Faculty Profile

Dr. Ammara Riaz
Assistant Professor
PhD Zoology, Government College University Faisalabad

  • Dr. Ammara Riaz is an Assistant Professor at Department of Life Sciences, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering & Information Technology, Rahimyar Khan. She received MSc from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. She has completed her M. Phil and PhD degree from Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
  • She has presented several invited talks at National and International level. Currently her lab is actively engaged in interdisciplinary research on novel tumor biomarkers, cancer-related health disparities, and identification of non-toxic anti-cancer compounds for various hallmarks of cancer (cancer stem cells, cancer cell metabolism and tumor hypoxia) from natural sources. She is reviewer of several well-reputed journals.
  • Dr. Ammara Riaz is a motivational speaker known for her active engagement on social media and dedication to community services. She uses the platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram to share her research insights, promote educational content and engage with students and colleagues worldwide. Dr. Riaz is also deeply involved in community outreach programs, organizing workshops and seminars to empower under privileged communities, especially in South Punjab, with knowledge and resources. Her efforts have not only enhanced her professional network but also made a significant impact on society by bridging the gap between academia and the community.

  1. Jalal Uddin, Mehwish Fatima, Ammara Riaz, Ghulam Mustafa Kamal, Abdullatif Bin Muhsinah, Abdul Razzaq Ahmed, Ramsha Iftikhar, 2024. Pharmacological potential of micheliolide: A focus on anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. Heliyon,10(6):e27299. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27299. I.F: 3.4
  2. Kausar Malik, Ayesha Liaqat, Ammara Riaz, Humaira Yasmin, Muhammad Asad, Amin Ullah, Khadija Abdul Majid Butt, Zainab Akram, Hossam M Aljawdah, Tariq Nadeem, 2024. “Indigenous plant extracts as novel antimicrobial arsenal: Unveiling the potential of Bismarckia nobilis, Choysia ternata, Chamaedora cataractarum, and Beaucarnea recurvate.” Journal of King Saud University-Science, 36(4).DOI: 10.1016/j.jksus.2024.103122. I.F: 4.25
  3. Hafiz Muhammad Bilal Yousuf, Muhammad Yasin, Habib Ali, Khalid Naveed, Ammara Riaz, Amal Mohamed AlGarawi, Ashraf Atef Hatamleh, Yunfeng Shan, 2024. Evaluation of different Kabuli chickpea genotypes against Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in relation to biotic and abiotic factors. PeerJ, 12: e16944. DOI:10.7717/peerj.16944. I.F: 2.3
  4. Muhammad Mateen Tahir, Azhar Rasul, Ammara Riaz, Iqra Sarfraz, Bushra Nageen, Ayesha Siddiqa, Muhammad Adnan, Rabia Batool, Muhammad Adnan, 2023. Ficusbenghalensis: A plant with potential pharmacological activities: from tradition to pharmacy. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 22 (11); 2407-2413. DOI:10.4314/tjpr.v22i11.22. IF: 0.6
  5. Yunfeng Shan and Ammara Riaz, 2023.The single and interactive effects of aluminium and low pH, or Ca/Al ratios on red pine seedlings. BMC Research Notes, 16(1); 342. DOI: 10.1186/s13104-023-06609-3. IF: 1.89
  6. Javed Iqbal, Muhammad Aleem Ashraf, Qiuliang Cai, Ammara Riaz, Yufeng Li, Imran Shahid, Yu Kong, Abdul Ghaffar Grewal, Sidra Kiran, Sajid Rehman, Imran Habib, Naitong Yu, 2023. Simple Sequence Repeats-Based DNA Fingerprinting and Varietal Identification of Mango Cultivars. Preprints. DOI: 10.20944/preprints202309.1723.v1
