Biology subjects

Amrani, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Amrani, S..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Combinatorial effects of Zingiber officinale and Citrus limon juices: Hypolipidemic and antioxidant insights from in vivo, in vitro, and in silico investigations

The combined use of Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Citrus limon (lemon) has long been valued in traditional medicine for their significant therapeutic properties, particularly in supporting cardiovascular health. However, their synergistic effects on hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress, both critical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, remain underexplored. This study employed a multidisciplinary approach including in vivo (mice model with triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia), in vitro (antioxidant assays such as DPPH and ABTS), and in silico (molecular docking targeting HMG-CoA reductase) to evaluate the hypolipidemic and antioxidant potential of ginger and lemon juices. Phytochemical analysis identified high concentrations of bioactive compounds, with ginger juice containing 6-gingerol (15.54% peak area) and lemon juice featuring hesperidin (13.85% peak area) and rutin (5.57% peak area). These compounds were instrumental in the observed pharmacological effects. The combined formulation significantly improved lipid profiles, reducing total cholesterol by 54.3%, triglycerides by 49.8%, and LDL by 58.1% while increasing HDL by 47.6% compared to hyperlipidemic controls (p < 0.05). Antioxidant assays revealed high free radical scavenging activity, with IC50 values of 30.92 {+/-} 2.00 {micro}g/mL for ABTS and 44.94 {+/-} 1.02 {micro}g/mL for DPPH in the combined formulation. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinities, with hesperidin and 6-gingerol showing binding energies of -10.4 kcal/mol and -9.6 kcal/mol, respectively, against HMG-CoA reductase. In conclusion, combining Zingiber officinale and Citrus limon juices demonstrates robust hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects, significantly outperforming the individual juices. These results support their potential as natural therapeutic agents for managing hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress. Further clinical studies are recommended to validate these promising findings and explore their application in nutraceutical development.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2022

Environmental conditions of recognition memory testing induce neurovascular changes in the hippocampus in a sex-specific manner in mice

Experiences are linked to emotions impacting memory consolidation and associated brain neuronal circuits. Posttraumatic stress disorder is an example of strong negative emotions affecting memory processes by flashbacks of past traumas. Stress-related memory deficits are also observed in major depressive disorder (MDD). We recently highlighted that sex-specific blood-brain barrier (BBB) alterations underlie stress responses in mice and human depression. However, little is known about the relationship between emotional valence, memory encoding and BBB function. Here, we investigated the effects of novel object recognition (NOR) test, an experience considered of neutral emotional valence, on BBB properties in dorsal vs ventral hippocampus in the context of various environmental conditions (arena size, handling, age). The hippocampus is a brain area central for learning and memory processes with the dorsal and ventral subregions being associated with working memory vs reference memory retrieval, respectively. Expression of genes related to BBB integrity are altered in line with learning and memory processes in a region- and sex-specific manner. We observed correlations between poor learning, anxiety, stress-induced corticosterone release and changes in BBB-associated gene expression. Comparison of BBB transcriptomes between sexes also revealed profound differences at baseline in both ventral and dorsal hippocampus. Finally, we identified circulating vascular biomarkers, such as sE-selectin and Mmp-9, altered following NOR exposure supporting that recognition memory formation has an impact on the neurovasculature. Although deemed as a neutral valence test, NOR experimental conditions impact performance, highlighting the need to minimize anxiety when performing this commonly used test in mice. Significance StatementWith this study, we aim to investigate the blood-brain barriers (BBB) role in memory acquisition and consolidation to unravel new mechanisms and decipher the involvement of non-neuronal cell types in these processes. For this purpose, male and female mice were subjected to a recognition memory test associated with a neutral emotional experience and impact on the transcriptomic profile of the BBB along with blood vascular biomarkers were evaluated under various experimental conditions. Crossing the BBB remains an important challenge to develop therapeutic drugs including in the context of memory deficits driven by psychiatric disorders or neurodegenerative diseases and thus, the possibility to directly target this barrier by better understanding its biology is attractive and innovating.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2022

