Dietary supplementation of Sargassum latifolium modulates thermo-respiratory response, inflammation, and oxidative stress in bacterial endotoxin-challenged male Barki sheep.

Endotoxemia is mainly caused by translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) into the bloodstream. This in turn enhances systemic inflammation and inappropriate production of reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative injury of vital internal organs and other dangerous effects that can be life-threatening. Here, we evaluated/compared the modulatory effects of consuming two different doses (2% and 4% of the diet) of brown seaweeds (Sargassum latifolium) for 40 consecutive days on thermo-respiratory response, inflammation, and oxidative stress in Barki male sheep (Ovis aries) challenged twice with bacterial LPS (1.25 µg/kg body weight, injected intravenously on days 28 and 35 of the experimental period). The results showed that the diet containing Sargassum latifolium (especially at 4%) modulated significantly (P < 0.05-0.001) the increase in the thermo-respiratory response (skin and rectal temperatures, and respiration rate) and the obtained systemic inflammation (blood leukocytosis, the elevation in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the increase in serum proinflammatory cytokines and heat shock protein-70 concentrations) in the LPS-challenged sheep. In addition, it improved significantly (P < 0.001, especially at 4%) the total antioxidant capacity of the blood of LPS-challenged sheep by increasing the catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. Moreover, it decreased the blood markers of tissue damage (malondialdehyde concentration and the activities of alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase) in the LPS-challenged sheep. In conclusion, the diet containing 4% Sargassum latifolium may have potential impact in protecting the ruminant livestock from the serious effects of endotoxemia through improving the animals' antioxidant defense system and regulating their inflammatory and thermo-respiratory responses.

Dietary supplementation of brown seaweed (Sargassum latifolium) alleviates the environmental heat stress-induced toxicity in male Barki sheep (Ovis aries).

Heat stress (HS) is the most potent environmental stressors for livestock in tropical and subtropical regions. HS induced splanchnic tissue hypoxia and intestinal oxidative damage, leading to endotoxemia and systemic inflammation. The present study evaluated and compared the modulatory effects of feeding Barki male sheep (Ovis aries) on a standard concentrated diet containing 2% or 4% of the brown seaweed (Sargassum latifolium) followed by roughage for 40 consecutive days on the toxicity-induced by exposure to severe environmental HS (temperature-humidity index = 28.55 ± 1.62). The present study showed that the diet containing Sargassum latifolium (especially 4%) modulated significantly (P < 0.05-0.001) almost all changes shown in the HS-exposed sheep including the increase in the thermo-respiratory responses (skin and rectal temperatures, and respiration rate) and the resulted dyslipidemia, anemia, and systemic inflammation (blood leukocytosis, the elevation in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the increase in serum proinflammatory cytokines and heat shock protein-70 concentrations). In addition, Sargassum latifolium improved significantly (P < 0.05-0.001) the body-weight gain, kidney functions (especially at the high dose), and blood antioxidant defense system (total antioxidant capacity, and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase) in the HS-exposed sheep, as well as protected the animals from oxidative tissue damage and the risk of atherosclerosis. In conclusion, feeding sheep with the diet containing 4% of Sargassum latifolium was safe and suitable for animal nutrition, as well as efficiently alleviated the harmful effects of the environmental HS in Barki sheep through improving the animal antioxidant defense system, and regulating the thermo-respiratory and inflammatory responses.

Role of Ulva lactuca extract in alleviation of salinity stress on wheat seedlings.

Seaweeds are potentially excellent sources of highly bioactive materials that could represent useful leads in the alleviation of salinity stress. The effects of presoaking wheat grains in water extract of Ulva lactuca on growth, some enzymatic activities, and protein pattern of salinized plants were investigated in this study. Algal presoaking of grains demonstrated a highly significant enhancement in the percentage of seed germination and growth parameters. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) increased with increasing the algal extract concentration while activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) was decreased with increasing concentration of algal extract more than 1% (w/v). The protein pattern of wheat seedling showed 12 newly formed bands as result of algal extract treatments compared with control. The bioactive components in U. lactuca extract such as ascorbic acid, betaine, glutathione, and proline could potentially participate in the alleviation of salinity stress. Therefore, algal presoaking is proved to be an effective technique to improve the growth of wheat seedlings under salt stress conditions.

Biodegradation and utilization of organophosphorus pesticide malathion by Cyanobacteria.

Three strains of filamentous Cyanobacteria were used to study their growth and utilization of organophosphorus pesticide malathion. A sharp decrease in the growth of the algal strains was observed by increasing the concentration of malathion. Amongst them Nostoc muscorum tolerated different concentrations and was recorded as the highest efficient strain for biodegradation (91%) of this compound. Moreover, carbohydrate and protein content of their cells overtopped the other strains especially at higher concentrations. The algal strains were further subjected to grow under P-limitation in absence and presence of malathion. Although, the algal growth under P-limitation recorded a very poor level, a massive enhanced growth and phosphorous content of cells were obtained when the P-limited medium was amended with malathion. This study clarified that N. muscorum with its capability to utilize malathion as a sole phosphorous source is considered as an inexpensive and efficient biotechnology for remediation of organophosphorus pesticide from contaminated wastewater.