Drug Discovery and Secondary Metabolites: An Overview Arfa Ji, Asfer Hamid, Ehtishamul Haq, Dar Murtaza, Andleeb Amin, Asma Hakak, Zubaid ul Khazir Secondary Metabolites and Drug Discovery, 2025 Natural products, particularly those derived from plants, have been the cornerstone of traditional medicine for centuries and continue to play an indispensable role in modern pharmacotherapy and drug discovery. The vast chemical diversity found in nature offers unique opportunities for developing novel drugs and therapeutic agents. Living plants, in particular, are critical for the production of essential compounds that not only support human nutrition but also contribute to overall health and wellness. These compounds include primary metabolites, vital for basic physiological functions, and secondary metabolites, which are of special interest in pharmaceutical research due to their wide range of bioactive properties. Secondary metabolites, which are generated by diverse organisms as a component of their metabolic processes, have long been recognized as a source of bioactive compounds with promising possibilities for therapeutic applications. The intriguing correlation between drug discovery and secondary metabolites is a central focus of modern pharmaceutical research. This chapter provides insights on different secondary metabolites as well as their sources and their potential benefits vis-à-vis their role in drug discovery. By exploring these compounds in depth, the chapter underscores the continued relevance of natural products in addressing contemporary medical challenges and inspires further research into harnessing the full potential of secondary metabolites for innovative therapeutic solutions.
Vetinformatics in Vaccine Design for the Control of Animal Diseases Irfan Gul, Amreena Hassan, Naveed Anjum Chikan, Ehtishamul Haq, Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Mohammad Faizal Abdul Careem, Nadeem Shabir Bioinformatics in Veterinary Science Vetinformatics, 2025 Vetinformatics is the application of computational methods and bioinformatics in veterinary medicine and animal health research. With the advancements in genomic and proteomic technologies, the field of animal genomics and proteomics has grown, providing vast amounts of data for veterinary research. Computational methods have become increasingly useful in managing and analyzing these data, making predictions, and finding connections. One of the main applications of vetinformatics is the prediction of B- and T-cell epitopes expressed by various pathogens, which can aid in developing new vaccines and decrease the time and costs of experimental analysis using wet-lab approaches. Systems biology approaches of vetinformatics are also used to investigate the dynamic nature of animal immune system networks, providing novel sets of data applicable as computational veterinary resources. Vetinformatics also plays a role in the identification of potential pathogens and disease-causing agents in animals, through the use of in silico methods such as whole genome analysis. This can provide alternative paths for identifying potential vaccine targets and revealing their T- and B-cell epitopes, as compared to conventional methods which are often costly and time-consuming. Overall, vetinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines computational sciences with veterinary medicine, providing valuable insights into animal health and disease. The growing amount of animal genomics and proteomics data, along with the advancements in computational methods, are making vetinformatics an increasingly important tool in veterinary research and animal health management. This book chapter highlights the tremendous potential of vetinformatics and its application in vaccine designing for the benefit of the veterinary and animal science community.
Interaction of nanoparticles with biomolecules Arfa Ji, Asfer Hamid, Syed Aasif Hussain Andrabi, Ehtisham ul Haq, Huseyin Tombuloglu Molecular Impacts of Nanoparticles on Plants and Algae, 2024
p53 and Cell Death Regulation: Managing Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Arfa Ji, Ibtisam Mumtaz, Nusrat Jan, Shahnaz Anjum, Aaqib Rashid, Asfer Hamid, Ehtisham-ul Haq, Manzoor Ahmad Mir P53 in Breast Cancer Molecular Mechanisms Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Targets, 2024 Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers affecting women worldwide with the p53 gene playing a pivotal role. Programmed cell death is key to organism development, maintaining tissue homeostasis, and managing disease. Tumor suppressor protein (TP53) has a main role to play in regulating cell death by promoting DNA repair, halting cell division, and initiating apoptosis. In breast cancer, the tumor-suppressing function of p53 is often compromised due to overexpression of its inhibitor MDM2 or through other mutations leading to unchecked cell division and tumor progression. Advanced therapeutic strategies targeting both wild-type and mutant p53 are being developed, including small molecule inhibitors, stapled peptides, and genetic-based approaches employing vectors and engineered antibodies. These treatments aim to restore or compensate for p53 function, tailored to different breast cancer subtypes, thereby enhancing patient outcomes. Therefore, understanding the functioning and role of p53 especially in pathways related to programmed cell death is crucial for the development of effective cancer therapy. So this chapter focuses on the understanding of the intricate relationship between p53 mutations and breast cancer and the potential of P53 to revolutionize treatment paradigms.
