Zohara Nafeesa - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Zohara Nafeesa

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2015

Coagulation is an important physiological process in hemostasis which is activated by sequential ... more Coagulation is an important physiological process in hemostasis which is activated by sequential action of proteases. This study aims to understand the involvement of aqueous fruit extract of Cucumis sativus L. (AqFEC) European burp less variety in blood coagulation cascade. AqFEC hydrolyzed casein in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of protease activity was further confirmed by casein zymography which revealed the possible presence of two high molecular weight protease(s). The proteolytic activity was inhibited only by phenyl methyl sulphonyl fluoride suggesting the presence of serine protease(s). In a dose-dependent manner, AqFEC also hydrolysed Aα and Bβ subunits of fibrinogen, whereas it failed to degrade the γ subunit of fibrinogen even at a concentration as high as 100 μg and incubation time up to 4 h. AqFEC reduced the clotting time of citrated plasma by 87.65 %. The protease and fibrinogenolytic activity of AqFEC suggests its possible role in stopping the bleeding and ensuing wound healing process.

Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2017

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The latex of Ervatamia heyneana (Wall.) T. Cooke plant has been us... more ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The latex of Ervatamia heyneana (Wall.) T. Cooke plant has been used for wound healing and various skin diseases by Indian tribes and folklore. AIM OF THE STUDY To validate the scientific basis of heynein - a key protease of Ervatamia heyneana, in hemostasis and wound healing process. MATERIALS AND METHODS The latex from E. heyneana was processed and subjected to two step purification. The purified heynein was assayed for proteolytic activity using casein as substrate and also attested by zymography. The inhibition studies confirmed the nature of heynein. Pure fibrinogen was used for fibrinogenolytic activity and citrated plasma was used for coagulant and fibrinolytic activities. The edema inducing action and hemorrhagic activity of heynein were assessed on mice model. RESULTS The purified heynein exhibited proteolytic activity, which was confirmed by caseinolytic assay and zymography. The inhibition studies confirmed heynein to be a cysteine protease....

Traditionally, different parts of plants such as bark, stem, and leaves have been used in wound h... more Traditionally, different parts of plants such as bark, stem, and leaves have been used in wound healing. Around 10% of the angiosperm plants produce a natural polymer from specialized laticiferous cells called latex. The major role played by the latex is in wound healing and defensive mechanism against infectious diseases in plants. In the past 20 y, with biochemical and pharmacological characterization of plant latex it has come to light that proteases are involved in wound healing. Some have been extensively studied with characterization while some are yet to be explored. This review conglomerates the reports of different families of laticiferous plants studied scientifically for wound care. The review also emphasizes on the methodology to be adopted in accessing the proteases studied for procoagulant and thrombolytic activities. Emphasis was given on the all possible reports on laticiferous plants in wound healing with thorough literature survey from sources viz., PubMed and Goog...

Toxin Reviews, 2020

An unusual low molecular weight serine protease (NnP28) has been purified from Indian Cobra (Naja... more An unusual low molecular weight serine protease (NnP28) has been purified from Indian Cobra (Naja naja) venom from the western region of the Indian sub-continent. We reported the purification and c...

Upon examination of the fruit extract of Cucumis sativus L. for its pharmacological benefits, it ... more Upon examination of the fruit extract of Cucumis sativus L. for its pharmacological benefits, it was previously observed that it has potential proteolytic, fibrinogenolytic and procoagulant activities. These properties can be attributed to the presence of the protease. In this regard, the present study comprised of purification and characterization of protease. Purification of the enzyme involved ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. The purified cucumis protease (CPro) exhibits homogeneity as attested by SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC with a retention time of 14.246 min with molecular mass ~75.3 kDa. CPro was identified as a glycoprotein and serine protease. Azocasein is the preferred substrate for CPro as it showed low Km value of 0.3809 mg/ml. Purified CPro exhibits optimum activity at 37 °C and pH 8. CPro shows its involvement in hemostasis—the very first step in wound healing. CPro degrades the subunits of human fibrinogen in the order...

