Usama Yousef Yousef Shaheen

Scopus Publications

Cymbopogon citratus and Citral Overcome Doxorubicin Resistance in Cancer Cells via Modulating the Drug’s Metabolism, Toxicity, and Multidrug Transporters
Mohammed Hasan Mukhtar, Mahmoud Zaki El-Readi, Mohamed E. Elzubier, Sameer H. Fatani, Bassem Refaat, Usama Shaheen, Elshiekh Babiker Adam Khidir, Hesham Hamada Taha, and Safaa Yehia Eid
MDPI AG
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the major complex mechanism that causes the failure of chemotherapy, especially with drugs of natural origin such as doxorubicin (DOX). Intracellular drug accumulation and detoxification are also involved in cancer resistance by reducing the susceptibility of cancer cells to death. This research aims to identify the volatile composition of Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass; LG) essential oil and compare the ability of LG and its major compound, citral, to modulate MDR in resistant cell lines. The composition of LG essential oil was identified using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, a comparison of the modulatory effects of LG and citral, performed on breast (MCF-7/ADR), hepatic (HepG-2/ADR), and ovarian (SKOV-3/ADR) MDR cell lines, were compared to their parent sensitive cells using the MTT assay, ABC transporter function assays, and RT-PCR. Oxygenated monoterpenes (53.69%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (19.19%), and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (13.79%) made up the yield of LG essential oil. α-citral (18.50%), β-citral (10.15%), geranyl acetate (9.65%), ylangene (5.70), δ-elemene (5.38%), and eugenol (4.77) represent the major constituents of LG oil. LG and citral (20 μg/mL) synergistically increased DOX cytotoxicity and lowered DOX dosage by >3-fold and >1.5-fold, respectively. These combinations showed synergism in the isobologram and CI < 1. DOX accumulation or reversal experiment confirmed that LG and citral modulated the efflux pump function. Both substances significantly increased DOX accumulation in resistant cells compared to untreated cells and verapamil (the positive control). RT-PCR confirmed that LG and citral targeted metabolic molecules in resistant cells and significantly downregulated PXR, CYP3A4, GST, MDR1, MRP1, and PCRP genes. Our results suggest a novel dietary and therapeutic strategy combining LG and citral with DOX to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer cells. However, these results should be confirmed by additional animal experiments before being used in human clinical trials.

Isolation, characterization, complete structural assignment, and anticancer activities of the methoxylated flavonoids from rhamnus disperma roots
Hamdoon A. Mohammed, Mohammed F. Abd El-Wahab, Usama Shaheen, Abd El-Salam I. Mohammed, Ashraf N. Abdalla, and Ehab A. Ragab
MDPI AG
Different chromatographic methods including reversed-phase HPLC led to the isolation and purification of three O-methylated flavonoids; 5,4’-dihydroxy-3,6,7-tri-O-methyl flavone (penduletin) (1), 5,3’-dihydroxy-3,6,7,4’,5’-penta-O-methyl flavone (2), and 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,3’,4’,5’-hexa-O-methyl flavone (3) from Rhamnus disperma roots. Additionlly, four flavonoid glycosides; kampferol 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), quercetin 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (6), and kampferol 3, 7-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (7) along with benzyl-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8) were successfully isolated. Complete structure characterization of these compounds was assigned based on NMR spectroscopic data, MS analyses, and comparison with the literature. The O-methyl protons and carbons of the three O-methylated flavonoids (1–3) were unambiguously assigned based on 2D NMR data. The occurrence of compounds 1, 4, 5, and 8 in Rhamnus disperma is was reported here for the first time. Compound 3 was acetylated at 5-OH position to give 5-O-acetyl-3,6,7,3’,4’,5’-hexa-O-methyl flavone (9). Compound 1 exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity against MCF 7, A2780, and HT29 cancer cell lines with IC50 values at 2.17 µM, 0.53 µM, and 2.16 µM, respectively, and was 2–9 folds more selective against tested cancer cell lines compared to the normal human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC5). It also doubled MCF 7 apoptotic populations and caused G1 cell cycle arrest. The acetylated compound 9 exhibited cytotoxic activity against MCF 7 and HT29 cancer cell lines with IC50 values at 2.19 µM and 3.18 µM, respectively, and was 6–8 folds more cytotoxic to tested cancer cell lines compared to the MRC5 cells.

