscle mass; whereas the sensory functions were assessed by hotplate test. The haematology and serum analyses were carried out to estimate the effect of treatment on the systemic index and oxidative stress. The gain of motor functions was significantly improved and was early noticed in the treated...

Frontiers in Microbiology, 2021

COVID-19 is mainly associated with respiratory distress syndrome, but a subset of patients often ... more COVID-19 is mainly associated with respiratory distress syndrome, but a subset of patients often present gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Imbalances of gut microbiota have been previously linked to respiratory virus infection. Understanding how the gut–lung axis affects the progression of COVID-19 can provide a novel framework for therapies and management. In this study, we examined the gut microbiota of patients with COVID-19 (n = 47) and compared it to healthy controls (n = 19). Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we have identified four microorganisms unique in COVID-19 patients, namely Streptococcus thermophilus, Bacteroides oleiciplenus, Fusobacterium ulcerans, and Prevotella bivia. The abundances of Bacteroides stercoris, B. vulgatus, B. massiliensis, Bifidobacterium longum, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lachnospiraceae bacterium 5163FAA, Prevotella bivia, Erysipelotrichaceae bacterium 6145, and Erysipelotrichaceae bacterium 2244A were enriched in COVID-19 patients, whereas the...

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021

SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent responsible for the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2... more SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent responsible for the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The main protease of SARS-CoV-2, 3CLpro, is an attractive target for antiviral inhibitors due to its indispensable role in viral replication and gene expression of viral proteins. The search of compounds that can effectively inhibit the crucial activity of 3CLpro, which results to interference of the virus life cycle, is now widely pursued. Here, we report that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), an active ingredient of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), is a potent inhibitor of 3CLpro with half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.874 ± 0.005 μM. In the study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 123 cases of COVID-19 patients, and found three effective Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) prescriptions. Multiple strategies were performed to screen potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro from the active ingredients of TCMs, including network pharmacology, molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) binding assay and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based inhibition assay. The SPR assay showed good interaction between EGCG and 3CLpro with KD ~6.17 μM, suggesting a relatively high affinity of EGCG with SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. Our results provide critical insights into the mechanism of action of EGCG as a potential therapeutic agent against COVID-19.

Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2020

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of Ferula asafoetida (oleo gum resin powder) on sensory and motor... more Purpose: To evaluate the effect of Ferula asafoetida (oleo gum resin powder) on sensory and motor functions retrieval on an induced sciatic nerve injury in a mouse model.Methods: A mechanical crush was inserted in the sciatic nerve of all the experimental mice after acclimatization. The mice were allocated to four groups; one normal chow group (control, n = 7) and three Ferula asafoetida chow groups (each n = 7) of different doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg). Muscle grip strength, muscle mass, and sciatic functional index were measured to evaluate the motor function regain, while sensory function regain was assessed by hot plate test. Oxidative stress and glycemic levels were measured by biochemical assays.Results: The findings of this study indicate that Ferula asafoetida 200 mg/kg has a highly significant (p≤ 0.001) ameliorating effect in terms of improved grip strength (77.7 ± 5.4 % for 200 mg/kg vs. 46 ± 5.1 % for control), reversal of SFI towards normal ( -34 ± 8.1 for 200 mg/kg gr...

Food Science & Nutrition, 2020

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which... more This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2020

Background Peripheral nerve injury is a debilitating condition that may lead to partial or comple... more Background Peripheral nerve injury is a debilitating condition that may lead to partial or complete motor, sensory and autonomic function loss and lacks effective therapy until date. Therefore, it is quite imperative to explore impending remedies for rapid and accurate functional retrieval following such conditions. Natural product-based intervention can prove effective to facilitate the process of functions regain. Methods Here, we investigated the effect of processed Strychnos nux-vomica seeds at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight in a mouse model of induced Sciatic nerve lesion in promoting the recovery of the functions. A compression injury was induced in the Sciatic nerve of the right leg in the mice. Sensory function recovery was evaluated by hot-plate and formalin tests, whereas the motor function retrieval was assessed by measuring muscle grip strength, sciatic functional index, and muscle mass restoration. Oxidative stress and blood cell count were measured by biochemistry and...

