A Review on Natural Sources Derived Protein Nanoparticles as Anticancer Agents.

Cancer notably carcinoma represents a prominent health challenge worldwide. A variety of chemotherapeutic agents are being used to deal with a variety of carcinomas. However, these delivering agents not only enter the targeted site but also affect normal tissues yielding poor therapeutic outcomes. Chemotherapeutic-associated problems are being attributed to drug non-specificity resulting from poor drug delivery systems. These problems are now being solved using nanomedicine, which entails using nanoparticles as drug delivery systems or nanocarriers. This nanoparticle-based drug delivery system enhances clinical outcomes by enabling targeted delivery, improving drug internalization, enhanced permeability, easy biodistribution, prolonged circulation and enhanced permeability rate, thereby improving the therapeutic effectiveness of several anticancer agents. Natural Protein-based Nanoparticles (PNPs) such as ferritin, lipoprotein, and lectins from natural sources have gained extensive importance at a scientific community level as nanovehicle for effective drug delivery and photo acoustic labeling replacing several synthetic nanocarriers that have shown limited therapeutic outcomes. The bioavailability of PNP, the chance of genetic engineering techniques to modify their biological properties made them one of the important raw material sources for drug delivery research. This current review highlighted different chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of some carcinomas. It also focused on the wide variety of natural protein sources derived nanoparticles (NPs) as anticancer delivery of agents for cancer therapy.

Growth Performance of Broilers as Influenced by Different Levels and Sources of Methionine Plus Cysteine.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the utilization of methionine from DL-methionine (DL-Met) and L-methionine (L-Met) with different levels of dietary methionine plus cystine (Met + Cyst) in broilers. The experimental diets were formulated by using three levels of Met + Cyst, i.e., 74%, 77% and 80% of digestible lysine. Met + Cyst was provided either from DL-Met or L-Met. A total of 450 day-old broilers were divided into six groups (five replicates of 15 birds each) in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement under completely randomized design. Weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was determined. At the end of the experiment (35 days), two birds from each replicate were slaughtered to determine carcass characteristics and serum homocysteine. Results indicate that the combined effect of L-Met and DL-Met significantly affected (p < 0.05) the WG in the starter period and FI in the finisher period. Neither source nor level of methionine influenced (p > 0.05) the FI, WG and FCR of broilers during the starter, finisher or overall phase of growth. The interaction between sources and levels of methionine did not influence (p > 0.05) the feed intake, weight gain and FCR during the overall phase of growth. Source of methionine had no (p > 0.05) effect on carcass characteristics. Methionine levels had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on carcass weight, chest weight and thigh weight. The interaction between sources and levels of methionine had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on the liver weight. The sources of methionine had significant (p < 0.05) effects on the liver and heart weight, while methionine levels significantly influenced (p < 0.05) the liver and gizzard weight. Finally, it was concluded that if DL-Met and L-Met are included in feed at a standard level, they are equally effective as a source of methionine for broilers.

The Promising Pharmacological Effects and Therapeutic/Medicinal Applications of Punica Granatum L. (Pomegranate) as a Functional Food in Humans and Animals.

BACKGROUND: Punica granatum L. (pomegranate), is a shrub mostly available in the Mediterranean Sea region. The fruits have gained the substantial attention among researchers due to their promising biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, immune modulatory, antitumor, wound healing and antifungal that have been attributed to various constituents of seeds, bark, juice, pericarp, and leaf of this tree across the globe. The phenolic compounds of pomegranate have been documented to possess numbers of prophylactic and therapeutic utilities against various pathological infections as well as non-infectious disorders. OBJECTIVE: The current review expedites the pharmacological role of Punica granatum L. in curing elements related to infectious and non-infectious disorders. METHODS: The current review is based on literature and patents already available on various scientific databases highlighting the role of Punica granatum along with its therapeutic potentials against infectious and non-infectious disorders. The databases included under study were PubMed, Med line, PubMed Central, Science Direct and few other scientific databases. The information obtained through these diverse databases is compiled, critically interpreted and presented in the current study. RESULTS: Multi-dimensional beneficial application of pomegranate plant is recorded. The pomegranate seed oil has phytoestrogenic compounds and the fruit is rich in phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant activity. The fruit and bark of pomegranate are used against intestinal parasites, dysentery, and diarrhea in different animals and human models. Since the ancient time the juice and seeds had considered the best therapy for throat and heart disorders. Ellagic acid is one of the main components of pomegranate with potent antioxidant activity. Results from different studies reported that Punica granatum L or its byproducts can be used as natural food additives in human and animal nutrition in order to boost immunity, microbial safety and provide the housing environment without affecting body weight gain. In addition, Punica granatum L. byproducts can modulate immune function and gut microbiota of broiler chickens as well as reduce the odorous gas emissions from excreta. Naturally occurring polyphenols in a pomegranate can be a potential alternative medicine for the prevention of avian Colibacillosis diseases and can also be used as an intestine astringent to relieve diarrhea and enteritis in chickens. CONCLUSION: The present review gives the insight towards major components of pomegranate as well as their pharmacological activities against pathological disorders. In spite of many beneficial properties of Punica granatum L., more research evidence on a molecular basis is needed to find out the molecular mechanism of action in various animals and human models to validate the usefulness of Punica granatum L. as a potent therapeutic agent.

Exogenous dietary lysozyme improves the growth performance and gut microbiota in broiler chickens targeting the antioxidant and non-specific immunity mRNA expression.

Supplementation of exogenous enzymes in chickens has been widely practiced, yet mechanisms responsible are not fully delineated. To investigate the effects of the dietary lysozyme on the growth performance and immunity of broiler chickens, a total of 120 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly allocated into four groups, each having three replicates (30 birds/group). The chicks were fed the starter (1-21 d) and grower (22-35 d) diets supplemented with 0 (control), 70 (LYZ70), 90 (LYZ90) and 120 (LYZ120) g of lysozyme 10%® per ton of basal diet for five weeks. The results revealed significant improvement in the growth performance and gut environment. There were significant decreases (P < 0.05 or 0.01) in the harmful fecal Coliform and Clostridia and an increase (P ˂ 0.05) in the beneficial Lactobacillus in the lysozyme-supplemented groups, especially in LYZ90. Moreover, the mRNA expressions of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were upregulated in response to lysozyme supplementation. In comparison to control, LYZ90 fed birds had a significant increase (P < 0.01) in the GSH-Px gene expression that enhances the antioxidant status of the gut. Expression of the biomarkers involved in the gut non-specific immunity indicated significant increases in the mRNA expression of INF-γ (P < 0.001), IL-10 (P < 0.001), and IL-18 (P < 0.05) in LYZ90 group. Also, serum globulin levels were significantly elevated (P ˂ 0.05) in lysozyme-supplemented groups. Histologically, the intestinal villi length and crypts depth were also enhanced (P ˂ 0.05) by dietary lysozyme supplementation. In conclusion, supplementation of broiler chickens with exogenous lysozyme, especially at 90 g of lysozyme per ton of basal diet dose rate, improved the growth performance, gut antioxidant status, and nonspecific immunity of broiler chickens.