Afaf Al Groshi

Experienced pharmacist researcher with over 15 years of experience in the field of phytochemistry and natural products. Strong background in the isolation, identification, and characterization of bioactive compounds from plant sources. Skilled in various analytical techniques such as HPLC, LC-MS, and NMR. Familiar with all applicable Health and Safety legislation and its implementation. Proven track record of publishing research in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at conferences. Passionate about discovering new natural compounds and their potential therapeutic applications.

• Reviewer Certificate for serving as a [reviewer for the Phytochemical Analysis Journal]-[21-02-2025]
• Certified [Introduction To Genomics and Bioinformatics (PCR) Course], [BioGrad] - [27-28/08/2022]
• Certified [The achievement of the status of Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy], [3is certificate] in recognition of attainment against the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education [Date of recognition 13/10/2015], Recognition reference: PR093485

Professional Activities

External Examiner – PhD Mock Viva

[Liverpool John Moores University], [School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences] – [May 2025]

[Liverpool John Moores University], [School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences] – [September 2024]

Reviewing manuscripts entitled

• "Terminalia chebula extract mitigates LPS-induced acute lung injury by modulating the IL-17/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways" (2025)for Journal of Ethnopharmacology
• "Pharmacological roles of health-strengthening (Fu-Zheng) Chinese herbal medicine and its active ingredients on fatty acid synthesis in cancer and related metabolic syndrome" (2025) for Journal of Ethnopharmacology
• "Chemical Profile and In-Vivo Antiulcer Activity of Aiphanes eggersii Burret Aerial Parts: Involvement of Nrf2/HO-1 Activation and NF-κB Suppression" (2025) for Journal of Ethnopharmacology
• "Quantification of Linalool in 3D Printed Films by HPLC" (2023) for Journal of Natural Product Discovery
• "Nutritive and medicinal value of gongronema latifolium Benth. (Asclepiadaceae)" (2022) for Journal of Natural Product Discovery
• "Chemical constituents from Schisandra sphenanthera and their cytotoxic activity" (2019) for Natural Product Research Journal

Publications, Conferences and Meetings

Publications

• Al Groshi A., Jasim H., Benson SO., Auzi AA., Evans AR., Ismail FA., Nahar L., Sarker SD. (2025). Phytochemistry and Cytotoxicity of Asphodelus aestivus Brot., Growing in Libya. Pharm Sci, 31(2), 135-143.
• Nahar L., Al Groshi A., Thangavelu L., Ismail FD., Evans AR., Sarker SD. (2024). Phytochemistry and therapeutic potential of the genus Asphodelus L.: an update. Phytochem Rev.24:2795–2831.
• Nahar L., Al Groshi A., Kumar A., Sarker, SD. (2022). Arbutin: Occurrence in plants and its potential as an anticancer agent. Molecules, 27, 8786.
• Al Groshi A., Nahar L., Ismail FD., Evans AR., Sarker SD. (2022). Bioassay-guided Isolation of ursolic acid as the major cytotoxic compound present in the methanolic extract of the leaves of Arbutus pavarii Pamp. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 20(3): 267-274.
• Al Groshi A., Nahar L., Ismail FD., Evans AR., Sarker SD. (2022). Dichloromethane extract of the leaves of Arbutus pavarii Pamp. exhibits cytotoxicity against the prostate cancer cell line PC3: A bioassay-guided isolation and identification of arbutin and betulinic acid methyl ester. J. Nat. Prod. Discovery, 1:1-9.
• Nahar L., Almajmaie S., Al Groshi A., Rasul A., Sarker SD. (2021). Chalepin and chalepensin: Occurrence, biosynthesis and therapeutic potential. Molecules 26: (06):1609.
• Nahar L., Al Groshi A., Sarker SD. (2021). Arbutus pavarii Pamp. – An updated profile. Trends Phytochem. Res. 5(2) 2021 45-46.
• Al Groshi A., Jasim HB., Evans AR., Ismail FD., Dempster NM., Nahar L., Sarker SD. (2019). Growth inhibitory activity of bioflavonoids and diterpenoids from the leaves of the Libyan Juniperus phoenicea against human cancer cells. Phytother. Res., 1–8.
• Al Groshi A., Evans AR., Ismail F., Nahar L., Sarker SD. (2018). Cytotoxicity of Libyan Juniperus phoenicea against human cancer cell lines A549, EJ138, Hepg2 and MCF7 Pharm. Sci, 3-7.
• Khan KM., Nahar L., Mannan A. Arfan M., Khan G., Al Groshi A., Evans A., Dempster NM., Ismail F., Sarker SD. (2018). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and cytotoxicity of Asparagus adscendens roots against human cancer cell lines. Pharmacogn. Mag., 13: 890-894.
• Uddin S., Alnsour L., Segun P., Servi H., Celik S., Göktürk RS., Al Groshi A., Al-Majmaie S., Guetchueng ST., Nahar L., Dempster NM., Ismail FD., Ritchie KJ. and Sarker SD. (2017). Flavonoids from two Turkish Centaurea species and their chemotaxonomic implications. Trends phytochem. Res. 1 (4): 243-248.
• Tahsin T., Wansi JD., Al Groshi A., Evans A., Nahar L., Martin C., Sarker SD. (2017). Cytotoxic properties of the stem bark of Citrus reticulata Blanco (Rutaceae). Phytother. Res., DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5842.