Computational study and biological evaluation of isolated saponins from the fruits of gleditsia aquatica and gleditsia caspica
Ehab Ragab, Usama Shaheen, Ammar Bader, Khaled Elokely, and Mohammed Ghoneim
ACG Publications
Phytochemical study of the ethanolic extract of the fruits of Gleditsia aquatica and Gleditsia caspica resulted in the isolation of the triterpene saponins; aquaticasaponin A (1), aquaticasaponin B (2), caspicaoside L (3) and caspicaoside M (4). Compound (1) showed good activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (IC50 =16.3 μg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (non-MRSA), (IC50 =12.2 μg/mL) and it expressed considerable cytotoxic activity against BT-549 (Human Ductal Carcinoma, Breast), KB (Human Epidermal Carcinoma, Oral) and SK-MEL (Human Malignant Melanoma) with IC50 values of 8.3, 10.0 and 3.3 μg/mL, respectively. Compounds (2) and (3) showed potent cytotoxicity against BT-549 with IC50 values of 5.3 and 7.3 μg/mL, and against SK-MEL with IC50 values of 4.3 and 3.1 μg/mL, respectively. Compound (4) showed good cytotoxicity against KB with IC50 value of 7.3 μg/mL. In consistent, the study of molecular determinates of cytotoxic activity of these new scaffolds showed close high docking scores to CD81 (Cluster of Differentiation 81) human antigen which could be of great importance for the development of new cytotoxic candidates. The structure identification of isolated metabolites was carried out using 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectra.

Proapoptotic activity of achillea membranacea essential oil and its major constituent 1,8-cineole against A2780 ovarian cancer cells
Ashraf N. Abdalla, Usama Shaheen, Qasem M. A. Abdallah, Guido Flamini, Majdi M. Bkhaitan, Mohamed I. S. Abdelhady, Roberta Ascrizzi, and Ammar Bader
MDPI AG
Among the hundreds of reported Achillea species, A. membranacea (Labill.) DC. is one of the six that grow in Jordan. Many species of this genus are used in folk medicine to treat a variety of ailments and several biological and pharmacological activities have been ascribed to their essential oil (EO). For this study, the EO obtained from a specimen of A. membranacea grown in Jordan was analyzed by GC-MS. Ninety-six compounds were detected, of which oxygenated monoterpenes was the predominant class (47.9%), followed by non-terpene derivatives (27.9%), while sesquiterpenes represented 14.2% of the total composition. The most abundant compound in the EO was 1,8-cineole (21.7%). The cytotoxic activity of the EO was evaluated against three cancer cell lines (MCF7, A2780 and HT29), and one normal fibroblast cell line (MRC5) by MTT assay. Significant growth inhibition was observed in EO-exposed A2780 and HT29 cells (IC50 = 12.99 and 14.02 μg/mL, respectively), while MCF7 and MRC5 were less susceptible. The EO induced apoptosis and increased the preG1 events in A2780 cells. 1,8-Cineole, the major constituent of the EO, exhibited submicromolar cytotoxicity against A2780 cells, and was 42 times more selective against MRC5 cells. Its cytotoxicity against A2780 cells was comparable with that of doxorubicin, but 1,8-cineole was more selective for MRC5 normal cells. Interestingly, 1,8-cineole enhanced apoptosis in A2780, and caused a remarkable dose-dependent increase in preG1 events. Thus, 1,8-cineole has demonstrated promising cytotoxic and proapoptotic properties.