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

Context: Since antiquity, different parts of plants such as bark, stem and leaves have been used ... more Context: Since antiquity, different parts of plants such as bark, stem and leaves have been used in wound healing. Around 10% of the angiosperm plants produce a natural polymer from specialized laticiferous cells called latex. The major role played by the latex is in wound healing and defensive mechanism against infectious diseases in plants. Objective: This paper emphasizes the role of various plant latex proteases in wound healing. The review also emphasizes on the methodology to be adopted in accessing the proteases studied for procoagulant and thrombolytic activities. Methods: This review conglomerates the reports of laticiferous plants of different families viz., Altingiaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apocyanaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Asteraceae, Caricaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae, Moraceae, Papaveraceae, Plumbaginaceae, and Solanaceae involved in wound healing. Emphasis was given on the all possible reports on laticiferous plants in wound healing with thorough literature...

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015

Turmeric rhizome is a traditional herbal medicine, which has been widely used as a remedy to stop... more Turmeric rhizome is a traditional herbal medicine, which has been widely used as a remedy to stop bleeding on fresh cuts and for wound healing by the rural and tribal population of India. To validate scientific and therapeutic application of turmeric rhizomes to stop bleeding on fresh cuts and its role in wound healing process. The water extracts of thoroughly scrubbed and washed turmeric rhizomes viz., Curcuma aromatica Salisb., Curcuma longa L., Curcuma caesia Roxb., Curcuma amada Roxb. and Curcuma zedoria (Christm.) Roscoe. were subjected to salting out and dialysis. The dialyzed crude enzyme fractions (CEFs) were assessed for proteolytic activity using casein as substrate and were also confirmed by caseinolytic zymography. Its coagulant activity and fibrinogenolytic activity were assessed using human citrated plasma and fibrinogen, respectively. The type of protease(s) in CEFs was confirmed by inhibition studies using specific protease inhibitors. The CEFs of C. aromatica, C. longa and C. caesia showed 1.89, 1.21 and 1.07 folds higher proteolytic activity, respectively, compared to papain. In contrast to these, C. amada and C. zedoria exhibited moderate proteolytic activity. CEFs showed low proteolytic activities compared to trypsin. The proteolytic activities of CEFs were confirmed by caseinolytic zymography. The CEFs of C. aromatica, C. longa and C. caesia showed complete hydrolysis of Aα, Bβ and γ subunits of human fibrinogen, while C. amada and C. zedoria showed partial hydrolysis. The CEFs viz., C. aromatica, C. longa, C. caesia, C. amada and C. zedoria exhibited strong procoagulant activity by reducing the human plasma clotting time from 172s (Control) to 66s, 84s 88s, 78s and 90s, respectively. The proteolytic activity of C. aromatica, C. longa, C. caesia and C. amada was inhibited (>82%) by PMSF, suggesting the possible presence of a serine protease(s). However, C. zedoria showed significant inhibition (60%) against IAA and moderate inhibition (30%) against PMSF, indicating the presence of cysteine and serine protease(s). The CEFs of turmeric species exhibited strong procoagulant activity associated with fibrinogenolytic activity. This study provides the scientific credence to turmeric in its propensity to stop bleeding and wound healing process practiced by traditional Indian medicine.

Abstract Coagulation is an important physiological process in hemostasis which is activated by se... more Abstract Coagulation is an important physiological process in hemostasis which is activated
by sequential action of proteases. This study aims to understand the involvement of aqueous
fruit extract of Cucumis sativus L. (AqFEC) European burp less variety in blood coagulation
cascade. AqFEC hydrolyzed casein in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of protease
activity was further confirmed by casein zymography which revealed the possible presence of
two high molecular weight protease(s). The proteolytic activity was inhibited only by phenyl
methyl sulphonyl fluoride suggesting the presence of serine protease(s). In a dose-dependent
manner, AqFEC also hydrolysed Aα and Bβ subunits of fibrinogen, whereas it failed to
degrade the γ subunit of fibrinogen even at a concentration as high as 100 μg and incubation
time up to 4 h. AqFEC reduced the clotting time of citrated plasma by 87.65 %. The protease
and fibrinogenolytic activity of AqFEC suggests its possible role in stopping the bleeding and
ensuing wound healing process.
Keywords Coagulation . Cucumis sativus . Fibrinogenolytic activity. Procoagulating activity.
Protease . Zymogram

