Skip to main content

Climate Change Induce the Toxicity of Black Sand Nanoparticles on Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Using Hemato-Hepatological Biomarkers

Research Abstract

This study aimed to explore the effects of heat stress and black sand acute exposure on the erythron profile, hematological and antioxidant parameters, as well as histological and histochemical indices. Catfish were subjected to black sand nanoparticles (6.4 g of nanoparticles black sand per kg of diet), thermal stress (32 °C), and a combined treatment involving both stressors over a period of 15 days. Catfish exposed to black sand nanoparticles and heat stress singly and/or in combination showed significantly lower red blood cells (RBCs) count, hemoglobin (Hb), platelets, white blood cells (WBCs) count, large lymphocytes, small lymphocytes, and monocytes. Antioxidant indices decreased in black sand NPs and heat stress combination compared to other groups. Notably, the combination of black sand nanoparticles and heat stress led to a substantial increase in the percentages of both RBCs alterations and nuclear abnormalities. Histological examinations of the liver revealed various features, including intracellular bleeding, cytoplasmic vacuolation, tissue deterioration, hepatocyte pyknotic nuclei, nuclear displacement, shrinkage, and accumulation of melanomacrophage cells. In conclusion, the study underscores that the effects of black sand nanoparticles on erythron profile, hematological and antioxidant parameters, as well as histological and histochemical indices, become more pronounced under elevated temperatures indicating the potential for synergistic effects between pollution and climate change. This holistic approach is crucial for developing more accurate forecasts of the complex interactions between environmental stressors and their implications for aquatic ecosystems.

Research Authors
Alaa El-Din H Sayed, Mohamed Hamed, Mohamed Abd El-Aal, Mervat Naguib, Eman Saad, Hamdy AM Soliman
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
BioNanoScience
Research Year
2024

Toxicity and speciation of inorganic arsenics and their adverse effects on in vivo endpoints and oxidative stress in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma

Research Abstract

Here, we investigate the effects of acute and chronic exposure to arsenate (AsV) and arsenite (AsIII) in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigmaIn vivo effects, biotransformation, and oxidative stress were studied in marine medaka exposed to the two inorganic arsenics for 4 or 28 days. An investigation of embryonic development revealed no effect on in vivo parameters, but the hatching rate increased in the group exposed to AsIII. Exposure to AsIII also caused the greatest accumulation of arsenic in medaka. For acute exposure, the ratio of AsV to AsIII was higher than that of chronic exposure, indicating that bioaccumulation of inorganic arsenic can induce oxidative stress. The largest increase in oxidative stress was observed following acute exposure to AsIII, but no significant degree of oxidative stress was induced by chronic exposure. During acute exposure to AsV, the increase in the enzymatic activity of …

Research Authors
Eunjin Byeon, Haksoo Jeong, Min-Sub Kim, Seong Chan Yun, Jin-Sol Lee, Min-Chul Lee, Jin-Hyoung Kim, Alaa El-Din Hamid Sayed, Jun Bo, Hyung Sik Kim, Chulho Yoon, Atsushi Hagiwara, Yoshitaka Sakakura, Jae-Seong Lee
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Journal of Hazardous Materials
Research Member
Research Year
2024

Melatonin counteracts polyethylene microplastics induced adreno-cortical damage in male albino rats

Research Abstract

There are various substances that can disrupt the homeostatic mechanisms of the body, defined as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The persistent nature of microplastics (MPs) is a cause for concern due to their ability to accumulate in food chains and widespread use, making their toxic effects particularly alarming. The potential of MPs for disrupting the endocrine system was observed in multiple tissues. Moreover, the adrenal gland is known to be extremely sensitive to EDCs, while with the effect of MPs on the adrenal gland has not previously been studied. This study aimed to highlight the potential polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) induced adreno-toxic effects rather than exploring the implicated mechanisms and concluding if melatonin (Mel) can afford protection against PE-MPs induced adreno-toxicity. To fulfill the goal, six groups of rats were used; control, Mel, PE-MPs (3.75 mg/kg), PE-MPs (15 …

