Ahmad K Hegazy
Cairo University, Botany and Microbiology, Faculty Member
- Graduate of Cairo University (B.Sc. & M.Sc.) and Alberta University, Canada (Ph.D.). Leading a research group in the ... moreGraduate of Cairo University (B.Sc. & M.Sc.) and Alberta University, Canada (Ph.D.). Leading a research group in the field of plant ecology. Supervision of about 50 Ph.D. and M.Sc. students in different universities and research institutes. Research areas cover population and community ecology, biodiversity, climate change, conservation ecology and management of protected areas, biological interactions, environmental pollution, phytoremediation, restoration ecology, molecular ecology, and environmental impact assessment. Published over 180 publications, edited and co-authored 4 books and two encyclopedia. Implemented some research programs in Egypt and some Arab countries (Libya, Qatar and Saudi Arabia). National coordinator and director of some research projects. Teaching more than 10 graduate and undergraduate courses in Egyptian and other Arab and Canadian universities. Delegated and seconded to about 10 Egyptian and regional Universities. Visiting fellow to some British and Canadian universities. Editor, World Journal of Agricultural Sciences. Undertaken some refereeing work for international scientific journals, including Environmental Conservation, Journal of Chemical Ecology, Journal of Arid Environments, Scientific American (Arabic version), and many national and regional journals. Coordinated, facilitated and participated in many training courses, workshops, public awareness programs in the fields of conservation, biodiversity, protected areas, sustainable development, environmental communication and education, and other environmental fields. Participated in more than 80 international conference and workshop on environmental subjects and plant ecology in about 25 countries. Environmental advisor and resource person for many international organizations in the field of environment and conservation of plant species (UNEP, UNESCO, CEDARE, Arab League, ICARDA, EEAA, FAO, AOAD, etc.). Former Head of Environmental Impact Assessment Sector (Ministry of Environment, June 2002/ May 2003). External examiner for Ph. D. and M. Sc. degrees in many Universities. Referee for promotion of university staff members and project evaluation and follow up in some regional universities. English-Arabic translation of environmental articles for Scientific American Journal. Participated in preparation of global and regional environmental outlook-UNEP (GEO-2, GEO-3, SOE-North Africa and SOE-Arab Region), prepared sections on biodiversity, forests and multilateral/ international agreements. Reviewer in Millennium Ecosystem Assessment &IPBES. Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, International jury for the International Slow Food Award, Regional Coordinator of the International Allelopathy Society, and member of some national and international academic societies concerned with environment. Winner of national prizes; State prize in environmental research and education (2003); State prize for encouragement in biological science (2000) and State prize for environment protection in the field of biodiversity and protected areas (1997), Cairo University Prize for Excellency in Research (2006). International publications award- Cairo University (2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009), Silver Medal of Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations-FAO (2002). Principal investigator and national advisor of many national and regional research projects. Deputy Chair of Syndicate for Scientific Professions-Egypt (Since April 2016).edit
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Thapsia garganica is a herbaceous perennial in the Apiaceae, distributed around the Mediterranean and traditionally used in North Africa as a remedy for arthritis, herpes, hair-fall, hypertension, rheumatic, eczema and scabies. T.... more
Thapsia garganica is a herbaceous perennial in the Apiaceae, distributed around the Mediterranean and traditionally used in North Africa as a remedy for arthritis, herpes, hair-fall, hypertension, rheumatic, eczema and scabies. T. garganica is the source of thapsigargin: known for killing cancer cells. Seven populations were studied in sites differing in aspect and elevation within Al Jebel Al Akhdar in Libya. We studied
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We sampled twenty populations of the vulnerable endemic shrub or tree, Arbutus pavarii Pampan., at different elevations and aspects within the Al-Akhdar mountainous region of Libya. Our sampling sites were at elevations ranging from 285... more
We sampled twenty populations of the vulnerable endemic shrub or tree, Arbutus pavarii Pampan., at different elevations and aspects within the Al-Akhdar mountainous region of Libya. Our sampling sites were at elevations ranging from 285 to 738 m above sea level, and several different habitats: vallies (locally known as wadis), north- and south-facing slopes, and mountaintops. All individuals within each quadrat were studied. Population size and structure, and plant functional traits were assessed. None of the populations had a stable distribution of size classes. Some consisted mostly of small plants, with little or no fruit production; others consisted only of mid-sized and large plants, with high fruit production, but no juvenile recruitment. There was a significant increase in percent cover with increasing elevation; reproductive output (the number of fruits per branch and total number of fruits per individual) also generally increased with elevation. In some of these populations the lack of recruitment, and in others the failure to produce fruit, together constituted serious demographic threats. In light of these results, recommendations are made for conservation of this vulnerable endemic species.
