Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences最新文献

Background

Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative ESBL-producers including Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are becoming a critical obstacle in the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds. Biogenesis of nanoparticles with plant phytochemicals is a strong alternative antimicrobial treatment. Tylophora indica, a medicinal plant native to South Asia and widely used in traditional medicine, has been reported to exhibit anticancer and antimicrobial activities.

Methods

This study focuses on green synthesis of silver-selenium nanoparticles called bimetallic Ag-Se nanozyme (TiAg-SeNZ) with T. indica aqueous extract. This valorized approach not only utilizes plant materials effectively, but also contributes to development of sustainable nanomaterial.

Results

Synthesized TiAg-SeNZ was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, DLS and zeta potential analyses. FESEM coupled with EDAX analyses of TiAg-SeNZ revealed a porous, quasi-spherical aggregated morphology with a silver-rich, AgCl-dominant bimetallic structure, with selenium incorporated in amorphous form within the phytochemical-rich organic matrix. Nanotoxicity assessment in Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryo demonstrated biocompatibility at ≤ 25 µg/ml. TiAg-SeNZ showed multipotent ability including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and strong antimicrobial activities in pathogenic E. coli and K. pneumoniae with MIC and MBC values ranging between 3 and 25 µg/ml and 6–50 µg/ml, respectively. Anti-biofilm activity reached up to approximately 85% at MIC concentration. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of T. indica derived TiAg-SeNZ for topical applications against ESBL-producing bacteria associated with diabetic wound infection. However, further biocompatibility and wound-healing studies are required to validate its therapeutic potential.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate the potential of sustainably engineered plant-based bimetallic Ag-Se nanozyme as functional nanomaterials for advanced biomedical applications. The study paves the way for the development of eco-conscious topical therapeutics for diabetic wound infections, aligning with global efforts in the development of sustainable healthcare materials.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable

Eco-pharmacovigilance (EPV) conventionally addresses the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals. However, extending EPV to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) necessitates evaluating a product life cycle that is deeply intertwined with natural ecosystems. This review investigates the environmental footprint of TCM through a ‘One Health’ lens. We systematically evaluated contamination pathways, including heavy metal accumulation in medicinal plants and pollutant mobilization facilitated by dissolved organic matter from extraction residues. Furthermore, we analyzed under-investigated risks, such as the environmental dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes, the endocrine-disrupting properties of specific herbal compounds, and the implications of climate change for the quality and safety of medicinal plants. To compile this evidence, a systematic literature search was conducted across multiple academic databases, primarily PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), covering publications up to May 2026. The search strategy utilized terms including ‘eco-pharmacovigilance’, ‘traditional Chinese medicine’, ‘One Health’, ‘heavy metals’, ‘medicinal plants’, ‘antibiotic resistance genes’, ‘endocrine-disrupting compounds’, ‘life cycle assessment’, ‘dissolved organic matter’, and ‘green manufacturing’, both individually and in combination. Following a rigorous screening process for relevance, methodological quality, and thematic scope, a total of 62 peer-reviewed references were included in this comprehensive analysis. Based on the synthesized data, this review identifies critical gaps in current EPV frameworks and proposes an integrated strategy combining mechanistic toxicology, climate resilience planning, green manufacturing technologies, and international regulatory cooperation to advance the ecological sustainability of TCM.

Graphical Abstract

Aim

To assess pre-treatment and post-treatment dental anxiety levels in patients undergoing restorative procedures using rubber dams.

Methods

A prospective observational pre-post study was conducted on 102 patients treated at the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics of a reputed private Dental College. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants. A pre-treatment questionnaire assessing baseline anxiety (MDAS) was administered before the procedure. The patients were then educated about the rubber dam kit and its clinical significance. At the end of the dental procedure, a post-treatment questionnaire was administered. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Descriptive statistics, mean calculation, Chi square test and Linear Regression analysis was performed.