Scavenger receptor B1 facilitates the endocytosis of Escherichia coli via TLR4 signaling in mammary gland infection Qamar Taban, Syed Mudasir Ahmad, Peerzada Tajamul Mumtaz, Basharat Bhat, Ehtishamul Haq, Suhail Magray, Sahar Saleem, Nadeem Shabir, Amatul Muhee, Zahid Amin Kashoo, Mahrukh Hameed Zargar, Abrar A. Malik, Nazir A. Ganai, Riaz A. Shah Cell Communication and Signaling, 2023 SCARB1 belongs to class B of Scavenger receptors (SRs) that are known to be involved in binding and endocytosis of various pathogens. SRs have emerging role in regulating innate immunity and host–pathogen interactions by acting in co-ordination with Toll-like receptors.Query Little is known about the function of SCARB1 in milk-derived mammary epithelial cells (MECs). This study reports the role of SCARB1 in infection and its potential association in TLR4 signaling on bacterial challenge in Goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs). The novelty in the establishment of MEC culture lies in the method that aims to enhance the viability of the cells with intact characteristics upto a higher passage number. We represent MEC culture to be used as a potential infection model for deeper understanding of animal physiology especially around the mammary gland. On E.coli challenge the expression of SCARB1 was significant in induced GMECs at 6 h. Endoribonuclease-esiRNA based silencing of SCARB1 affects the expression of TLR4 and its pathways i.e. MyD88 and TRIF pathways on infection. Knockdown also affected the endocytosis of E.coli in GMECs demonstrating that E.coli uses SCARB1 function to gain entry in cells. Furthermore, we predict 3 unique protein structures of uncharacterized SCARB1 (Capra hircus) protein. Overall, we highlight SCARB1 as a main participant in host defence and its function in antibacterial advances to check mammary gland infections.
An Investigation of the Antiviral Potential of Phytocompounds against Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus through Template-Based Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Analysis Irfan Gul, Amreena Hassan, Ehtishamul Haq, Syed Mudasir Ahmad, Riaz Ahmad Shah, Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Naveed Anjum Chikan, Mohamed Faizal Abdul-Careem, Nadeem Shabir Viruses, 2023 Vaccination is widely used to control Infectious Bronchitis in poultry; however, the limited cross-protection and safety issues associated with these vaccines can lead to vaccination failures. Keeping these limitations in mind, the current study explored the antiviral potential of phytocompounds against the Infectious Bronchitis virus using in silico approaches. A total of 1300 phytocompounds derived from fourteen botanicals were screened for their potential ability to inhibit the main protease, papain-like protease or RNA-dependent RNA–polymerase of the virus. The study identified Methyl Rosmarinate, Cianidanol, Royleanone, and 6,7-Dehydroroyleanone as dual-target inhibitors against any two of the key proteins. At the same time, 7-alpha-Acetoxyroyleanone from Rosmarinus officinalis was found to be a multi-target protein inhibitor against all three proteins. The potential multi-target inhibitor was subjected to molecular dynamics simulations to assess the stability of the protein–ligand complexes along with the corresponding reference ligands. The findings specified stable interactions of 7-alpha-Acetoxyroyleanone with the protein targets. The results based on the in silico study indicate that the phytocompounds can potentially inhibit the essential proteins of the Infectious Bronchitis virus; however, in vitro and in vivo studies are required for validation. Nevertheless, this study is a significant step in exploring the use of botanicals in feed to control Infectious Bronchitis infections in poultry.
Novel mutations identified in EIF2B5 gene in Kashmiri patients as susceptibility factor for multiple sclerosis Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2014
Effect of psychosine on inducible nitric-oxide synthase expression under different culture conditions: Implications for Krabbe disease European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 2011
Long dose exposure of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in albino rats and effect of Podophyllum hexandrum on oxidative stress European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 2011
Amelioration of carbon tetrachloride induced oxidative stress in kidney and lung tissues by ethanolic rhizome extract of Podophyllum hexandrum in Wistar rats Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 2010
Synthetic Biology for Drug Repurposing EU Haq, MA Khan, K Mujahid, MM Babar Handbook of Synthetic Biology, 783-815 , 2026 2026
