Departments

Mission

Phytochemical and biological evaluation of natural products from different resources (plants, microbes, marines…etc.) that could help in solve many problems facing society as treatment of diseases (drug discovery), industrial and ecological difficulties. Continuous learning and training for young researchers for raising their efficiency and developing their capabilities.

Vision

According to Egypt’s Vision 2030, the medicinal chemistry department has set a future research plan aimed to discovering Egyptian drugs and products from safe natural resources, either in the form of pharmaceutical raw materials or in the form of pure compounds to treat many diseases that fall within TBRI interest. Our vision also to make the department a pioneer in the field of natural products chemistry and applied its research outputs in cooperation with the industry which in turn will be benefit to society. Continuous research and development of methods for extraction and identification of pharmacologically leading compounds from natural resources. Transfer of experience and knowledge by providing a distinguished training service and collaborate researches, especially for researchers from Arab and African countries in the field of drug discovery from natural sources.

Research Fields

Extraction of different bioactive natural products classes as saponins, and phenolics (flavonoids, tannins, phenylethanoid, and coumarins), alkaloids and volatile oils from local medicinal plants, fungus, marines and others using suitable solvents and devices as crude extracts.

Phytochemical investigation of different classes of phytochemical compounds.

Isolation and purification of different chemical Constituents from medicinal plants crude extracts Using different chromatographic techniques as HPLC, Ordinary column chromatography, 2D- paper chromatography and thin layer chromatography.

Detection of the nature of the isolated compounds by different spray reagents: for phenolic compounds (NH₃, FeCl₃ and Naturstoff), 10% sulphuric acid in methanol for saponin.    

Structure elucidation of the pure compounds using chemical and spectroscopic analysis as IR, different types of mass spectrometry (EI, FAB, CI-ESI and HRESI-Ms), 1 and 2D NMR experiments like (e.g. ¹H-¹H COSY, HMBC, HMQC).

Biological application (In vivo & In vitro):

• Antischistosomal.
• Molluscicidal.
• antimicrobial [Antivirus, antibacterial and antifungal activities].
• Antioxidant.
• Hepatoprotective.
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Cytotoxic activity [brine Shrimp, different cancer cell lines].
• Nephroprotective.
• Antigenotoxic
• Antibiofilm.

Structure

Equipment:

• • Rotatory evaporator: Evaporation of different solvents to obtain the crude plant extracts or concentrates the fractions during fractionation of plant extract in chromatographic isolation techniques.
  • Sensitive balance
  • Ordinary balance
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC): Analysis and isolation of chemical compounds.
  • Glass column chromatography: Isolation of Chemical constituents of different crude extracts.
  • Ultraviolet Lamp: Localization of spots on paper chromatograms and TLC as well as follow up the chromatographic fractionation process.
  • UV-visible spectrophotometer: Measuring the absorbance in UV range.
  • Melting Point apparatus
  • Centrifuge
  • Electric oven
  • Vacuum pump
  • pH meter
  • Water bath
  • Electric Grinder
  • Heater
  • Shaker
  • Chromatographic tools.
  • Biological evaluation.

Techniques

• Extraction using different solvents
• Chromatographic isolation [HPLC, Glass column, Paper Chromatography, TLC] on silica gel, polyamide, Sephadex, cellulose ….ect.
• Different antioxidant techniques.
• Assessment of cytotoxic activity via brine shrimp method.
• Molluscicidal activity.

Services

Training

Training and services provided by the medicinal chemistry laboratory:

• • Phytochemical screening tests.
  • Total Phenolic and Total Antioxidant content.
  • Extraction and Chromatographic Isolation of chemical constituents.

Scientific advice provided by the Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory:

• • Identification and structure elucidation of isolated chemical compounds.
  • Identification of the chemical component from different extracts using GC-Ms or LC-Ms/Ms techniques.
  • Any Knowledge in the field of Natural products and its application.

Projects

Internal Projects:

1. 1. Pilot Study of Anticancer Potential of Some Herbal Medicine. PI:  Prof. Hanaa Ismail, Immunology Department (2008).
   2. Bioassay of Methanol Extracts from Certain Egyptian Plant Species against Biomphalaria alexandrinasnails and their infection with Schistosoma mansoni. PI: Prof. Hoda Abdel-Hamid, Medical Malacology Department (2012)
   3. Bioactivity of certain secondary metabolites from some Egyptian plants and fungi species. PI: Prof. Laila Refahy (2013).
   4. Chemical and biological investigation of Gmelina arboreaand Tectona grandis (family Verbenaceae). PI: Prof. Laila Refahy (2013).
   5. The Role of Some Plants extracts in Raising Resistance of Snails to Infection with Trematodes. PI: Assoc. Prof. Hanan Shahat Mossalem, Medical Malacology Department (2015).
   6. Chromatographic separation of certain chemical constituents of two Salix species and evaluating them as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.  PI: Prof. Mortada El-Sayed (2015).
   7. Extraction and chromatographic isolation of certain chemical constituents of Allium Kurrat and Allium sativum and their evaluation and their evaluation as antioxidant and cytotoxic agents. PI: Prof. Mahfouz Abdel-Gawad (2015).
   8.  Phytochemical studies on Cucurbita pepoand Lantana camara extract and evaluating them as nephroprotective agent using rat model. PI: Prof. Afaf Abdle-Hady (2015).
   9.  Phytochemical, antioxidant, cytotoxic and antimicrobial studies of three plants; Ficus lyrate, Grevila robusuta and Abutilon hirtum. PI: Prof. Manal Mortadi Hamed (2015).
   10. Chromatographic isolation and identification of the poly phenolic and triterpenoidal saponins compounds from two Cestrum species growing in Egypt. PI: Prof. Mona Abdel-Motagally Mohamed (2016).
   11. Isolation and Identification of some chemical constituents of Cinnamomum zeylanicumand Psidium guajava and evaluation of their biological activity. PI: Prof.  Samir Mohamed El-Amin (2016).
   12. Isolation and evaluation of Syzygium aromaticum and Olea europaea leaves as anticancer and antiviral agents. PI: Prof. Eman Ahmed El-Wakil (2018).
   13. The antistress ability of medicinal plants on cultured stem cells. PI: Dr. Asmaa Salah El Din Mohamed (2019).

External Projects:

1. 1. SIDA, Lund University, Sweden (2009-2011):  Developments of new compounds with effect on Schistosomiasis (Bilharzias). PI: Prof. Sanaa Botros,  Pharmacology Department  
   2. Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF) (2012-2014): Extraction and chromatographic isolation of certain chemical constituents of two Allium species and their evaluation as antioxidant and cytotoxic agents. PI: Dr. Ezzat El-Sayed.
   3. STDF (2014-2016): Recent approaches in the utilization of Moringa oleiferaand Moringa peregrina as a good nutritional, medicinal and industrial plant in Egypt. PI: Prof. Aboul Fotouh Mohamed Abdullah, Horticultural Technology Department-Division of Agricultural Sciences, National   Research Center.
   4. MHESR (2015-2017): Isolation and screening of actinobacteria from Moroccan-Egyptian ecosystems as biological control agents against the crown and root rot of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporumf.sp. (radices-lycopersici) Sacc. PI: Prof. Mohamed El-Sayed Abdel-Aziz, Department of Microbial Chemistry, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Division, National   Research Center.
   5. Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (STCSM), China (2017-2019): Studies on novel terpenoids two endangered Pinaceae plants Picea brachytyla and Picea neoveitchii and their bioactivities against type-2 diabetes mellitus” Co-Principle Investigator: Associate Professor. Ezzat El-Sayed Abdel-Lateef Osman, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute.
   6. NRC (2015-2018): Application of biotechnology to reduce mycotoxin problems. PI: Prof. Aml Shawky Hathot, Department of Toxins and Pollutants Food, Food Industry and Nutrition Division, National   Research Center.
   7. NRC (2016-2019): Use of Bacterial Lipase Enzyme in Bio-Fuel Matrix Production from Microalgae. PI: Prof. Abo El-Khair El-Sayed, Department of Fertilization Technology, Agricultural and Biological Division, National Research Center.
   8. NRC (2016-2019):  Bioactive materials from agriculture wastes for upgrading the functional properties of cellulose containing textiles. PI: Prof. Basma M. Eid, Department: Preparation and Finishing of Cellulosic Fibers, Textile Research Division, National Research Center.
   9. NRC (2016-2019):   Elimination of the toxicity of nanoparticles used in food sector. PI: Prof. Mosaad Attia Abdel-Wahhab, Department: Food Toxicology & Contaminants, Food Industry & Nutrition Division, National Research Center.
   10. STDF and Egypt UK Newton Musharafa Fund (2017-2019): Antimicrobial secondary metabolites from marine endophytic fungi for functionalization of textiles. PI: Dr. Ahmed Abdelghani Abdalla, Department of Microbial Chemistry, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Division, National   Research Center. 
   11. NRC (2020-2022):  An Epigenetic modifiers and co-culturing: new strategies to enhance the production of antimicrobial and anti-cancer compounds from marine derived fungi. PI: Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Ghani Hamed Shalabi, Department of Microbial Chemistry, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Division, National Research Center.

Publications

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with

• Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
• Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
• Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
• Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
• Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,

Projects

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with

• Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
• Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
• Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
• Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
• Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,