Browsing by Author "Merghany, Rana M"

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Artemisia spp.: An Update on Its Chemical Composition, Pharmacological and Toxicological Profiles
(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2022-09) Sharifi-Rad, Javad; Herrera-Bravo, Jesús; Semwal, Prabhakar; Painuli, Sakshi; Badoni, Himani; Ezzat, Shahira M; Farid, Mai M; Merghany, Rana M; Aborehab, Nora M; Salem, Mohamed A; Sen, Surjit; Acharya, Krishnendu; Lapava, Natallia; Martorell, Miquel; Tynybekov, Bekzat; Calina, Daniela; Cho, William C
Artemisia plants are traditional and ethnopharmacologically used to treat several diseases and in addition in food, spices, and beverages. The genus is widely distributed in all continents except the Antarctica, and traditional medicine has been used as antimalarial, antioxidant, anticancer, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral agents. This review is aimed at systematizing scientific data on the geographical distribution, chemical composition, and pharmacological and toxicological profiles of the Artemisia genus. Data from the literature on Artemisia plants were taken using electronic databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Selected papers for this updated study included data about phytochemicals, preclinical pharmacological experimental studies with molecular mechanisms included, clinical studies, and toxicological and safety data. In addition, ancient texts and books were consulted. The essential oils and phytochemicals of the Artemisia genus have reported important biological activities, among them the artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone, with antimalarial activity. Artemisia absinthium L. is one of the most famous Artemisia spp. due to its use in the production of the absinthe drink which is restricted in most countries because of neurotoxicity. The analyzed studies confirmed that Artemisia plants have many traditional and pharmacological applications. However, scientific data are limited to clinical and toxicological research. Therefore, further research is needed on these aspects to understand the full therapeutic potential and molecular pharmacological mechanisms of this medicinal species.
Nutritional Sources and Anticancer Potential of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Insights
(Wiley-VCH Verlag, 2024-04) Ezzat, Shahira M; Merghany, Rana M; Abdel Baki, Passent M; Abdelrahim, Nariman Ali; Osman, Sohaila M; Salem, Mohamed A; Peña-Corona, Sheila I; Cortés, Hernán; Kiyekbayeva, Lashyn; Leyva-Gómez, Gerardo; Sharifi-Rad, Javad; Calina, Daniela
Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, has garnered attention for its anticancer properties. This review synthesizes existing research on PEITC, focusing on its mechanisms of action in combatting cancer. PEITC has been found to be effective against various cancer types, such as breast, prostate, lung, colon, and pancreatic cancers. Its anticancer activities are mediated through several mechanisms, including the induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death), inhibition of cell proliferation, suppression of angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels that feed tumors), and reduction of metastasis (spread of cancer cells to new areas). PEITC targets crucial cellular signaling pathways involved in cancer progression, notably the Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), Protein Kinase B (Akt), and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways. These findings suggest PEITC's potential as a therapeutic agent against cancer. However, further research is necessary to determine the optimal dosage, understand its bioavailability, and assess potential side effects. This will be crucial for developing PEITC-based treatments that are both effective and safe for clinical use in cancer therapy.
Semiochemicals: A Green Approach to Pest and Disease Control
(Elsevier, 2019-11) Ezzat, Shahira M; Merghany, Rana M; Akram, Muhammad; Daniyal, Muhammad
Chemical signaling among insects play a key role in their survival and facing up different environmental conditions, by modifying their physiology or behavior. Insects use semiochemicals (a group of organic compounds) to transmit these chemical messages over long distances that help them in surviving, through locating a host, mate, and food and beating a host defense system or a natural enemy. Semiochemicals, a term derived from the Greek word (semeion) meaning a signal, differs in their molecular weights according to their carbon chain. Semiochemical usage would be effective in pest control through these strategies: recognizing the insidious species, selecting the suitable timing for the insecticide usage, assessing a post-application evaluation, improving of traditional methods used in pest control, increasing the rates of predators and parasitoids, putting into consideration at least one of the techniques developed that are used in pest control like attract and kill, mating disruption, mass trapping, or repellency techniques.
Thymelaea genus: Ethnopharmacology, Chemodiversity, and Bioactivities
(Elsevier, 6/14/2021) Marmouzi, Ilias; Bouchmaa, Najat; Kharbach, Mourad; Ezzat, Shahira M; Merghany, Rana M; Berkiksh, Inssaf; El Jemli, Meryem
Thymelaea (F. Thymelaeaceae) is a large genus comprising around 30 species of evergreen and flowering plants. Most of them are native to the Mediterranean area. Despite its interesting chemical diversity and potent activities, there is still a lack of information about the characterization of its chemistry and mecha- nisms of action. This review aims to highlight the chemical and biological profiles of different Thymelaea spe- cies along with their Ethnopharmacology. In general, Thymelaea species possess potent anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antioxidant activities. The pharmacology of the different plants is due to their remarkable active ingredients that vary from daphnane diterpenes, lignans, flavonoids, and phenolic acids to volatile oils. From ethnopharmacology to preclinical evidence, Thymelaea species dem- onstrated a unique chemical profile with potent bioactivities. However, until now, there is a lack of informa- tion about their toxicological and clinical controlled trials, and so this review may give attention to more clinical trials to be proceeded on Thymelaea species.
Urtica dioica-Derived Phytochemicals for Pharmacological and Therapeutic Applications
(Hindawi, 2022-02) Taheri, Yasaman; Quispe, KCristina; Herrera-Bravo, Jesu´s; Sharifi-Rad, Javad; Ezzat, Shahira M; Merghany, Rana M; Shaheen, Shabnum; Azmi, Lubna; Mishra, Abhay Prakash; Sener, Bilge; Kılıç, Mehtap; Sen, Surjit; Acharya, Krishnendu; Nasiri, Azadeh; Cruz-Martins, Nata´lia; Fokou, Patrick Valere Tsouh; Ydyrys, Alibek; Bassygarayev, Zhandos; Das¸an, Sevgi Durna; Alshehri, Mohammed M; Calina, Daniela; Cho, William C
Urtica dioica belongs to the Urticaceae family and is found in many countries around the world. 1is plant contains a broad range of phytochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, sterols, fatty acids, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and lignans, that have been widely reported for their excellent pharmacological activities, including antiviral, antimicrobial, antihelmintic, anticancer, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antiarthritis, antidiabetic, antiendometriosis, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiaging effects. In this regard, this review highlights fresh insight into the medicinal use, chemical composition, pharmacological properties, and safety profile of U. dioica to guide future works to thoroughly estimate their clinical value.