ABSTRACT
Ceratonia siliqua (Carob) is an evergreen Mediterranean tree, and carob pods are potentially nutritive and have medicinal value. The present study was carried out to estimate the possible biological activities of phytochemical-characterized carob pod aqueous extract (CPAE). The phytochemical contents of CPAE were determined by using colorimetric methods and HPLC. In addition, the free radical scavenging properties and anti-diabetic, anti-hemolytic, and antimicrobial activities were estimated by using standardized in vitro protocols. The phytochemical analysis revealed that CPAE was rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids, where it contained a significant amount of gallic acid, catechin, and protocatechuic acid. Furthermore, CPAE exhibited strong antioxidant activity where it prevented the formation of 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl, hydroxyl, and nitric oxide free radicals. Additionally, it had a potent inhibitory effect against digestive enzymes (amylase, maltase, sucrase, and lactase). Moreover, CPAE exhibited anti-Staph aureus, anti-Escherichia coli, anti-Candida albicans, and anti-herpes simplex type I virus (HSV-I). Finally, CPAE protected the erythrocyte membrane from hypotonic solution-induced hemolysis. Altogether, CPAE could be regarded as an interesting source of biologically active antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial preparation for a potential application in pharmaceutical and food supplement fields.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the correlation between the genotyping of interleukin-10 (IL-10 polymorphism rs 1800871) and the incidence hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) treated with direct acting antivirals (DAAs). METHOD: For 200 patients with HCV infection who completed DAA treatment and followed up for 1 year, IL-10 polymorphism SNP(-819) rs 1800871 analysis was conducted via real time polymerase chain reaction. During the follow-up period, 100 patients who developed HCC were selected and compared with 100 patients who did not develop any complications. RESULTS: The studied patients were divided into two groups according to the incidence of complications after completion of DAA treatments. During the follow-up, 100 patients with HCV infection who developed HCC were selected and compared with 100 patients with HCV infection who did not develop any complications (positive control group). For the HCC group (n = 100), the mean age was 58.1 ± 6.4 years, with 92.7% being male and 7.3% being female; 91% had cirrhosis, 10% had lymphadenitis, 75% had splenomegaly, and 17% had ascites. In the positive control group (n = 100), mean age was 46.3 ± 9.4 years, with 68% being male and 32% being female; 20% had cirrhosis, 12% had splenomegaly, and 4.2% had ascites. The results demonstrated that sofosbuvir (SOF) + daclatasvir + ribavirin regimen was the most prevalent drug treatment for patients with HCC (72%), while SOF + Simeprevir was the most safe treatment for HCV infection among patients with HCC (2%). CT genotype was the most common genotype in the HCC group (56%), among different drug regimen (67.8%). T allele was the most prevalent in HCC group (61%), while the C allele was the least prevalent (39%). CONCLUSION: IL-10 genotyping may help in selecting the safest and most accurate drug regimen according to the safest genotype response relationship and follow-up of genotype resistance.