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2015

Coagulation is an important physiological process in hemostasis which is activated by sequential ... more Coagulation is an important physiological process in hemostasis which is activated by sequential action of proteases. This study aims to understand the involvement of aqueous fruit extract of Cucumis sativus L. (AqFEC) European burp less variety in blood coagulation cascade. AqFEC hydrolyzed casein in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of protease activity was further confirmed by casein zymography which revealed the possible presence of two high molecular weight protease(s). The proteolytic activity was inhibited only by phenyl methyl sulphonyl fluoride suggesting the presence of serine protease(s). In a dose-dependent manner, AqFEC also hydrolysed Aα and Bβ subunits of fibrinogen, whereas it failed to degrade the γ subunit of fibrinogen even at a concentration as high as 100 μg and incubation time up to 4 h. AqFEC reduced the clotting time of citrated plasma by 87.65 %. The protease and fibrinogenolytic activity of AqFEC suggests its possible role in stopping the bleeding and ensuing wound healing process.

Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2017

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The latex of Ervatamia heyneana (Wall.) T. Cooke plant has been us... more ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The latex of Ervatamia heyneana (Wall.) T. Cooke plant has been used for wound healing and various skin diseases by Indian tribes and folklore. AIM OF THE STUDY To validate the scientific basis of heynein - a key protease of Ervatamia heyneana, in hemostasis and wound healing process. MATERIALS AND METHODS The latex from E. heyneana was processed and subjected to two step purification. The purified heynein was assayed for proteolytic activity using casein as substrate and also attested by zymography. The inhibition studies confirmed the nature of heynein. Pure fibrinogen was used for fibrinogenolytic activity and citrated plasma was used for coagulant and fibrinolytic activities. The edema inducing action and hemorrhagic activity of heynein were assessed on mice model. RESULTS The purified heynein exhibited proteolytic activity, which was confirmed by caseinolytic assay and zymography. The inhibition studies confirmed heynein to be a cysteine protease....

Traditionally, different parts of plants such as bark, stem, and leaves have been used in wound h... more Traditionally, different parts of plants such as bark, stem, and leaves have been used in wound healing. Around 10% of the angiosperm plants produce a natural polymer from specialized laticiferous cells called latex. The major role played by the latex is in wound healing and defensive mechanism against infectious diseases in plants. In the past 20 y, with biochemical and pharmacological characterization of plant latex it has come to light that proteases are involved in wound healing. Some have been extensively studied with characterization while some are yet to be explored. This review conglomerates the reports of different families of laticiferous plants studied scientifically for wound care. The review also emphasizes on the methodology to be adopted in accessing the proteases studied for procoagulant and thrombolytic activities. Emphasis was given on the all possible reports on laticiferous plants in wound healing with thorough literature survey from sources viz., PubMed and Goog...

Toxin Reviews, 2020

An unusual low molecular weight serine protease (NnP28) has been purified from Indian Cobra (Naja... more An unusual low molecular weight serine protease (NnP28) has been purified from Indian Cobra (Naja naja) venom from the western region of the Indian sub-continent. We reported the purification and c...

Upon examination of the fruit extract of Cucumis sativus L. for its pharmacological benefits, it ... more Upon examination of the fruit extract of Cucumis sativus L. for its pharmacological benefits, it was previously observed that it has potential proteolytic, fibrinogenolytic and procoagulant activities. These properties can be attributed to the presence of the protease. In this regard, the present study comprised of purification and characterization of protease. Purification of the enzyme involved ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. The purified cucumis protease (CPro) exhibits homogeneity as attested by SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC with a retention time of 14.246 min with molecular mass ~75.3 kDa. CPro was identified as a glycoprotein and serine protease. Azocasein is the preferred substrate for CPro as it showed low Km value of 0.3809 mg/ml. Purified CPro exhibits optimum activity at 37 °C and pH 8. CPro shows its involvement in hemostasis—the very first step in wound healing. CPro degrades the subunits of human fibrinogen in the order...

