Main areas of research:

Schizophrenia
Typical and Atypical Neuroleptics
Extrapyramidal side effects (EPS), Parkinsonism,
CNS Neurotransmitters
Antioxidative agents
Role of medicinal Plant Extracts in the treatment of schizophrenia

Interests/keywords:

Brain Neurotransmitters, Brain Regional stuides, Motor-related side effects of antipsychotics, Behavioral pharmacology, Nutritional neuroscience, Medicinal Plants as nutraceutical.

Current title/position:

Post Doctoral Fellow
School of Biomedical Sciences
Queen's Medical Centre (QMC)
University of Nottingham
United Kingdom (UK)

Assistant Professor
Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory,
Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi.
Karachi-75270. Pakistan.

Current affiliation/employer:

1. Associate Member: Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (SEBM); USA.
2. Life Member: Pakistan Society of basic and Applied Neuroscience (PSBAN)
3. Member: International Brain Research Organization (IBRO).
4. Editorial Board Member: The Internet Journal of Pharmacology TM 1531-2976.
5. Invited Reviewer: International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. UK.
6. Member of International Study Group For Biochemical And Biophysical Research In Pakistan (ISBBP) Organization.
7. Member: Pakistan Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ( PSBMB) Pakistan.
8. Invited Reviewer: African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
9. Invited Reviewer: SciPharm

Collaborators:

1. International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi.
2. Department of Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture Rawalakot, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan.
3. University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.

PhD Advisor and University:

Prof. Dr. Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem , Department of Biochemistry University of Karachi Pakistan.

Postdoc Advisor and University:

Prof Dr David Kendall, University of Nottingham UK

Publications:

LIST OF RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

1. Farhat Batool, Aisha Kamal, Madiha Sattar, Asad Hussain Shah, Syed Dilnawaz Ahmed, Zafar Saied Saify and Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem. (2011).
Evaluation of antidepressant-like effects of aqueous extract of Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. Ssp. Turkestanica) fruits in experimental models of depression.
Pak J. Bot. 43(3): 1595-1599. (Impact Factor 0.520).

2. Farhat Batool, Syed Mubashir Sabir, J.B.T. Rocha, Asad Hussain Shah And Syed Dilnawaz Ahmed. (2010).
Evaluation of Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of fruit extract from Zanthoxylum Alatum: A commonly used spice from Pakistan.
Pak J. Bot. 42 (6): 4299-4311. (Impact Factor 0.520).

3. Shazia Arif, Syed Dilnawaz Ahmed, Asad Hussain Shah, Lutful Hassan, Shahid Iqbal Awan and Farhat Batool (2010).
Determination of optimum harvesting time for vitamin C, oil and mineral elements in Sea
buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) berries. Pak J Bot. Vol. 42(5): 3561-3568. (Imapct Factor 0.520).

4. Anwar Hossain, Lutful Hassan, Abdul Khaleq Patwarey, M. Sultan Mia, Syed Dilnawaz Ahmed, Asad Hussain Shah and Farhat Batool (2010).
Establishment of suitable and reproducible protocol for in vitro regeneration of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe). Pak J Bot. Vol. 42(2): 1065-1074. (Imapct Factor 0.520).

5. Farhat Batool, Asad Hussain Shah, Syed Dilnawaz Ahmed and Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem (2010).
Protective effects of aqueous fruit extract from Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. Spp. Turkestanica) on haloperidol induced orofacial dyskinesia and neuronal alterations in the striatum. Med Sci Monit. Vol 16(8): BR285-292. (Imapct Factor 1.543).

6. Farhat Batool, Muhammad Abdul Haleem And Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem (2010).
Acute administration of clozapine and risperidone altered dopamine metabolism more in rat caudate than in nucleus accumbens: a dose-response relationship. Sci Pharm. 78 (2): 259-274.

7. Farhat Batool, Ambreen Hasnat, Muhammad Abdul Haleem And Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem (2010).
Dose-related effects of clozapine and risperidone on pattern of brain regional serotonin and dopamine metabolism and on tests related to extrapyramidal functions in rats.
Acta Pharm. 60 (2): 129-140.

8. Farhat Batool, Asad Hussain Shah, Syed Dilnawaz Ahmed, Zafar Saied Saify and Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem (2009).
Possible anxiolytic profile of aqueous fruit extracts of a medicinal plant Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. Spp. Turkestanica) in experimental models.
Pak J Bot. Vol. 41(6): 2791-2800. (Impact Factor 0.520).

9. Asad Hussain Shah, Syed Dilnawaz Ahmed, Ishtiaque Khaliq, Farhat Batool, Lutful Hassan, Stephen R. Pearce (2009).
Evaluation of phylogenetic relationship among Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. Spp. Turkestanica) wild ecotypes from Pakistan Using amplified fragment length Polymorphism (AFLP).
Pak J Bot. Vol. 41(5): 2419-2426. (Impact Factor 0.520).

