Background/objectiveZingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger) (Zingiberaceae) has been cultivated for thousands of years both as a spice and for medicinal purposes. Ginger rhizomes successive extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform and ethanol) were examined against liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.ResultsThe evaluation was done through measuring antioxidant parameters; glutathione (GSH), total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Liver marker enzymes; succinate and lactate dehydrogenases (SDH and LDH), glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase), acid phosphatase (AP), 5'- nucleotidase (5'NT) and liver function enzymes; aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT) as well as cholestatic markers; alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin were estimated. Liver histopathological analysis and collagen content were also evaluated. Treatments with the selected extracts significantly increased GSH, SOD, SDH, LDH, G-6-Pase, AP and 5'NT. However, MDA, AST, ALT ALP, GGT and total bilirubin were significantly decreased.ConclusionsExtracts of ginger, particularly the ethanol one resulted in an attractive candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis induced by CCl4. Further studies are required in order to identify the molecules responsible of the pharmacological activity.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer death worldwide, accounting for over half a million deaths per year. The geographic pattern of HCC incidence is parallel to exposure to viral etiologic factors. Its incidence is increasing, ranging between 3% and 9% annually depending on the geographical location, and variability in the incidence rates correspond closely to the prevalence and pattern of the primary etiologic factors. Chronic infections with hepatitis B viruses or hepatitis C viruses have both been recognized as human liver carcinogens with a combined attributable fraction of at least 75% of all HCC cases. Multiple non-viral factors have been implicated in the development of HCC. Increased body mass index and diabetes with subsequent development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis represent significant risk factors for HCC. Other non-viral causes of HCC include iron overload syndromes, alcohol use, tobacco, oral contraceptive, aflatoxin, pesticides exposure and betel quid chewing, a prevalent habit in the developing world. Wilson disease, α-1 antitrypsin deficiency, Porphyrias, autoimmune hepatitis, Schistosoma japonicum associated with positive hepatitis B surface antigen, and thorotrast-ray are also contributing hepatocellualar carcinoma. In addition, primary biliary cirrhosis, congestive liver disease and family history of liver cancer increase the risk of HCC incident. In conclusion, clarification of relevant non-viral causes of HCC will help to focus clinicians on those risk factors that are modifiable. The multilevel preventative approach will hopefully lead to a reduction in incidence of non-viral HCC, and a decrease in the patient morbidity and mortality as well as the societal economic burden associated with HCC.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of successive ginger extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethanol) against nephrotoxicity induced by CCl4in rats. The evaluation was done through measuring kidney antioxidant parameters: glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxides (LPO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Renal function test: urea, creatinine and serum protein values, were also evaluated. The work was extended to examine tissue inflammatory mediators, prostaglandin-E2(PGE2), collagen content and the kidney histopathology. Severe alterations in all biomarkers were observed after injury with CCl4. Treatment with ginger extracts resulted in markedly decreased levels of LPO, PGE2, collagen and kidney function tests, while increased levels of GSH, SOD and serum protein were observed. In conclusion, extracts of ginger, particularly the ethanol, resulted in an attractive candidate for the treatment of nephropathy induced by CCl4through scavenging free radicals, improved kidney functions, inhibition of inflammatory mediators, and normalizing the kidney histopathological architecture. Further studies are required in order to identify the molecules responsible of the pharmacological activity.

Recently, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2), commonly known as coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread across China and around the world. By the declaration of WHO, COVID-19 outbreak considered as a public health problem of international concern. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive view on COVID-19 and the future expectations to control virus progression. Patients with liver disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity are more susceptible to the incidence of COVID-19 infection. So, there is a rapid need for disease diagnosis, vaccine development, and drug discovery to detect, prevent, and treat this sudden and lethal virus. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is considered as a rapid, accurate, and specific tool for disease diagnosis. Under this emergency situation that the world facing against COVID-19, there are about 15 potential vaccine candidates tested globally based on messenger RNA, DNA-based, nanoparticle, synthetic, and modified virus-like particle. Certain drugs that are clinically approved for other diseases were tested against COVID-19 as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, favipiravir, ribavirin, and remdesivir. Convalescent plasma transfusion and traditional herbal medicine were also taken into consideration. Due to the absence of effective treatment or vaccines against COVID-19 so far, the precautionary measures according to WHO's strategic objectives are the only way to confront this crisis. Governments should adopt national medical care programs to reduce the risk of exposure to any future viral outbreaks especially to patients with pre-existing medical conditions.