Pharmacophores modeling in terms of prediction of theoretical physicochemical properties and verification by experimental correlations of carbacylamidophosphates (CAPh) and sulfanylamidophosphates (SAPh) tested as new carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Vladimir Amirkhanov, Abdur Rauf, Taibi Ben Hadda, Vladimir Ovchynnikov, Viktor Trush, Muhammad Saleem, Muslam Raza, Tayyeba Rehman, Hsaine Zgou, Usama Shaheen,et al.
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Background: The function of Carbonic anhydrase is to facilitate the physiological process i.e. interconversion of CO2 to HCO3 - by hydration. Carbonic anhydrase enzyme plays a vital role in different physiological processes to regulate pH as well as regulate the inner environment of CO2 and secretion of electrolytes. Methods: Six representatives of amidophosphate derivatives (L1-L6) were synthesized and evaluated for their biological activities against carbonic anhydrase enzyme. Results: Out of six derivatives, L1 (IC50 = 12.5 ± 1.35 µM), and L2 (IC50 = 3.12 ± 0.45 µM) showed potent activity against BCA-II. While (L3, L4 and L5) showed weak inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 24.5 ± 2.25, 55.5± 1.60, and 75.5 ± 1.25 µM, respectively and were found to be weak inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase as compared to acetazolamide (IC50 =0.12± 0.03µM), used as standard inhibitor. A computational Petra/Osiris/Molinspiration/DFT (POM/DFT) based model has been expanded for the determination of physicochemical parameters governing the bioactivity amidophosphate derivatives (L1-L6) containing (O1 --- O2) pharmacophore site. The six compounds (L1-L6) analyzed here were previously experimentally and now virtually screened for their anti-carbonic anhydrase activity. : A computational Petra/Osiris/Molinspiration/DFT (POM/DFT) based model has been expanded for the determination of physicochemical parameters governing the bioactivity amidophosphate derivatives (L1-L6) containing (O1 --- O2) pharmacophore site. The six compounds (L1-L6) analyzed here were previously experimentally and now virtually screened for their anti-carbonic anhydrase activity. Conclusion: The highest anti-carbonic anhydrase activity was obtained for compound L2, which exhibited excellent bioactivity (% of inhibition = 95%), comparable to acetazolamide (% of inhibition = 89%). The compound L3 represents increased activity as compared to its analogues (L4-L6). The increase of bioactivity from L3 to L4-L6 could be attributed to the presence of a minimum of steric effect of substituents of P=O moiety which plays a decisive template part in the organization of anti-carbonic anhydrase (O1---O2) phramacophore site. Moreover, it is inexpensive, has little side effects and possible inclusions in selective anti-carbonic anhydrase agents design.

Cytotoxicity of some plants of the asteraceae family: Antiproliferative activity of Psiadia punctulata root sesquiterpenes
Ammar Bader, Qasem Abdallah, Mohamed Abdelhady, Nunziatina De Tommasi, Nicola Malafronte, Usama Shaheen, Majdi Bkhaitan, and Roberta Cotugno
ACG Publications
According to the World Health Organization Cancer is the second cause of death globally. The methanol extracts of fourteen Middle-Eastern plants of the family Asteraceae were screened for antiproliferative activity on five cancer cell lines (A2780, MCF7, HeLa, RKO and Jurkat) by using MTT assay. Psiadia punctulata (DC.) Vatke was selected for isolation and elucidation of the bioactive constituents by 1Dand 2D-NMR, and MS analyses. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate cell cycle analysis, apoptotic hallmarks and reactive oxygen species. P. punctulata yielded a new sesquiterpene characterized as 7-hydroxy eudesman-3,5-dien-2-one (punctulin) (3) and three known sesquiterpenes: 1, 2 and 4. The antiproliferative activity of all sesquiterpenes was evaluated in Jurkat (T-cell leukemia) and HeLa cancer cell lines. 1β-hydroxy-8-oxo-cyperone (1) has induced a significant growth inhibition in Jurkat and HeLa cells (IC50 =12 and 18μM respectively). Flow cytometry of compound 1 has elucidated the mechanism of action by showing its ability to induce cell cycle arrest in Jurkat cells mainly in G0/G1 and, less markedly, in G2/M. Compound 1 also expressed strong antioxidant activity by reducing the basal level of peroxides DHFDA-load in Jurkat cells. Antioxidant activity of compound 1 may have contributed to the observed cell cycle arrest.

Muscle relaxant activities of pistagremic acid isolated from Pistacia integerrima
Abdur Rauf, Saud Bawazeer, Ghias Uddin, Bina S. Siddiqui, Haroon Khan, Taibi Ben Hadda, Yahia Nasser Mabkhot, Usama Shaheen, and Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Abstract The aim of the current work was to explore the muscle relaxant effect of pistagremic acid (PA) isolated from Pistacia integerrima in various animal paradigms. In a rotarod test, PA caused a significant (p<0.05) muscle relaxant potential in a dose-dependent manner. When studied in the inclined plane test, pretreatment with PA (5 and 10 mg/kg) caused promising activity (p<0.05) after treatment for 30, 60 and 90 min. The muscle relaxant potential of PA was strongly complimented by the traction and chimney tests, showing a dominant effect after 60 min of treatment. In conclusion, PA possesses strong muscle relaxant activity in various animal-based models.

