Umer Awan

Dr. Umer Awan

Botany,, Government College University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

24Years (2003-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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14 April 2021 in Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NANarengaowa
Narengaowa
WKWei Kong
Wei Kong
FLFei Lan
Fei Lan
Umer AwanUmer Awan
Umer Awan
HQHong Qing
Hong Qing
JNJunjun Ni
Junjun Ni
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed neurodegenerative disorders worldwide and poses a major challenge for both affected individuals and their caregivers. AD is a progressive neurological disorder associated with high rates of brain atrophy. Despite its durable influence on human health, understanding AD has been complicated by its enigmatic and multifactorial nature. Neurofibrillary tangles and the deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein are typical pathological features and fundamental causes of cognitive impairment in AD patients. Dysbiosis of oral and gut microbiota has been reported to induce and accelerate the formation of Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. For instance, some oral microbes can spread to the brain through cranial nerves or cellular infections, which has been suggested to increase the risk of developing AD. Importantly, the interaction between intestinal microbiota and brain cells has been recognized as influencing the development of AD as well as other neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, the metabolites produced by certain intestinal microorganisms can affect the activity of microglia and further mediate neuroinflammation, which is a leading cause of neuronal necrosis and AD pathogenesis. Which pathogens and associated pathways are involved in the development and progression of AD remains to be elucidated; however, it is well-known that gut microbiota and their metabolites can affect the brain by both direct and indirect means. Understanding the specific mechanisms involved in the interaction between these pathogens and the nervous system is vital for the early intervention in AD. In this review, we aim to comprehensively discuss the possible mechanistic pathways underlying the oral-brain, the gut-brain and the oral-gut-brain associations.

1 July 2013 in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Letters
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MHMurtaza Hasan
Murtaza Hasan
ZTZhongqiu Teng
Zhongqiu Teng
JIJaved Iqbal
Javed Iqbal
Umer AwanUmer Awan
Umer Awan
SMShiying Meng
Shiying Meng
YDYulin Deng
Yulin Deng
Here, we report synthesis of silver nanoparticles in water and ethanol solvent using Dragon's blood resin as reducing agent. Ultra violet (UV) visible spectroscopy was performed for the confirmation of silver nanoparticles synthesis after 4 h, 2 h and 30 min of reaction at 30 °C, 60 °C and 90 °C respectively. Large size silver nano-particles of 150 nm to 225 nm were formed by using ethanol as solvent while in aqueous solution the size of the nanoparticles was in between 10 nm to 35 nm. From HPLC results, we found that nanoparticles were formed and stabilized by reducing Cinnabarone, Loureirin A, Loureirin B, 4-(7,8-dihydro-6H-[1,3]dioxol[4,5-h]chromen-7-yl)methyl phenol and Pterostilbene. For further confirmation only Loureirin A and Loureirin B were used for synthesis of nanoparticles. This study not only save the time and environment but also produced different size of nanoparticles. These nanoparticles have wide application in delivery of drugs, genes and as imaging agent. Capping of Dragons Blood resin compounds make it a promising candidate for continuing application in the fields of biomedicine and nanotechnology.

19 April 2024 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ZMZahid Mehmood
Zahid Mehmood
HYHsi-Hsien Yang
Hsi-Hsien Yang
Umer AwanUmer Awan
Umer Awan
UAUsman Ahmed
Usman Ahmed
AHAli Hasnian
Ali Hasnian
ASAleeha Sharjeel
Aleeha Sharjeel
Air pollution is a severe problem in the modern world. Urbanization, industrialization, and traffic emit air pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HCs), and particulate matter into the environment. Plants can absorb air pollutants through stomata. They adversely affect the various metabolic and physiological processes of plant species. This review describes the impact of air pollution on plant health, morphologically, physiologically, and genetically, and the tolerance ability of plants located along roadside areas. Many morphological effects, like chlorosis, necrosis, leaf area, stomatal clogging, plant productivity, leaf falling, and reduction in flower yield, are observed due to the influence of air pollution. Air pollutants also damage the DNA and affect the biochemicals of the plants, as well as pH, relative water content (RWC), simple sugar, ascorbic acid (AA), total chlorophyll content (TCH), proline, and polyamines. Some plants located under pollution stress can mitigate air pollution. Plants with higher APTI values are more tolerant of air pollution, while those with the lowest APTI values can be used as an indicator of the rate of air pollution. There is much morphological, biochemical, and DNA damage noted in this review. Different strategies can be used to diagnose the effects of air pollution in the future and develop green belts to mitigate air pollution in pollution-stressed areas.