Results

A total of 102 participants were included, comprising 52.0% males and 48.0% females. The mean pre-treatment MDAS score was 9.84 ± 4.54. Overall, 53.9% of participants demonstrated low anxiety, 40.2% moderate anxiety, and 5.9% high anxiety. Female participants reported significantly greater tenderness-related anxiety during rubber dam placement and removal. Occupation showed significant associations with anxiety measures (p < 0.05), with unemployed participants exhibiting higher anxiety than students and employed individuals. Multiple linear regression identified occupation as a significant predictor of dental anxiety (β = 0.250, p = 0.006), while age and gender were not significant predictors. Verbal explanation of the rubber dam procedure improved treatment acceptance and reduced anxiety among participants

Conclusion

Within the limitations of the study, factors such as occupation influenced anxiety levels after rubber dam usage, and the results were statistically significant. Pressure or discomfort felt on the gums during the placement and removal of the rubber dam increases anxiety in patients. A verbal explanation of the rubber dam prior to treatment had a positive effect on treatment acceptance and reduced anxiety.

Background

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), earthworm (Dilong) has been used for over two millennia in clinical practice. However, most existing studies focus on individual bioactive components or specific diseases, and the broader landscape of global research on their pharmacological effects has remained largely unexplored.

Methods

This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of the pharmacological and therapeutic effects of earthworms (Dilong), aiming to identify current research hotspots, emerging trends, and collaborative networks (authors, institutions, countries) in this field. Data were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection and analyzed using Bibliometrix and CiteSpace.

Results

A total of 313 publications were identified for the period 1989–2024. The results showed a steady increase in the number of publications on the pharmacological and therapeutic effects of earthworms. More than 60% of the publications originated from Asia, with China the leading contributor (34.2%), followed by the United States. The most productive author was Prof. Edwin Cooper (University of California, Los Angeles; n = 16 publications, 566 citations). Keyword analysis revealed three major research clusters: characterization of bioactive proteins (notably lumbrokinase and antimicrobial peptides), mechanistic investigation of anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, and thrombolytic and cardiovascular applications. Current research hotspots center on the purification and functional characterization of earthworm-derived proteins, with high-impact studies increasingly incorporating advanced methodologies such as cryo-electron microscopy and nanoparticle-based delivery systems. Evidence for pharmacological effects derives predominantly from in vitro assays and animal models; robust clinical data remain limited.

Conclusion

This bibliometric analysis provides a systematic overview of the evolving research landscape in earthworm-based pharmacology, mapping key contributors, thematic clusters, and emerging trends from 1989 to 2024. The findings suggest that earthworm-derived compounds may exert diverse therapeutic effects, including thrombolysis, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities, though most evidence currently derives from preclinical studies. Future work should prioritize multicenter clinical trials, standardized quality control, comprehensive multi-omics characterization, exploration of nanodelivery systems, and One Health–oriented applications to accelerate translation from traditional use to evidence-based therapeutics.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable.

Background

Diabetes (DM) is a significant public health issue associated with the increased risk of male infertility. Brown seaweeds are excellent sources of bioactive compounds with multiple biological activities. This study investigates the protective mechanisms of brown alga Cystoseira myrica against the testicular lesion of diabetic animals.

Methods

DM was induced in male rats using a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Animals were fed a diet supplemented with 2% Cystosira for 60 days, concurrently with STZ administration. Blood and testis tissues were sampled for biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations.

Results

STZ treated animals showed significant decrease in serum testosterone, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities along with a significant elevation in malondialdehyde (MDA) level, indicating oxidative stress. However, Cystoseira supplementation to STZ diabetic animals significantly increased the above mentioned data and significantly reduced MDA level with respect to STZ treated group. Histological and ultrastructural evaluations revealed that Cystoseira ameliorated STZ-induced degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules and preserved spermatogenic cell integrity. Immunohistochemically, Cystoseira supplementation to STZ treated animals markedly upregulated PCNA and Bcl-2 expression while down regulating Bax, reflecting enhanced cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis, further supporting its potent antiapoptotic and cytoprotective efficacy. Consistently, AO/EB dual staining confirmed a decrease in apoptotic spermatogenic cells.