Research Authors
Amina A Farag, Heba Bayoumi, Shaimaa E Radwaan, Walaa Bayoumie El Gazzar, Heba S Youssef, Hend Elsayed Nasr, Amira M Badr, Heba M Mansour, Amira Elalfy, Alaa El-Din Hamid Sayed, Tayseir G Kharboush, Elshaimaa Ahmed Fahmy Aboelkomsan, Rania E Sliem
Research Department
Research Journal
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Research Member
Research Year
2024

Reproductive and endocrine-disrupting toxicity of pyrogallol in catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Research Abstract

Endocrine disruptors are synthetic or natural chemicals that can agonize/antagonize hormone receptors or can interfere with the production and secretion of hormones, leading to altered tissue histology and physiology. Pyrogallol is a contaminant widely distributed in aquatic environments that presents health risks to both humans and animals. However, the potential for endocrine disruption by pyrogallol, particularly in fish, are lacking. The purpose of this study was to shed light on how pyrogallol may affect hormone signalling, histopathology, and reproductive outcomes in African catfish Clarias gariepinus. To investigate this, African catfish were exposed to one sublethal concentration of pyrogallol at either 0, 1, 5 or 10 mg/L for 15 days. We then assessed the effects of pyrogallol on the thyroid gland as well as the reproductive system by measuring sex hormone, seminal quality, gonadal histopathology, and …

Research Authors
Mohamed Hamed, Rashad EM Said, Christopher J Martyniuk, Hamdy AM Soliman, Alaa El-Din H Sayed, Alaa GM Osman
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Environmental Pollution
Research Member
Research Year
2024

Effects of bisphenol A on reproduction, oxidative stress, and lipid regulation in the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

Research Abstract

This study reports the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, focusing on growth performance, reproductive output, oxidative stress responses, and lipid metabolism genes. High BPA levels disrupted peak daily offspring production and led to oxidative stress and increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activity. The research identified distinctive monoacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (MGAT) and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (DGAT) genes in B. plicatilisB. rotundiformis, and B. koreanus, enhancing understanding of lipid metabolism in these species. BPA exposure significantly altered MGAT and DGAT expression, and feeding status affected these regulatory patterns. When food was unavailable, BPA reduced DGAT2 and MGAT2a expression. However, under feeding conditions, DGAT2 and MGAT1 levels increased, indicating that nutritional status and BPA exposure interact to affect …

Research Authors
Deok-Seo Yoon, Ji-Su Kim, Mi-Song Hong, Eunjin Byeon, Alaa El-Din Hamid Sayed, Heum Gi Park, Jae-Seong Lee, Min-Chul Lee
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Research Member
Research Year
2024

Impacts of climate change and black sand on Red Sea, Egypt. A comprehensive review