18 April 2014 in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
Umer AwanUmer Awan
Umer Awan
YDYulin Deng
Yulin Deng

13 July 2022 in Applied Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AJArooba John
Arooba John
HYHsi-Hsien Yang
Hsi-Hsien Yang
SMSohaib Muhammad
Sohaib Muhammad
ZKZAFAR KHAN
ZAFAR KHAN
HYHaiyang Yu
Haiyang Yu
Umer AwanUmer Awan
Umer Awan
Synthetic food colors are important ingredients in the food industry. These synthetic food colorants are azo dyes, majorly acidic in nature such as Allura red and Tartrazine. They are present in sweets, carbonated drinks, meat products, and candies to attract the consumers. This review article is an attempt to explain the adverse effects of azo dyes and their association with oral cavities and cardiovascular disorders. These synthetic dyes (azo dyes) have staining effects on dentin. Poor dental care accelerates the bacterial accumulation on the dental crown (Gram-negative bacteria P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and T. forsythia and Gram-positive bacteria Strep. Gordonii), causing the washing of enamel, forming dental plaque. Bacterial pathogens (P. ginigivalis and F. nacleatum) release different chemicals (FadA and Fap2) that bind to protein on the cell by producing an inflammatory response through different line-host defenses, such as Gingival epithelial cells (ECs), Hemi-desmosomes, and desmosomes, which helps the bacterium migration from the cell–cell junction. This makes the junctions slightly open up and makes the whole vessel permeable, through which the bacterium enters into the blood stream line. This leads to different major arteries, such as the carotid artery, and causes the accumulation of plaque in major cardiac arteries, which causes different cardiovascular disorders. These bacterial species present in gums cause cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart attacks and strokes, and arrhythmias, which can lead to death.

1 February 2015 in Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MHMurtaza Hasan
Murtaza Hasan
JIJaved Iqbal
Javed Iqbal
Umer AwanUmer Awan
Umer Awan
YSYasmeen Saeed
Yasmeen Saeed
YRYuan Ranran
Yuan Ranran
YDYulin Deng
Yulin Deng
Biological synthesis of nanoparticles is best way to avoid exposure of hazardous materials as compared to chemical manufacturing process which is a severe threat not only to biodiversity but also to environment. In present study, we reported a novel method of finding antiradiation compounds by bioreducing mechanism of silver nanoparticles formation using 50% ethanol extract of Dragons blood, a famous Chinese herbal plant. Color change during silver nanoparticles synthesis was observed and it was confirmed by ultra violet (UV) visible spectroscopy at wave length at 430 nm after 30 min of reaction at 60 °C. Well dispersed round shaped silver nanoparticles with approximate size (4 nm to 50 nm) were measured by TEM and particle size analyser. Capping of biomolecules on Ag nanoparticles was characterized by FTIR spectra. HPLC analysis was carried out to find active compounds in the extract. Furthermore, antiradiation activity of this extract was tested by MTT assay in vitro after incubating the SH-SY5Y cells for 24 h at 37 °C. The results indicate that presence of active compounds in plant extract not only involves in bioreduction process but also shows response against radiation. The dual role of plant extract as green synthesis of nanoparticles and exhibit activity against radiation which gives a new way of fishing out active compounds from complex herbal plants.