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Soil erosion is one of the major environmental problems in terms of soil degradation in Saudi Arabia. Soil erosion leads to significant on- and off-site impacts such as significant decrease in the productive capacity of the land and... more
Soil erosion is one of the major environmental problems in terms of soil degradation in Saudi Arabia. Soil erosion leads to significant on- and off-site impacts such as significant decrease in the productive capacity of the land and sedimentation. The key aspects influencing the quantity of soil erosion mainly rely on the vegetation cover, topography, soil type, and climate. This research studies the quantification of soil erosion under different levels of data availability in Wadi Yalamlam. Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques have been implemented for the assessment of the data, applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) for the calculation of the risk of erosion. Thirty-four soil samples were randomly selected for the calculation of the erodibility factor, based on calculating theK-factor values derived from soil property surfaces after interpolating soil sampling points. Soil erosion risk map was reclassified into five erosion ri...
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Background Phytoremediation is determined as an emerging green technology suitable for the safe remediation and restoration of polluted terrestrial and aquatic environments. In this study, the assessment of an ornamental plant, Vinca... more
Background Phytoremediation is determined as an emerging green technology suitable for the safe remediation and restoration of polluted terrestrial and aquatic environments. In this study, the assessment of an ornamental plant, Vinca rosea L., as a phytoremediator of crude oil in polluted soils was conducted. In an open greenhouse experiment, plants were raised in sandy-clayey soils treated with 1, 3, 5, and 7% oil by weight. The experiment was conducted over 5 months. Results Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation percentage by V. rosea after a 5-month growth period ranged from 86.83 ± 0.44% to 59.05% ± 0.45% in soil treated with 1 and 7%, respectively. Plants raised in polluted soils demonstrated a dramatic reduction in germination rates, in addition to growth inhibition outcomes shown from decreased plant height. An increase in branching was observed with an increase in oil pollution percentages. Moreover, the phytomass allocated to the leaves was higher, while the phytoma...
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The genus Solanum exhibits a wide range of variability in morphology, flavor, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Phenotypic and genetic variability using ISSR and RAPD markers of Solanum incanum distributed in Al-Baha province... more
The genus Solanum exhibits a wide range of variability in morphology, flavor, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Phenotypic and genetic variability using ISSR and RAPD markers of Solanum incanum distributed in Al-Baha province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is assessed. Thirty samples are representing three different locations: Baljershy, Aqeeq, and Tohama, besides twenty-five samples representing five different commercial cultivars tested. Growth type, the number of leaves per plant, fruit size (phenotypic traits), crude protein, carbohydrates, digestive organic matter, and Mg, Ca, P were the principal contributors in the PCA. Molecular analysis showed that 114 ISSR and 80 RAPD alleles with a 100% polymorphism were recorded. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.84 to 0.91 for ISSR and from 0.59 to 0.89 for RAPD data. Similarity values ranged from 0.16 to 1.00, with an average of 0.47 for ISSR and from 0.01 to 0.97, with an average of 0.36 for R...
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Six species of edible Irish seaweeds; Laminaria digitata, Laminaria saccharina, Himanthalia elongata, Palmaria palmata, Chondrus crispus and Enteromorpha spirulina were screened for potential bioactivity. Extraction of secondary... more
Six species of edible Irish seaweeds; Laminaria digitata, Laminaria saccharina, Himanthalia elongata, Palmaria palmata, Chondrus crispus and Enteromorpha spirulina were screened for potential bioactivity. Extraction of secondary metabolites was carried out using different solvents to determine antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the dried extracts. The total phenolic contents of dried methanolic extracts were significantly different (p < 0.05). H. elongata exhibited highest phenolic content at 151.3 mg GAE/g of seaweed extract and also had the highest DPPH scavenging activity (p < 0.05) with a 50% inhibition (EC50) level at 0.125μg/ml of extract. H. elongata also had the highest total tannin and total flavonoid contents (p < 0.05) of 38.34 mg CE/g and 42.5 mg QE/g, respectively. Antimicrobial activity was determined using a microtitre method which allowed detection of bacterial growth inhibition at low levels. All methanolic seaweed extracts inhibited the food spoil...
