For centuries, plants and their components have been harnessed for therapeutic purposes, with Ammi visnaga L. (Khella) being no exception to this rich tradition. While existing studies have shed light on the cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of seed extracts, there remains a noticeable gap in research about the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer potential of root extracts. This study seeks to address this gap by systematically examining methanol extracts derived from the roots of A. visnaga L. and comparing their effects with those of seed extracts specifically against breast cancer cells. Notably, absent from previous investigations, this study focuses on the comparative analysis of the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of both root and seed extracts. The methanol extract obtained from A. visnaga L. seeds demonstrated a notably higher level of total phenolic content (TPC) than its root counterpart, measuring 366.57 ± 2.86 and 270.78 ± 2.86 mg GAE/g dry weight of the dry extract, respectively. In the evaluation of antioxidant activities using the DPPH method, the IC₅₀ values for root and seed extracts were determined to be 193.46 ± 17.13 μg/mL and 227.19 ± 1.48 μg/mL, respectively. Turning our attention to cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), both root and seed extracts displayed similar cytotoxic activities, with IC₅₀ values of 92.45 ± 2.14 μg/mL and 75.43 ± 2.32 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, both root and seed extracts exhibited a noteworthy modulation of gene expression, upregulating the expression of caspase and Bax mRNA levels while concurrently suppressing the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-xL and Bcl-2), thereby reinforcing their potential as anticancer agents. A. visnaga L. seed extract outperforms the root extract in antimicrobial activities, exhibiting lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 3.81 ± 0.24 to 125 ± 7.63 μg/mL. This highlights the seeds’ potential as potent antibacterial agents, expanding their role in disease prevention. Overall, this study underscores the diverse therapeutic potentials of A. visnaga L. roots and seeds, contributing to the understanding of plant-derived extracts in mitigating disease risks.

Background: Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) pose global health problems that continue to rise. A chronic low-grade inflammation and activation of the immune system are well established in both conditions. The presence of these factors can predict disease development and progression. Emerging evidence suggests that platelet–high density lipoprotein ratio (PHR) is a potential inflammatory marker. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between PHR and T2D among obese patients. Methods: 203 patients with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² participated in the study. Patients were categorized into two groups: non-diabetic obese and diabetic obese. Comorbidities, baseline characteristics, laboratory data, as well as PHR levels of the study groups were analyzed. Medians, risk assessment, and the diagnostic performance of PHR values were examined in both groups. Results: In obese patients, the median PHR were significantly increased in obese patients with T2D compared to non-diabetic obese (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, T2D obese with high PHR had a significantly higher FBG and HbA1c (p < 0.05). Although PHR was weakly yet significantly correlated with glycemic markers, ROC curve analysis of the PHR indicated an AUC of 0.700 (p < 0.0001) in predicting T2D in obese patients, and the cutoff value was 6.96, with a sensitivity and specificity of 53.4% and 76.1%, respectively. Moreover, increased PHR (OR = 4.77, p < 0.0001) carried a significantly higher risk for developing T2D in obese individuals. Conclusions: The PHR is a convenient and cost-effective marker that can reliably predict the presence of T2D in high-risk obese population.

Background: Obesity is a growing global health concern, often accompanied by dyslipidemia, contributing to cardiovascular risk. Understanding the patterns of dyslipidemia in different glycemic states is crucial for targeted interventions. This study compares dyslipidemia patterns in normoglycemic and prediabetic obesity to improve clinical management strategies. Methods: The study analyzed the complete lipid profiles of 138 subjects, comparing the medians, prevalence, diagnostic performance, and risk assessment of each lipid parameter across 54 non-obese (NO), 44 normoglycemic obese (NG-OB), and 40 pre-diabetic obese (PreDM-OB) groups. Results: Elevated total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were the most prevalent forms of dyslipidemia observed in obesity (45.35% and 43.53%, respectively). Stratification by glycemic status revealed that triglyceride (TG) levels were elevated in both the NG-OB and PreDM-OB groups, with a more marked increase in the latter group (73.07 mg/dL vs. 97.87 mg/dL vs. 121.8 mg/dL, respectively). Elevated LDL showed better diagnostic performance and higher odds ratios (OR) in the NG-OB group (AUC = 0.660, p = 0.006; OR = 2.78, p = 0.022). Conversely, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was more common and exhibited significant diagnostic performance, with higher OR values in the PreDM-OB group (AUC = 0.687, p = 0.002; OR = 3.69, p = 0.018). Importantly, all lipid ratios were elevated in obesity, with TC/HDL showing the highest predictive ability for prediabetes (AUC = 0.7491, p < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings revealed unique and common lipid abnormalities in normoglycemic and prediabetic obesity. Future research should explore the effects of targeted lipid management on obesity-associated complications.

Background: Tribulus terrestris is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to treat certain illnesses. Though past efforts mostly focused on the fruits and roots, current research examined the phytochemical composition and bioactivity of leaf extract (LE) and seed extract (SE). Methods: GC-MS compared phytochemical profiles, and total phenolic and flavonoid content were determined. The extracts were tested for antibacterial activity (disc diffusion, MIC/MBC), antioxidant potential (DPPH, ABTS⁺), cytotoxicity (MTT assay in MCF-7 and HepG2 cells), and anti-diabetic activity (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition). Expression of apoptotic genes was also investigated. Results: The LE had a superior phytochemical composition, with greater phenolic and flavonoid levels. Compared to SE, it exhibited considerably higher antibacterial activity (MIC = 6.25–25 μg/mL), antioxidant potential (IC₅₀ = 90.71–113.41 μg/mL), cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 105.12–126.14 μg/mL), and enzyme inhibition (IC₅₀ = 84–96.62 μg/mL). The LE also drastically reduced the expression of anti-apoptotic genes Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in cancer cells. T. terrestris LE has significantly higher bioactive potential than SE in a range of pharmacological arenas due to its superior phytochemically complete profile. Conclusions: The findings indicate the LE as a promising candidate for the development of standardized phytotherapeutically active compounds.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have been developed to help prevent the spread of the virus infections. The COVID-19 vaccines, including Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca, have undergone rigorous testing and have demonstrated both safety and effectiveness. Extensive evidence supports their effectiveness in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and mortality associated with COVID-19 infection. The administration of COVID-19 vaccines can directly affect hematological and biochemical parameters, with reported cases showing an association with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia. Therefore, it was hypothesized that COVID-19 vaccines may also influence hematological and biochemical markers in sickle cell patients. This study aimed to investigate the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines on sickle cell patients, providing a comprehensive evaluation of hematological and biochemical parameters. To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind conducted in Saudi Arabia. The study included the evaluation of Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines in sickle cell patients, measuring key parameters. Our findings revealed varying impacts of both vaccines on the ALT, AST, and CRP levels. Notably, CRP and ALT exhibited potential as indicators for renal disease, diabetes, and arthritis. However, further investigations are necessary to uncover the underlying mechanisms that drive these observed differences and comprehend their clinical implications for this vulnerable patient population. The unique nature of our study fills a crucial research gap and underscores the need for additional research in this area.

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a major viral cause of acute respiratory tract infections, especially in young children and older adults. However, data on