Hepatoprotective effect of seabuckthorn leaf-extract in lead acetate-intoxicated Wistar rats.

The present study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) leaf-extract (SLE) supplementation in lead acetate-intoxicated Wistar rats. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 35) were divided into five equal groups as per completely randomized design. Group I was kept as a control, group II received 250 ppm lead acetate in drinking water, and group III received SLE at 100 mg/kg body weight per os. Animals in group IV and group V received lead acetate at 250 ppm in drinking water for the first 45 days. Additionally, group IV received SLE at 100 mg/kg body weight per os throughout the experiment, whereas group V received SLE at 100 mg/kg body weight per os during the last 15 days of the trial. Blood samples were collected on day zero and at the 45th and 60th day to study the liver function enzymes. Lead exposure caused increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), acid phosphatase (ACP), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and liver weight, and hepatic oxidative stress in lead acetate-intoxicated groups (groups II, IV, and V) as compared to group I. SLE on simultaneous supplementation with lead acetate (group IV) exerted a protective effect against lead toxicity. SLE supplemented after the establishment of lead acetate-toxicity (group V) also reduced the AST, ALT, and ALP activity and hepatic oxidative stress, indicating its ameliorative effect. SLE supplementation at 100 mg/kg body weight per os protects against hepatic damage caused by 250 ppm lead acetate in the drinking water of Wistar rats.

Exploring the efficacy of a novel prebiotic-like growth promoter on broiler chicken production performance.

This study attempts to isolate a candidate growth promoter from the ovine paunch waste and scrutinize its effects on the production performance of broiler chickens as compared to mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS), a prebiotic, and lincomycin, an antibiotic growth promoter (AB). The paunch waste collected from slaughtered sheep was processed to remove particulate matter. The clarified liquid was then added to an excess of ethanol (1:9 ratio), and the resultant precipitate {(novel growth-promoting paunch extract (NGPE)} was collected, dried, and stored. In vitro increase in cell density for probiotic bacteria viz. Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecalis (Log10 CFU/ml) were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in NGPE supplemented media (2.78 ± 0.11 and 2.77 ± 0.10) as compared to that on MOS (1.28 ± 0.05 and 2.49 ± 0.09) and glucose (1.09 ± 0.04 and 1.12 ± 0.04) supplemented media. In the in-vivo trial of six weeks duration with broiler chickens (Cobb-400), NGPE supplementation resulted in significantly higher growth in weeks IV (P < 0.05) and VI (P < 0.01) of age in comparison to MOS and AGP supplemented groups, a lower (P < 0.01) cumulative feed conversion ratio in comparison to MOS supplemented groups, and a higher (P < 0.01) cumulative protein efficiency ratio compared to MOS and AGP supplementation. NGPE supplementation also lowered lipid peroxidation (P < 0.01), increased reduced glutathione activity (P < 0.01) in chicken erythrocytes, and boosted the lactic acid bacteria count in the cecal contents (P < 0.01). This is the first report of the isolation of a paunch waste extract that increased the in vitro growth of probiotic bacteria and improved the production performance of broiler chickens.

Protective and ameliorative effect of sea buckthorn leaf extract supplementation on lead induced hemato-biochemical alterations in Wistar rats.

AIM: To evaluate the protective and ameliorative effect of aqueous sea buckthorn leaf extract (SLE) on hemato-biochemical profile in lead intoxicated Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experiment was conducted for 60 days. 36 adult male Wistar rats with a mean body weight of 177.8±12.6 g were divided into five groups and were subjected to various daily oral treatment regimens. Group I served as a negative control receiving only feed and water, Group II (positive control for lead) received lead acetate at 250 ppm in drinking water, and Group III (positive control for SLE) received SLE at 100 mg/kg b.wt. Animals in Group IV received a combination of lead acetate at 250 ppm in drinking water for the first 45 days and SLE at 100 mg/kg b.wt. throughout the experimental period of 60-day, and in Group V for the last 15 days of the trial after the administration of lead acetate until the first 45 days of the trial to study the protective and ameliorating effects of SLE, respectively. Blood samples were collected from retro-orbital fossa of each rat on 0th, 45th, and 60th day of the experiment for hemato-biochemical analysis including hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), serum total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin:globulin ratio, cholesterol, urea, and creatinine. RESULTS: Significantly (p<0.01) lower levels of serum total proteins and albumin, and a significantly (p<0.01) higher serum cholesterol, urea and creatinine levels were observed in Group II (lead intoxicated group) in comparison to Group I (negative control). Administration of SLE at 100 mg/kg body wt. to lead intoxicated Wistar rats resulted in normalization of almost all the biochemical parameters studied in both the treatment Groups, i.e., IV and V (protective and ameliorative). However, the effects were more pronounced in the protective group. No effects of SLE supplementation were observed on Hb levels. PCV levels improved in protective groups, but no effect was observed in ameliorative group in comparison to lead intoxicated groups. CONCLUSION: SLE administration at 100 mg/kg b.wt. to lead intoxicated Wistar rats may be used to protect/ameliorate lead induced biochemical alterations in Wistar rats.