10. Farhat Batool, Asad Hussain Shah, Syed Dilnawaz Ahmed and Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem (2009).
Oral supplementation of Sea buckthorn (Hippophae Rhamnoides L. Spp. Turkestanica) fruit extract modifies haloperidol induced behavioral deficits and increases brain serotonin metabolism. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis Vol. 17, No. 4. 257-263. (Impact Factor 0.63).

11. Afruza Sultana, Lutful Hassan, Dilnawaz Ahmad, Asad Hussain Shah, Farhat Batool, M. A. Islam, R. Rahman and S. Moonmoon (2009).
In Vitro Regeneration of Ginger Using Leaf, Shoot Tip and Root Explants.
Pak J Bot. Vol. 41(4): 1667-1676. (Impact Factor 0.520).

12. Mohammad Mahbubul Alam Khan, Lutful Hassan, Dilnawaz Ahmed, Asad Hussain Shah and Farhat Batool (2009).
In Vitro regeneration potentiality of oil seed Brassica genotypes with differential BAP
concentration. Pak J Bot. Vol. 41(3): 1233-1239. (Impact Factor 0.520).

13. M. Kaleem Abbasi, Majid Mahmood Tahir, Asad Hussain Shah and Farhat Batool (2009).
Mineral nutrient composition of different ecotypes of white clover and their nutrient credit to soil at Rawalakot Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Pak J Bot. Vol. 41(1): 41-51. (Impact Factor 0.520).

14. Farhat Batool, Shoaib Ahmad and Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem (2009).
Dietary supplementations of amino acids: Evidence for enhanced serotonergic functions following haloperidol withdrawal in rat medial prefrontal cortex. JCPSP. 19(3):139-145. (Impact Factor 0.554).

15. Maqsood Qamar, Dilnawaz Ahmed, Asad Hussain Shah, Colin R. Wellings and Farhat Batool (2008).
Postulation of stripe rust resistant genes in some Australian bread Wheat cultivars and their response to temperature. Pak J Bot. Vol. 40(6): 2573-2585. (Impact Factor 0.520).

16. Farhat Batool and Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem (2008).
Serotonin1A receptor agonism in the expression of behavioral dopaminergic supersensitivity in subchronic haloperidol treated rats. Pak J Pharm Sci. Vol 21(4): 411-420. (Impact Factor 0.825).

17. Farhat Batool and Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem (2008).
Tryptophan adjunctive therapy to conventional haloperidol treatment in schizophrenia: Effects on serotonergic mechanisms in rat brain.
The Internet Journal of Pharmacology TM . Vol. 6(1): 1-19. (Online).

18. Farhat Batool (2008).
Buspirone and Anxiety disorders: A review with pharmacological and clinical perspectives. The Internet Journal of Pharmacology TM . Vol. 5(2): 1-17. (Online).

19. Asad Hussain Shah, Dilnawaz Ahmed, Mubasher Sabir, Shazia Arif, Ishtiaque Khaliq and Farhat Batool (2007).
Biochemical And Nutritional Evaluations Of Sea Buckthorn (Hyppophae rhamnoides L. Spp. Turkestanica) From Different Locations Of Pakistan.
Pak J Bot Vol. 39(6): 2059-2065. (Impact Factor 0.47).

20. Naheed Nabi, Waris Qidwai, Farhat Batool and Syed Iqbal Azam (2007).
Awareness about reproductive health and rights among students of a public University in Karachi, Pakistan: A cross-sectional study. JDUHS. Vol. 1(2): 59-64.

21. Noreen Samad, Farhat Batool and Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem (2007).
Neurochemical and behavioural effects of 8-OH-DPAT following exposure to restraint stress in rats. Pharmacological Reports. 59: 173-180. (Impact Factor 2.167).

22. Erum Shireen, Khan A, Farhat Batool and Darakhshan Jabeen Haleem (2006).
Increase in Serotonin-1A receptor responsiveness following haloperidol withdrawal.
Jour. Of Basic and Applied Sciences, Vol. 2, No.1, 45-54.

23. Darakhshan J. Haleem, Farhat Batool, Nadia H. Khan, Noor Kamil, Obaid Ali, Z.S. Saify, and M.A. Haleem. (2002).
Dopamine/ Serotonin metabolite ratio and Extrapyramidal effects of clozapine in rats. JCPSP, October, Vol. 12 (No. 10). Pp. 588-592. (Impact Factor 0.554).

24. Erum Shireen, Qurat-ul-Ain, Farhat Batool, Zafar S. Saify and Darakhshan J. Haleem (2002).
Neurochemical effects of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-prpylamino)tetralin in rats injected with haloperidol. Pak J Pharm Sci. Vol. 15 (No. 1), pp. 71-82. (Impact Factor 0.825).