Research Abstract

يشكل تغير المناخ العالمي، الناتج عن العمليات الطبيعية والقوى الخارجية والأنشطة البشرية، تهديدًا كبيرًا لرفاهية الإنسان وتنميته. إن ارتفاع منسوب مياه البحر ودرجات الحرارة يجعل مناطق مختلفة غير صالحة للسكن بشكل متزايد، حيث تواجه النظم البيئية البحرية مخاطر كبيرة، لا سيما من حوادث تبيض المرجان. البحر الأحمر، وهو منطقة محيطية حديثة النشأة تشكلت من تباعد الصفيحتين التكتونيتين العربية والأفريقية، يمتد على مسافة 2250 كم تقريبًا في الطول و355 كم في العرض، ويصل إلى أعماق تصل إلى 2200 متر. تتميز هذه المنطقة بمناظر طبيعية قاحلة وتضاريس جبلية. أحد المخاوف الكبيرة بشأن البحر الأحمر هو وجود الرمال السوداء على طول ساحله في مصر. هذه الرمال غنية بالمعادن ذات اللون الداكن مثل المغنتيت والإلمنيت والهيماتيت، والتي يشمل تكوينها السيليكا وأكسيد الحديد وأكسيد التيتانيوم. وقد تم استخدام تقنيات مثل فلورة الأشعة السينية (XRF) وحيود الأشعة السينية (XRD) لتحليل تكوينه. يُسهم تأثير البياض للرمال السوداء، الذي يتميز بضعف قدرتها على عكس الإشعاع الشمسي، في زيادة امتصاص الحرارة والاحترار الموضعي. يؤثر هذا الاحترار على درجات حرارة سطح البحر الأحمر، التي تتأثر بعوامل مثل تفاعلات الهواء والبحر والعواصف الترابية. الآثار البيئية لتعدين الرمال السوداء عميقة، مع مخاطر تشمل تدمير الموائل والتلوث. تؤكد هذه الأنشطة على الحاجة إلى دراسات شاملة وممارسات إدارة مستدامة في منطقة البحر الأحمر. إن معالجة الآثار البيئية المرتبطة بتعدين الرمال السوداء أمر بالغ الأهمية للحفاظ على النظام البيئي للبحر الأحمر. علاوة على ذلك، يُعد التعاون الدولي والممارسات المستدامة أمرًا حيويًا في حماية النظام البيئي للبحر الأحمر من الآثار الضارة لتغير المناخ. من خلال فهم التفاعل بين تغير المناخ والأنشطة البشرية، مثل تعدين الرمال السوداء، وتنفيذ استراتيجيات فعالة للحفاظ عليها، يمكننا العمل على التخفيف من الآثار السلبية على هذه البيئة البحرية الفريدة والحيوية.

Research Authors
Mohamed Hamed, Mostafa A Khaled, Rashad EM Said, Mohamed Abd El-Aal, Sobhi M Ghoneim, Mohsen Y Omer, Hamdy AM Soliman, Eman Saad, Zeinab Bakr, Jae-Seong Lee, Alaa El-Din H Sayed
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Regional Studies in Marine Science
Research Year
2024

Effect of some pre-harvest treatments on the quality characteristics of semi-dry date fruits (Saidy cultivar) during storage.

Research Abstract

This research was carried out for two successive seasons (2022 and 2023) in a private orchard located at Assiut Governorate, Egypt, to evaluate the effectiveness of propolis extract and sodium thiosulfate in maintaining the quality attributes of Saidy date palm fruits during storage. The date palms were 17 years old, grown in a sandy soil, spaced at 8 * 8 meters apart, and irrigated by the drip system. At the end of August, five pre-harvest treatments of date bunches were sprayed as follows:  two concentrations of propolis (3% and 5%) and two concentrations of sodium thiosulfate (0.5% and 1%), in addition to the control treatment (spraying with water). Date bunches were stored at ambient conditions (21 ± 7°C and 60 – 70% RH) for 75 days, and the fruit quality was evaluated every 15 days. The results demonstrated that all quality analyses showed that all applied treatments outperformed the control. Sodium thiosulfate at 1% and propolis extract at 5% were more effective than various treatments Saidy date fruits last longer by lowering the number of fungi, slowing down physiological and weight loss as well as decay. It is delaying changes in total soluble solids, total acidity, as well as total sugars during 75 days of storage at room temperature (21 ± 7°C and 60 – 70% RH) in both seasons.

Research Authors
Ahmed HA Mansour, Ola M Fekry, Walid M Abdel-Alim, Ghada Abd-Elmonsef Mahmoud
Research Date
Research Journal
Horticulture Research Journal
Research Member
Research Pages
75-87
Research Rank
International
Research Year
2025

Unique Enzymatic Power of Microbial Cleaners During the Soil Bioremediation Process