Drug Discovery and Secondary Metabolites: An Overview A Ji, A Hamid, E Haq, D Murtaza, A Amin, A Hakak, Z ul Khazir Secondary Metabolites and Drug Discovery, 1-14 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
An integrated in silico and ex vivo study identifies quinazolinedione L134716 as a potential inhibitor of infectious bronchitis virus I Gul, IM Isham, SM Najimudeen, A Hassan, E Haq, RA Shah, NA Ganai, ... Veterinary Research Communications 49 (3), 175 , 2025 2025
Exploring the Interplay between Academic Procrastination and Self-Generated Stress among Medical Students. A Multi-Institutional Cross-Sectional Study from KPK, Pakistan … M Shoaib, EU Haq, S Khan, K Khan Pakistan BioMedical Journal, 03-08 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
The Bidirectional Link Between Mental Health Conditions and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Among Medical Students. A Cross-Sectional Study in KPK: Gastrointestinal … M Shoaib, EU Haq, MA Khan, S Khattak, H Akbar, SA Khan, S Irfan Pakistan BioMedical Journal, 23-30 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
REPRESENTATION AND SOCIAL PERCEPTIONS OF ENGLISH VARIETIES IN EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS: PREFERENCES AND LINGUISTIC DYNAMICS Z Ali, K Ullah, EU Haq Journal for Current Sign 3 (1), 55-71 , 2025 2025
Vetinformatics in vaccine design for the control of animal diseases I Gul, A Hassan, NA Chikan, E Haq, NA Ganai, MFA Careem, N Shabir Bioinformatics in Veterinary Science: Vetinformatics, 387-414 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
p53 and Cell Death Regulation: Managing Apoptosis in Breast Cancer A Ji, I Mumtaz, N Jan, S Anjum, A Rashid, A Hamid, E Haq, MA Mir p53 in Breast Cancer, 72-85 , 2024 2024
ENGLISH-PASHTO CONTACT: LINGUISTIC ADAPTATION OF ENGLISH CALQUES IN PASHTO R Amjad, EU Haq, K Ullah ASSAJ 2 (4), 695-708 , 2024 2024
GSK3β phosphorylates Six1 transcription factor and regulates its APC/CCdh1 mediated proteosomal degradation A Rafiq, S Aashaq, I Jan, M Ali, R Rakshan, A Bashir, E Haq, MA Beigh Cellular Signalling 115, 111030 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
Emodin modulates PI3K-AKT pathway to inhibit proliferation, invasion and induce apoptosis in glioma cells AH Mir, MZ Banday, F Aadil, SA Ganie, E Haq bioRxiv, 2024.02. 23.580874 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
FIRST REPORT OF ALTERNARIA LEAF BLIGHT OF RADISH (BRASSICA NAPUS): A GROWING CONCERN IN PAKISTAN'S AGRICULTURE S GHUFFAR, MS SAEED, E HAQ, A MEHMOOD, M YOUSUF, A UDDIN, ... JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND VETERINARY SCIENCE Учредители: Roots Press 3 (2 … , 2024 2024
The receptor SCARB1 lets E. coli into cells during mastitis and facilitates inflammation Q Taban, SM Ahmad, PT Mumtaz, B Bhat, E Haq, S Magray, S Saleem, ... 2023
An investigation of the antiviral potential of phytocompounds against avian infectious bronchitis virus through template-based molecular docking and molecular dynamics … I Gul, A Hassan, E Haq, SM Ahmad, RA Shah, NA Ganai, NA Chikan, ... Viruses 15 (4), 847 , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
A multiepitope vaccine candidate against infectious bursal disease virus using immunoinformatics-based reverse vaccinology approach I Gul, A Hassan, JM Muneeb, T Akram, E Haq, RA Shah, NA Ganai, ... Frontiers in Veterinary Science 9, 1116400 , 2023 2023 Citations: 21
Scavenger receptor B1 facilitates the endocytosis of Escherichia coli via TLR4 signaling in mammary gland infection Q Taban, SM Ahmad, PT Mumtaz, B Bhat, E Haq, S Magray, S Saleem, ... Cell Communication and Signaling 21 (1), 3 , 2023 2023 Citations: 9
Combination of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester and Crocin Realign Potential Molecular Markers in U87-MG Glioma Cells AH Mir, MK Iqbal, MZ Banday, HM Balkhi, E Haq Current Therapeutic Research 98, 100695 , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
Genetic Polymorphisms in Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) Genes and Cancer MZ Banday, S Nissar, SS Aga, E Haq, S Majid Genetic Polymorphism and Disease, 139-183 , 2022 2022 Citations: 1
Concoction of CAPE and Crocin augments anti-cancer potential and realigns the expression paradigm of p53, EGFR and PCNA in U87-MG Glioma cells AH Mir, KI Mir, MZ Banday, HM Balkhi, E Haq 2022
Scavenger receptors: Diverse defenders of host homeostasis Q Taban, PT Mumtaz, KZ Masoodi, E Haq, MA Syed 2022
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Pharmacological treatment of Parkinson’s disease I Zahoor, A Shafi, E Haq Exon Publications, 129-144 , 2018 2018 Citations: 247
