http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/12739 2026-04-20T19:31:58Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/16061 Title: REVIEW Novel synthetic curcuminoids: Not merely an anticancer agent Authors: Zhang, Hailei; Jiang, Xiaonan; Song, Weihua; Yang, Zhangqun Abstract: Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa L), has proven to exhibit biological activity towards different kinds of diseases. But the low oral bioavailability results in a limited application in clinic treatment. Recently, numerous curcumin derivatives were synthesized by the modification of three important functional groups: The aromatic o-methoxy phenolic group, a seven conjugated carbon linker and the β-diket one moiety. However, many people know curcumin only as an anticancer agent and overlook the diverse biological activities of curcumin and curcumin-based derivatives. In this article, we summarized the novel synthetic curcuminoids by different therapeutic activities including antioxidant activity, anti-HIV activity, stimulating activity of gastric emptying, antiinflammatory activity, ACE inhibition activity, prevention of Parkinson’s disease, anti-parasitism, anti-obesity, prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, and antibacterial activity. The relation between structural features and activities were also investigated. 2019-08-05T00:00:00Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/16060 Title: REPORT Biochemical and molecular characterization of catalase enzyme in the saprobic fungus: Sordaria fimicola Authors: Muhammad Ishfaq; Nasir Mahmood; Muhammad Akbar; Idrees Ahmad Nasir; Muhammad Saleem Abstract: Fungi have been used in modern scientific research due to their high potential for different enzymes production based on genomic features. The great proportion of soil mycoflora represented by saprobic fungi plays an important role in decomposition, thus contribute to the global carbon cycle. Sordaria fimicola strains (n= 61) collected from different environments were evaluated for catalase enzyme activity at first stage. Among all 61 isolates of S. fimicola, five strains viz. S1, S2, N7, N6 and SF13 were found to be most efficient in catalase enzyme activity. The complete catalase gene including exons and introns was amplified and sequenced from the most efficient strains of S. fimicola and then submitted in the NCBI data base under accession numbers KM282183, KM282184, KM282186, KM282185 and KM282182 for strains S1, S2, N7, N6 and SF13 respectively. The significant differences in the genes sequences and theoretically translated proteins were observed for all five strains of S. fimicola. As regards catalase enzyme activity, S. fimicola strains were found comparable to the Aspergillus niger strains, therefore being a saprophytic fungus with short life cycle S. fimicola can become a fungus of choice to produce catalase enzyme at large scale. 2019-08-04T00:00:00Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/16059 Title: SHORT COMMUNICATION Anticancer activity of Ziziphus mauritiana roots against human breast cancer cell line Authors: Marium Batoo; Samina Afzal; Khurram Afzal; Bilal Ahmed; Khizar Abbas; Syed Aun Muhammad; Muhammad Imran Qadir Abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the anticancer activity of Ziziphus mauritiana roots. The dichloromethane and methanol extracts were prepared and anticancer activity was investigated the by using MTT assay. Human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was used in this study. 50µg/ml of dichloromethane extract of the roots of plant exhibited significant anticancer activity (70%) against the breast cancer cell line with IC50 20.34±0.9 using doxorubicin as standard. The study indicated that Ziziphus mauritiana has anticancer activity against MCF-7 cell line. 2019-08-03T00:00:00Z http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/16058 Title: SHORT COMMUNICATION Pattern of anti-tuberculosis drugs susceptibility in new and previously treated tuberculosis patients and environmental risk factors investigation Authors: Salma Hameed; Nasir Mahmood; Chaudhry, Muhammad Nawaz; Sajid Rashid Ahmad; Mohammad Aqeel ur Rahman; Salma Hameed; Chaudhry, Muhammad Nawaz; Nasir Mahmood Abstract: Resistance pattern both in newly and previously treated-TB patients and risk factors associated in spread of tuberculosis are investigated in the current study. A total 244 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were used for drugsusceptibility test against four drugs. Environmental risk factors were assessed by using self-designed history proforma. Among 244 TB-isolates, 64% were categorized as MDR-TB in drug-susceptibility test. Male proportion was 51% while 32% belonged to 15-34 years age group and 49% were from city Lahore whereas majority of people (31%) was working on daily wages. Divergent drug-resistance pattern was obtained; RIF (68%), SM (52%), EMB (51%). INH showed only (27%) resistance against first-line anti-TB drug. Drug-resistance prevalence for two drug combination was highest (50%) for (INH+SM) and (INH+EMB) followed by (RIF+SM) (49%) whereas for three drugs combination (INH+RIF+EMB) and (INH+RIF+SM) the prevalence was almost same 50% and 49% respectively while 66% patients were categorized as previously treated and 34% as new TB cases. In drug susceptibility test, 71% were identified as MDR-TB among New TB cases, while 63% were identified as MDR-TB from previously treated cases. Surprisingly DST results displayed that percentage prevalence of MDR-TB both in newly and previously treated cases was almost same. 2019-08-02T00:00:00Z