Research Interests: Microbiology, Food Science, Biology, Life Sciences, Food Processing, and 15 moreFood Microbiology, Seaweeds, Listeria monocytogenes, Antimicrobial activity, Green Algae, Brown Algae, Red Algae, Secondary Metabolites, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Antioxidant Activity, Bacterial growth, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Total Phenolic Content, and Pathogenic Bacteria
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In view of their potential bioaccumulation of heavy metals, Ceratophyllum demersum and Myriophyllum spicatum was studied under hydroponic cultures enriched by different Pb concentrations (25, 50, 75 mg/l) for 1-7 days. Both species... more
In view of their potential bioaccumulation of heavy metals, Ceratophyllum demersum and Myriophyllum spicatum was studied under hydroponic cultures enriched by different Pb concentrations (25, 50, 75 mg/l) for 1-7 days. Both species exerted remarkable capabilities to concentrate Pb in their tissues as compared to control. The highest accumulation value of Pb (164.26 mg/g x dw) was recorded in C. demersum and the most of metal (91.72 mg/g dw) accumulated after 1 d. Significant reduction in photosynthetic pigments and appearance of morphological symptoms such as chlorosis and fragmentation of leaves were evident after 7d at 75 mg/l. The activity of POX and APX, carotenoids and proline showed induction at lower concentration and duration followed by decline. Major re-shuffle in protein patterns appeared as a tolerant mechanism, which both species developed under Pb toxicity. Results suggest that both species responded positively to Pb concentration and accumulated high amount of metal. Due to metal accumulation coupled with detoxification potential, both species appear to have potential for use as phytoremediators and the developed responses can be used as reliable biomarkers for Pb water pollution.
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Research Interests: Biology and Germination
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This study was conducted to revise the taxonomic identity and clarify inter- and intra-specific relationships among the studied wild and cultivated Hordeum taxa in Egypt. The studied taxa included Hordeum marinum subsp. gussoneanum, H.... more
This study was conducted to revise the taxonomic identity and clarify inter- and intra-specific relationships among the studied wild and cultivated Hordeum taxa in Egypt. The studied taxa included Hordeum marinum subsp. gussoneanum, H. marinum subsp. marinum, H. Hordeum leporinum, Hordeum glaucum, Hordeum spontaneum and Hordeum vulgare. The results revealed that unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram showed a considerable degree of dissimilarity among the studied Hordeum taxa at 1.50 dissimilarity distance. It divided the studied taxa into four groups at 1.33. Group 1 included H. marinum subsp. gussoneanum and H. marinum subsp.
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Populations of Albizia amara, Acacia senegal, Anogeissus leiocarpus, and Balanites aegyptiaca were monitored in five habitats in the Jebel Marra region: clay plains, sand plains, wadis, northern slopes, and southern slopes of the Jebel... more
Populations of Albizia amara, Acacia senegal, Anogeissus leiocarpus, and Balanites aegyptiaca were monitored in five habitats in the Jebel Marra region: clay plains, sand plains, wadis, northern slopes, and southern slopes of the Jebel Marra (mountain) region. The plains and wadi habitat types had been regularly disturbed because of cycles of shifting cultivation. When land was prepared for cultivation, seedlings and juvenile plants were removed, leaving only larger adult plants, and, therefore, unstable tree populations, lacking juveniles, and growing in fallow lands. A. amara and A. senegal were more abundant than A. leiocarpus and B. aegyptiaca. The healthiest populations, with more juvenile recruits, were found in the grazing lands at higher elevations. However, A. amara and A. senegal showed stable size structure in both grazing and fallow lands. In general, in the four study species, we see a decline in growth and reproduction (with growth measured as tree height and number of branches, and reproduction assessed in terms of number of fruits per tree and dry weight of seeds) along a progression from fallow lands to the grazing lands, and, separately, from lower to higher altitudes. The resilience potential of each species in the fallow lands indicated two distinct population resilience strategies: (1) we saw faster rebound in the case of A. amara and A. senegal and (2) slow recovery from disturbance in the case of A. leiocarpus and B. aegyptiaca which showed low juvenile recruitment in fallow lands.