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

Context: Since antiquity, different parts of plants such as bark, stem and leaves have been used ... more Context: Since antiquity, different parts of plants such as bark, stem and leaves have been used in wound healing. Around 10% of the angiosperm plants produce a natural polymer from specialized laticiferous cells called latex. The major role played by the latex is in wound healing and defensive mechanism against infectious diseases in plants. Objective: This paper emphasizes the role of various plant latex proteases in wound healing. The review also emphasizes on the methodology to be adopted in accessing the proteases studied for procoagulant and thrombolytic activities. Methods: This review conglomerates the reports of laticiferous plants of different families viz., Altingiaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apocyanaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Asteraceae, Caricaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae, Moraceae, Papaveraceae, Plumbaginaceae, and Solanaceae involved in wound healing. Emphasis was given on the all possible reports on laticiferous plants in wound healing with thorough literature...

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015

Turmeric rhizome is a traditional herbal medicine, which has been widely used as a remedy to stop... more Turmeric rhizome is a traditional herbal medicine, which has been widely used as a remedy to stop bleeding on fresh cuts and for wound healing by the rural and tribal population of India. To validate scientific and therapeutic application of turmeric rhizomes to stop bleeding on fresh cuts and its role in wound healing process. The water extracts of thoroughly scrubbed and washed turmeric rhizomes viz., Curcuma aromatica Salisb., Curcuma longa L., Curcuma caesia Roxb., Curcuma amada Roxb. and Curcuma zedoria (Christm.) Roscoe. were subjected to salting out and dialysis. The dialyzed crude enzyme fractions (CEFs) were assessed for proteolytic activity using casein as substrate and were also confirmed by caseinolytic zymography. Its coagulant activity and fibrinogenolytic activity were assessed using human citrated plasma and fibrinogen, respectively. The type of protease(s) in CEFs was confirmed by inhibition studies using specific protease inhibitors. The CEFs of C. aromatica, C. longa and C. caesia showed 1.89, 1.21 and 1.07 folds higher proteolytic activity, respectively, compared to papain. In contrast to these, C. amada and C. zedoria exhibited moderate proteolytic activity. CEFs showed low proteolytic activities compared to trypsin. The proteolytic activities of CEFs were confirmed by caseinolytic zymography. The CEFs of C. aromatica, C. longa and C. caesia showed complete hydrolysis of Aα, Bβ and γ subunits of human fibrinogen, while C. amada and C. zedoria showed partial hydrolysis. The CEFs viz., C. aromatica, C. longa, C. caesia, C. amada and C. zedoria exhibited strong procoagulant activity by reducing the human plasma clotting time from 172s (Control) to 66s, 84s 88s, 78s and 90s, respectively. The proteolytic activity of C. aromatica, C. longa, C. caesia and C. amada was inhibited (>82%) by PMSF, suggesting the possible presence of a serine protease(s). However, C. zedoria showed significant inhibition (60%) against IAA and moderate inhibition (30%) against PMSF, indicating the presence of cysteine and serine protease(s). The CEFs of turmeric species exhibited strong procoagulant activity associated with fibrinogenolytic activity. This study provides the scientific credence to turmeric in its propensity to stop bleeding and wound healing process practiced by traditional Indian medicine.

Abstract Coagulation is an important physiological process in hemostasis which is activated by se... more Abstract Coagulation is an important physiological process in hemostasis which is activated
by sequential action of proteases. This study aims to understand the involvement of aqueous
fruit extract of Cucumis sativus L. (AqFEC) European burp less variety in blood coagulation
cascade. AqFEC hydrolyzed casein in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of protease
activity was further confirmed by casein zymography which revealed the possible presence of
two high molecular weight protease(s). The proteolytic activity was inhibited only by phenyl
methyl sulphonyl fluoride suggesting the presence of serine protease(s). In a dose-dependent
manner, AqFEC also hydrolysed Aα and Bβ subunits of fibrinogen, whereas it failed to
degrade the γ subunit of fibrinogen even at a concentration as high as 100 μg and incubation
time up to 4 h. AqFEC reduced the clotting time of citrated plasma by 87.65 %. The protease
and fibrinogenolytic activity of AqFEC suggests its possible role in stopping the bleeding and
ensuing wound healing process.
Keywords Coagulation . Cucumis sativus . Fibrinogenolytic activity. Procoagulating activity.
Protease . Zymogram