Ayat M. Emad

The Cucurbitaceae family includes several edible species that are consumed globally as fruits and vegetables. These species produce high volumes of seeds that are often discarded as waste. In this study, we investigate the chemical composition and biological activity of three seed oils from Cucurbitaceae plants, namely, cantaloupe, honeydew, and zucchini, in comparison to the widely used pumpkin seed oil for their ability to enhance and accelerate wound healing in rats. Our results showed that honeydew seed oil (HSO) was effective in accelerating wound closure and enhancing tissue repair, as indicated by macroscopic, histological, and biochemical analyses, as compared with pumpkin seed oil (PSO). This effect was mediated by down-regulation of the advanced glycation end products (AGE) and its receptor (RAGE) cue, activating the cytoprotective enzymes nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), suppressing the inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), and reducing the levels of the skin integral signaling protein connexin (CX)-43. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining for epidermal growth factor (EGF) showed the lowest expression in the skin after treatment with HSO, indicating a well-organized and complete healing process. Other seed oils from cantaloupe and zucchini exhibited favorable activity when compared with untreated rats; however, their efficacy was comparatively lower than that of PSO and HSO. Gas chromatographic analysis of the derivatized oils warranted the superior activity of HSO to its high nutraceutical content of linoleic acid, which represented 65.9% of the fatty acid content. This study’s findings validate the use of honeydew seeds as a wound-healing fixed oil and encourage further investigation into the potential of Cucurbitaceae seeds as sources of medicinally valuable plant oils.

Pregnant women usually turn to natural products to relieve pregnancy-related ailments which might pose health risks. Mentha pulegium L. (MP, Lamiaceae) is a common insect repellent, and the present work validates its abortifacient capacity, targeting morphological anomalies, biological, and behavioral consequences, compared to misoprostol. The study also includes untargeted metabolite profiling of MP extract and fractions thereof viz. methylene chloride (MecH), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), butanol (But), and the remaining liquor (Rem. Aq.) by UPLC-ESI-MS-TOF, to unravel the constituents provoking abortion. Administration of MP extract/fractions, for three days starting from day 15th of gestation, affected fetal development by disrupting the uterine and placental tissues, or even caused pregnancy termination. These effects also entailed biochemical changes where they decreased progesterone and increased estradiol serum levels, modulated placental gene expressions of both MiR-(146a and 520), decreased uterine MMP-9, and up-regulated TIMP-1 protein expression, and empathized inflammatory responses (TNF-α, IL-1β). In addition, these alterations affected the brain's GFAP, BDNF, and 5-HT content and some of the behavioral parameters escorted by the open field test. All these incidences were also perceived in the misoprostol-treated group. A total of 128 metabolites were identified in the alcoholic extract of MP, including hydroxycinnamates, flavonoid conjugates, quinones, iridoids, and terpenes. MP extract was successful in terminating the pregnancy with minimal behavioral abnormalities and low toxicity margins.

Medicinal plant extracts are increasingly considered a major source of innovative medications and healthcare products. This study focused on preparing a polyphenol enriched water extract of Egyptian celery “Apium graveolens L., Apiaceae” aerial parts (TAE) in an endeavor to accentuate its antioxidant capacity as well as its antimicrobial activity. (TAE) of celery was partitioned against different organic solvents to yield dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EAC), and butanol (BUOH) fractions. (TAE) and the organic fractions thereof besides the remaining mother liquor (ML) were all screened for their antioxidant capacity using various protocols viz. monitoring the reducing amplitudes for ferric ions (FRAP), and radical scavenging potentials of oxygen (ORAC), 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and metal chelation assays. The examination procedure revealed both (TAE) extract and (DCM) fraction, to pertain the highest antioxidant potentials, where the IC₅₀ of the (TAE) using ABTS and metal chelation assays were ca. 34.52 ± 3.25 and 246.6 ± 5.78 µg/mL, respectively. The (DCM) fraction recorded effective results using the FRAP, ORAC, and DPPH assays ca. 233.47 ± 15.14 and 1076 ± 25.73 μM Trolox equivalents/mg sample and an IC₅₀ 474.4 ± 19.8 µg/mL, respectively. Additionally, both (TAE) and (DCM) fraction exerted antimicrobial activities recording inhibition zones (mm) (13.4 ± 1.5) and (12.0 ± 1.0) against Staphylococcus aureus and (11.0 ± 1.2) and (10.0 ± 1.3) against Escherichia coli, respectively, with no anti-fungal activity. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of (TAE) and (DCM) fraction were 1250 and 2500 µg/mL, respectively. UPLC/ESI/TOF-MS unveiled the chemical profile of both (TAE) and (DCM) fraction to encompass a myriad of active polyphenolic constituents including phenylpropanoids, coumarins, apigenin, luteolin, and chrysoeriol conjugates.

Hydroxyl radical (^•OH) scavenging capacity of aqueous dill (Anethum graveolens L.) shoot (ADSh) extract was assessed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. ADSh extract (at concentrations of 0.5 and 10 mg/ml) exerted high (OH) radical scavenging power. ADSh extract was further fractionated on Diaion HP‐20 column to yield five fractions. EPR spin‐trapping assay revealed fraction 4 (eluted with 75% aq. MeOH) to possess (^•OH) radical scavenging capacity over a concentration range (0.01–10 mg/ml), whereas fraction 2 (eluted with 25% aq. MeOH) appeared to be pro‐oxidant at concentration 0.01 mg/ml. UPLC‐PDA‐ESI‐MS metabolite profiling of ADSh extract revealed 87 metabolites, of which 64 compounds were identified in fraction 4, the most active fraction. Furthermore, ADSh extract demonstrated a hepatoprotective effect against acetaminophen (APAP)‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Pretreatment of rats with ADSh extract (200 mg/kg b.wt) markedly attenuated the increased in the serum hepatic enzyme levels. It also increased free glutathione level and total antioxidant capacity in the serum of treated rats. [Correction added on May 3, 2021, after first online publication: "rates" has been changed to "rats" in the previous sentence.] Additionally, levels of (TNF‐α and IL‐1β) were back to almost normal levels compared to the control group. The above findings suggest that ADSh extract has a protective effect against APAP‐induced liver damage.