Conclusion

This study provides the first evidence that Cystoseira myrica protects against diabetes-induced testicular damage by enhancing antioxidant capacity, restoring hormonal balance, and regulating apoptotic signaling. These findings suggest that Cystoseira myrica represents a promising bioactive nutritional supplement for preserving spermatogenic function and mitigating male reproductive complications associated with diabetes.

The MGC803 cell line is a human gastric cancer model frequently used in cancer research. In this context, a combined in silico approach including 3D-QSAR modeling, ADMET analysis, network pharmacology, docking, molecular dynamics and ligand transport evaluations, was applied to design new antiproliferative molecules. A robust 3D-QSAR model with high predictive capacity (R² and Q²) was developed and used to design new compounds (PR1–PR4). After an ADMET screening, the putative biological targets of the non-toxic compounds were predicted using PharmMapper. A network pharmacology analysis identified several hub genes, of which HSP90AA1 had the highest degree value. Given its central role in stabilizing multiple oncogenic proteins involved in gastric cancer progression, as well as its suitability for structure-based studies, HSP90AA1 was selected for molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. In addition, molecular docking was performed on HSP90AA1 protein (1YET) in complex with the designed molecules (PR1-PR4), and their predicted binding behaviors were compared to both the most active molecule (M34) and the reference drug, geldanamycin. These results demonstrate a high predicted binding affinity and remarkable interaction profiles within the active site of the HSP90AA1. To further evaluate the dynamic stability of these complexes, we performed molecular dynamics simulations over a 100 ns period, thus confirming stable attachment modes and durable contact networks. The MM-PBSA approach demonstrated favorable binding free energies between the chosen PR4 ligand and the 1YET protein (-26.47 ± 2.89 kcal/mol). Finally, the ligand transport study showed that the PR4 ligand easily crosses tunnels 1 and 2 with optimal theoretical transport dynamics compared to the reference drug, geldanamycin (GA). This comprehensive computational method underlines the diverse potential of the examined molecules, identifying the most promising candidates for subsequent experimental validation against gastric cancer.

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a global threat to global public health, requiring innovative strategies to address antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens. The synergy between plant extracts, essential oils, phytocompounds, and antibiotics promises to be a viable solution to this grave issue.

Main body

In addition to the synergistic effects of plant extracts, essential oils, and phytocompounds, the current review described the main groups of phytochemicals that function as anti-bacterial agents. The mechanical and toxicological issues are also highlighted in the current review.

Conclusion

The most popular techniques examined in this review are checkerboard and time-kill tests. The synergistic actions of plant extracts, phytocompounds, and essential oils effectively reduced the drug’s minimal inhibitory concentration against both standard and clinical bacterial isolates. Each of the three complementary strategies-plant extracts, phytocompounds, and essential oils-was equally significant.

Purpose

Targeted nanocarriers are increasingly proposed to overcome therapeutic resistance and peritoneal recurrence in gastric cancer (GC), yet clinical translation remains limited and, in our reading, systematically over-promised. This review addresses three conflated questions: whether HER2, CLDN18.2, and EGFR function not only as disease targets but as reliable nanocarrier gateways; which delivery barriers are realistically engineerable rather than merely describable; and why preclinical efficacy has rarely advanced to clinical benefit despite a decade of activity.

Methods

A structured narrative search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar identified English-language literature (January 2014–April 2026) on GC nanocarriers, platforms, molecular targeting, trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov) and translational nanomedicine. From 1,247 records, 186 GC-relevant studies were retained and classified across evidentiary tiers, and re-read for what they omitted—untargeted controls, quantitative biodistribution, orthotopic or peritoneal-metastasis modelling, and molecular-subtype stratification.