Conferences and Meetings

Poster Presentation

• Al Groshi A., Andrew R. Evans, Fyaz M. D. Ismail, Lutfun Nahar and Satyajit D. Sarker. ( 23-26 June 2025). Cytotoxicity of Ruta chalepensis Against Human Cancer Cell Lines. 6th Annual CNPD conference
• Al Groshi A., Andrew R. Evans, Fyaz M. D. Ismail, Hiba A. Jasim, Nicola Dempster, Lutfun Nahar, and Satyajit D. Sarker. (25-27 June 2018). Bioassay-guided isolation of cytotoxic compounds from the Libyan plant Juniperus phoenicea. Phytopharm 22nd International Congress, Horgen and ZHAW Wadenswil, Switzerland.
• Attendance and PGR judging of PGR posters during the seminar and Poster Day (19th of June 2017), Faculty of Science Postgraduate Research, LJMU
• Al Groshi A., Lutfun Nahar, Andrew Evans, Abdurazag Auzi, Fyaz M. D. Ismail, and Satyajit D. Sarker (15th-17th June 2017). Cytotoxicity of Asphodelus aestivus against two human cancer cell lines. Poster presentation, 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Marine Drugs and Natural Products, London.
• Al Groshi A., Andrew R. Evans, Fyaz M. D. Ismail, Lutfun Nahar and Satyajit D. Sarker. (Tuesday 28th November 2017). Cytotoxicity of Ruta chalepensis Against Human Cancer Cell Lines. The pharmaceutical analysis postgraduate research awards and careers symposium. The Royal Society of Chemistry, London.
• Attendance of SLS Scientific Laboratory Show and Conference 25th May 2016.
• Al Groshi A, Evans AR, Ismail F, Nahar L, Sarker S. (Monday 22nd June 2015) Phytochemical and cytotoxicity studies on Juniperus phoenicea grown in Libya, Faculty of Science Postgraduate Research Seminar & Poster Day, James Parsons lower lecture theatre and exhibition area, Byrom Street.
• Al Groshi A, Evans AR, Ismail F, Nahar L, Sarker S. (Tuesday 8th September 2015). Phytochemical and cytotoxicity studies on Juniperus phoenicea grown in Libya, APS conference, PharmSci, Nottingham University, East Midlands Conference Centre Nottingham /UK).
• The International Ethnobotany Symposio, November 2nd-5th (2013) in Paloma Renaissance Hotel, Antalya/ Turkey.

Oral presentation

• Anticancer potential of Juniperus phoenicea L. and Ruta chalepensis L. against lung cancer cells (A549) ( 23-26 June 2025). The 6th Annual CNPD Conference in Liverpool.
• Attendance of the 5th Annual CNPD Conference online (19-21 June 2024).
• Anticancer potential of Arbutus pavarii Pampan. and Asphodelus aestivus Brot. against prostate cancer cells (PC3) ( 19-22 June 2023). The 4th Annual CNPD Conference in Liverpool.
• In vitro cytotoxicity of Arbutus pavarii against human cancer cell lines (6th March 2020). A 3-minute presentation at the T20 PSE Conference organised by the Phytochemical Society of Europe (PSE), Liverpool, United Kingdom.
• In vitro cytotoxicity of Asphodelus aestivus against human cancer cell lines (19-22 June 2019). Trends in Natural Product Research, Phytochemical Society of Europe`s (PSE) Young Scientists’ Meeting on Biochemistry, Molecular Aspects and Pharmacology of Bioactive Natural Products, Budapest, Hungary.
• My PhD experience (June 2019). Liverpool John Moores University
• In vitro cytotoxicity of Ruta chalepensis against human cancer cell lines (2-5th July 2018). Trends in Natural Products Research, Phytochemical Society of Europe`s (PSE) Young Scientist’s Meeting on Advances in Phytochemical Analysis, Liverpool, United Kingdom.