The distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes in Saudi Arabia is largely unknown. To the best of our knowledge there are no data available about HBV genotypes in southwestern region of the country. This study aimed to determine the epidemiologic distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes in chronic hepatitis B patients in southwestern region, and to verify possible correlations between these genotypes and the clinical symptoms. A total of 160 patients with chronic hepatitis B infection were enrolled in this study. Sera were tested for liver function tests, hepatitis B virus markers and DNA load by standard procedures. HBV genotyping was performed by 2-tube nested PCR for determination of six genotypes (A-F). Genotype D was the most common, found in 135 (84.4%) patients, followed by A (18; 11.3%) and E (7; 4.3%). The rate of HBeAg positivity in genotype D patients was significantly lower compared with that in genotype A and E patients (p=0.01). There was no significant association between HBV genotypes and age, gender, liver function tests, or HBV DNA load. Genotypes D and E were predominant in chronic hepatitis B patients in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Awareness of hepatitis B virus serologic and genotypic patterns might help in the formulation of management plans, predicting clinical outcomes and updating prevention strategies.

Background: Cancer is a dangerous threat that creates extremely high rates of death and morbidity in various regions of the world. Finding suitable therapeutics to improve cancer therapy while avoiding side effects is critical. The most appropriate innovative therapeutics, which combine natural ingredients and nanomaterials, can improve the biological activity of cancer chemotherapeutics. Methods: Phenolic profiling using high-resolution mass spectrometry and the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles was achieved through the reaction of zinc acetate with Euphorbia retusa extract. The characterization of ZnONPs was performed by UV, IR, Zeta potential, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The cytotoxic activity of the ZnONPs was evaluated using a SRB assay against lung, liver, and breast cancer cell lines. Moreover, the mechanism of cytotoxic activity was evaluated in the form of caspase-8 promoters and anti-inflammatory mechanisms using the Western blot method. Results: The high-resolution LC/MS/MS of the E. retusa led to the identification of 22 compounds in the plant for the first time. The Er-ZnONPs had hexagonal shapes, were approximately 100 nm in size, and consisted of aggregated particles of about 10 nm. The E. retusa ZnONPs exhibited cytotoxic activity against HA-549 (IC50 = 22.3 µg/mL), HepG2 (IC50 = 25.6), Huh-7 (IC50 = 25.7), MCF-7 (IC50 = 37.7), and MDA-MB-231 (IC50 = 37). Conclusions: E. retusa are rich in phenolics that are capable of synthesizing ZnONPs, which possess cytotoxic activity, via caspase-8 promotion and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Globally, pathogenic microbes have reached a worrisome level of antibiotic resistance. Our work aims to identify and isolate the active components from the bioactive Ficus retusa bark extract and assess the potential synergistic activity of the most major compounds’ constituents with the antibiotic tetracycline against certain pathogenic bacterial strains. The phytochemical screening of an acetone extract of F. retusa bark using column chromatography led to the identification of 10 phenolic components. The synergistic interaction of catechin and chlorogenic acid as the most major compounds with tetracycline was evaluated by checkerboard assay followed by time-kill assay, against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Salmonella typhi with fraction inhibitory concentration index values (FICI) of 0.38, 0.43, 0.38, 0.38, 0.38, and 0.75 for catechin and 0.38, 0.65, 0.38, 0.63, 0.38, and 0.75 for chlorogenic acid. The combination of catechin and chlorogenic acid with tetracycline significantly enhanced antibacterial action against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms; therefore, catechin and chlorogenic acid combinations with tetracycline could be employed as innovative and safe antibiotics to combat microbial resistance.

Aim: Due to the urgent need for anticancer agents, investigation of endophytes of medicinal plants growing in special environments is considered a promising approach for the search of bioactive natural products. Materials and Methods: The ethyl acetate extracts of the cultures of twelve endophytic fungi were isolated from the medicinal plants Calotropis procera fam Apocynaceae, Solanum nigrum fam Solanaceae and Forsskaolea tenacissima fam Urticaceae growing in one of the richest areas of plant biodiversity in Saudi Arabia, Najran. All isolated and identified endophytic fungi were subjected to preliminary screening assays for cytotoxic activity. Results: Four of the isolated endophytic fungi (Cladosporium herbarum (1), Hortaea werneckii (2), Penicillium solitum (3) and Eurotium chevalieri (4)) exerted cytotoxic activity against HepG2, T-47D, HCT-116 and RAW 264.7 in the MTT cell viability assay. The highest cytotoxic effects were observed for the extract of Penicillium solitum on HepG2 and HCT-116 cell lines with IC 50 values of 13 µg/ml and 42 µg/ml, respectively. All endophytic extracts showed rather weak cytotoxic effects against RAW 264.7 cell line with IC 50 values of 357, 347, 345 and 420 µg/ml for extracts of endophytes 1,2,3 and 4, respectively. High cytotoxic effects were observed for the extracts of endophytes 1, 2 and 3 against T-47D cell line with IC 50 values of 78, 69 and 94 µg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: These bioactive endophytes represent candidates for future investigation of bioactive metabolites with potential medical applications.