Research Prospects in Natural Sciences (RPNS)

Aflatoxin: A major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma

Asad ur Rehman — 2025-06-27

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is ranked among the most common leading causes of death from cancers worldwide. Majorly responsible for this is the potent mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, aflatoxin. The risk factors are included to be hepatitis B and C viruses, HBV and HCV. Molecular mechanisms involved in a flatoxin and HBV/HCV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis include the complex interplay of genetic and epigenetic alterations that help in disrupting normal cellular processes with the action of cancerous traits. As aflatoxin triggers genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications through its activation and production of DNA adducts, while HBV and HCV infections lead to chronic hepatitis, oxidative damage, direct contact with host cellular machinery and favor the development of HCC. Mostly, aflatoxins are ingested through food products contaminated with this toxin, particularly grains and nuts, which are regularly consumed by populations using insanitary agriculture and storage of food. Once inside the body, aflatoxin B1 and similar metabolites have the ability to activate the cellular pathways associated with metabolic activation through cytochrome P450 enzymes that result in the creation of DNA adducts. These adducts lead to mutations within critical tumor suppressor genes like TP53 and activate oncogenes like RAS, causing tumorigenesis. Elucidating the complex molecular crosstalk between aflatoxin exposure and HBV/HCV infections is important for advancing targeted interventions to mitigate the global burden of HCC. This review consolidates the latest findings but sets a course for future research promisingly unravelling the complex interactions between aflatoxin exposure and HBV/HCV infections. It helps pave the way to good clinical outcomes and effective public health strategies as a means of combating hepatocellular carcinoma.

Nanotherapeutic and Stem Cell Therapeutic Strategies in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Areeba Maryam — 2025-06-27

In Neurodegenerative diseases the central or peripheral nerve systems gradually stop to perform proper functions. The treatments available are only help to relieve some physical or mental symptoms associated with these disorders. Due to its relatively extended duration, neurodegenerative disorders have become a major burden on families and society. Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD) are examples of neurodegenerative disorders that are either incurable or extremely difficult to treat. Therefore, new therapies are sought in which autologous stem cells are used. Stem cell therapy produces positive outcomes through a variety of pathways, including the direct replacement of lost or injured cells, the production of neurotrophic and growth factors and the stimulation of endogenous stem cells. However, low rates of stem cells differentiation and survival prevent them from being used in more therapeutic settings. Numerous intriguing nanomaterials for biomedical applications have been made possible by the quick development of nanotechnology. These materials are already widely used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and appear to be able to make up for some of the shortcomings in stem cell therapy. Thus, a viable therapeutic method to treat neurodegenerative disorders is the combination of stem cell therapy and nanotherapeutic technologies.

Effect of solvent on the Extraction of Constituents from the leaves of Olea Europaea and their 2,2-diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay

Moeen ud Din — 2025-06-27

Olive leaf extracts were prepared using the maceration method with a series of solvents of varying polarities, including n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, nitrobenzene, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, methanol, and acetonitrile. Among the solvents, methanol yielded the highest extract content (26.8%), followed by nitrobenzene (18.4%), acetone (11.2%), ethyl acetate (10.4%), dichloromethane (9.2%), methyl ethyl ketone (6.8%), acetonitrile (3.6%), and n-hexane (0.96 %). The antioxidant activity of these extracts was assessed using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay. At a concentration of 120 ppm, the percentage inhibition of DPPH radicals was highest for ascorbic acid (96.49%), followed by methanol (90.45%), ethyl acetate (85.58%), acetone (78.75%), and methyl ethyl ketone (66.28%). Lower inhibition was observed for acetonitrile (55.36%), nitrobenzene (39.77%), dichloromethane (38.01%) and n-hexane (28.07%). The antioxidant activity, evaluated using IC₅₀values (where lower values indicate higher antioxidant potential), identified ascorbic acid as the most potent standard (IC₅₀= 7.03 µg/mL). Among the samples, the n-hexane extract demonstrated the weakest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ 206.09 µg/mL), while the methanol extract exhibited the strongest (IC₅₀= 35.88 µg/mL). Other extracts showed IC₅₀ values of 157.77 µg/mL for dichloromethane, 155.10 µg/mL for nitrobenzene, 113.18 µg/mL for acetonitrile, 80.98 µg/mL for methyl ethyl ketone, 54.18 µg/mL for acetone, and 40.29 µg/mL for ethyl acetate. These results underscore the influence of solvent polarity on both extraction efficiency and antioxidant activity, with polar solvents generally yielding higher antioxidant potential.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of synthesized derivative of sulphonamide drug of 1,3-thiazole

Muhammad Shahid — 2025-06-27

The amalgamation of two heterocyclic moieties i.e. 1,3-thiazole and 1,3,4-oxadiazole, were carried out in the designed molecules to impart them possible therapeutic properties. The new compounds have been synthesized by encompassing different bioactive moieties including 1,3-thiazole, sulphonyl, alkyl halid. The synthesized molecules have been subjected to evaluation of their antibacterial potential. Furthermore, enzyme inhibition potential results have been supported by computational docking in order to find the types of interactions with the active site of involved enzymes.

Analysis of Presentation Attacks Detection in Signature Biometrics

Kamila Rehman — 2025-06-27

Authentication of biometric methods using various applications such as face or fingerprint recognition have received a lot of interest recently. However, at the same time these biometric systems have been facing different types of attacks. The current work carries out an analysis of different Presentation Attack (PA) scenarios for on-line handwritten signature verification. The present work introduces a short summery of methods for Presentation Attack Detection (PAD) in signature biometrics in order to describe the different levels of PAs existing in on-line signature verification regarding the amount of information available to the attacker, as well as the training, effort and ability to perform the forgeries. This work is an effort towards security evaluation of biometric systems, where attacks are rated depending on expertise of the attacker, as well as the information available and used from the target being attacked.