Protective effects of the pyrolyzates derived from bamboo against neuronal damage and hematoaggregation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bamboo species are thought to be originally from Central China, but are now found in many temperate and semi-tropical regions around the world. Although the extracts from bamboo may have antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects, their exact biological activities have not been elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: Two biological activities of bamboo-derived pyrolyzates were investigated; the protective effects against N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced cell death in primary cultured cortical neuron and the anti-plasmin effects determined by using fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products (FDPs) assay. RESULTS: Treatment of neuronal cells with pyrolyzates of Phyllostachys pubescens, Phyllostachys nigra and Phyllostachys bambusoides resulted in restored cell viability when compared to untreated cells in an NMDA-induced neuronal cell death assay. In addition, cortical neurons treated with Phyllostachys pubescens and Phyllostachys nigra showed a reduction of apoptosis following exposure to NMDA, as determined by Hoechst 33342 staining. In addition, Phyllostachys nigra pyrolyzates also exhibited anti-plasmin action in a FDP assay. It is of interest to note that pyrolyzates exhibited activities of NMDA-receptor antagonist and antifebrin (ogen), since a combination of NMDA receptor antagonists, glucocorticosteroids, GABAergic drugs and heparin are useful for treatment in delayed postischemic injury. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the pyrolyzates derived from bamboo may have anti-apoptotic effects, and can be useful as a supplement for ischemic injury treatment.

Radioprotective effect of sugar cane extract in chickens.

To evaluate the radioprotective effect of sugar cane extract (SCE), SCE was orally administered into the crop of 3-week-old chickens for 3 consecutive days before or after x-ray radiation at a dose of 500 mg/kg/day. The survival rate of SCE administered chickens before x-ray radiation at a dose of 920 rad increased to 68.8% when compared with that of the irradiated control (50%). Histopathological examination revealed the intestine of SCE administered chickens to have mild to moderate pathological changes, when compared with that of the irradiated control animals.

Immunostimulating effects of sugar cane extract on X-ray radiation induced immunosuppression in the chicken.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) extract (SCE) on the immune system of X-ray immunosuppressed chickens. SCE (500 mg/kg/day) was administrated into the crop of 3-week-old chickens for three consecutive days before or after irradiation. The results indicated that administration of SCE before or after whole body X-ray irradiation enhanced both primary and secondary immune responses in chickens immunized with sheep red blood cells and Brucella abortus (BA) as well as cell-mediated immunity measured by delayed type hypersensitivity to human gamma-globulin.

Protective effects of sugar cane extracts (SCE) on Eimeria tenella infection in chickens.

The effects of oral administration of sugar cane extracts (SCE) on Eimeria tenella oocysts infection in chickens were studied with 2 different experiments. In Experiment 1, 3-week-old inbred chickens (MHC; H.B15) were inoculated into the crop with SCE (500 mg/kg/day) for 1 day or 3 consecutive days, and then challenged with E. tenella sporulated oocysts (2 x 10(4) cells/chicken). In Experiment 2, 1-week-old chickens were orally administered SCE at the same dose for 3 consecutive days, and then initially infected with E. tenella sporulated oocysts (2 x 10(3) cells/chicken). At 2 and 3 weeks of age, these chickens were immunized intravenously with the mixed antigens of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and Brucella abortus (BA). At 4 weeks of age, chickens were challenged with E. tenella sporulated oocysts (1 x 10(5)/chicken). Challenged chickens with E. tenella oocysts showed markedly decreased body weight gain/day, severe hemorrhage and great number of shedding oocysts in feces and high lesion scores. Oral administration of SCE and initial infection with oocysts (2 x 10 (3)/chicken) resulted in a remarkable improvement in body weight gain/day, hemorrhage, the number of shedding oocysts and lesion score, compare to other infected groups. In addition, SCE-inoculated chickens with the initial infection showed a significant increase in antibody responses against SRBC and BA and also improvement in decreased relative proportions of Bu-1a(+) and CD4( )cells in cecal tonsil lymphocytes of E. tenella-challenged chickens. Cecal tissues of chickens administered SCE and initially infected with E. tenella oocysts showed lower numbers of schizonts, gametocytes and oocysts than those of infected control chickens. These results suggest that SCE have immunostimulating and protective effects against E. tenella infection in chickens.

Immunostimulating and growth-promoting effects of sugar cane extract (SCE) in chickens.

Polymorphonuclear cells of the peripheral blood in the chicken significantly increased their phagocytosis when cultured with sugar cane extract (SCE; 250-1,000 microg/ml) for 24 hr. Chickens orally administered SCE (500 mg/kg/day) for 3 or 6 consecutive days at 1 week of age showed significantly higher body weight and gain in body weight/day and a lower food conversion ratio within the growing period of 6 weeks than physiological saline-administered control chickens. Furthermore, oral administration of SCE also resulted in significantly higher immune responses against sheep red blood cells and Brucella abortus. These results suggest that SCE has immunostimulating and growth promoting effects in chickens.