Research Abstract

Due to the excessive release of toxic and hazardous compounds into the environment, environmental pollution is increasing day by day. This rapid increase in pollutants results from industrialization and urbanization expansion. This pollutant affects in a harmful way to all the living forms, alters the environmental conditions and ecology, and changes diversity manner. The removal of these pollutants has been attempted using numerous conventional approaches, but they have not proven very successful. Until now microbial bioremediation represents the safest way to turn pollutants into non-hazardous materials. Soil ecosystem contains diverse microorganisms with a large capacity of removing a large number of pollutants through their unique enzymatic power. Microbial enzymes are proven to be an efficient and environmentally friendly technology solution for detoxifying pollutants from the environment. Many soil organic pollutants can be remedied by enzymes, including organo-heavy metals, PAHs, azo dyes, and polymers. Hydrolase enzymes (esterase, protease, lipase, cellulase, cutinase), and organophosphorus hydrolase enzymes (oxygenase, peroxidase, laccase) are the main pollutant-remediating soil enzymes. The current state of soil pollution, harmful pollutants’ impacts on soil life forms, as well as the microbial bioremediation enzymes, types, mechanisms, and possible applications, will be discussed in this chapter.

Research Authors
Ghada Abd-Elmonsef Mahmoud, Lamiaa Ibrahim Ahmed, Fathia H. E. Bougafa, Hanaa M. Barakat, Asmaa S. Nofal & Mona Shaban E. M. Badawy
Research Date
Research Journal
Environmental Science and Engineering ((ESE))
Research Member
Research Pages
303–334
Research Publisher
@ Springer
Research Rank
International
Research Website
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-76886-6_13
Research Year
2025

Seed treatment with macroalgal-derived fucoidan and nanohydroxyapatite mitigates Fusarium falciforme ASU26 infection in faba bean: insights from morphological, physiological, anatomical, and FT-IR analyses

Research Abstract

Background Soil-borne diseases are becoming more prevalent due to climate change, while the use of pesticides
is being discouraged due to their harmful environmental impacts. This study explored the potential of natural
compounds, specifically fucoidan from brown seaweed and nanohydroxyapatite from calcareous red seaweed, as
eco-friendly alternatives for mitigating Fusarium infections. The treatments aimed to enhance the plant’s defense
mechanisms and improve seedling growth.
Results The treatments using fucoidan, nanohydroxyapatite, or their combination at concentrations of 250–500 μg
mL⁻¹ for 6 h, significantly enhanced seedling growth, including increased height, root area, and both fresh and dry
weights. Photosynthetic pigment levels and total flavonoid contents increased by more than 30% in treated seedlings
compared to the infected control. Malondialdehyde levels, an indicator of oxidative stress, were notably reduced,
comparable to or lower than those in the non-infected control. Enzymatic activities associated with plant defense,
such as chitinase and polyphenol oxidase, were also higher in treated seedlings. Anatomical improvements were
observed, including enhanced vascular cylinder and metaxylem areas. FT-IR analyses highlighted several biochemical
changes, such as an increased CH₂/CH₃ ratio indicating lipid structural variation, reduced amide I and II bands, an
increase in the C = C band (linked to lignin), and a higher degree of esterification compared to infected controls.
Conclusions The study demonstrates that fucoidan and nanohydroxyapatite are promising sustainable, cost-
effective, and environmentally friendly treatments that effectively boost the defense responses and growth of faba
bean seedlings against Fusarium falciforme ASU26 infection. These natural compounds could serve as alternatives to
conventional pesticides, offering enhanced plant resistance to pathogens and supporting healthier plant growth.

Research Authors
Mohamed Gomaa, Eman S. E. Aldaby and Ghada Abd-Elmonsef Mahmoud
Research Date
Research Journal
BMC Plant Biology
Research Member
Research Pages
394
Research Publisher
@ Springer
Research Rank
International Q1
Research Vol
25
Research Website
https://bmcplantbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12870-025-06347-7
Research Year
2025

Towards development of luminescent silver-based metal organic frameworks for selective detection of trifluralin

Research Abstract

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.

Research Authors
Mohamed I. Said , Azza H. Rageh, Ahmed A.K. Mohammed, Isabelle Nevoigt , Florian Schulz, Wolfgang J. Parak , Indranath Chakraborty
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Inorganic Chemistry Communications
Research Pages
114429
Research Publisher
ELSEVIER
Research Website
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1387700325005453
Research Year
2025
Subscribe to