Afifa Aziz

Dr. Afifa Aziz

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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18 January 2023 in Molecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IRIzza Faiz Ul Faiz Ul Rasool
Izza Faiz Ul Faiz Ul Rasool
AAAfifa Aziz
Afifa Aziz
WKWaseem Khalid
Waseem Khalid
HKHyrije Vesel Koraqi
Hyrije Vesel Koraqi
SSShahida Anusha Siddiqui
Shahida Anusha Siddiqui
Anwar AliAnwar Ali
Anwar Ali
The current review was carried out on the industrial application of fig by-products and their role against chronic disorders. Fig is basically belonging to fruit and is botanically called Ficus carica. There are different parts of fig, including the leaves, fruits, seeds and latex. The fig parts are a rich source of bioactive compounds and phytochemicals including antioxidants, phenolic compounds, polyunsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols and vitamins. These different parts of fig are used in different food industries such as the bakery, dairy and beverage industries. Fig by-products are used in extract or powder form to value the addition of different food products for the purpose of improving the nutritional value and enhancing the stability. Fig by-products are additive-based products which contain high phytochemicals fatty acids, polyphenols and antioxidants. Due to the high bioactive compounds, these products performed a vital role against various diseases including cancer, diabetes, constipation, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Concussively, fig-based food products may be important for human beings and produce healthy food.

22 September 2022 in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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ZMZahra Maqbool
Zahra Maqbool
MNMehr Nisa
Mehr Nisa
Anwar AliAnwar Ali
Anwar Ali
AAAfifa Aziz
Afifa Aziz
WKWaseem Khalid
Waseem Khalid
JLJose Manuel Lorenzo
Jose Manuel Lorenzo
The present review is designed to measure the effects of saffron extract in functional foods and its pharmacological properties against various disorders. Saffron is a traditional medicinal plant used as a food additive. The stigma of saffron has bioactive compounds such as safranal, crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, kaempferol, and flavonoid. These bioactive compounds can be extracted using conventional (maceration, solvent extraction, soxhlet extraction, and vapor or hydrodistillation) and novel techniques (emulsion liquid membrane extraction, ultrasound‐assisted extraction, enzyme‐associated extraction, pulsed electric field extraction, microwave‐assisted extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction). Saffron is used as a functional ingredient, natural colorant, shelf‐life enhancer, and fortifying agent in developing different food products. The demand for saffron has been increasing in the pharma industry due to its protection against cardiovascular and Alzheimer disease and its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antitumor, and antidepressant properties. Conclusively, the phytochemical compounds of saffron improve the nutrition value of products and protect humans against various disorders.

28 October 2022 in Molecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AAAfifa Aziz
Afifa Aziz
SNSana Noreen
Sana Noreen
WKWaseem Khalid
Waseem Khalid
FMFizza Mubarik
Fizza Mubarik
MNMadiha khan Niazi
Madiha khan Niazi
Ammar AL-FargaAmmar AL-Farga
Ammar AL-Farga
In this review, we discuss the advantages of vegetable sprouts in the development of food products as well as their beneficial effects on a variety of disorders. Sprouts are obtained from different types of plants and seeds and various types of leafy, root, and shoot vegetables. Vegetable sprouts are enriched in bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, antioxidants, and vitamins. Currently, different conventional methods and advanced technologies are used to extract bioactive compounds from vegetable sprouts. Due to some issues in traditional methods, increasingly, the trend is to use recent technologies because the results are better. Applications of phytonutrients extracted from sprouts are finding increased utility for food processing and shelf-life enhancement. Vegetable sprouts are being used in the preparation of different functional food products such as juices, bread, and biscuits. Previous research has shown that vegetable sprouts can help to fight a variety of chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Furthermore, in the future, more research is needed that explores the extraordinary ways in which vegetable sprouts can be incorporated into green-food processing and preservation for the purpose of enhancing shelf-life and the formation of functional meat products and substitutes.
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24 June 2026 in Foods
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Journal Article
Open access
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AAAfifa Aziz
Afifa Aziz
MAMuhammad Zeeshan Adil
Muhammad Zeeshan Adil
MUQADAS ALTAF AltafMUQADAS ALTAF Altaf
MUQADAS ALTAF Altaf
MWMin Wang
Min Wang
KCKit-Leong Cheong
Kit-Leong Cheong
The increased global prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), is a chronic relapsing inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that creates a substantial socioeconomic burden. Existing pharmacotherapeutic treatments primarily target inflammatory signaling cascades and have disadvantages because of the side effects of drugs, reduced long-term efficacy, and high cost, necessitating the development of safe and sustainable adjunctive therapies. This review synthesizes mechanistic advances regarding dietary polysaccharides as bioactive agents that may have the capacity to induce remodeling of inflamed gastrointestinal tract in colitis and could be an adjunctive strategy as functional food ingredients due to their various biological activities in the management of colitis. Polysaccharides alleviate colitis through several interconnected pathways. First, they correct the gut dysbiosis by enriching beneficial taxa such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia muciniphila. Second, fermentation of polysaccharides produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate, which serve as the primary energy source for colonocytes. Third, they restore intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins such as ZO-1, occludin, and claudin, also performing pro-inflammatory cascade inhibition and elimination of oxidative stress via Nrf2/HO-1 activation The relationship between structural properties of polysaccharides based on molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and biological functions of chemically modified dietary polysaccharides in colitis is studied. Dietary polysaccharides are explored here not as replacements for pharmacotherapy but as potential adjunctive or functional food-based interventions that may complement existing treatments as safe, multitargeted, and cost-effective interventions in prevention or long-term management of colitis and IBD. This review presents dietary polysaccharides function not as passive dietary fibers but as bioactive, multi-targeted, structurally dependent agents capable of restoring intestinal homeostasis, suggesting them as potentially safe, adjunctive interventions.