Multidrug resistance reversal activity of extract and a rare dimeric naphthoquinone from Diospyros lotus

Inhibitory effects of Acacia hamulosa methanolic extract on the corrosion of mild steel in 1 M hydrochloric acid
A. Bader, U. Shaheen, M. A. S. Aborehab, Y. El Ouadi, A. Bouyanzer, B. Hammouti, and T. Ben Hadda
African Journals Online (AJOL)
The flora of Saudi Arabia comprises about 18 species of Acacia species including Acacia hamulosa Benth. The methanolic extract of the flowering tops of A. hamulosa was tested for its radical scavenging activity toward 2,2-diphenyl-1-pricylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and the activity was compared with L-ascorbic acid, quercetin and Trolox as standards. The total phenolic content was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method. In addition the methanolic extract has been evaluated as a corrosion inhibitor for steel in 1 M HCl solution by means of weight loss measurements, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Tafel polarization study revealed that extract of Acacia hamulosa acts as a cathodic type inhibitor. Inhibition was found to increase with increasing concentration of the extract of Acacia hamulosa . Values of inhibition efficiency calculated from weight loss, Tafel polarization curves, and EIS are in good agreement. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behaviour of mild steel in 1 M HCl with addition of extract was also studied and thermodynamic parameters were determined and discussed. KEY WORDS : Acacia hamulosa , Extract, Polyphenols, Antioxidant corrosion, Electrochemical study Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2018 , 32(2), 323-335. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v32i2.11

Triterpenoidal saponins from the fruits of Gleditsia caspica with proapoptotic properties
Usama Shaheen, Ehab A. Ragab, Ashraf N. Abdalla, and Ammar Bader
Elsevier BV

Antihypertensive and vasodilator effects of methanolic extract of Inula viscosa: Biological evaluation and POM analysis of cynarin, chlorogenic acid as potential hypertensive
Zineb Hakkou, Alexandre Maciuk, Veronique Leblais, Nour Elhouda Bouanani, Hassane Mekhfi, Mohammed Bnouham, Mohammed Aziz, Abderrahime Ziyyat, Abdur Rauf, Taibi Ben Hadda,et al.
Elsevier BV

Flavonoidal constituents, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of Dipterygium glaucum grown in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
NagwaAbdelkader Shoeib, Usama Shaheen, Abeer Temraz, and MohamedI. S. Abdelhady
Medknow
Background: Dipterygium glaucum Decne. herb is one of the common traditional plants with multiple medicinal uses. Objective: To isolate the major constituents and to investigate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of this herb. Materials and Methods: Methanolic extract of D. glaucum herb was fractionated using n-hexane, dichloromethane, and n-butanol. Butanol fraction was chromatographed using column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography to isolate the major constituents. Isolated compounds were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods, including 1D, 2D NMR (1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NEOSY) and MS analysis. Total phenolic content using Folin–Ciocalteu reagent and antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay of the total methanolic extract were evaluated. Cytotoxic potential of both methanolic extract and butanol fraction was tested using a crystal violet viability assay. Antimicrobial activities of both extracts were investigated using diffusion agar technique. Results: Apigenin 6, 8-di-C-glucopyranoside (vicenin-2), quercetin-3'-O-methyl-3-O-glucopyranoside, quercetin-3'-O-methyl-3-O-galactopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside were isolated and elucidated. Total phenolic content was (83.89 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract). The EC50value of scavenging DPPH radical was 152.0 ± 2 μ g/mL. Butanol fraction showed the highest cytotoxic activity against cervical and breast carcinoma cells (IC50 3.6 and 6.1 μ g/mL, respectively). Both methanolic extract and butanol fraction showed wide spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and some fungi. The highest activity was from methanolic extract against Enterococcus faecalis (83.25%) and against Candida tropicalis (77.03%) as compared to reference antibiotics. Conclusion: Data obtained from this study demonstrate that D. glaucum possesses significant antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities which could be ascribed to its flavonoidal content. Abbreviations used: KSA: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; TLC: Thin Layer Chromatography; DPPH: 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; EC50: Half maximal effective concentration; IC50: Half maximal inhibitory concentration; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; NMR: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; ESIMS: Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry; MeOH: Methyl alcohol.

