By the will of God, on Sunday, April 6, 2025, a seminar will be held in the Department of Pharmacognosy for Pharmacist /Tasneem Zidan Zaid Ibrahim, who is registered to obtain a Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacognosy) from abroad.
The session will be titled:
" Pharmacognostical Study of Calliandra surinamensis Benth., Family Fabaceae Cultivated in Egypt."
The session will take place in the Department of Pharmacognosy meeting hall at 9:30 AM.

Introduction: Tick-borne diseases represent a major threat to both 
animal and human health globally. This study explores the prevalence of 
tick infestation and associated piroplasm infections specifically Theileria
and Babesia species in cattle, in addition to evaluating the acaricidal 
effectiveness of Chrysanthemum extract (Dendranthema grandiflora) and 
neem oil emulsion (Azadirachta indica).
Methods: Among 130 cattle examined, 61 were infested with ticks and 
subsequently screened for piroplasm infections. Molecular analysis identified 
infections caused by Theileria annulata and Babesia bigemina.
Results: A strong association was found between tick infestation and Babesia
species, while T. annulata infection showed a slight correlation. Hemolymph 
examination confirmed the critical role of ticks in the life cycle of piroplasm 
infection. Chrysanthemum extract and neem oil were tested for their acaricidal 
properties against adult ticks (Rhipicephalus annulatus). Chrysanthemum extract 
(0.5 mg/mL) caused tick mortality within 24 h. However, neem oil induced 
rapid and significant tick mortality at (20 mg/L) and (15 mg/L), achieving 100% 
mortality within the same time frame. Both treatments demonstrated high 
effectiveness, with results indicating strong dose-and time-dependent effects 
compared to controls. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed extensive 
morphological damage to treated ticks. This damage included destruction of 
the hypostome, loss of surface striations, wrinkling with pore formation, and 
cracking following exposure to neem oil and Chrysanthemum extract.
Discussion: These findings highlight the potential of D. grandiflora extract and 
neem oil emulsion as effective natural acaricides for controlling tick infestations 
and reducing tick-borne diseases.

Silver-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently acquired considerable interest due to their potential applications in sensing and detection, bioimaging, and light-emitting devices. Incorporating specific linkers or functional groups into the MOF structure can tailor their fluorescence characteristics and thus can selectively respond to target analytes. Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel luminescent silver-based MOFs (SOF1) derived from 2,3-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (2,3-DHBDC). The formation of SOF1 was established via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and elemental analysis. The synthesis conditions i.e. molar ratio of Ag to 2,3-DHBDC and temperature played a crucial role in the formation of clean SOF with no formation of silver nanoparticles (NPs). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed various shapes depending on the synthesis conditions. Mostly, octahedrons and hexagons were observed for SOFs obtained utilizing molar ratio of 1:1 and 1:2, respectively. Furthermore, the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) revealed its high crystallinity. The synthesized SOF1 showed a distinct and strong fluorescent signal that is much higher than that produced from SOF2 based on the isomeric ligand; 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (2,5-DHBDC). The designed sensor was utilized for the sensitive detection of trifluralin (TRF) pesticide in river water samples. The achieved limit of detection of TRF was found to be 8 μg/L. The fluorescence quenching was experimentally and mathematically confirmed to primarily occur through the mechanisms of inner-filter effect (IFE), static quenching (SQ) and photoinduced electron transfer (PET). Moreover, a thin film of SOF1 was synthesized for selective visualization of TRF.

A novel and selective analytical method has been developed for doxycycline (DOX) determination, addressing the critical need for monitoring this widely used antibiotic in environmental samples. The method employs a hybrid sensing system combining orange-emitting carbon dots (O-CDs) with a calcium-murexide (Ca@Mu) complex, offering a unique dual-mode detection approach. Unlike conventional methods that rely on direct fluorescence quenching by DOX, which often suffer from poor selectivity, this system utilizes the competitive binding between DOX and murexide for Ca²⁺ ions. Initially, the pink-colored Ca@Mu complex formed under alkaline conditions causes fluorescence quenching of O-CDs at 552 nm. Upon introduction of DOX, its stronger Ca²⁺-binding affinity leads to the formation of a calcium-DOX complex, liberating free Mu and triggering both colorimetric (pink to orange) and fluorometric (restoration of O-CDs emission) responses. Comprehensive characterization and mechanistic investigations employing different spectroscopic techniques confirmed the sensing mechanism. The method demonstrates excellent selectivity for DOX among other tetracyclines and potential interferents, along with impressive analytical performance including good linearity (1.0-35.0 μM), low detection limit (325 nM), and high precision. Additionally, a smartphone-based colorimetric platform was developed for convenient on-site analysis. The practical utility of this method was validated through successful determination of DOX in environmental water samples with excellent recovery rates, offering a reliable and user-friendly approach for environmental monitoring of this important antibiotic.

This study uniquely emphasizes the crucial role of MOF synthesis techniques in optimizing electrocatalytic properties and enhancing electroanalytical performance. The main aim of this work is to develop a highly sensitive, selective, and cost-effective electrochemical sensor for detecting sunitinib malate (SUN) in serum samples collected from renal cancer patients. The designed sensor was based on using CuO nanoparticles/lanthanum 1,4-napthalene dicarboxylic acid (NDC) MOF-modified carbon paste electrode (CuO NPs/LaNDC-MOF/CPE) coupled with square-wave adsorptive anodic stripping voltammetry (SW-AdASV) as the electrochemical technique. Two MOF synthetic approaches were utilized i.e. conventional (Conv.) and solvothermal (Solvo.). The synthesized La-MOFs were characterized using X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm (BET). LaNDC-MOF (Conv.) has a higher surface area (four times) than LaNDC-MOF (Solvo.). Moreover, the modified electrode based on LaNDC-MOF (Conv.) exhibited better electrocatalytic activity and improved sensitivity towards the oxidation of SUN than that prepared through solvothermal route. Various experimental parameters, including accumulation potential, accumulation time, and pH of the supporting electrolyte, were optimized to obtain the best analytical performance. The fabricated sensor based on CuO NPs/LaNDC-MOF/CPE showed an oxidation peak of SUN at 0.66 V vs Ag/AgCl. Under the optimized conditions, SW-AdASV method exhibited a linear response over a concentration range of 0.01–1.0 μmol l^-1 with a detection limit of 0.002 μmol l^-1 for SUN. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of SUN in pharmaceutical formulations and serum samples of renal cancer patients. Moreover, the proposed methodology via modification of CPE with the synthesized MOFs tailors them to be applied for clinical analysis and therapeutic drug monitoring of SUN, providing a valuable tool for personalized medicine and improving the treatment outcomes for renal cancer patients.