AICAR inhibits adipocyte differentiation in 3T3L1 and restores metabolic alterations in diet-induced obesity mice model S Giri, R Rattan, E Haq, M Khan, R Yasmin, J Won, L Key, AK Singh, ... Nutrition & metabolism 3 (1), 31 , 2006 2006 Citations: 206
Carbon tetrachloride induced kidney and lung tissue damages and antioxidant activities of the aqueous rhizome extract of Podophyllum hexandrum SA Ganie, E Haq, A Hamid, Y Qurishi, Z Mahmood, BA Zargar, A Masood, ... BMC complementary and alternative medicine 11 (1), 17 , 2011 2011 Citations: 189
Scavenger receptors in host defense: from functional aspects to mode of action Q Taban, PT Mumtaz, KZ Masoodi, E Haq, SM Ahmad Cell Communication and Signaling 20 (1), 2 , 2022 2022 Citations: 160
Molecular mechanism of psychosine‐induced cell death in human oligodendrocyte cell line E Haq, S Giri, I Singh, AK Singh Journal of neurochemistry 86 (6), 1428-1440 , 2003 2003 Citations: 141
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency: Genetic variations, clinical manifestations and therapeutic interventions YM Hazari, A Bashir, M Habib, S Bashir, H Habib, MA Qasim, NN Shah, ... Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research 773, 14-25 , 2017 2017 Citations: 117
Machine learning techniques for the prediction of B-cell and T-cell epitopes as potential vaccine targets with a specific focus on SARS-CoV-2 pathogen: a review SNH Bukhari, A Jain, E Haq, A Mehbodniya, J Webber Pathogens 11 (2), 146 , 2022 2022 Citations: 96
Impaired peroxisomal function in the central nervous system with inflammatory disease of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis animals and protection by lovastatin treatment I Singh, AS Paintlia, M Khan, R Stanislaus, MK Paintlia, E Haq, AK Singh, ... Brain research 1022 (1-2), 1-11 , 2004 2004 Citations: 82
[Retracted] Machine Learning‐Based Ensemble Model for Zika Virus T‐Cell Epitope Prediction SNH Bukhari, A Jain, E Haq, MA Khder, R Neware, J Bhola, M Lari Najafi Journal of Healthcare Engineering 2021 (1), 9591670 , 2021 2021 Citations: 78
Peroxisomal participation in psychosine‐mediated toxicity: implications for Krabbe's disease M Khan, E Haq, S Giri, I Singh, AK Singh Journal of neuroscience research 80 (6), 845-854 , 2005 2005 Citations: 70
Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2,-7 and-9 promoter polymorphisms in colorectal cancer in ethnic Kashmiri population—A case–control study and a mini review MZ Banday, AS Sameer, AH Mir, TA Mokhdomi, NA Chowdri, E Haq Gene 589 (1), 81-89 , 2016 2016 Citations: 67
Antioxidant and Protective Effect of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Podophyllum hexandrum Rhizome on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Rat Liver Injury SA Ganie, E Haq, A Masood, A Hamid, MA Zargar Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2011 (1), 238020 , 2011 2011 Citations: 57
Long dose exposure of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in albino rats and effect of Podophyllum hexandrum on oxidative stress SA Ganie, E Haq, A Hamid, A Masood, MA Zargar Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 15 (8), 906-915 , 2011 2011 Citations: 55
Dysfunction of peroxisomes in twitcher mice brain: a possible mechanism of psychosine-induced disease E Haq, MA Contreras, S Giri, I Singh, AK Singh Biochemical and biophysical research communications 343 (1), 229-238 , 2006 2006 Citations: 55
Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-308G/A promoter polymorphism in colorectal cancer in ethnic Kashmiri population—a case control study in a detailed perspective MZ Banday, HM Balkhi, Z Hamid, AS Sameer, NA Chowdri, E Haq Meta gene 9, 128-136 , 2016 2016 Citations: 54
Emerging tale of UPR and cancer: an essentiality for malignancy YM Hazari, A Bashir, EU Haq, KM Fazili Tumor Biology 37 (11), 14381-14390 , 2016 2016 Citations: 52
Ensemble machine learning model to predict SARS-CoV-2 T-cell epitopes as potential vaccine targets SNH Bukhari, A Jain, E Haq, A Mehbodniya, J Webber Diagnostics 11 (11), 1990 , 2021 2021 Citations: 49
Influence of processing methods and storage on phenolic compounds and carotenoids of apricots SM Wani, FA Masoodi, E Haq, M Ahmad, SA Ganai Lwt 132, 109846 , 2020 2020 Citations: 42
Multiple sclerosis in India: Iceberg or volcano I Zahoor, E Haq Journal of neuroimmunology 307, 27-30 , 2017 2017 Citations: 33
Molecular organization of peroxisomal enzymes: protein–protein interactions in the membrane and in the matrix RS Makkar, MA Contreras, AS Paintlia, BT Smith, E Haq, I Singh Archives of biochemistry and biophysics 451 (2), 128-140 , 2006 2006 Citations: 31