A new sucrase enzyme inhibitor from Azadirachta indica
MohamedI. S. Abdelhady, Usama Shaheen, Ammar Bader, and MahmoudA Youns
Medknow
Background: Sucrase enzyme inhibitor considered as an oral anti-diabetic therapy that delays the absorption of eaten carbohydrates, reducing the postprandial glucose and insulin peaks to reach normoglycemia. Materials and Methods: Chromatographic fractionation of the hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Azadirachta indica growing in KSA, followed by in-vitro assay of sucrase enzyme inhibition activity. Results: This investigation led to the isolation of a new remarkable sucrase enzyme inhibitor; 4`-methyl Quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (1) alongside with four known compounds; 2,3-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-(α/β)-D-4C1 -glucopyranose (2), Avicularin (3), Castalagin (4) and Quercetin-3-O-glucoside (5). The structure of the new compound (1) was elucidated on the basis of its spectral data, including ESI-MS, UV, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 1H- 1H COSY, HSQC, NOESY and HMBC. Conclusion: Under the assay conditions, hydroalcoholic extract of A. indica and compounds 1-5 exhibited significant sucrase enzyme inhibitory activity.

Bioactive Constituents of Pulicaria jaubertii: A promising antihypertensive activity
E. El-Ghaly, U. Shaheen, Ehab A. Ragab, Atef Ahmed El-hila and M. R. Abdallah

Objective: Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of antihypertensive activity of the alcoholic extract of Pulicaria jaubertii aerial parts. Material and Methods: The chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions were chromatographed on silica gel and sephadex LH 20 to afford six compounds. Their structures were elucidated on the bases of extensive NMR (1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY) and MS analysis. The antihypertensive activity of the alcoholic extract was evaluated against L-NAME–induced hypertensive rats. Results: One new monoterpene glucoside; (2R, 4S)-p-menth-1-ene2-O-b-D-glucopyranoside [1] along with five known compounds; thymoquinol 2-O-b-D-glucopyranoside (zataroside-B) [2], quercetin 7, 3`-di-Omethylether (rhamnazin) [3], quercetin 7-O-methylether (rhamnetin) [4], quercetin 3`-O-methylether (isorhamnetin) [5] and stigmasterol 3-Ob-D-glucopyranoside [6] were isolated. The alcoholic extract significantly reduced the elevated SBP and partially restored the diminished nitric oxide metabolites. Conclusion: Compound [1] is a new and compounds [2-6] are reported for first time from Pulicaria jaubertii. The possible antihypertensive activity of the alcoholic extract may be due to its flavonoids and phenolic contents.

Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure determination and biological screening of novel N-1 and C5 alkyl substituted scaffolds of pyrimidine
Naziyanaz B. Pathan, Ali Parvez, Ammar Bader, Usama Shaheen, and Taibi B. Hadda
Elsevier BV

POM analyses of Raltegravir derivatives: A new reflection enlightening the mechanism of HIV-integrase inhibition
Siham Lahsasni, Taibi Ben Hadda, Vijay Masand, Naziyanaz B. Pathan, Ali Parvez, Ismail Warad, Usama Shaheen, Ammar Bader, and Mohamad Aljofan
Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Azadirachta indica as a source for antioxidant and cytotoxic polyphenolic compounds
Mohamed I. S. Abdelhady, Ammar Bader, Usama Shaheen, Yasser El-Malah, M.A.S Abourehab, and Mohamed F. Barghash
Oriental Scientific Publishing Company

POM analyses of antimicrobial activity of some 2,3-armed 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-benzothiophenes: Favourable and unfavourable physico-chemical parameters in design of antibacterial and mycolytic agents
Taibi Ben Hadda, Sajal Srivastava, Barnali Das, Héctor Salgado-Zamora, Usama Shaheen, Ammar Bader, and Muhammad Moazzam Naseer
Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Hemi-synthesis of three new armed antibiotics analogs of Calcimycin (A23187) and determination of theirs acidity constants by potentiometric method

Computational evaluation and experimental verification of antibacterial and antioxidant activity of 7-hydroxy-3-pyrazolyl-4H-chromen-4-ones and their o-glucosides: Identification of pharmacophore sites
Javed Sheikh, Kishor Hatzade, Ammar Bader, Usama Shaheen, Thomas Sander, and Taibi Ben Hadda
Springer Science and Business Media LLC

