Propolis is a sticky natural product produced by honeybees. Research studies have discussed the e... more Propolis is a sticky natural product produced by honeybees. Research studies have discussed the effectiveness of propolis, directly or indirectly, for ameliorating reproductive toxicity in males; however, this research has not yet been reviewed. The current paper presents an integrative summary of all research studies in Scopus and PubMed that investigated the effects of propolis on semen quality, and hence on male fertility, in conditions of reproductive toxicity. The consensus indicates that propolis ameliorates reproductive toxicity and enhances semen quality in vivo in test animals. These effects may be attributable to the ability of propolis to reduce testicular oxidative damage, enhance testicular antioxidant defense mechanisms, increase nitric oxide production, reduce testicular apoptotic injury, and boost testosterone production. However, to generalize these effects in humans would require further research.
This work investigates the effect of the alcoholic extract of Anabasis syriaca Iljin on biochemic... more This work investigates the effect of the alcoholic extract of Anabasis syriaca Iljin on biochemical and histological parameters in male rats. The lethal dose (50% of the plant extract) was assessed, and three separate doses (1/10th, 1/15th, and 1/20th) were orally gavaged for two weeks into three study groups of animals (five rats in each group), with one group used as a control and gavaged normal saline via the same route. Blood was collected after overnight fasting, and 24 biochemical parameters were evaluated. The gross and microscopic findings were reported after the collection of specimens from the animals and processed routinely for standard histological procedures. Among all tested biochemical parameters, a significant increase was noted in fasting serum glucose ( p ≤ 0.010 ), troponin ( p ≤ 0.001 ), and creatine kinase ( p ≤ 0.001 ), while a significant decrease was found in triglycerides ( p ≤ 0.001 ) and low-density lipoprotein ( p = 0.001 ). On the other hand, no signific...
Rather than the prophylactic vaccination, any effective synthetic, natural, or nutritional therap... more Rather than the prophylactic vaccination, any effective synthetic, natural, or nutritional therapy or regimen that may cure or remedy, albeit partially, the complications of SARS-CoV-2 should be highly acknowledged. Here, we reviewed and discussed possible beneficial biological effects of pomegranate juice in such diseased condition of viral infection based on the current published evidence (direct and indirect) and owing to the robust evidence that fresh pomegranate juice is highly rich with unique bioactive compounds that are approved in various occasions to be effective in several chronic diseased conditions. All related references that serve our aim are accessed through available electronic databases, particularly PubMed and Scopus. In summary, there is accepted evidence that pomegranate juice may be beneficial in SARS-CoV-2 infection conditions, especially for patients with the clinical history of chronic diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and canc...
PURPOSE This review systematically discusses and summarizes the effect of vitamin B6 on semen qua... more PURPOSE This review systematically discusses and summarizes the effect of vitamin B6 on semen quality. MATERIAL AND METHOD To achieve this contribution, we searched the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for English language papers from 1984 through 2017 using the key words "sperm" versus "Vitamin B6", "pyridoxine", and "pyridoxal". Also, the references from selected published papers were included, only if relevant. RESULT To date, as revealed by rodent studies, high doses of vitamin B6 impair semen quality and sperm parameters. While in humans, it is suggested, but not yet directly approved, that seminal vitamin B6 levels may alter sperm quality (i.e., sperm quantity and quality), and that vitamin B6 deficiency may trigger the chemical toxicity to sperm (i.e., hyperhomocysteinemia, oxidative injury). CONCLUSION The adverse effect of vitamin B6, when used at high doses, has been revealed in experimental animals, but not yet directly ...