Results

HER2-directed nanocarriers are constrained by intratumoral heterogeneity and dynamic target loss, with most positive data from uniformly HER2-high cell lines. CLDN18.2 offers stronger specificity but faces assay-dependent prevalence, tight-junction sequestration limiting ligand access, and accelerating antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) competition. EGFR remains exploratory, as antibody failure (EXPAND, REAL3) is unreconciled with nanocarrier reuse and normal-tissue expression imposes a toxicity ceiling. Across platforms, nanoformulation reproducibly improves tolerability but rarely enhances intratumoral delivery, often reflecting solubilizer removal rather than a true “nano-effect”. Progress is further limited by overreliance on subcutaneous xenografts and near-absent integration of subtype, route, and manufacturability.

Conclusion

GC nanomedicine should shift from platform enthusiasm to disease-specific translational discipline. Intraperitoneal nanocarriers for peritoneal metastasis carry the highest near-term potential, whereas heterogeneity-ignoring HER2 and ADC-ignoring CLDN18.2 monotherapy programmes, and the emphasis on multi-stimuli-responsive and exosome-based delivery, risk being overstated. Future studies require route-specific design, subtype-guided selection, targeted-versus-untargeted controls, quantitative biodistribution, orthotopic/peritoneal validation, and an agreed minimum translational dataset.

Background

The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has significantly reduced the effectiveness of conventional therapeutic regimens necessitating the discovery of novel drug targets and inhibitors.

Main Body

Recent bioinformatics-driven approaches for identifying putative inhibitors targeting essential mycobacterial proteins are comprehensively reviewed. Unlike previous reviews that tend to focus either on drug resistance mechanisms or drug discovery using computational approaches separately, this review integrates both aspects by linking genetic mutations associated with drug resistance and advanced computational approaches for anti-TB drug discovery. Integrative computational strategies including subtractive genomics, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning-based prioritisation are emphasised. These approaches enable the identification of pathogen specific targets with minimal homology with the host proteins. This review further highlights the importance of natural products, peptides and drug repurposing strategies in targeting MDR-TB. Computational pipelines have shown the potential to greatly speed up early-stage drug discovery while lowering related costs and time, despite the challenges. The benefits of combining multi-omics data with artificial intelligence to create strain-specific treatment approaches are further demonstrated by case-based insights. Furthermore, this review highlights the current challenges in translating computational predictions into experimental and clinical validation while providing future directions including AI/ML based drug discovery, network pharmacology, host-directed therapies, and personalized medicine.

Conclusion

Overall, this review underscores the critical role of bioinformatics in addressing the global burden of MDR-TB and highlights its transformative role in guiding next-generation anti-TB drug development.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable.

Background

Cleome droserifolia (Forssk.) Delile (Cleomaceae) is traditionally used in Egypt and other countries to manage a variety of diseases, including diabetes. Its antihyperglycemic effect is unconvincingly linked to its general antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. More specific antidiabetic mechanisms remain unexplored. In this context, fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3) is expressed by pancreatic islet beta cells; suppression of this protein has been shown to shield beta cells from lipotoxicity. This work investigates the possible relation of C. droserifolia bioactive components to FABP3 and its direct effects on pancreatic islets of a type 2 diabetes animal model.

Methods

Here, fractionated constituents of C. droserifolia were evaluated for their possible binding to FABP3 by in silico molecular docking. Four-week-old rats were fed a high-fat/high-fructose diet (HFHFD) mixed with aqueous or ethanolic extract of C. droserifolia for 16 weeks to investigate the effect on the glycemic and lipidemic states during the development of the diabetic model.

Results

Cleome droserifolia inhibited the progression of HFHFD-induced obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucose tolerance test, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Molecular docking results showed that many compounds of C. droserifolia, such as cleomaldeic acid, cleomeolide, luteolin, kaempferol, amblyone, and brachycarpone, can strongly bind onto FABP3 and occupy its binding pocket. In beta cells of rats, which concurrently fed HFHFD and C. droserifolia, fewer lipid droplets, immune cell infiltration, inflammatory, and apoptotic responses were observed.

Conclusion

Components of C. droserifolia competitively inhibit the binding of FABP3 with native fatty ligands, limiting lipid-induced deterioration of beta cells. The antidiabetic action of C. droserifolia can be attributed to this direct beneficial effect on pancreatic islet beta cells.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable.

Graphical abstract