POM analyses for antimicrobial evaluation of thienopyrimidinones derivatives: A rapid method for drug design
Taibi Ben Hadda, Mushtaq Ahmad, Shazia Sultana, Usama Shaheen, Ammar Bader, Sajal Srivastava, Barnali Das, and Héctor Salgado-Zamora
Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Egy-score predicts severe hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in egyptians with chronic liver diseases: A pilot study
Mohamed A. Alboraie, Mahmoud E. Afifi, Fathy G. Elghamry, Helmy A. Shalaby, Gamal E. Elshennawy, Ahmed A. Abdelaziz, Mohamed U. Shaheen, and Amany R. Abo El-Seoud
Briefland
Background Non-invasive methods for assessment of hepatic fibrosis are increasingly needed. Recent studies showed that combined elevation of tumor markers CA 19-9 and CA 125 is predictive of severe hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis with high specificity. Objectives We aimed at developing a new panel of surrogate biomarkers for prediction of the stage of hepatic fibrosis by combining tumor markers with other known biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis. Patients and Methods A total of 92 patients with different types of chronic liver diseases (chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C and autoimmune hepatitis), were prospectively enrolled in our cohort. They were subjected to: ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, total bilirubin, INR, total cholesterol, albumin, platelet count, cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), haptoglobin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, apolipoprotein A1, abdominal ultrasound, liver biopsy and histological staging of hepatic fibrosis using the METAVIR system. Results Combined elevation of CA 19-9 and CA 125 with a summated value > 37 U/mL is predictive of severe hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis (stage F3-F4 METAVIR) with a probability of 77.6%. Multivariate analysis showed that the most relevant collection of biomarkers for prediction of stage of hepatic fibrosis is: CA 19-9, age, alpha-2- macroglobulin, total bilirubin, platelet count & albumin. We developed a new score, named the “Egy-Score”, using a regression equation composed of this panel of biomarkers. Egy-Score could differentiate no or early fibrosis (stage F0-F2 METAVIR) from severe fibrosis or cirrhosis (stage F3-F4 METAVIR) with 83.7% accuracy. Conclusions Non-invasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis could be done using the Egy-Score. Egy-Score could differentiate no or early fibrosis (stage F0-F2 METAVIR) from severe fibrosis or cirrhosis (stage F3 - F4 METAVIR) with 83.7% accuracy.

Cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of new biologically active constituents from Salvia lanigra and Salvia splendens
Usama Y. Shaheen, Mohammed H. Hussain, and Hassan A. Ammar
EManuscript Technologies
Abstract Chromatographic fractionation of the acetone extracts of each of Salvia lanigra and Salvia splendens and of the n-butanol extract of Salvia lanigra , resulted in the isolation and identification of two known diterpenes; horminone (1) and 7- O -ethylhorminone (2), three new diterpenes; salviatane B (3), salvianol A (4) and salviaclerodan A (5), two known triterpenioc acids; ursolic acid (6) and oleanolic acid (7), a known sterol; β-sitosterol (8), two known flavones; salvigenin (9) and apigenin (10) and one new caffiec acid dimmer; 3,3ȃ-dehydrodicaffeic acid (11). The cytotoxicity and the antioxidant activity of the different extracts (MeOH, acetone and n-butanol) of both Salvia lanigra and Salvia splendens and most of the isolated pure compounds (1-5, 9 and 10) were determined.

Isolation and structure identification of new cytokinins from Gleditsia caspia
Usama Yoseef Shaheen, Mohammad Hosny Hussain, Ehab Abd Alwahab Ragab, and Abd El-Salam Ibrahim Mohammed
ARKAT USA, Inc.
Phytochemical investigation of the n-BuOHsoluble fraction of the alcoholic extract of the fruits of Gleditsia caspia (Leguminosae) resulted in the isolation and identification of three new cytokinin derivatives identified as 6-N-(3-methylbut-2-enylamino)-2-hydroxy-9-β-Dglucopyranosyl purine, 6-N-(cis-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enylamino)-2-hydroxy-9-β-Dglucopyranosyl purine, and 6-N-(3-methylbut-2-enylamino)-2-hydroxy-9-[β-D-apiofuranosyl(1''→6')-β-D-glucopyranosyl] purine. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by 1D(H-, Cand DEPT) and 2D(COSY, HMQC and HMBC) NMR analysis.

Usama Yousef Yousef Shaheen

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Scopus Publications