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An efficient protocol for clonal multiplication of an important mangrove, Avicennia marina, was developed through in vitro culture of nodal segments obtained from a mature plant. The nodal explant induced multiple shoots when cultured on... more
An efficient protocol for clonal multiplication of an important mangrove, Avicennia marina, was developed through in vitro culture of nodal segments obtained from a mature plant. The nodal explant induced multiple shoots when cultured on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with varying concentrations and combinations of 6-benzyladenine (BA) and α-naphthalene acetic acid. The highest response in terms of per cent regeneration (73%), average number of shoots/explant (3.25 ± 0.25) and maximum shoot length (5.2 ± 0.27 cm) was obtained on the MS medium supplemented with BA 5.0 μmol/L + NAA 1.0 μmol/L + 3 g/L activated charcoal after 8 weeks of culturing. The regenerated shoots were rooted well in the MS medium supplemented with 1.0 μmol/L indole-3-butyric acid with an average of 2.9 ± 0.24 roots per microshoot. The rooted plantlets were successfully transferred to pots containing normal garden soil with 70% survival rate. The genetic stability of the regenerated plants was evaluated using single primer amplification reaction (SPAR) methods viz., random amplified polymorphic DNA, directed amplification of minisatellite DNA and intersimple sequence repeat polymorphism. The SPAR analysis revealed monomorphic banding patterns in all in vitro regenerated plantlets of A. marina and similar with that of the mother tree confirming their genetic uniformity and clonal fidelity.
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Research Interests: Plant Biology and Biology
تقوم العديد من النباتات الزهرية بإطلاق بعض السموم الكيميائية التي يكون لها دور مؤثر في إعاقة النباتات الأخرى أو الميكروبات التي تشاركها نفس الموقع . ويطلق على هذه الظاهرة الإبعاد التضادي الكيميائي أو الاليلوباثي . وقد أجريت هذه الدراسة... more
تقوم العديد من النباتات الزهرية بإطلاق بعض السموم الكيميائية التي يكون لها دور مؤثر في إعاقة النباتات الأخرى أو الميكروبات التي تشاركها نفس الموقع . ويطلق على هذه الظاهرة الإبعاد التضادي الكيميائي أو الاليلوباثي . وقد أجريت هذه الدراسة المعملية لتوضيح هذه الظاهرة في نبات الجراوة وبيان مدى تأثيره على ستة أنواع من النباتات الزهرية المعمرة والحولية بالإضافة إلى ثلاثة أنواع من فطريات التربة . تم استخدام مستخلصات الماء والكحول والإثير وبيان مدى تأثيرها على إنبات بذور النباتات الزهرية ونمو الغزل الفطري . وأوضحت الدراسة أن مستخلصات نبات الجراوة المختلفة لها تأثير مثبط على إنبات البشور أو تكوين البادرات . وكان التأثير المثبط أكثر شدة على النباتات الحولية من الأنواع المعمرة ، وكذلك بينت الفطريات انخفاضا في معدلي نمو الغزل الفطري تحت تأثير التركيزات المستخدمة من مستخلصات الماء والكحول والإثير وبذلك يمكن أن يؤثر الإبعاد التضادي الكيميائي في توزيع النباتات الزهرية أو فطريات التربة في عشائر نبات الجراوة الذي ينمو بريا في دولة قطر.
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Four grasses (coastal: Aeluropus lagopoides & Sporobolus tremulus, and inland: Paspalum paspalodes and Paspalidium geminatum) were evaluated for biomass production, mineral composition and forage quality under optimal non-saline... more
Four grasses (coastal: Aeluropus lagopoides & Sporobolus tremulus, and inland: Paspalum paspalodes and Paspalidium geminatum) were evaluated for biomass production, mineral composition and forage quality under optimal non-saline conditions. Vegetative shoots were collected from natural populations and allowed to grow under ambient environmental conditions for about six weeks. Forage quality parameters included neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), dry matter digestibility (DMD), and metabolizable energy (ME). Coastal species had higher ADF and crude protein values in comparison with inland species whereas, DMD were highest in Paspalum paspalodes followed by Sporobolus tremulus, Paspalidium geminatum and Aeluropus lagopoides. Estimated metabolizable energy (ME) was highest in Paspalum paspalodes with similar values in other test species. Sporobolus tremulus had the highest sulphur (1.42%) while the other three species had considerably lower va...
