Therapeutic potential of Buddleja Polystachya Fresen (stem and leaves) extracts: antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties for ocular disease management.

This study on Buddleja polystachya highlights its phytochemical composition, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxic impacts. The study emphasizes the plant's potential to treat ocular diseases by identifying important compounds involved in the bioactivity through GC-MS analysis. This study explores the antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of Buddleja polystachya (stem and leaves) extracts, with a focus on their application in treating bacterial ocular infections and their efficacy against MCF7, HT29, and HepG2 cancer cells. Through comprehensive GC-MS analysis, a diverse array of phytochemicals was identified within Buddleja polystachya stem and leaves extracts, including carbohydrates, phenolic derivatives, fatty acids, and steroidal components. The extracts were then evaluated for their biological activities, revealing significant antimicrobial properties against a range of bacterial strains implicated in ocular infections. The research findings demonstrate that stem extracts derived from Buddleja polystachya demonstrated high to moderate cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines MCF7, HT29, and HepG2. Notably, these effects were characterized by varying IC50 values, which suggest distinct levels of sensitivity. In contrast, leaf extracts exhibited reduced cytotoxicity when tested against all these cell lines, although they did so with a significantly higher cytotoxicity aganist HepG2 cells. The results of this investigation highlight the potential therapeutic utilization of Buddleja polystachya extracts in the management of ocular infections and cancer. These results support the need for additional research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action of these extracts and explore their potential as drugs.

Evaluation of Allergic Conjunctivitis Prevalence and Attitude Toward Prevention and Control in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is a prevalent ocular condition with a substantial impact on individuals' quality of life. This study aimed to explore the demographic patterns, prevalence, symptoms, awareness, and attitudes associated with AC, while also examining potential associations with gender, age, and region of residence in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 487 participants. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire that included demographic information about AC prevalence, symptoms, attitudes, and awareness levels. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, were employed to examine associations between variables. RESULTS: The study revealed a prevalence of AC (89, 18.3%) with common symptoms being eye redness (73, 82%) and itching (73, 82%). Participants displayed diverse awareness levels, with (376, 77.2%) correctly defining AC. The majority demonstrated either a good (230, 47.2%) or insufficient (196, 40.2%) attitude, while 54 (11.1%) had a sufficient attitude, and 7 (1.4%) exhibited an excellent attitude and awareness. Significant regional disparities were observed, impacting both prevalence and attitudes. While no gender differences were noted, the age group of 31-40 displayed a higher prevalence. CONCLUSION: In this study, among 487 participants, the prevalence of AC was found to be 89 (18.3%). Meanwhile, attitude levels varied, with the majority demonstrating either a good or insufficient attitude. This provides valuable insights into the prevalence, symptoms, and awareness of AC in our population. The regional disparities underscore the need for tailored interventions addressing specific geographical contexts. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of AC, emphasizing the importance of targeted education and regional considerations in managing and preventing this condition.

In-vitro Cytotoxicity Investigations for Phytoconstituents of Saudi Medicinal Plants With Putative Ocular Effects.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic secondary ocular tumors spread from systemic malignancies, including breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of extracts from 5 medicinal plants native to Saudi Arabia. METHODS: For preliminary activity screening, cytotoxicity using the MTT assay and selectivity index determinations were made for medicinal plant extracts against various cancer cell-lines. The most promising extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis to determine the phytochemical composition. Clonogenic assays were performed using the most promising extract to confirm the initial results. Finally, western blot analysis was used to determine the modulation in expression of survivin and P27 suppressor genes in the human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) cell-line to understand the potential mechanistic properties of the active plant extract. RESULTS: The 5 plant extracts showed various cytotoxic activity levels using IC50. The most active extract was found to be the leaves of Capparis spinosa L. (BEP-07 extract) against the MCF7 breast cancer cell-line (IC50 = 3.61 ± 0.99 µg/ml) and selectivity index of 1.17 compared to the normal human fetal lung fibroblast (MRC5) cells. BEP-07 extract showed a dose dependent clonogenic effect against the MCF7 colonies which was comparable with the effect of doxorubicin. BEP-07 extract caused a significant decrease of survivin and increase in P27 expression compared to control GAPDH at its highest dose (14 µg/ml). The GC-MS chromatogram of Capparis spinosa L. (BEP-07 extract) revealed the existence of 145 compounds, belonging to the diverse classes of phytoconstituents. Fatty acids and their derivatives represent 15.4%, whilst octadecanoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester was the principal component (7.9%) detected. CONCLUSION: Leaves of Capparis spinosa L. (BEP-07 extract) exhibited a significant cytotoxic effect particularly against breast cancer cells. It exhibited this effect through survivin inhibition and via P27 upregulation. The detected phytoconstituents in the plant extract might be involved in tested cytotoxic activity, while further investigations are required to complete the drug candidate profile.