Over the last decade, various studies have linked pomegranate (Punica granatum Linn), a fruit nat... more Over the last decade, various studies have linked pomegranate (Punica granatum Linn), a fruit native to the Middle East, with type 2 diabetes prevention and treatment. This review focuses on current laboratory and clinical research related to the effects of pomegranate fractions (peels, flowers, and seeds) and some of their active components on biochemical and metabolic variables associated with the pathologic markers of type 2 diabetes. This review systematically presents findings from cell culture and animal studies as well as clinical human research. One key mechanism by which pomegranate fractions affect the type 2 diabetic condition is by reducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. This reduction may occur by directly neutralizing the generated reactive oxygen species, increasing certain antioxidant enzyme activities, inducing metal chelation activity, reducing resistin formation, and inhibiting or activating certain transcriptional factors, such as nuclear factor κB and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. Fasting blood glucose levels were decreased significantly by punicic acid, methanolic seed extract, and pomegranate peel extract. Known compounds in pomegranate, such as punicalagin and ellagic, gallic, oleanolic, ursolic, and uallic acids, have been identified as having anti-diabetic actions. Furthermore, the juice sugar fraction was found to have unique antioxidant polyphenols (tannins and anthocyanins), which could be beneficial to control conditions in type 2 diabetes. These findings provide evidence for the anti-diabetic activity of pomegranate fruit; however, before pomegranate or any of its extracts can be medically recommended for the management of type 2 diabetes, controlled, clinical studies, are needed.
Background: The effect of pomegranate juice on type 2 diabetic conditions has been determined in ... more Background: The effect of pomegranate juice on type 2 diabetic conditions has been determined in various occasions. However, such an effect on cortisol and thyroxine hormones, which are major controllers of energy metabolism, is not yet revealed. Objectives: this study, we intended to measure the short-term effect of fresh pomegranate juice on serum cortisol and thyroxine in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial in which 89 fasted patients with type 2 diabetes were supplemented with fresh pomegranate juice at a dose of 1.5 mL kg-1. Blood specimens were then collected before and at 1 and 3 hours after juice administration. Serum cortisol and thyroxine were assessed using commercial chemiluminescent-immunoassay kits. Results: Serum cortisol, but not thyroxine, was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower in patients with type 2 diabetes after ingesting fresh pomegranate juice. In addition, no significant correlation (r2 = 0.00003, ...
Propolis is a sticky natural product produced by honeybees. Research studies have discussed the e... more Propolis is a sticky natural product produced by honeybees. Research studies have discussed the effectiveness of propolis, directly or indirectly, for ameliorating reproductive toxicity in males; however, this research has not yet been reviewed. The current paper presents an integrative summary of all research studies in Scopus and PubMed that investigated the effects of propolis on semen quality, and hence on male fertility, in conditions of reproductive toxicity. The consensus indicates that propolis ameliorates reproductive toxicity and enhances semen quality in vivo in test animals. These effects may be attributable to the ability of propolis to reduce testicular oxidative damage, enhance testicular antioxidant defense mechanisms, increase nitric oxide production, reduce testicular apoptotic injury, and boost testosterone production. However, to generalize these effects in humans would require further research.
This work investigates the effect of the alcoholic extract of Anabasis syriaca Iljin on biochemic... more This work investigates the effect of the alcoholic extract of Anabasis syriaca Iljin on biochemical and histological parameters in male rats. The lethal dose (50% of the plant extract) was assessed, and three separate doses (1/10th, 1/15th, and 1/20th) were orally gavaged for two weeks into three study groups of animals (five rats in each group), with one group used as a control and gavaged normal saline via the same route. Blood was collected after overnight fasting, and 24 biochemical parameters were evaluated. The gross and microscopic findings were reported after the collection of specimens from the animals and processed routinely for standard histological procedures. Among all tested biochemical parameters, a significant increase was noted in fasting serum glucose ( p ≤ 0.010 ), troponin ( p ≤ 0.001 ), and creatine kinase ( p ≤ 0.001 ), while a significant decrease was found in triglycerides ( p ≤ 0.001 ) and low-density lipoprotein ( p = 0.001 ). On the other hand, no signific...
