An-Najah National University

About: An-Najah National University is a education organization based out in Nablus, Palestinian Territory. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 1857 authors who have published 2607 publications receiving 68226 citations. The organization is also known as: An Najah National University.

Comparison of Anti-Oxidant Activities and Exhaustive Extraction Yields between Wild and Cultivated Cyclamen persicum, Malva sylvestris and Urtica pilulifera Leaves

Abstract: Objective: Antioxidant activity of natural compounds in food and in dietary supplements plays an important role in healthy life. Scientific evidences suggest that antioxidants reduce the risk for chronic diseases including cancer, diabetes mellitus and heart diseases. Methods: The antioxidant activity of wild Cyclamen persicum, Malva sylvestris and Urtica pilulifera leaves and their cultivated species were studied using 2, 2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and compared to Trolox antioxidant activity. The exhaustive extractions yields for these samples were estimated by using polar and nonpolar solvents. Results: The results showed that the wild Cyclamen persicum, Malva sylvestris and Urtica pilulifera leaves have higher exhaustive extraction yield and as well the higher antioxidant activity (IC50) comparing with their cultivated species. Conclusions: Both of cultivated, as well the wild natural growing forms of Cyclamen persicum, Malva sylvestris and Urtica pilulifera are a good source for natural foods supplements, pharmaceutical industry purposes and for organic food rich with antioxidant compounds.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Isoxazole-Amide Analogues as Anticancer and Antioxidant Agents.

Abstract: Cancer now is one of the leading causes of mortality in the world. There has been a lot of effort to discover new anticarcinogenic agents that allow treatment with fewer side effects. A series of isoxazole-carboxamide derivatives (2a-2g) were synthesised and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against breast (MCF-7), cervical (HeLa), and liver (Hep3B) cancer cell lines and their antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The results showed that 2d and 2e were the most active compounds against Hep3B cells, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of around 23 μg/ml; 2d showed the highest activity against HeLa cells, with an IC50 15.48 μg/ml. However, 2a had the lowest IC50 (39.80 μg/ml) against MCF-7 cells. By contrast, compound 2g was inactive against all cancer cell lines, with IC50 values >400 μg/ml. Both 2d and 2e reduced Hep3B secretion of alpha-fetoprotein (to 1829.33 ± 65.91 ng/ml and 1758.66 ± 54.04 ng/ml, respectively). Furthermore, in cell cycle analysis, 2d and 2e induced a delay in the G2/M phase of 18.07%, which is similar to the doxorubicin positive control. Moreover, 2d and 2e reduced the necrosis rate of Hep3B threefold and instead shifted the cells to apoptosis. Our results indicate that 2d and 2e have potent and promising anticancer activity. However, compound 2a was the most active as antioxidant agent (IC50 = 7.8 ± 1.21 μg/ml) compared with Trolox as a positive control (IC50 2.75 μg/ml).

Reliability of the reported ingested dose of acetaminophen for predicting the risk of toxicity in acetaminophen overdose patients

Abstract: Purpose The present study examines the relationship between the dose of acetaminophen reported to have been ingested by patients and the occurrence of serum acetaminophen levels above the ‘possible toxicity’ line in patients presenting at the hospital after acetaminophen overdose. The prognostic value of patient-reported dosage cut-offs of 8, 10 and 12g was determined. Methods This retrospective cohort studyincluded patients admittedtothe emergencydepartment or hospital within 24 hours of acetaminophen ingestion. Serum acetaminophen concentrations were considered to be the gold standard, and specificity, sensitivity and positive/ negative predictive values were calculated from the reported ingested dose, to predict toxicity using the Rumack–Matthew nomogram (i.e. the ‘possible toxicity’ treatment line) and standard equations. Results Of 305 patients identified, 291 met the study inclusion criteria, and 121 (41.6%) had serum acetaminophen concentrations above the ‘possible toxicity’ treatment line. The range of patient-reported acetaminophen ingested was 1–75g, with 185 patients (63.6%) reporting ≥8g. One hundred eighteen patients (97.5%) who reported ingesting ≥8g had serum acetaminophen concentrations above the ‘150-line’, compared with only three patients (2.5%) who reported ingesting <8g (p<0.001). The positive predictive value of a patient-reported dose ≥8g for predicting serum acetaminophen concentrations above the ‘possible toxicity’ treatment line was 63.78%, with a negative predictive value of 97.17%. The sensitivity of patient-reported doses ≥8g was high (97.52%) but with low specificity (60.59%). The sensitivity of patientreported doses ≥10g also was high (89.26%) with low specificity (65.29%), whereas the sensitivity of ≥12g dose was low (61.16%) with high specificity (86.47%). Conclusions Patient-reported doses of acetaminophen are good risk indicators for acetaminophen overdose patients in Malaysia. Patientreported ingestion of ≥8g (as a cut-off dose) had a higher sensitivity than ≥10g or ≥12g. The results of this study have important implications for toxicity risk evaluations in areas with poor serum acetaminophen assay availability. Copyright # 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.