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Three plants were used in this study: Moringa pregrina, Achillea fragrantissima and Coleome droserifolia. Six active constituents were separated from n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions of Moringa pregrina. These active constituents were... more
Three plants were used in this study: Moringa pregrina, Achillea fragrantissima and Coleome droserifolia. Six active constituents were separated from n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions of Moringa pregrina. These active constituents were lupeol acetate, �-amyrin, �-amyrin, �-sitosterol, �sitosterol-3-O- �-D-glucoside and apignin were assayed individually and in combination against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. All constituents were proved to be more antibacterial than antifungal agents. Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium solani were completely resistant to all constituents. �-amyrin was the most effective antibacterial compound. The least relative activity was achieved by �-sitosterol against Bacillus subtilis compared to ampicillin. Reasonable antifungal activity was recorded in case of lupeol acetate, �-amyrin and �-amyrin, while �-sitosterol and �-sitosterol-3-O- �-D-glucoside, revealed no antifungal activity. Apignin missed both antifungal and antibacterial activities. Low MICs w...
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Cyperus arenarius Retz. (Cyperaceae) is a low stoloniferous perennial of coastal sand dunes. We examined the effects of salinity (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 600 mM NaCl), temperature (10/20, 15/25, 20/30 and 25/35 o C) and light (12/12 h... more
Cyperus arenarius Retz. (Cyperaceae) is a low stoloniferous perennial of coastal sand dunes. We examined the effects of salinity (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 600 mM NaCl), temperature (10/20, 15/25, 20/30 and 25/35 o C) and light (12/12 h dark/light and 24 h dark) on seed germination of C. arenarius. Freshly collected seeds showed highest germination in distilled water and 100 mM NaCl at 25/35 o C. However, germination in 100 mM NaCl solution was about 25% slower than in distilled water. About 50% germination inhibition was observed at 200 mM NaCl and no seed germinated above 300 mM NaCl. Under optimal conditions, germination in complete darkness was about half of the 12-h photoperiod. About 50% of the un-germinated seeds from 400 and 600 mM NaCl recovered when transferred to distilled water (enforced dormancy), 35% remained un-germinated but viable (induced dormancy), while 15% were dead. Seeds from non-saline and complete dark treatment showed dark-induced dormancy (about 40%) where...
This study was conducted on a naturally growing population in southern Sinai mangrove swamps in Nabq protected area during the years 2000-2002. Avicennia marina is the only mangrove species growing in Ras-Mohamed and Nabq protectorates.... more
This study was conducted on a naturally growing population in southern Sinai mangrove swamps in Nabq protected area during the years 2000-2002. Avicennia marina is the only mangrove species growing in Ras-Mohamed and Nabq protectorates. Phonological observations, pigment content, and population demoghraphy as well as physical and chemical properties of soils were analyzed in the two study sites. Phenologically, the plant showed two periods of flowering and fruiting within a single year. The pigment content, along a sea-land transect, was increasing seawards. The age-class distribution of adult individuals showed that the percentage of adults decreased with age. The soils of the study sites are, relatively, rich in organic matter and are generally sandy, calcareous and salinealkaline. The site-dependent variations among different populations are discussed in context of population demoghraphy and dynamic.
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Zygophyllum aegyptium A. Hosny sp. nov. (Fam. Zygophyllaceae) is a closely related taxon to Z. album, but can be differentiated by the flowering branches and during fruiting stage. It is distributed in the Mediterranean region of Egypt,... more
Zygophyllum aegyptium A. Hosny sp. nov. (Fam. Zygophyllaceae) is a closely related taxon to Z. album, but can be differentiated by the flowering branches and during fruiting stage. It is distributed in the Mediterranean region of Egypt, Tunis and Cyprus. As a taxon of the genus Zygophyllum in Egypt, Z. aegyptium is ecologically interesting. The species has broad ecological amplitude where it can grow in different habitat types. Z. aegyptium plays an important role in the zonation pattern of the vegetation in the Deltaic coast of Egypt. The zonation usually beings at the coast with a zone of Z. aegyptium community type which builds up sand mounds forming a narrow belt of vegetation runs parallel to the coast.