Reviews in Medical Virology, 2020

The novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has spread glo... more The novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has spread globally to over 200 countries with more than 23 million confirmed cases and at least 800,000 fatalities as of 23 August 2020. Declared a pandemic on March 11 by World Health Organization, the disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), has become a global public health crisis that challenged all national healthcare systems. This review summarized the current knowledge about virologic and pathogenic characteristics of SARS‐CoV‐2 with emphasis on potential immunomodulatory mechanism and drug development. With multiple emerging technologies and cross‐disciplinary approaches proving to be crucial in our global response against COVID‐19, the application of PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras strategy, CRISPR‐Cas9 gene editing technology, and Single‐Nucleotide‐Specific Programmable Riboregulators technology in developing antiviral drugs and detecting infectious diseases are proposed here. We also discussed the available but still limited epidemiology of COVID‐19 as well as the ongoing efforts on vaccine development. In brief, we conducted an in‐depth analysis of the pathogenesis of SARS‐CoV‐2 and reviewed the therapeutic options for COVID‐19. We also proposed key research directions in the future that may help uncover more underlying molecular mechanisms governing the pathology of COVID‐19.

Journal of Food Biochemistry, 2019

Peripheral nerve injury is one of the major health concerns of the present era which can lead to ... more Peripheral nerve injury is one of the major health concerns of the present era which can lead to the long-lasting disability and even demise. Currently, no effective and side effect free remedy exists and exploration of effective therapeutic strategies to regain functional outcome is a need of hour. In the present study, we used BALB/c mice (N = 14 age, 10-12 weeks & weight 32-34 g) that were divided into two groups: Normal chow (n = 7) and Fennel chow (n = 7) group. Here, we have explored the role of crude Foeniculum vulgare mill seeds in promoting functional recovery following a mechanical insult to the sciatic nerve by an oral administration of a crude dose of 500 mg/kg BW. The recovery of both sensory and motor functions was significantly (p > .05) accelerated in the treatment group, assessed by behavioral analyses alongside total antioxidant capacity increase. Conclusively, F. vulgare can be a potential therapeutic candidate for accelerating functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The outcomes of study have vital practical application both for scientists and consumers. The therapeutic role of phytochemicals on functional recovery has not been explored yet. This study will help figure out plant based regimen as booster for brain health and intervention against traumatic nerve injuries. Moreover, it may also attract the food and pharmaceutical industries to formulate cost effective therapeutic products. Likewise, it can prove instrumental for scientists for advance research on this aspect with more mechanistic targets.

Lipids in Health and Disease, 2019

Brain is a vital organ of the human body which performs very important functions such as analysis... more Brain is a vital organ of the human body which performs very important functions such as analysis, processing, coordination, and execution of electrical signals. For this purpose, it depends on a complex network of nerves which are ensheathed in lipids tailored myelin; an abundant source of lipids in the body. The nervous system is enriched with important classes of lipids; sphingolipids and cholesterol which compose the major portion of the brain particularly in the form of myelin. Both cholesterol and sphingolipids are embedded in the microdomains of membrane rafts and are functional units of the neuronal cell membrane. These molecules serve as the signaling molecules; hold important roles in the neuronal differentiation, synaptogenesis, and many others. Thus, their adequate provision and active metabolism are of crucial importance in the maintenance of physiological functions of brain and body of an individual. In the present review, we have highlighted the physiological roles of cholesterol and sphingolipids in the development of the nervous system as well as the association of their altered metabolism to neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2019