25. Darakhshan J. Haleem, Farhat Batool, Nadia H. Khan, Noor Kamil, Obaid Ali, Z.S. Saify, and M.A. Haleem. (2002).
Differences in the effects of haloperidol and clozapine on brain serotonin and dopamine metabolism and on tests related to extrapyramidal functions in rats. Med. Sci. Monit. 8(9): BR354-BR361 (Online Journal). (Impact Factor 1.543).

26. Darakhshan J. Haleem, Z.S. Saify, S. Siddiqui, Farhat Batool, and M. A. Haleem (2002).
Pre and Postsynaptic responses to 1-(1-Naphthylpiperazine) following adaptation to
stress in rats. Prog. Neuro-Psychopharm. & Biol. Psychiat., 26: pp. 149-156. (Impact Factor 2.638).

27. Asma Khan, Farhat Batool and Darakhshan J. Haleem (2001).
Behavioral effects of 8-OH-DPAT in single and repeated haloperidol treated rats.
Pak J Pharm Sci. Vol. 14(2); July, pp 9-17. (Impact Factor 0.825).

28. Farhat Batool, S. Siddiqui and Darakhshan J. Haleem (2001).
Neurochemical and behavioral profiles of 1-(1-Naphthyl) piperazine in rats.
JCPSP, January, Vol. 11, (No. 1), pp. 50-56. (Impact Factor 0.554).

29. Farhat Batool, Z.S. Saify, M.A. Haleem and Darakhshan J. Haleem (2000).
Neurochemical and Extrapyramidal effects of atypical neuroleptic clozapine in rats.
Pak J Pharm Sci. January, Vol. 13, (No. 1), pp. 47-55. (Impact Factor 0.825).

30. Farhat Batool and Darakhshan J. Haleem (1999).
Serotonin and Anxiety: A review of some current research and clinical implications. JCPSP, Vol. 9: No. 8; August pp. 384-393. (Impact Factor 0.554).

31. Farhat Batool and Darakhshan J. Haleem (1999).
Increased precursor availability did not increase food intake and 5-HT turnover rate in the hypothalamus of diazepam injected rats. Pak J Pharm Sci. January, Vol.12 (No.1), pp. 21-26. (Impact Factor 0.825).

32. Farhat Batool, Z. S. Saify and Darakhshan J. Haleem (1997).
Serotonergic mechanisms in the anti-anxiety effects of diazepam.
Proc. 2nd International Conf. On Pharm. Sciences. Kar. pp. 125-130.

33. Farhat Batool and Darakhshan J. Haleem (1997).
Increases and decreases of striatal monoamines following single and repeated administration of diazepam in rats. PROC. ISBBP. SYMP. BIOCHEM. BIOPHYS.
2: 139-142.

34. Fozia R, Yasmeen A, Farhat Batool and Darakhshan J. Haleem (1997).
Caffeine and diazepam co-administration increases serotonin and dopamine metabolism in the striatum. PROC. ISBBP. SYMP. BIOCHEM. BIOPHYS. 2: 231-234.

35. Farhat Batool and Darakhshan J. Haleem (1997).
Neurochemical and behavioural effects of diazepam: Evidences from animal models. Pak J Pharm Sci. January 10(1): 1-8. (Impact Factor 0.825).

36. Darakhshan J. Haleem and Farhat Batool (1996).
Regionally specific effects of diazepam on brain serotonin metabolism in rats: Sustained effects following repeated administration. Life Sciences, vol. 59: No. 15, August, pp. PL239-PL246 (Impact Factor 2.583).

37. Darakhshan J. Haleem and Farhat Batool (1996).
Diazepam produces regionally specific effects on brain serotonin metabolism in rats. Pak J Pharmacol. Vol. 13 (2): July, 19-25.

38. Farhat Batool, and Darakhshan J. Haleem (1995).
Attenuation of serotonergic response to diazepam in the hippocampus of repeatedly diazepam injected rats. Proceedings of Second Annual Nat. Symp. On Basic Health Care and Social development. The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. 134-139.

39. Farhat Batool, Tahira Parveen and Darakhshan J. Haleem (1995).
Enhancement of brain regional tryptophan concentration following administration of diazepam: A dose related study. Pak. J. of Sci. Ind. Res., vol. 38, no. 7, July, 267-270.

40. Farhat Batool, and Darakhshan J. Haleem (1995).
Effects of diazepam on the distribution of tryptophan in plasma, liver and brain.
Proc. First Biennial Conf. On Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 1 January, 27-31.

41. Farhat Batool, Anila Yasmeen and Darakhshan J. Haleem (1994).
Enhancement of cortical, hypothalamic and striatal but not hippocampal and brain stem tryptophan levels by diazepam. PROC. ISBBP. SYMP. BIOCHEM. BIOPHYS.1: 32-35.