26 July 2026 in Foods
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AAAfifa Aziz
Afifa Aziz
HSHadia Sehar
Hadia Sehar
MAMuhammad Zeeshan Adil
Muhammad Zeeshan Adil
WKWaseem Khalid
Waseem Khalid
KCKit-Leong Cheong
Kit-Leong Cheong
Seed mucilage is a natural hydrophilic polysaccharide gel secreted by seed coat epidermal cells comprising xylan, pectin, glucomannan, and cellulose alongside minor proteins, minerals, and lipids, with its composition varying substantially across plant species. This review critically compares conventional and green extraction technologies, including ultrasound-, microwave-, enzyme-, and subcritical water-assisted extraction, on a seed-mass-normalized yield basis together with their solvent-to-seed ratios and processing times, showing that green technologies can reduce solvent consumption, energy use, and processing time relative to matched conventional controls, though the magnitude of these gains is method and species-specific rather than uniform. We synthesize how molecular weight, uronic acid content, branching pattern, and microfibril organization govern seed mucilage hydration, rheological, emulsifying, and foaming behavior, and link these structure–function relationships to its antioxidant, prebiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial bioactivities. Beyond functional characterization, this review evaluates the translational barriers, extraction standardization, safety and regulatory status, and clinical validation that currently limit seed mucilage adoption in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Unlike previous reviews focused on ecological function or application cataloging, this review uniquely reframes seed mucilage as a structurally programmable bioactive polysaccharide, integrating molecular architecture, green process intensification, and structure–function–application relationships to bridge fundamental chemistry with industrial translation.

1 September 2026 in Microorganisms
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MUQADAS ALTAF AltafMUQADAS ALTAF Altaf
MUQADAS ALTAF Altaf
WKWaseem Khalid
Waseem Khalid
ZFZhijia Fang
Zhijia Fang
HMHaroon Munir
Haroon Munir
AAAfifa Aziz
Afifa Aziz
RGRavi Gooneratne
Ravi Gooneratne
The widespread exposure of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains due to excessive use of antibiotics has accelerated the bacteriophage applications as highly specific antibacterial agents competent to target resistant pathogenic Vibrio through receptor-mediated adsorption and lytic infection. Vibrio pathogens are responsible for substantial economic losses, environmental instability, and foodborne infections in humans through contaminated seafood and water. However, the molecular determinants remain incompletely understood, commanding the Vibrio-phage host specificity, host range, and resistance evolution. This review highlights the comprehensive overview of structural, and functional framework of Vibrio surface receptors responsible for phage recognition, including outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), porins, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), capsular polysaccharides (CPS), flagella, and pili along with specialized bacteriophage tail spike proteins known as receptor-binding proteins (RBPs). We also explored the mechanisms against phage-mediated lysis, including receptor modification, intracellular defense systems, physiological remodeling, and structural adaptations that regulate burst size, lysis timing, and resistance evolution with emphasis on significant progress in phage biology and therapeutic development. It is critical to grasp the molecular-level interaction mechanisms due to limited marine phage ecological data, lack of standardized resistance databases, and regulatory constraints. Future perspectives emphasize the engineered phages, multi-omics integration, and artificial intelligence-driven phage design for the sustainable management of Vibriosis and improved aquaculture biosecurity.