Brain is a central and pivotal organ of human body containing the highest lipids content next to ... more Brain is a central and pivotal organ of human body containing the highest lipids content next to adipose tissue. It works as a monitor for the whole body and needs an adequate supply of energy to maintain its physiological activities. This high demand of energy in the brain is chiefly maintained by the lipids along with its reservoirs. Thus, the lipid metabolism is also an important for the proper development and function of the brain. Being a prominent part of the brain, lipids play a vast number of physiological activities within the brain starting from the structural development, impulse conduction, insulation, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, myelin sheath formation and finally to act as the signaling molecules. Interestingly, lipids bilayer also maintains the structural integrity for the physiological functions of protein. Thus, in light to all of these activities, lipids and its metabolism can be attributed pivotal for brain health and its activities. Decisively, the impaired/altered metabolism of lipids and its intermediates puts forward a key step in the progression of different brain ailments including neurodegenerative, neurological and neuropsychiatry disorders. Depending on their associated underlying pathways, they serve as the potential biomarkers of these disorders and are considered as necessary diagnostic tools. The present review discusses the role and level of altered lipids metabolism in brain diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, neurological diseases, and neuropsychiatric diseases. Moreover, the possible mechanisms of altered level of lipids and their metabolites have also been discussed in detail.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), Jan 2, 2018

Neurodegeneration is a progressive loss of neuronal cells in certain regions of the brain. Most o... more Neurodegeneration is a progressive loss of neuronal cells in certain regions of the brain. Most of the neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) share the communal characteristic such as damage or reduction of various cell types typically including astrocytes and microglial activity. Several compounds are being trialed to treat NDDs but they possess solitary symptomatic advantages along with copious side effects. The finding of more enthralling and captivating compounds to suspend and standstill the pathology of NDDs will be considered as a hallmark of present times. Phytochemicals possess the potential to alternate the synthetic line of therapy against NDDs. The present review explores the potential efficacy of plant-derived flavonoids against most common NDDs including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Flavonoids are biologically active phytochemicals which possess potential pharmacological effects, including antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-infla...

International journal of biological sciences, 2018

Neurodegenerative diseases are conventionally demarcated as disorders with selective loss of neur... more Neurodegenerative diseases are conventionally demarcated as disorders with selective loss of neurons. Conventional as well as newer molecules have been tested but they offer just symptomatic advantages along with abundant side effects. The discovery of more compelling molecules that can halt the pathology of these diseases will be considered as a miracle of present time. Several synthetic compounds are available but they may cause several other health issues. Therefore, natural molecules from the plants and other sources are being discovered to replace available medicines. In conventional medicational therapies, several plants have been reported to bestow remedial effects. Phytochemicals from medicinal plants can provide a better and safer alternative to synthetic molecules. Many phytochemicals have been identified that cure the human body from a number of diseases. The present article reviews the potential efficacy of plant-derived alkaloids, which possess potential therapeutic eff...

Clinical Neurophysiology, 2021

Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2022

With the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, coronaviruses have begun to attract great attention across the w... more With the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, coronaviruses have begun to attract great attention across the world. Of the known human coronaviruses, however, MERS-CoV is the most lethal. Coronavirus proteins can be divided into three groups: nonstructural proteins, structural proteins, and accessory proteins. While the number of each of these proteins varies greatly among different coronaviruses, accessory proteins are most closely related to the pathogenicity of the virus. We found for the first time that the ORF3 accessory protein of MERS-CoV, which closely resembles the ORF3a proteins of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, has the ability to induce apoptosis in cells in a dose-dependent manner. Although the functions of these three proteins are similar, the amino acid sequences and structures differ. Through bioinformatics analysis and validation, we revealed that ORF3 is an unstable protein, and has a shorter half-life in cells compared to that of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a proteins. After screening, we identified a host E3 ligase, HUWE1, that specifically induces MERS-CoV ORF3 protein ubiquitination and degradation through the ubiquitin proteasome system. This results in the diminished ability of ORF3 to induce apoptosis, which might partially explain the lower spread of MERS-CoV compared to other coronaviruses. In summary, this study reveals a pathological function of MERS-CoV ORF3 protein and identifies a potential host antiviral protein, HUWE1, with an ability to antagonize MERS-CoV pathogenesis by inducing ORF3 degradation, thus enriching our knowledge of the pathogenesis of MERS-CoV and suggesting new targets and strategies for clinical development of drugs for MERS-CoV treatment.