  7. Rabia Batool, Azhar Rasul, Ghulam Hussain, Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Bushra Nageen, Iqra Sarfraz, Muhammad Kashif Zahoor, Ammara Riaz, Ngit Shin Lai, Aiza Ajaz, Şevki Adem, 2021. Furanodiene: A novel, potent and multi-target cancerfighting terpenoids. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 27(22); 2628-2634. DOI: 10.2174/1381612827666210211125304. I.F: 2.21
  8. Bushra Nageen, Azhar Rasul, Ghulam Hussain, Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Haseeb Anwar, Syed Makhdoom Hussain, Md. Sahab Uddin, Iqra Sarfraz, Ammara Riaz, Zeliha Selamoglu, 2021.  Jaceosidin: A Novel Natural Flavone with Versatile Pharmacological and Biological Activities. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 27(4); 456-466. DOI:10.2174/1381612826666200429095101. I.F: 2.21
  9. Azhar Rasul, Ammara Riaz, Wei Wei, Iqra Sarfraz, Mudassir Hassan, Jiang Li, Faryal Asif, Şevki Adem, Shazia Anwer Bukhari, Muhammad Asrar, Xiaomeng Li, 2021.Magniferaindicaextracts as novel PKM2 inhibitors for treatment of triple negative breast cancer. BioMed Research International, 2021; 5514669. DOI:10.1155/2021/5514669. I. F: 2.58
  10. Ammara Riaz, Azhar Rasul, Ghulam Hussain, Malik Saadullah, Bilal Rasool, Iqra Sarfraz, Muqaddas Masood, Muhammad Asrar, Farhat Jabeen, Tayyaba Sultana, 2020. Resistomycin, a pentacyclic polyketide, inhibits triple negative breast cancer through induction of apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 33(3); 1233-1238. DOI:10.36721/PJPS.2020.33.3.SUP.1233-1238.I.F: 0.79
  11. Ammara Riaz, Azhar Rasul, Nazia Kanwal , Ghulam Hussain , Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Iqra Sarfraz, Rubab Ishfaq, Rabia Batool, Fariha Rukhsar, Şevki Adem, 2020. Germacrone: A potent secondary metabolite with therapeutic potential in metabolicdiseases, cancer and viral infections. Current Drug Metabolism, 21(14); 1079-1090. DOI:10.2174/1389200221999200728144801. I.F: 2.96
  12. Saba Zafar, Iqra Sarfraz, Azhar Rasul, Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Ghulam Hussain, Muhammad Kashif Zahoor, Nusrat Shafiq, Ammara Riaz, Zeliha Selamoglu, Satya Sarkar, 2020. Osthole: A multifunctional natural compound with potential anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, 21(18); 2747-2763. DOI:10.2174/1389557520666200709175948. I.F: 3.86
  13. Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Muhammad Adnan, Ghulam Hussain, Iqra Sarfraz, Bushra Nageen, Ammara Riaz,Rida Khalid, Muhammad Asrar, Zeliha Selamoglu, Sevki Adem, Satya Sarkar, Azhar Rasul, 2020. Physcion and Physcion 8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside: Natural Anthraquinones with Potential Anti-cancer Activities. Current Drug Targets, 22(5); 488-504. DOI:10.2174/1389450121999201013154542. IF. 2.91
  14. Muhammad Adnan, Azhar Rasul, Ghulam Hussain, Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Muhammad Kashif Zahoor, Haseeb Anwar, Iqra Sarfraz, Ammara Riaz, Maleeha Manzoor, ŞevkiAdem, ZelihaSelamoglu, 2020. Ginkgetin: A natural biflavone with versatile pharmacological activities. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 145; 111642. DOI:10.1016/j.fct.2020.111642. I.F: 4.6