Rather than the prophylactic vaccination, any effective synthetic, natural, or nutritional therap... more Rather than the prophylactic vaccination, any effective synthetic, natural, or nutritional therapy or regimen that may cure or remedy, albeit partially, the complications of SARS-CoV-2 should be highly acknowledged. Here, we reviewed and discussed possible beneficial biological effects of pomegranate juice in such diseased condition of viral infection based on the current published evidence (direct and indirect) and owing to the robust evidence that fresh pomegranate juice is highly rich with unique bioactive compounds that are approved in various occasions to be effective in several chronic diseased conditions. All related references that serve our aim are accessed through available electronic databases, particularly PubMed and Scopus. In summary, there is accepted evidence that pomegranate juice may be beneficial in SARS-CoV-2 infection conditions, especially for patients with the clinical history of chronic diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and canc...
PURPOSE This review systematically discusses and summarizes the effect of vitamin B6 on semen qua... more PURPOSE This review systematically discusses and summarizes the effect of vitamin B6 on semen quality. MATERIAL AND METHOD To achieve this contribution, we searched the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for English language papers from 1984 through 2017 using the key words "sperm" versus "Vitamin B6", "pyridoxine", and "pyridoxal". Also, the references from selected published papers were included, only if relevant. RESULT To date, as revealed by rodent studies, high doses of vitamin B6 impair semen quality and sperm parameters. While in humans, it is suggested, but not yet directly approved, that seminal vitamin B6 levels may alter sperm quality (i.e., sperm quantity and quality), and that vitamin B6 deficiency may trigger the chemical toxicity to sperm (i.e., hyperhomocysteinemia, oxidative injury). CONCLUSION The adverse effect of vitamin B6, when used at high doses, has been revealed in experimental animals, but not yet directly ...
Over the last decade, various studies have linked pomegranate (Punica granatum Linn), a fruit nat... more Over the last decade, various studies have linked pomegranate (Punica granatum Linn), a fruit native to the Middle East, with type 2 diabetes prevention and treatment. This review focuses on current laboratory and clinical research related to the effects of pomegranate fractions (peels, flowers, and seeds) and some of their active components on biochemical and metabolic variables associated with the pathologic markers of type 2 diabetes. This review systematically presents findings from cell culture and animal studies as well as clinical human research. One key mechanism by which pomegranate fractions affect the type 2 diabetic condition is by reducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. This reduction may occur by directly neutralizing the generated reactive oxygen species, increasing certain antioxidant enzyme activities, inducing metal chelation activity, reducing resistin formation, and inhibiting or activating certain transcriptional factors, such as nuclear factor κB and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. Fasting blood glucose levels were decreased significantly by punicic acid, methanolic seed extract, and pomegranate peel extract. Known compounds in pomegranate, such as punicalagin and ellagic, gallic, oleanolic, ursolic, and uallic acids, have been identified as having anti-diabetic actions. Furthermore, the juice sugar fraction was found to have unique antioxidant polyphenols (tannins and anthocyanins), which could be beneficial to control conditions in type 2 diabetes. These findings provide evidence for the anti-diabetic activity of pomegranate fruit; however, before pomegranate or any of its extracts can be medically recommended for the management of type 2 diabetes, controlled, clinical studies, are needed.
Background: The effect of pomegranate juice on type 2 diabetic conditions has been determined in ... more Background: The effect of pomegranate juice on type 2 diabetic conditions has been determined in various occasions. However, such an effect on cortisol and thyroxine hormones, which are major controllers of energy metabolism, is not yet revealed. Objectives: this study, we intended to measure the short-term effect of fresh pomegranate juice on serum cortisol and thyroxine in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial in which 89 fasted patients with type 2 diabetes were supplemented with fresh pomegranate juice at a dose of 1.5 mL kg-1. Blood specimens were then collected before and at 1 and 3 hours after juice administration. Serum cortisol and thyroxine were assessed using commercial chemiluminescent-immunoassay kits. Results: Serum cortisol, but not thyroxine, was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower in patients with type 2 diabetes after ingesting fresh pomegranate juice. In addition, no significant correlation (r2 = 0.00003, ...
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Papers by Saleem Banihani