Stable population structure in Europe since the Iron Age, despite high mobility

Ancient DNA research in the past decade has revealed that European population structure changed dramatically in the prehistoric period (14,000-3,000 years before present, YBP), reflecting the widespread introduction of Neolithic farmer and Bronze Age Steppe ancestries. However, little is known about how population structure changed from the historical period onward (3,000 YBP - present). To address this, we collected whole genomes from 204 individuals from Europe and the Mediterranean, many of which are the first historical period genomes from their region (e.g. Armenia and France). We found that most regions show remarkable inter-individual heterogeneity. At least 7% of historical individuals carry ancestry uncommon in the region where they were sampled, some indicating cross-Mediterranean contacts. Despite this high level of mobility, overall population structure across western Eurasia is relatively stable through the historical period up to the present, mirroring geography. We show that, under standard population genetics models with local panmixia, the observed level of dispersal would lead to a collapse of population structure. Persistent population structure thus suggests a lower effective migration rate than indicated by the observed dispersal. We hypothesize that this phenomenon can be explained by extensive transient dispersal arising from drastically improved transportation networks and the Roman Empires mobilization of people for trade, labor, and military. This work highlights the utility of ancient DNA in elucidating finer scale human population dynamics in recent history.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2022

A Genetic History of Continuity and Mobility in the Iron Age Central Mediterranean

The Iron Age was a dynamic period in central Mediterranean history, with the expansion of Greek and Phoenician colonies and the growth of Carthage into the dominant maritime power of the Mediterranean. These events were facilitated by the ease of long-distance travel following major advances in seafaring. We know from the archaeological record that trade goods and materials were moving across great distances in unprecedented quantities, but it is unclear how these patterns correlate with human mobility. To investigate population mobility and interactions directly, we sequenced the genomes of 30 ancient individuals from coastal cities around the central Mediterranean, in Tunisia, Sardinia, and central Italy. We observe a meaningful contribution of autochthonous populations, as well as highly heterogeneous ancestry including many individuals with non-local ancestries from other parts of the Mediterranean region. These results highlight both the role of local populations and the extreme interconnectedness of populations in the Iron Age Mediterranean. By studying these trans-Mediterranean neighbors together, we explore the complex interplay between local continuity and mobility that shaped the Iron Age societies of the central Mediterranean.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Evaluation of DNA conservation in Nile-Saharan environment, Missiminia, in Nubia: Tracking maternal lineage of "X-Group".

ObjectiveWe assessed DNA conservation using a range of archaeological skeletal samples from Sudan (Missiminia in Upper Nubia, 350 B.C.E to 1400 C.E) from the unfavorable conditions of the Saharan milieu and humidity of the Nile valley by tracking maternal lineage on the X-Group (Ballaneans). MethodWe were able to extract, amplify, and sequence mt-DNA HVS-I (Sanger sequencing method) from 11 petrous bone samples, eight for the X-Group set and three for the reference set (one Christian, one Late Meroitic, and one Meroitic). ResultsIt was possible to find the haplogroups (L1b, L2, L3, H2, N, T1a, X and W) and to carry out comparative data analysis in relation to haplogroup data cited in the literature. This investigation into the maternal lineage of X-Group (350 to 500 C.E.) origins allowed us to validate the efficiency of petrous bone sampling from ancient human remains from the Nile-Saharan milieu and established that the Ballaneans experienced an in-situ development with more admixture from the Levant region and North Africa. ConclusionsOur study used mt-DNA (HVS-I) to look for the biological origins of the X-Group from Upper-Nubia and demonstrated the feasibility of ancient DNA research on skeletons from the Nile-Saharan environment. The use of Next Sequencing Generation (NGS) should optimize and improve the detection of shorter DNA strands and their sequencing in complete genomes from ancient skeletal remains (petrous bones) from hot and humid environments.

evolutionary biology↗