  15. Javaria Nawaz, Azhar Rasul, Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Ghulam Hussain, Ammara Riaz, Iqra Sarfraz, Saba Zafar, Muhammad Adnan, Abdul Haleem Khan, Zeliha Selamoglu, 2020. Cardamonin: A new player to fight cancer via multiple cancer signaling pathways. Life Sciences, 250; 117591. DOI:10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117591. I.F: 6.78
  16. Ayesha Sarfraz, Maria Javeed, Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Ghulam Hussain, Nusrat Shafiq, Iqra Sarfraz, Ammara Riaz, Ayesha Sadiqa, Rabia Zara, Saba Zafar, Lubna Kanwal, Satya Sarkar, Azhar Rasul, 2020. Biochanin A: A novel bioactive multifunctional compound from nature. Science of the Total Environment, 722; 137907. DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137907. I.F: 10.75
  17. Tahira Younis, Faiza Jabeen, Laila Jafri, Azhar Rasul, Maleeha Manzoor, MussaratShaheen, Ammara Riaz, 2020. The protective potential of a Fraxinus xanthoxyloides ethyl acetate fraction against CCl4 -induced oxidative stress in the cardiac tissue of rats. RSC Advances, 10(17); 10221-10231. DOI:10.1039/C9RA08729J. I.F: 3.9
  18. Nazia Kanwal, Azhar Rasul, Ghulam Hussain, Haseeb Anwar, Iqra Sarfraz, Ammara Riaz, Rabia Batool, Muhammad Shahbaz, Arif Hussain, Zeliha Selamoglu, 2020. Oleandrin: A bioactive phytochemical and potential cancer killer via multiple cellular signaling pathways. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 143; 111570. DOI:10.1016/j.fct.2020.111570. I. F: 4.60
  19. Tian Qin, Azhar Rasul, Ayesha Sarfraz, Iqra Sarfraz, Ghulam Hussain, Haseeb Anwar, Ammara Riaz, Nazia Kanwal, Sitong Liu, Wei Wei, Jiang Li, Xiaomeng Li, 2019. Salvianolic Acid A & B: potential cytotoxic polyphenols in battle against cancer via targeting multiple signaling pathways. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 15(10); 2256-2264. DOI:10.7150/ijbs.37467. I.F: 9.20
  20. Ammara Riaz,Bisma Saleem, Ghulam Hussain, Iqra Sarfraz, Bushra Nageen, Rabia Zara, Maleeha Manzoor and Azhar Rasul, 2019. Eriocalyxin B Biological Activity: a review on its mechanisms of action. Natural Product Communications, 14(8); 1-9. DOI:10.1177/1934578X19868598. I.F: 1.496
  21. Ammara Riaz, Azhar Rasul, Ghulam Hussain, Muhammad Zubair, Khizar Samiullah, Iqra Sarfraz, Muqaddas Masood, Farhat Jabeen, Tayyaba Sultana, Salma Sultana, 2019. Eriocalyxin B induces apoptosis in human triple negative breast cancer cells via inhibiting STAT3 activation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 32(6); 2843-2848. I.F:0.79
  22. Maria Javeed, Azhar Rasul, Ghulam Hussain, Farhat Jabeen, Muhammad Kashif Zahoor, Ammara Riaz, Muhammad Ali, 2018. Harmine and Its Derivatives: Biological Activities and Therapeutic Potential in Human Diseases. Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology, 13(3); 203-213. DOI:10.3329/bjp.v13i3.34990. I.F: 1.6
  23. Ammara Riaz, Azhar Rasul, Ghulam Husain, Iqra Sarfraz, Muhammad Kashif Zahoor, Farhat Jabeen, ZinayyeraSubhani, Tahira Younis, Muhammad Ali, 2018. Astragalin: A bioactive phytochemical with potential therapeutic activities. Advances in Pharmacological Sciences, 2018; 1-15. DOI:10.1155/2018/9794625. I.F: 2.1
  24. Bushra Nageen , Iqra Sarfraz , Azhar Rasul, Ghulam Hussain, Fariha Rukhsar, Somia Irshad, Ammara Riaz, Zeliha Selamoglu, Muhammad Ali, 2018. Eupatilin: A Natural Pharmacologically Active Flavone Compound with its Wide Ranging Applications. Journal of Asian Natural Products Research, 22(1); 1-16. DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2018.1492565. I.F. 1.07