Molecules

Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases are characterized by the structural and functiona... more Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases are characterized by the structural and functional abnormalities of neurons in certain regions of the brain. These abnormalities, which can result in progressive neuronal degeneration and functional disability, are incurable to date. Although comprehensive efforts have been made to figure out effective therapies against these diseases, partial success has been achieved and complete functional recovery is still not a reality. At present, plants and plant-derived compounds are getting more attention because of a plethora of pharmacological properties, and they are proving to be a better and safer target as therapeutic interventions. This review aims to highlight the roles of tannins, ‘the polyphenol phytochemicals’, in tackling neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases as well as neuropsychiatric disorders like depression. Among the multifarious pharmacological properties of tannins, anti-oxidative, anti-i...

International Journal of Biological Sciences

Peripheral nerve injury is a complex condition with a variety of signs and symptoms such as numbn... more Peripheral nerve injury is a complex condition with a variety of signs and symptoms such as numbness, tingling, jabbing, throbbing, burning or sharp pain. Peripheral nerves are fragile in nature and can easily get damaged due to acute compression or trauma which may lead to the sensory and motor functions deficits and even lifelong disability. After lesion, the neuronal cell body becomes disconnected from the axon's distal portion to the injury site leading to the axonal degeneration and dismantlement of neuromuscular junctions of targeted muscles. In spite of extensive research on this aspect, complete functional recovery still remains a challenge to be resolved. This review highlights detailed pathophysiological events after an injury to a peripheral nerve and the associated factors that can either hinder or promote the regenerative machinery. In addition, it throws light on the available therapeutic strategies including supporting therapies, surgical and non-surgical interventions to ameliorate the axonal regeneration, neuronal survival, and reinnervation of peripheral targets. Despite the availability of various treatment options, we are still lacking the optimal treatments for a perfect and complete functional regain. The need for the present age is to discover or design such potent compounds that would be able to execute the complete functional retrieval. In this regard, plant-derived compounds are getting more attention and several recent reports validate their remedial effects. A plethora of plants and plant-derived phytochemicals have been suggested with curative effects against a number of diseases in general and neuronal injury in particular. They can be a ray of hope for the suffering individuals.

Bailey's Industrial Oil and Fat Products

Journal of Virology

ORF4b was an accessory protein unique to MERS-CoV and was not present in SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 ... more ORF4b was an accessory protein unique to MERS-CoV and was not present in SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 which can also cause severe respiratory disease. Moreover, ORF4b inhibited the production of antiviral cytokines in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, which was likely to be associated with the high lethality of MERS-CoV.

Background: Emerging evidences suggest the critical role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in disease d... more Background: Emerging evidences suggest the critical role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in disease development especially in various cancers. However, the oncogenic role of circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still largely unknown.Methods: RNA sequencing was performed to identify significantly upregulated circRNAs in paired HCC and non-tumor tissues. CCK-8 assay, colony formation, transwell, and xenograft mouse models were used to investigate the role of circRNAs in HCC proliferation and metastasis. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to silence gene expression. RNA immunoprecipitation, biotin pull-down, RNA pull-down, luciferase reporter assay and western blot were used to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.Results: Hsa_circ_0095868, derived from exon 5 of the MDK gene (named circMDK), was identified as a new oncogenic circRNA that was significantly upregulated in HCC. The upregulation of circMDK was associated with the modification of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) an...

Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 2019

Peripheral nerve injury is a complex condition which results in restricted physical activity. Des... more Peripheral nerve injury is a complex condition which results in restricted physical activity. Despite the tremendous efforts to figure out effective remedies, the complete functional retrieval is still a goal to be achieved. So, the need of hour is the exploration of potential natural compounds to recover this functional loss. Here, we have investigated the role of a local plant "Neurada procumbens" in ameliorating the functional recovery after an induced nerve compression injury in a mouse model. A dose of N. procumbens (50mg/kg of body weight) was administered orally from the day of injury to onwards. The motor functional recovery was assessed by evaluating muscle grip strength and sciatic functional index; while the sensory functions were gauged by the hotplate test. The serological parameters were carried out to analyze the effect of N. procumbens on oxidative stress level. The recovery of sensory and motor functions was significantly improved and perceived earlier in ...

Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 2019

Peripheral nerve injury is a common condition with a multitude of signs and symptoms. The major c... more Peripheral nerve injury is a common condition with a multitude of signs and symptoms. The major consequence of injury is limited physical activity. Presently, we are lacking effective therapies for PNI and it is need of the hour is to explore potential remedies for the recovery of functional loss. Here, we have investigated the role of crude Cannabis sativa L. leaf powder in promoting functions recovery, in mouse model subjected to a traumatic sciatic nerve injury. A dose of 200mg/kg of the body weight per day was administered orally from the day of nerve crush till the end of the experiment. The motor functions were evaluated by measuring sciatic functional index, muscle grip strength and muscle mass; whereas the sensory functions were assessed by hotplate test. The haematology and serum analyses were carried out to estimate the effect of treatment on the systemic index and oxidative stress. The gain of motor functions was significantly improved and was early noticed in the treated...

Frontiers in Microbiology, 2021

COVID-19 is mainly associated with respiratory distress syndrome, but a subset of patients often ... more COVID-19 is mainly associated with respiratory distress syndrome, but a subset of patients often present gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Imbalances of gut microbiota have been previously linked to respiratory virus infection. Understanding how the gut–lung axis affects the progression of COVID-19 can provide a novel framework for therapies and management. In this study, we examined the gut microbiota of patients with COVID-19 (n = 47) and compared it to healthy controls (n = 19). Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we have identified four microorganisms unique in COVID-19 patients, namely Streptococcus thermophilus, Bacteroides oleiciplenus, Fusobacterium ulcerans, and Prevotella bivia. The abundances of Bacteroides stercoris, B. vulgatus, B. massiliensis, Bifidobacterium longum, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lachnospiraceae bacterium 5163FAA, Prevotella bivia, Erysipelotrichaceae bacterium 6145, and Erysipelotrichaceae bacterium 2244A were enriched in COVID-19 patients, whereas the...

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021

SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent responsible for the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2... more SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent responsible for the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The main protease of SARS-CoV-2, 3CLpro, is an attractive target for antiviral inhibitors due to its indispensable role in viral replication and gene expression of viral proteins. The search of compounds that can effectively inhibit the crucial activity of 3CLpro, which results to interference of the virus life cycle, is now widely pursued. Here, we report that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), an active ingredient of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), is a potent inhibitor of 3CLpro with half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.874 ± 0.005 μM. In the study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 123 cases of COVID-19 patients, and found three effective Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) prescriptions. Multiple strategies were performed to screen potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro from the active ingredients of TCMs, including network pharmacology, molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) binding assay and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based inhibition assay. The SPR assay showed good interaction between EGCG and 3CLpro with KD ~6.17 μM, suggesting a relatively high affinity of EGCG with SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. Our results provide critical insights into the mechanism of action of EGCG as a potential therapeutic agent against COVID-19.

Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2020

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of Ferula asafoetida (oleo gum resin powder) on sensory and motor... more Purpose: To evaluate the effect of Ferula asafoetida (oleo gum resin powder) on sensory and motor functions retrieval on an induced sciatic nerve injury in a mouse model.Methods: A mechanical crush was inserted in the sciatic nerve of all the experimental mice after acclimatization. The mice were allocated to four groups; one normal chow group (control, n = 7) and three Ferula asafoetida chow groups (each n = 7) of different doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg). Muscle grip strength, muscle mass, and sciatic functional index were measured to evaluate the motor function regain, while sensory function regain was assessed by hot plate test. Oxidative stress and glycemic levels were measured by biochemical assays.Results: The findings of this study indicate that Ferula asafoetida 200 mg/kg has a highly significant (p≤ 0.001) ameliorating effect in terms of improved grip strength (77.7 ± 5.4 % for 200 mg/kg vs. 46 ± 5.1 % for control), reversal of SFI towards normal ( -34 ± 8.1 for 200 mg/kg gr...

Food Science & Nutrition, 2020

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which... more This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2020

Background Peripheral nerve injury is a debilitating condition that may lead to partial or comple... more Background Peripheral nerve injury is a debilitating condition that may lead to partial or complete motor, sensory and autonomic function loss and lacks effective therapy until date. Therefore, it is quite imperative to explore impending remedies for rapid and accurate functional retrieval following such conditions. Natural product-based intervention can prove effective to facilitate the process of functions regain. Methods Here, we investigated the effect of processed Strychnos nux-vomica seeds at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight in a mouse model of induced Sciatic nerve lesion in promoting the recovery of the functions. A compression injury was induced in the Sciatic nerve of the right leg in the mice. Sensory function recovery was evaluated by hot-plate and formalin tests, whereas the motor function retrieval was assessed by measuring muscle grip strength, sciatic functional index, and muscle mass restoration. Oxidative stress and blood cell count were measured by biochemistry and...

Reviews in Medical Virology, 2020

The novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has spread glo... more The novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has spread globally to over 200 countries with more than 23 million confirmed cases and at least 800,000 fatalities as of 23 August 2020. Declared a pandemic on March 11 by World Health Organization, the disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), has become a global public health crisis that challenged all national healthcare systems. This review summarized the current knowledge about virologic and pathogenic characteristics of SARS‐CoV‐2 with emphasis on potential immunomodulatory mechanism and drug development. With multiple emerging technologies and cross‐disciplinary approaches proving to be crucial in our global response against COVID‐19, the application of PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras strategy, CRISPR‐Cas9 gene editing technology, and Single‐Nucleotide‐Specific Programmable Riboregulators technology in developing antiviral drugs and detecting infectious diseases are proposed here. We also discussed the available but still limited epidemiology of COVID‐19 as well as the ongoing efforts on vaccine development. In brief, we conducted an in‐depth analysis of the pathogenesis of SARS‐CoV‐2 and reviewed the therapeutic options for COVID‐19. We also proposed key research directions in the future that may help uncover more underlying molecular mechanisms governing the pathology of COVID‐19.

Journal of Food Biochemistry, 2019

Peripheral nerve injury is one of the major health concerns of the present era which can lead to ... more Peripheral nerve injury is one of the major health concerns of the present era which can lead to the long-lasting disability and even demise. Currently, no effective and side effect free remedy exists and exploration of effective therapeutic strategies to regain functional outcome is a need of hour. In the present study, we used BALB/c mice (N = 14 age, 10-12 weeks & weight 32-34 g) that were divided into two groups: Normal chow (n = 7) and Fennel chow (n = 7) group. Here, we have explored the role of crude Foeniculum vulgare mill seeds in promoting functional recovery following a mechanical insult to the sciatic nerve by an oral administration of a crude dose of 500 mg/kg BW. The recovery of both sensory and motor functions was significantly (p > .05) accelerated in the treatment group, assessed by behavioral analyses alongside total antioxidant capacity increase. Conclusively, F. vulgare can be a potential therapeutic candidate for accelerating functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The outcomes of study have vital practical application both for scientists and consumers. The therapeutic role of phytochemicals on functional recovery has not been explored yet. This study will help figure out plant based regimen as booster for brain health and intervention against traumatic nerve injuries. Moreover, it may also attract the food and pharmaceutical industries to formulate cost effective therapeutic products. Likewise, it can prove instrumental for scientists for advance research on this aspect with more mechanistic targets.

