Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic condition associated with obesity, oxidative stress-mediated inflammation, apoptosis, and impaired insulin signaling. The utilization of phytochemical therapy generated from plants has emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of diabetes and its complications. Kiwifruit is recognized for its substantial content of antioxidative phenolics. Therefore, this work aimed to examine the effect of Actinidia deliciosa (kiwi fruit) on hepatorenal damage in a high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2D in rats using in vivo and in silico analyses. An increase in hepatic and renal lipid peroxidation was observed in diabetic rats accompanied by a decrease in antioxidant status. Furthermore, it is important to highlight that there were observable inflammatory and apoptotic responses in the hepatic and renal organs of rats with diabetes, along with a dysregulation of the phosphorylation levels of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), protein kinase B (Akt), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling proteins. However, the administration of kiwi extract to diabetic rats alleviated hepatorenal dysfunction, inflammatory processes, oxidative injury, and apoptotic events with activation of the insulin signaling pathway. Furthermore, molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies revealed quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and melezitose as components of kiwi extract that docked well with potential as effective natural products for activating the silent information regulator 1(SIRT-1) pathway. Furthermore, phenolic acids in kiwi extract, especially syringic acid, P-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid, have the ability to inhibit the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) active site. In conclusion, it can be argued that kiwi extract may present a potentially beneficial adjunctive therapy approach for the treatment of diabetic hepatorenal complications.

Aim: Our objective was to investigate the effect of ionizing radiation (IR) and berberine on the expression of stem cell markers OCT4 and SOX2. Materials & methods: The study involved the following...

Epilepsy is one of the most widespread neurological disease worldwide. Status epilepticus (SE) is a life-threatening neurologic disorder. Neuroprotective approaches are increasingly to discover a promising therapy to manage epileptic disorders. This study aimed to assess the impact of berberine on some epigenetic, transcription regulation & inflammatory biomarkers in a mice model of epilepsy. This work was performed on; Group I: (control), Group II: berberine-treated control,Group III: epilepsy group, Group IV: berberine-treated epilepsy. Groups were subjected to assessment of Tumor growth factor-1β (TGF-1β), hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity & neuronal restrictive silencing factor (NRSF) gene expression. Study showed significant increase in levels of HIF-1α, TGF-1β, HDAC activity & NRSF gene expression in epilepsy group & decrease in these levels in berberine treated epilepsy group. Significant decrease in BDNF levels in epilepsy & elevation in them in berberine treated epilepsy group. Our study showed the anti-epileptic impact of berberine via its regulatory effect on some epigenetic, transcription factors & inflammatory biomarkers in a mice model of epilepsy.

Cancer poses a substantial global health challenge, driving the need for innovative therapeutic solutions that offer improved effectiveness and fewer side effects. Topoisomerase I (Topo I) has emerged as a validated molecular target in the pursuit of developing anticancer drugs due to its critical role in DNA replication and transcription. (+)-Pancratistatin (PST), a naturally occurring compound found in various Amaryllidaceae plants, exhibits promising anticancer properties by inhibiting Topo I activity. However, its clinical utility is hindered by issues related to limited chemical availability and aqueous solubility. To address these challenges, molecular modelling techniques, including virtual screening, molecular docking, molecular mechanics with generalised born and surface area solvation (MM-GBSA) calculations, and molecular dynamics simulations were utilised to evaluate the binding interactions and energetics of PST analogues with Topo I, comparing them with the well-known Topo I inhibitor, Camptothecin. Among the compounds screened for this study, nitrogenated analogues emerged as the most encouraging drug candidates, exhibiting improved binding affinities, favourable interactions with the active site of Topo I, and stability of the protein-ligand complex. Structural analysis pinpointed key molecular determinants responsible for the heightened potency of nitrogenated analogues, shedding light on essential structural modifications for increased activity. Moreover, in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) predictions highlighted favourable drug-like properties and reduced toxicity profiles for the most prominent nitrogenated analogues, further supporting their potential as effective anticancer agents. In summary, this screening study underscores the significance of nitrogenation in augmenting the anticancer efficacy of PST analogues targeting Topo I. The identified lead compounds exhibit significant potential for subsequent experimental validation and optimisation, thus facilitating the development of novel and efficacious anticancer therapeutics with enhanced pharmacological profiles.

Introduction: The coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected millions of people around the world. COVID-19 patients, particularly those with the critical illness, have coagulation abnormalities, thrombocytopenia, and a high prevalence of intravascular thrombosis. Objectives: This work aims to assess the prevalence of coagulation disorders and their related symptoms among COVID-19 patients in the Al-Jouf region of Saudi Arabia. Subjects and methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 160 COVID-19 patients. Data were collected from the medical records department of King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital, Sakaka, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. The socio-demographic data, risk factors, coagulation profile investigation results, symptom and sign data related to coagulation disorders, and disease morbidity and mortality for COVID-19 patients were extracted from medical records, and the data were stored confidentially. Results: Males represented the highest prevalence of COVID-19 infection at 65%; 29% were aged 60 or over; 28% were smokers; and 36% were suffering from chronic diseases, with diabetes mellitus representing the highest prevalence. Positive D-dimer results occurred in 29% of cases, with abnormal platelet counts in 26%. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that the dysregulation of the coagulation cascade and the subsequent occurrence of coagulation disorders are common in coronavirus infections. The results show absolute values, not increases over normal values; thus, it is hard to justify increased risk and presence based on the presented data.