The faculty member at the Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Postgraduate Studies, University of Baghdad, Dr. Hawazen Haleem Saleh, has been awarded a PhD degree following the successful defense of her dissertation entitled “Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Chloroplast Genome of the Wolf’s Eye Plant (Solanum nigrum) and Evaluation of Its Leaf Extract for Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities,” under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr. Ali Imad Mohammed Muneer.
The dissertation aimed to identify genetic variation and intraspecific evolutionary relationships in the wolf’s eye plant (Solanum nigrum), as well as to evaluate the biological activity of plant leaf extracts against different bacterial species and investigate their cytotoxic effects on tumor cells.
The dissertation recommended purifying the active compounds present in the plant extracts, investigating their effects on cancer cells, and evaluating their antibacterial activity. It also recommended conducting in vivo experiments to verify their effects, as well as testing their activity against pathogenic fungi affecting humans, plants, and animals and exploring their potential use as environmentally friendly pesticides.
The study further recommended investigating variations in the types and concentrations of chemical compounds in different parts of the plant, including the leaves, fruits, roots, and stems. In addition, it recommended exploring the possibility of synthesizing nanoparticles using the plant extract or its active compounds and evaluating their potential effects in the treatment of cancer cells.