Three sesquiterpene lactones [two germacranolides (micranthin and sintenin) and one guaianolide (4β,10α-dihydroxy-5β,7β,8βH-guaia-1,11(13)dien-12,8α-olide)] and four derivatives of 3-methoxy flavones (santin, quercetagetin-3,6,3'-trimethyl ether, quercetagetin-3,6-dimethyl ether, and 5,7 dihydroxy 3,3',4'-trimethoxy flavone) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract (EAE) of the aerial parts of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. (Asteraceae). Evaluation of protective and therapeutic effects of EAE against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats was carried. Antiulcer activity evaluation was done through measuring ulcer indices, stomach acidity, gastric volume and lesion counts. Oxidative stress markers; malondialdehyde, glutathione and superoxide dismutase were also estimated. The work was extended to determine the histopathological assessment of the stomach. Gastric ulcer exhibited a significant elevation of the ulcer index and oxidative stress markers. The extract attenuated these increments and recorded protective and therapeutic effects against gastric ulcer. Hyperglycaemia increases the mucosal susceptibility to ulcerogenic stimuli and predisposes gastric ulceration. In vitro α-amylase inhibitory assay was applied to evaluate the post prandial antihyperglycaemia activity. The result showing that the EAE has the ability to reduce starch-induced postprandial glycaemic excursions by virtue of potent intestinal α-amylase inhibitory activity. These findings demonstrated the remarkable potential of A. biebersteinii as valuable source of antiulcer agent with post prandial hyperglycaemia lowering effect.

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This work has been carried out to investigate the effect ofCurrent control of the disease by chemotherapeutic agents is impractical because of the common occurrence of re-infection after treatment due to the relative resistance of the larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni to schistosomicide drugs (Silva et al. 2003). Praziquantel, the currently used drug for chemotherapeutic control, was reported to induce hemorrhage in the lung tissue of the host (Flisser & McLaren 1989) The present study is a trial to clarify the antischistosomal effect of C. reticulata root extract compared to commiphora extract (Mirazid). Enzyme markers for different cell organelles were measured in liver of S. mansoni infected mice; succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) for mitochondria; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and its isoenzymes for cytoplasm; glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) for microsomes; acid phosphatase (AP) for lysosomes and 5'-nucleotidase for plasma membrane. Liver function enzymes; aspartate aminotransferase (AST); alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were also measured. Parasitological studies through ova count and worm burden will take into consideration. MATERIALS AND METHODSChemicals -All chemicals used in the present study were of high analytical grade, products of Sigma (US), Merck (Germany), BDH (England).Mirazid (the oleo-resin extract from Myrrh of C. molmol tree, family: Burseraceae) is a product of Pharco Pharmaceutical Company, Egypt.Animals -The animals used were intact male Swiss albino mice of CDI strain of similar age (8 weeks) and weight (18-20 g). They were obtained from Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt. Animals were kept in a controlled environment and were maintained on water and stock commercial pellet diet ad libitum.Plant material -C. reticulata (Family: Rutaceae) roots were collected from Modereyet El Tahrir, Behera, Egypt. It was authenticated by Dr Mohamed Abdel Ghaffar, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Egypt. A voucher specimen is deposited at Chemistry of Natural Compounds Dept., National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.Extraction and isolation -Air dried powered roots of C. reticulata (0.85 kg) were extracted with 80% ethyl alcohol. The ethanolic extract was evaporated and the aqueous residue extracted sequentially thrice with equal volumes of n-hexane, ether, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The ethyl acetate extract was evaporated to dryness. The residue monitored by TLC using precoated silica gel 60 F254 aluminium sheets (0.2 mm thickness, Merk), was found to + Corresponding

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