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Vegetation in natural desert and agro-ecosystems was investigated in the middle sector of Egypt. The vegetation was classified by the Two Way Indicator Species Analysis technique (TWINSPAN) into nine vegetational groups representing seven... more
Vegetation in natural desert and agro-ecosystems was investigated in the middle sector of Egypt. The vegetation was classified by the Two Way Indicator Species Analysis technique (TWINSPAN) into nine vegetational groups representing seven habitat types: desert, fallow land, winter crops of old cultivated land, summer crops of old cultivated land, Citrus orchards, winter crops of reclaimed land, and summer crops of reclaimed land. Detrended Canonical Correspondence Analysis (DCCA) demonstrates that soil factors especially soil texture, CaCO3, organic carbon and electric conductivity contribute significantly to the distribution of species. In all habitat types, species diversity is higher in winter than in summer season. The weed species diversity is greater in the reclaimed areas compared to the old cultivated land and in winter crops than in summer ones.
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Field data verified by green house experiment were used to evaluate the response of Anastatica hierochuntica L. to the amount of rainfall. Field study of the populations was carried out in the runnel and depression microhabitats of gravel... more
Field data verified by green house experiment were used to evaluate the response of Anastatica hierochuntica L. to the amount of rainfall. Field study of the populations was carried out in the runnel and depression microhabitats of gravel and sand sites. Four water treatments, equivalent to 100, 200, 500 and 1000mm rainfall, were used to simulate different levels of water
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The ability of Bassia scoparia (L.) A. J. Scott to remediate petroleum-contaminated arid land sandy soil was studied with natural and sterilized soils, and with supplemental nutrients and water. The species showed good tolerance of... more
The ability of Bassia scoparia (L.) A. J. Scott to remediate petroleum-contaminated arid land sandy soil was studied with natural and sterilized soils, and with supplemental nutrients and water. The species showed good tolerance of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) in soils reaching 2–3% (oil:soil by mass) pollution levels. After five months of phytoremediation, the average degradation rate of petroleum hydrocarbons ranged between 31.2 ± 1.15–57.7 ± 1.29% for natural soil and 28.7 ± 1.04–51.1 ± 1.53% for pre-sterilized soil. The highest breakdown of PHs for both saturated and poly-aromatic fractions was achieved when plants were present. Changes in saturated and aromatic fractions were monitored and measured using gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. Moderate concentrations of PHs activated specialized oil-degrading microorganisms which in turn promoted the efficiency of phytoremediation. Polluted soils planted with B. scoparia also showed a significant reductio...
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Simple Summary Isoproturon is one of the best selective herbicide for weed control. Excessive use of herbicides causes many environmental problems. In the present study, phytoremediation of phenylurea isoproturon herbicide using... more
Simple Summary Isoproturon is one of the best selective herbicide for weed control. Excessive use of herbicides causes many environmental problems. In the present study, phytoremediation of phenylurea isoproturon herbicide using transgenic A. thaliana plants expressing human cytochrome P450-1A2 were investigated. Toxic effect of isoproturon on the plant phenotypic characteristics was explored. The results revealed that no harmful effects appeared on CYP1A2 transgenic plants with high tolerance to isoproturon herbicide applications whereas deleterious effects were observed on the morphological characteristics of the wild type grown in soil under different treatments with isoproturon. The transgenic A. thaliana plants expressing P450-1A2 were able to metabolize the phenylurea herbicide isoproturon. Therefore, this method can be determined as a potential bioremediation agent. Abstract The excessive use of herbicides is a major cause of many environmental problems. The use of isoproturo...
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BACKGROUND Lead (Pb) is an environmental pollutant causing serious health problems, including impairment of reproduction. Visnagin (VIS) is a furanochromone with promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; however, its protective... more
BACKGROUND Lead (Pb) is an environmental pollutant causing serious health problems, including impairment of reproduction. Visnagin (VIS) is a furanochromone with promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; however, its protective efficacy against Pb toxicity has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the protective effect of VIS on Pb reproductive toxicity, impaired steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, oxidative stress and inflammation. METHODS Rats received VIS (30 or 60 mg/kg) and 50 mg/kg lead acetate for 3 weeks and blood and testes samples were collected. RESULTS Pb intoxication impaired the pituitary-testicular axis (PTA) manifested by the decreased serum levels of gonadotropins and testosterone. Pb decreased sperm count, motility and viability, increased sperm abnormalities, and downregulated the steroidogenesis markers StAR, CYP17A1, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD in the testis of rats. VIS significantly increased serum gonadotropins and testosterone, alleviated ...