  25. Muhammad Zafar, Iqra Sarfraz, Azhar Rasul, Faiza Jabeen, Khizar Sami ullah, Ghulam Hussain, Ammara Riaz, Muhammad Ali, 2018. Tubeimoside-1, triterpenoid saponin, as a potential natural cancer killer. Natural Product Communications, 13(5); 643-650. DOI:10.1177/1934578X1801300530. I.F: 1.496
  26. Sajid Yaqub,Ammara Riaz, Naureen Aziz Qureshi, Farhat Jabeen,Muhammad Samee Mubarik, Shahzad Ahmad, Khizar Samiullah, Sikender Hayat, FarkhandaAsad,  RiffatYasin, Khurram Feroz, 2015. Assessment of Heavy metals in Catla catla reared under different waste water dilutions at water and sanitation agency (WASA) treatment plant Chokera, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences, 6(6); 97-104. I. F: 1.356
  27. Ammara Riaz, Muhammad Asad, Kashif Ali, Sana Ullah, Asma Ashraf, Saima Qadeer, Mawra Rasheed, Usama Abdullah, Hina Zawar. “Climate Change and Household Insect Pests” published in the book “Climate Change and Insect Biodiversity” by publisher CRC Press. DOI:10.1201/9781003382089
  28. Shanza Khanum, Muhammad Asad, Kashif Ali, Zaher Uddin Baber, Ammara Riaz, Mariam Rasheed, Tehseen Fatima, Afza Arif, Tabinda Waheed and Maham Saleem. “Knowledge, attitude and practices toward zoonotic diseases” published in the book “Zoonosis” by Unique Scientific Publishers. DOI: 10.47278/book.zoon/2023.037
  29. Majeeda Rasheed, Ammara Riaz, Gull Naz, Aqsa Majeed, Naseem Akhter, Kiran Ashraf, Amna Khalid, Humna Nadeem, Waqas Farooq, Amna Uroos, Rimsha Noreen and Talia Hameed. “Role of cats in ecology and modeling of zoonotic diseases” published in the book “Zoonosis” by Unique Scientific Publishers. DOI: 10.47278/book.zoon/2023.039
  30. TabindaWaheed, Kashif Ali, Muhammad Asad, Zaher Uddin Baber, Ammara Riaz, Mariam Rasheed, AfzaArif, Shanza Khanum, Tehseen Fatima, Maham Saleem. “Awareness and Community Engagement in Zoonotic Disease Management” published in the book “Zoonosis” by Unique Scientific Publishers. DOI: 10.47278/book.zoon/2023.037
  31. Muhammad Asad, Saima Qadeer, Asma Ashraf, Sana Ullah, Ammara Riaz, Kashif Ali and Sana Kausar. “Sustainable Goals for Achieving Disease Control in Livestock and Animal Industry” published in the book “One Health Triad” by Unique Scientific Publishers. DOI:10.47278/book.oht/2023.27
  32. Azhar Rasul, Ammara Riaz, Iqra Sarfraz, Samreen Gul Khan, Ghulam Hussain, Rabia Zara, Ayesha Sadiqa, Gul Bushra, Saba Riaz, Muhammad Javid Iqbal, Mudassir Hassan, KhaterehKhorsandi. “Target identification approaches in drug discovery” in the book “Drug Target Selection and Validation” by Springer International Publishers. DOI:10.1016/B978-0-12-824356-5.00002-3
  33. Muhammad Adnan, Azhar Rasul, Muhammad A Shah, Ghulam Hussain, Muhammad Asrar, Ammara Riaz, Iqra Sarfraz, Arif Hussain, Khatereh Khorsandi, Ngit S Lai, Syed M Hussain. “Radioprotective role of natural polyphenols: From sources to mechanisms” publishe in the book “Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry-Anti-Cancer Agents)” by Bentham Science Publishers. DOI: 10.2174/1871520621666210419095829
  34. Ammara Riaz,Azhar Rasul, Iqra Sarfraz, Javaria Nawaz, Ayesha Sadiqa, Rabia Zara, Samreen Gul Khan, Zeliha Selamoglu."Chemical Biology Toolsets for Drug Discovery and Target Identification" published in the book "Cheminformatics and its Applications" by Publisher Intech Open. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.91732.