Lipids in Health and Disease, 2019

Brain is a vital organ of the human body which performs very important functions such as analysis... more Brain is a vital organ of the human body which performs very important functions such as analysis, processing, coordination, and execution of electrical signals. For this purpose, it depends on a complex network of nerves which are ensheathed in lipids tailored myelin; an abundant source of lipids in the body. The nervous system is enriched with important classes of lipids; sphingolipids and cholesterol which compose the major portion of the brain particularly in the form of myelin. Both cholesterol and sphingolipids are embedded in the microdomains of membrane rafts and are functional units of the neuronal cell membrane. These molecules serve as the signaling molecules; hold important roles in the neuronal differentiation, synaptogenesis, and many others. Thus, their adequate provision and active metabolism are of crucial importance in the maintenance of physiological functions of brain and body of an individual. In the present review, we have highlighted the physiological roles of cholesterol and sphingolipids in the development of the nervous system as well as the association of their altered metabolism to neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2019

Brain is a central and pivotal organ of human body containing the highest lipids content next to ... more Brain is a central and pivotal organ of human body containing the highest lipids content next to adipose tissue. It works as a monitor for the whole body and needs an adequate supply of energy to maintain its physiological activities. This high demand of energy in the brain is chiefly maintained by the lipids along with its reservoirs. Thus, the lipid metabolism is also an important for the proper development and function of the brain. Being a prominent part of the brain, lipids play a vast number of physiological activities within the brain starting from the structural development, impulse conduction, insulation, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, myelin sheath formation and finally to act as the signaling molecules. Interestingly, lipids bilayer also maintains the structural integrity for the physiological functions of protein. Thus, in light to all of these activities, lipids and its metabolism can be attributed pivotal for brain health and its activities. Decisively, the impaired/altered metabolism of lipids and its intermediates puts forward a key step in the progression of different brain ailments including neurodegenerative, neurological and neuropsychiatry disorders. Depending on their associated underlying pathways, they serve as the potential biomarkers of these disorders and are considered as necessary diagnostic tools. The present review discusses the role and level of altered lipids metabolism in brain diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, neurological diseases, and neuropsychiatric diseases. Moreover, the possible mechanisms of altered level of lipids and their metabolites have also been discussed in detail.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), Jan 2, 2018

Neurodegeneration is a progressive loss of neuronal cells in certain regions of the brain. Most o... more Neurodegeneration is a progressive loss of neuronal cells in certain regions of the brain. Most of the neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) share the communal characteristic such as damage or reduction of various cell types typically including astrocytes and microglial activity. Several compounds are being trialed to treat NDDs but they possess solitary symptomatic advantages along with copious side effects. The finding of more enthralling and captivating compounds to suspend and standstill the pathology of NDDs will be considered as a hallmark of present times. Phytochemicals possess the potential to alternate the synthetic line of therapy against NDDs. The present review explores the potential efficacy of plant-derived flavonoids against most common NDDs including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Flavonoids are biologically active phytochemicals which possess potential pharmacological effects, including antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-infla...

International journal of biological sciences, 2018

Neurodegenerative diseases are conventionally demarcated as disorders with selective loss of neur... more Neurodegenerative diseases are conventionally demarcated as disorders with selective loss of neurons. Conventional as well as newer molecules have been tested but they offer just symptomatic advantages along with abundant side effects. The discovery of more compelling molecules that can halt the pathology of these diseases will be considered as a miracle of present time. Several synthetic compounds are available but they may cause several other health issues. Therefore, natural molecules from the plants and other sources are being discovered to replace available medicines. In conventional medicational therapies, several plants have been reported to bestow remedial effects. Phytochemicals from medicinal plants can provide a better and safer alternative to synthetic molecules. Many phytochemicals have been identified that cure the human body from a number of diseases. The present article reviews the potential efficacy of plant-derived alkaloids, which possess potential therapeutic eff...

