King Fahd Medical Research Center

KFMRC

Natural Products Research

Natural products played a historical rule in drug discovery and saved the life of millions of people over the last 70 years and still provide us with fascinating molecules for pharmaceutical discovery and the welfare of humanity. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is well known for its unique, diverse and rich flora and marine fauna. Medicinal plants, marine organisms and microbes represent the foundation for drug discovery and development in the Kingdom for the welfare of the people and for economic benefits and development in the Kingdom.

Research Areas

The Natural Products Research Lab is concerned with conducting research in the following areas

Chemical Composition

Determination of the chemical composition of the separated pure compounds using various spectroscopic methods such as mass spectrometry and magnetic resonance device.

Biological Activity

Biological activity test of the separated pure compounds and study and study of its effect on diseases

Services

The laboratory provides a number of diverse services as well as training and assistance to bachelor's and graduate students as follows:

Extracts

Extraction of research samples with organic and aqueous solvents, fractionated by different chromatographic methods

Separation of Chemical Compounds

Determination of the chemical composition of the separated pure compounds using mass spectrometry and magnetic resonance devices

Publications

Recent Publications of Natural Products Research Lab

Shaala LA, Youssef DTA, Ibrahim SRM, Mohamed GA. Callyptide A, a new cytotoxic peptide from the Red Sea marine sponge Callyspongia. Nat Prod
Shaala LA, Youssef DTA, Badr JM, Harakeh SM. Bioactive 2(1H)-pyrazinones and diketopiperazine alkaloids from a tunicate-derived actinomycete Streptomyces sp. Molecules 2016
Youssef DTA, Ibrahim SRM, Shaala LA, Mohamed GA, Banjar Z. New cerebroside and nucleoside derivatives from a Red Sea strain of the marine cyanobacterium Moorea producens. Molecules 2016
Youssef DTA, Badr JM, Shaala LA, Mohamed GA, Bamanie FH. Ehrenasterol and biemnic acid; new bioactive compounds from the Red Sea sponge Biemna ehrenbergi. Phytochemistry Lett
El-Shitany NA, Shaala LA, Abbas AT, Abdel-dayem UA, Azhar EI, Ali SS, van Soest RWM, Youssef DTA. Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects of the organic extract of the Red Sea marine sponge Xestospongia testudinaria against carrageenan induced rat paw inflammation Youssef DTA, Shaala LA, Alshali KZ. Bioactive hydantoin alkaloids from the Red Sea marine sponge Hemimycale arabica. Mar. Drugs 2015

Shaala LA, Youssef DTA, Badr JM, Sulaiman M, Khedr A, El Sayed KA. Bioactive alkaloids from the Red Sea marine Verongid sponge Pseudoceratina arabica. Tetrahedron, 2015
Youssef DTA, Mohamed GA, Shaala LA, Badr JM, Bamanie FH, Ibrahim SRM. New purine alkaloids from the Red Sea marine tunicate Symplegma rubra. Phytochemistry Lett. 2015
Shaala LA, Youssef DTA. Identification and bioactivity of compounds from the fungus Penicillium sp. CYE-87 isolated from a marine tunicate. Marine Drugs 2015
Youssef DTA, Shaa Funeded by KACST la LA, Mohamed GA, Ibrahim SRM, Banjar ZM, Badr JM, McPhail KL, Risinger AL, Mooberry SL. 2,3-Seco-2,3-dioxo-lyngbyatoxin A from a Red Sea strain of the marine cyanobacterium Moorea producens. Nat. Prod. Res. 2015
Shaala LA, Youssef DTA, Badr JM, Sulaiman M, Khedr A. Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from the Red Sea Marine Verongid Sponge Suberea Species. Marine Drugs 2015