  35. Iqra Sarfraz, Azhar Rasul, Ghulam Hussain, Syed Makhdoom Hussain, Khizar Samiullah, Bilal Rasool, Ammara Riaz, Muhammad Asrar, Zeliha Selamoglu. “Global and Temporal Trends in the Use of Antibiotics and Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance” published in the book “Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes” by Publisher Springer Nature, Switzerland.   DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-40422-2_4
  36. Azhar Rasul, Ghulam Hussain, Ameer Fawad Zahoor, Ammara Riaz,Iqra Sarfraz, Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Muhammad Asrar, Rabia Zara, Gul Bushra, SevkiAdem. “Curcuma and breast cancer: a focus on cell signaling pathways” published in the book “Nutraceuticals and Cancer Signaling” by Publisher Springer Nature, Switzerland.   DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74035-1_9
  37. Iqra Sarfraz, Azhar Rasul, Ammara Riaz, Ilknur Ucak, Muhammad Kashif Zahoor, Ghulam Hussain, Javaria Nawaz, Ayesha Sadiqa, ŞevkiAdem. “Biochanin A and Biochanin B” published in the book “A Centum of Valuable Plant Bioactives” by Publisher Academic Press. DOI:10.1016/B978-0-12-822923-1.00031-5
  38. Ammara Riaz, Rabia Zara, Gul Bushra, Nazia Kanwal, Ayesha Sadiqa, Farzana Shareef, Iqra Sarfraz, Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Ilknur Ucak, Shazia Anwer Bukhari, Azhar Rasul. “Cancer Metabolism Regulation by Phytonutrients” published in the book “The Role of Phytonutrients in Metabolic Disorders” by Publisher Academic Press. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-824356-5.00002-3
  39. Ammara Riaz,Azhar Rasul, Rabia Batool, Lubna Kanwal, Ghulam Hussain, Iqra Sarfraz, Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Faiza Rao, Ilknur Ucak, Sevki Adem, Marwa A.A. Fayed. “Alkaloids in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer” published in the book “Phytonutrients in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancer” by Publisher Bentham Books. DOI:10.2174/9789815049633123010011.
  40. Azhar Rasul, Ammara Riaz, Iqra Sarfraz, Samreen Gul Khan, Ghulam Hussain, Rabia Zara, Ayesha Sadiqa, Gul Bushra, Saba Riaz, Muhammad Javid Iqbal, Mudassir Hassan, Khaterah Khorsandi. “Target Identification Approaches in Drug Discovery” published in the book “Drug Target Selection and Validation” by Publisher Springerlink. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-95895-4_3
  41. Mohsin Ali, Ali Raza, Habib Ali, Aamir Riaz, Muhamamd Arshad, Yasir Ali, Muhammad Saleem, Ammara Riaz, Muhammad Akmal. “Climate Change and Agricultural Insect Pests” published in the book “Climate Change and Insect Biodiversity” by publisher CRC Press. DOI: 10.1201/9781003382089

Cell and Molecular Biology, Metabolic disorders, Cancer metabolism, Novel Tumor Biomarkers, Cancer-related health disparities, Identification of non-toxic anti-cancer compounds, Natural drug discovery, Biological potential of Natural Products, Microbiology

  • Awardee of merit scholarship by University of Agriculture for M.Sc Zoology, Session: 2008-2010
  • Best oral presenter award at 2nd International Symposium on Pharmaceutical Sciences on “Innovation and Integration in Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Sciences, Way Forward for Collaboration” on 30th January, 2019
  • Best poster presenter award at “A short course on Cancer Biology” on February 12-14, 2019. Cancer Biology Lab, MMG, Punjab University Lahore.
  • Awardee of “1st Dr. Sajjad Aslam Shami Gold Medal in Genetics”. December 19, 2019
  • Invited Speaker at Recent Trends in Natural Sciences, organized by University of Education, Lahore. Dated: May 03-04, 2023

  • International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID), USA
  • National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS), Pakistan
  • The Zoological Society, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • International Chemical Biology Society (ICBS)
  • Pakistan Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • The Applied Zoological Society of Pakistan (AZSP)