Master’s Degree Awarded to Ms. Safia Abdulatif Al-Ruzami in Pharmacology
Ms. Safia Abdulatif Abdulrahman Al-Ruzami was awarded a Master’s Degree in Pharmacology for her thesis titled: Evaluation of the Effect of Catha Edulis Extract on the Efficacy of Uric Acid–Lowering Drugs: Allopurinol and Febuxostat in Rats, which was submitted to the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences– Sana’a University. The MA defense was held on Monday, April 27, 2026.
The MA Viva-voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
# Committee Members Designation Position
1 Prof. Hassan Mohammed Al-Mahbashi Internal Examiner Chair
2 Prof. Abdulmalik Abdullah Yahya Abu Dunia Main Supervisor Member
3 Prof. Khaled Mohammed Al-Akhali External Examiner Member
The thesis aimed to:
Evaluate the effect of Catha Edulis extract on the uric acid–lowering efficacy of Allopurinol and Febuxostat in an induced hyperuricemia rat model.
Investigate potential herb–drug interactions and their impact on renal, hepatic, and hematological functions..
The study yielded several key findings summarized as follows:
Administration of Catha Edulis extract aggravated hyperuricemia, increasing uric acid levels in serum and urine, elevating xanthine oxidase activity, impairing kidney and liver function, and causing hematological disturbances and pathological renal tissue changes.
Co-administration of Catha Edulis extract with Allopurinol reduced the drug’s uric acid–lowering efficacy and worsened pathological indicators compared to its use alone.
Febuxostat demonstrated superior efficacy, maintaining its ability to lower uric acid levels, inhibit xanthine oxidase activity, and improve urinary excretion of uric acid even in the presence of Catha Edulis extract.
In light of these findings, the researcher recommended the following:
Exercising caution when co-administering qat with Allopurinol due to potential herb–drug interactions that may reduce its effectiveness and increase renal and hematological complications.
Considering Febuxostat as a more effective therapeutic option for hyperuricemia among individuals who consume qat.
Conducting further clinical studies to better understand the mechanisms and implications of these interactions in humans.
The defense session was attended by a number of academics, researchers, students, colleagues, and the researcher’s family.
