Research Unit’s Supervisor: Dr. W. Masocha

Research Group: J. N. Sharma, A.Z. El-Hashim, W. Masocha, M.A. Khajah, B. Qabazard

Research focus areas:

• Immunity and inflammation studies of pathological diseases such as Asthma, Cough, Colitis, Arthritis, Neuro-inflammation and painful neuropathy .

• Development of strategies for prevention and treatment of Inflammation diseases.

Areas of Collaboration:

• Chemical synthesis of new medicinal compounds with anti-inflammatory effect.

• Development of new formulations for anti-inflammatory agents.

• PK/PD evaluation of newly-developed anti-inflammatory agents using animal model.

• Optimization of drug’s use for the above pathological diseases.

Selected publications:

• Khajah MA, Fateel MM, Ananthalakshmi KV, Luqmani YA (2016) Anti-inflammatory action of Angiotensin 1-7 in experimental colitis. PLoS One 11:3.

• Masocha W, Kombian S, Edafiogho IO (2016) Evaluation of the antinociceptive activities of enaminone compounds on the formalin and hot plate tests in mice. Scientific Reports 26; 6:21582.

• Masocha W. (2014) Paclitaxel-induced hyposensitivity to nociceptive chemical stimulation in mice can be prevented by treatment with minocycline. Scientific Reports 4:6719.

• Edan RA, Luqmani YA, Masocha W (2013) COL-3 a chemically modified tetracycline , inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced microglia activation and cytokine expression in the brain. PLos One 8, e57827.

• Ezeamuzie CI, El-Hashim AZ, Renno WM, Edafiogho IO. (2014). Antiallergic and antiasthmatic effects of a novel enhydrazinone ester (CEE-1): inhibition of activation of both mast cells and eosinophils J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 350(2):444-54

• Ahmed Z. El-Hashim, Jaffal SM, Al-Rashidi, FT, Luqmani, YA, Akhtar, S. (2013). Nerve growth factor enhances cough via a central mechanism of action. Pharmacological Research, 74, 68-77

• El-Hashim AZ, Renno WM, Raghupathy R, Abduo HT, Akhtar S, Benter IF. (2012). Angiotensin 1-7 inhibits allergic inflammation, via the Mas receptor, through suppression of ERK1/2 and NF-kB dependent pathways Brit. J. Pharmacol, 166, 1964–1976.

• Sharma JN (2010) Modification in tissue kallikrein activity with indomethacin and prednisolone treatment in arthritic rats. Inflammopharmacology 18, 113-117.