Ahmad M. Disi

University of Jordan | UJ · Department of Biological Sciences

We studied diet and food niche relationships among sympatric lizards in two areas in Jordan using stomach contents. We found that 77 stomachs from six species in the eastern deserts and 45 stomachs from three species in the western highlands resulted in 2,478 and 1,935 prey items, respectively. Stomachs from the eastern desert contained 1-216 prey...

Loranthus acaciae (Loranthaceae) is a perennial green semi-parasitic plant used in ethnopharmacological medicine for healing wounds. The protective effect of L. acaciae on gastric ulcer induced by ethanol was investigated in a rat model. Ulcer index and total glutathione level were measured, histological and immunohistochemical studies for the expr...

Distributional data, diagnostic features, and habitat descriptions are given for seven species of venomous snakes found in Jordan. The epidemiology of snakebites in Jordan is discussed based on previous studies and recent data. Males were more vulnerable than females, and children less than 20 years old constituted the highest percentage of victims...

In this review, we identified the diversity of the freshwater and terrestrial herpetofauna of Jordan that consists of a total of 103 species of extant reptiles (100 species and subspecies) and amphibians (3 species). Two amphibian species became extinct within the past thirty years (Triturus vittatus and Pelobates syriacus). Four categories of thre...

Objectives: This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of ethanolic seed extract of Apium graveolens L. (Apiaceae)(ESEAG) on male rat fertility. Methods: Two doses of the extract (425 and 213 mg/kg body weight) were administered by oral gavage for sixty consecutive days. Five days before the end of this period, each rat was cohabited with two fe...

Endometriosis is one of the most frequent diseases in gynecology. Currently available medical therapies for this disease are unsatisfactory. Based on current understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms in endometriosis especially the similarity between this disease and cancer, this study was designed to investigate the efficacy of the anti cancer dr...

A new species of Pseudotrapelus from Aqaba, southern Jordan is described. It differs from P. sinaitus in four well developed separated preanal pores in males, 3rd toe much longer than 4th and 16% incorrect p-distance (COI). Taxonomic relationships between Arabian Peninsula Pseudotrapelus need further investigations.

Thujone, which is the major constituent in Salvia sp. (Lamiaceae), was found to correct the lipid profile (cholesterol and triglycerides) in diabetic rats. Oral treatment with thujone (5 mg kg⁻¹ body weight dose) significantly adjusted cholesterol and triglyceride levels in diabetic rats (p ≤ 0.05) to normal levels compared to diabetic untreated ra...

The present study consists of both locality records and of literary data for 37 species and subspecies of snakes reported from Jordan. Within the past decade snake taxonomy was re-evaluated employing molecular techniques that resulted in reconsideration of several taxa. Thus, it is imperative now to revise the taxonomic status of snakes in Jordan t...

The fact that ethosuximide (ETO), phenobarbital (PHO), and barbituric acid (BARB) share structural and pharmacophoric homologies with phenytoin and allantoin, both known to have significant wound-healing properties, prompted us to evaluate them as wound-healing agents. Accordingly, ETO-, PHO-, and BARB-containing ointments were applied onto full-th...

As Petra is increasingly becoming a major tourism destination in Jordan, this underlies not only challenges to conserve the habitats and species in Petra but also offers great opportunities to promote academic research and investigation, demonstrate sustainable development and initiation of environmentally sound development and nature based tourism...

The dice snake, Natrix tessellata, in Jordan still occurs in viable populations, particularly in northwestern areas of the country. But numerous populations have become extinct, following habitat degradation due to irrigation and water pollution. Summary notes on morphology and ecology of Jordanian dice snakes is presented, including aspects of hab...

The lizard fauna of Jordan is very diverse and forms 55.5% of the terrestrial herpetofauna of the country. Lizard species of Arabian origin form the highest percentage (43%) of the lizards, followed by Saharo-Sindian (35%), Palaearctic (20%) and only 2% with Afrotropical affinities. 69.1% of the lizard species inhabit two ecozones: Badia (Eastern D...

Problem statement: Urtica pilulifera (Urticeacae) has been used in folk medicine to alleviate inflammation and arthritis. In this study the anti-arthritic effect of methanolic leaf extract of the plant was evaluated and compared to untreated control as well as ibuprofen-treated groups in a rat model of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthr...

One urodele amphibian species (Ommatotriton vittatus) and four anuran species (Pseudepidalea viridis, Pelophylax bedriagae, Hyla savignyi and Pelobates syriacus) were recorded from Jordan. Alcohol-preserved specimens (n = 340) were examined. Seventeen measurements were taken and are compared between the sexes. The distribution and habitat for each...

Anti-ulcer activity of different root extracts of Anchusa strigosa was studied in ethanol-induced ulcer model in rats. Petroleum ether-soluble fraction was the most effective in reducing ulcer index and gave 91% protection. Chloroform-soluble fraction gave 86% protection while butanol-soluble fraction was less effective (65% protection). On the oth...

Hard-to-heal wounds present a major medical problem. The anticonvulsant drug phenytoin has been shown to have prohealing effects in various types of wounds. In this study we evaluated the effect of phenytoin on some phases of wound healing in a rat excision wound model. A total of 98 adult male Wistar rats were used in this study. The effect of phe...