Clinical Neurophysiology, 2021

Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2022

With the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, coronaviruses have begun to attract great attention across the w... more With the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, coronaviruses have begun to attract great attention across the world. Of the known human coronaviruses, however, MERS-CoV is the most lethal. Coronavirus proteins can be divided into three groups: nonstructural proteins, structural proteins, and accessory proteins. While the number of each of these proteins varies greatly among different coronaviruses, accessory proteins are most closely related to the pathogenicity of the virus. We found for the first time that the ORF3 accessory protein of MERS-CoV, which closely resembles the ORF3a proteins of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, has the ability to induce apoptosis in cells in a dose-dependent manner. Although the functions of these three proteins are similar, the amino acid sequences and structures differ. Through bioinformatics analysis and validation, we revealed that ORF3 is an unstable protein, and has a shorter half-life in cells compared to that of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a proteins. After screening, we identified a host E3 ligase, HUWE1, that specifically induces MERS-CoV ORF3 protein ubiquitination and degradation through the ubiquitin proteasome system. This results in the diminished ability of ORF3 to induce apoptosis, which might partially explain the lower spread of MERS-CoV compared to other coronaviruses. In summary, this study reveals a pathological function of MERS-CoV ORF3 protein and identifies a potential host antiviral protein, HUWE1, with an ability to antagonize MERS-CoV pathogenesis by inducing ORF3 degradation, thus enriching our knowledge of the pathogenesis of MERS-CoV and suggesting new targets and strategies for clinical development of drugs for MERS-CoV treatment.

Molecules

Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases are characterized by the structural and functiona... more Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases are characterized by the structural and functional abnormalities of neurons in certain regions of the brain. These abnormalities, which can result in progressive neuronal degeneration and functional disability, are incurable to date. Although comprehensive efforts have been made to figure out effective therapies against these diseases, partial success has been achieved and complete functional recovery is still not a reality. At present, plants and plant-derived compounds are getting more attention because of a plethora of pharmacological properties, and they are proving to be a better and safer target as therapeutic interventions. This review aims to highlight the roles of tannins, ‘the polyphenol phytochemicals’, in tackling neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases as well as neuropsychiatric disorders like depression. Among the multifarious pharmacological properties of tannins, anti-oxidative, anti-i...

International Journal of Biological Sciences

Peripheral nerve injury is a complex condition with a variety of signs and symptoms such as numbn... more Peripheral nerve injury is a complex condition with a variety of signs and symptoms such as numbness, tingling, jabbing, throbbing, burning or sharp pain. Peripheral nerves are fragile in nature and can easily get damaged due to acute compression or trauma which may lead to the sensory and motor functions deficits and even lifelong disability. After lesion, the neuronal cell body becomes disconnected from the axon's distal portion to the injury site leading to the axonal degeneration and dismantlement of neuromuscular junctions of targeted muscles. In spite of extensive research on this aspect, complete functional recovery still remains a challenge to be resolved. This review highlights detailed pathophysiological events after an injury to a peripheral nerve and the associated factors that can either hinder or promote the regenerative machinery. In addition, it throws light on the available therapeutic strategies including supporting therapies, surgical and non-surgical interventions to ameliorate the axonal regeneration, neuronal survival, and reinnervation of peripheral targets. Despite the availability of various treatment options, we are still lacking the optimal treatments for a perfect and complete functional regain. The need for the present age is to discover or design such potent compounds that would be able to execute the complete functional retrieval. In this regard, plant-derived compounds are getting more attention and several recent reports validate their remedial effects. A plethora of plants and plant-derived phytochemicals have been suggested with curative effects against a number of diseases in general and neuronal injury in particular. They can be a ray of hope for the suffering individuals.