The use of medicinal plants in common ophthalmic disorders: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess and compile the available research articles about medicinal plants used for ocular diseases. Principal results: A total of 2949 articles were retrieved, 35 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, and seven studies (4 observational and three experimental) with low to moderate quality were eligible and involved in the systematic review, with a total of 600 plants from 4 countries. Among the 600 plants, only 24 (4%) were used to assess the status. Both the fixed and random models of the studies showed that the included studies tended to predict the results for the observational studies (OR = 0.062, CI = 0.043-0.090 OR = 0.039, CI = 0.012-0.122) for different plants used for ocular diseases. High heterogeneity (estimated as I2 = 87.078, Tau2 = 1.161 and Q-value = 23.217 with a p-value of 0.000), while for experimental studies (I2 = 94.928, Tau2 = 23.211 and Q-value = 39.434 with a p-value of 0.000) and publication bias were reported. Conclusion: Few articles representing approximately 600 plants of low to moderate quality reported using medicinal plants for ocular diseases. The meta-analysis confirmed the systematic review findings regarding the plants' traditional use with high heterogeneity and publication bias. A considerable gap was proven in the use of medicinal plants in ocular diseases requiring intensive research.

Prevalence of Ocular Hypertension and Other Risk Factors of Open-Angle Glaucoma Among Middle-Aged Adults in Al-Baha City, Saudi Arabia.

Background Ocular hypertension (OHT), defined by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) beyond standard levels, is a predominant risk factor for initiating and exacerbating glaucoma, a collection of progressive optic neuropathies responsible for irreversible vision loss. Given the profound implications for vision care, it is imperative to elucidate the interplay between OHT and glaucoma for effective clinical management. Objective The present study aims to measure IOP levels and identify risk factors associated with glaucoma among middle-aged individuals in Al-Baha City, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted over a six-month span (January-June 2022) in Al-Baha City. The study cohort comprised adults aged 35 and above attending a glaucoma awareness campaign at King Fahad Hospital, Al-Baha. Parameters such as demographics, socioeconomic status, medical and ocular history, and familial history of eye diseases were collated. Initial ophthalmologic assessments and IOP measurements were performed. Statistical analyses utilized Pearson's Chi-square test for nominal variables. Results The study encompassed 111 participants, 84 (75.7%) of whom were male, and 75 (67.6%) were of Saudi nationality. Notably, 102 (91.9%) reported no family history of glaucoma, 91 (81.1%) indicated no past medical history and 81 (73.0%) were not on any chronic medications. The mean IOP for participants' right and left eyes fluctuated between 18.2-21.5 mmHg and 18.9-22.1 mmHg, respectively. Factors such as age, gender, family history of glaucoma, past medical history, use of chronic medications, and history of ophthalmic surgeries demonstrated a statistically significant correlation with IOP (p<0.05). Conclusion This study highlights a higher prevalence of OHT in females, with several risk factors for OHT and glaucoma identified, such as familial history, vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and chronic medication use. Notably, our study did not observe a significant association with age or smoking. These findings emphasize the necessity of regular eye examinations and IOP monitoring, especially in high-risk groups.

Self-Reported Student Awareness and Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome During COVID-19 Pandemic at Al-Baha University.

Background: The rapid increase increased, in using of video display terminals during the COVID-19 pandemic predisposes users to a variety of health problems restricted to visual problems and including various musculoskeletal problems, collectively known as computer vision syndrome (CVS) or computer vision syndrome. Aim: This study aims to ascertain university students' awareness of computer vision syndrome at Al-Baha University, including the nature, sources, accuracy, and completeness of information, as well as the attitudes towards CVS, and mitigative practices. Methods: This study used a descriptive cross-sectional design and a convenient sample of 310 (80.0% male) students drawn from Al Baha University campuses. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Results: The mean age of the participants was 23.51 years (SD=5.42). The results show that 78.7%, 66.1%, and 11.6% received CVS information from social media, mass media, and family, respectfully. Despite 70% of respondents being aware of CVS manifestations, between 42% to 67% of those sampled had accurate and complete information about the meaning, causes, prevention, and management of the syndrome. More than a third of the participants had either a good (62.9%) or average (29%) total knowledge of CVS. Less than 15% had incorrect information. On average, 62.5% of respondents engaged in preventive or mitigative behaviours/activities as opposed to 37.5% who did not, but only 44% believed CVS was a serious health threat. 65.2% of the studied students had a satisfactory total practice score. The regression analysis showed that the coefficients of marital status and faculty were a statistically significant association with the total knowledge score. Conclusion: CVS awareness is acceptably high, but there is a low preventive/mitigative behaviors as well as a low realization of CVS' long-term health problems. This is why increasing CVS awareness and implementing interventions such as the 20-20-20 rule could be effective at Al Baha University.