Four species of the genus Eirenis that occur in Jordan were studied. Distribution and ecology of these species was investigated. Eirenis coronella was collected from the Mediterranean and Irano-Turanean biotopes. Jordan represents the most southern range of distribution for E. decemlineata, E. lineomaculata and E. rothi. Sexual dimorphism is eviden...

The hypolipidemic effects of ethanol extract of A. graveolens L. (Apiaceae) were investigated. Forty adult male albino rats weighing about 260 g each, were divided into four groups (n = 10). Experimental animals were gavaged at doses of 213 and 425 mg/kg body wt. for sixty consecutive days. Extract showed a significant decrease (p< 0.05) of serum t...

The amphisbaenian Blanus str~zuclzi aporus has been rediscovered in Matn Abu Rayya, Tartous, with a voucher specimen, after approximately 125 years. The distribution area of Giin- ther's Skink Chalcides guentheri, recorded from Syria for the third time, is extended some 140 km to the north-east (A1 Wardiyat, Hirns) of its previous northernmost ldty...

The plant Juniperus phoenica (L.) (Cupressaceae) is widely growing on the rocky soils of the Mediterranean regions. In Jordan, the plant is distributed in different locations and is used as a folk medicine to treat rheumatism, edema, and urinary tract diseases. This study aimed to investigate the antifertility effect of J. phoenica in male albino r...

Anti-ulcer activity of different root extracts of Anchusa strigosa was studied in ethanol-induced ulcer model in rats. Petroleum ether-soluble fraction was the most effective in reducing ulcer index and gave 91% protection. Chloroform-soluble fraction gave 86% protection while butanol-soluble fraction was less effective (65% protection). On the oth...

Meloxicam, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 preferential inhibitor, was studied for its anti-implantation and parturition effects on pregnant rats. Regarding the effect of meloxicam on implantation, rats were dosed orally by 7.5 and 10 mg/kg/day from day 1 through 3 or from day 3 through 5 of gestation, respectively. While for the parturition effect, r...

The Badia region in Jordan, characterized by its arid climate, comprises more than 75% of the total area of Jordan, and encompasses a great diversity of unique habitats, flora and fauna and physical and geological features. Given the area's richness in natural resources and the expected future utilization of the resources, there is an urgent need t...

The Azraq Wetland Reserve at the heart of the Eastern Desert provides a heterogeneous natural habitat for conservation and protection of the unique aquatic and terrestrial species. The intensive pumping of water from the oasis and wells for local farms caused decline in water level and salinization of soil in the reserve. The increased salinity cha...

The preliminary wound healing activity of Portulaca oleracea was studied using Mus musculus JVI-1. For this purpose fresh homogenized crude aerial parts of Portulaca oleracea were applied topically on the excision wound surface as single and two doses in different amounts. Wound contraction and tensile strength measurements were used to evaluate th...

Anchusa strigosa Banks et Sol (Boraginaceae) root extracts (ASRE) were prepared by soaking the dry material in boiling water. The clear soluble extract was dried and found to be 0.238 g/g dry roots. A gastric ulcer was induced in fastened animals by oral ingestion of ethanol. Administration of 0.080 g of ASRE prior to ethanol ingestion protected th...

Aqueous and ethanol extracts of the fresh and dried leaves and roots of Eryngium creticum were tested for their inhibition against snake and scorpion venoms. The fresh leaf extract gave a higher percentage inhibition of the haemolytic activity of the scorpion venom Leiurus quinquesteiartus compared with the dried leaf extract. Extracts of both fres...

The possible antiulcerogenic activity of Laurus nobilis seeds was tested on experimentally (ethanol) induced gastric ulcer in rats. The results indicated antiulcerogenic activity for 20 and 40% aqueous extracts as well as for the oily fraction of these seeds. In acute toxicity studies, the aqueous extract was found safe with LD50 compared to oil LD...

Analysis of Little Owl (Athene noctua) pellets collected from Safawi area, Jordan, has revealed the presence of at least six species of reptiles belonging to three families (Gekkonidae, Lacertidae and Agamidae), four mammalian species representing three families (Cricetidae, Muridae and Dipodidae), two unidentified bird species, one scorpion, one s...

The Naked-bellied Tomb Bat, Taphozous nudiventris Cretzschmar, 1830, was recorded for the first time in Jordan in April 1997.

Various concentrations of date extracts were found to inhibit the haemolytic activity of the venom of Cerastes cerastes and Leiurus quinquestriatus. Of the inhibitory factors to haemolysis 80% were retained in the 5,000 x g 30 min supernatant, and 60% of mice injected with LD100 of C. cerastes venom and fed with dates survived. No cross reactions b...

Four species of bony fishes are recorded for the first time from the Red Sea: Myripristis chryseres (Holocentridae), Pterygotrigla hemisticta (Triglidae), Bodianus leucostictus (Labridae) and Thunnus alalunga (Scombridae). They were collected along the Jordanian coastline at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba and specimens were deposited at the...