Effects of Radix dichroae extract supplementation on growth performance, oocysts output and gut microbiota in growing lambs with coccidiosis.

Coccidiosis is an intestinal protozoan disease of sheep, that causes substantial economic losses in the industry due to its intestinal protozoan origins. Many anti-protozoan drugs including ionophores, triazines, and sulfonamides have been widely used to treat sheep coccidiosis. Still, anticoccidial resistance and drug residues in edible tissues have prompted an urgent search for alternatives. In this study, the anti-coccidial effectiveness of the Radix dichroae extract was compared to that of the conventional anti-coccidial drug diclazuril. Here, eighteen 45-day-old lambs naturally-infected with Eimeria spp. were randomly allocated in three groups: control group, Radix dichroae extract group and diclazuril group. The results showed that the body weight gain (BWG) during the treatment and withdrawal periods was considerably improved in the coccidiosis-infected sheep treated with Radix dichroae extract and diclazuril compared to the control group, respectively. Additionally, the Radix dichroae extract and diclazuril had fewer oocysts per gram (OPG) than the control group, showing similar anti-coccidial effects on days 14, 21, 28, 35 and 78, respectively. Furthermore, Radix dichroae extract and diclazuril treatment altered the structure and composition of gut microbiota, promoting the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes, Alistipes, and Bifidobacterium, while decreasing the abundance of Bacteroidota, Marinilaceae, Helicobacteraceae, and Prevotella. Moreover, Spearman's correlation analysis further revealed a correlation between the OPG and BWG and gut microorganisms. Collectively, the results indicated that Radix dichroae extract had similar anti-coccidial effects as diclazuril, and could regulate gut microbiota balance in growing lambs.

Acaricidal and repellent activities of ethanol extracts of nine chinese medicinal herbs against Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae).

Rhipicephalus microplus is a major threat to the cattle industry worldwide. The intensive use of acaricides and repellents has resulted in drug resistance. Hence, effective and eco-friendly pest control alternatives are urgently needed, especially from natural plant resources. In this study, the acaricidal and repellent activities of nine herbs against the larvae and eggs of R. microplus were evaluated. The results showed that ethanol extracts of star anise (Illicium verum), chaulmoogra (Hydnocarpus anthelmintica), motherwart (Leonurus artemisia), mandarin orange peel (citri reticulatae pericarpium, i.e., peel of Citrus reticulata fruit), and stemona (Stemona sessilifolia) had good contact acaricidal activities of 100, 98, 94, 88 and 86%, respectively, whereas star anise and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) had good fumigant acaricidal activities of 98 and 96%, respectively. The hatching inhibition rate of star anise against R. microplus eggs was 100%. All nine herbs had good real-time repellent rates, but only castor bean and star anise had repellent effects after 48 h (81.3 and 79.6%, respectively). This is the first report of the acaricidal and repellent activities of these medicinal herbs against R. microplus. Ethanol extracts of these herbs might be considered as potential alternatives to chemical acaricides for control of R. microplus.

Evaluation of the in vitro acaricidal activity of Chinese herbal compounds on the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae).

The poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae is an economically important pest in poultry farms worldwide, but an effective treatment option is lacking. The current study determined the effectiveness of six Chinese herbal medicines [Syzygium aromaticum (clove), Hibiscus syriacus (Hibiscus), Illicium verum (star anise), Leonurus artemisia (motherwort), Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon), and Taraxacum sp. (dandelion)] against D. gallinae. Alcohol extracts were prepared via the solvent extraction method and the phenol, flavonoid, and tannin contents were determined. These active components were highest in S. aromaticum and lowest in H. syriacus, I. verum. No tannin content was detected in L. artemisia. All extracts showed contact toxicity against D. gallinae at a test concentration of 1 g/mL, with S. aromaticum and L. artemisia resulting in 100% mortality. S. aromaticum, L. artemisia, and I. verum showed the best efficacy (LC50 0.159, 0.200, and 0.292 g/mL, respectively). Different combinations of extracts showed an additive effect of I. verum LC90 + L. artemisia LC90. The acaricidal efficacy of this combination was tested against different developmental stages of D. gallinae, being most efficacious against nymphal and larval D. gallinae, with a corrected mortality rate of 100%. However, inhibition of egg hatching was only 53.69%. Taken together, these results highlight I. verum LC90 + L. artemisia LC90 as a promising compound with severe contact toxicity against D. gallinae. Given the wide cultivation of these species and their extensive use in foodstuffs and cosmetics as flavors and fragrances, they could be a cheap, readily available ecofriendly alternative to pesticides currently used in poultry farms.

Evaluation of the in vitro acaricidal activity of ethanol extracts of seven Chinese medicinal herbs on Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acari: Macronyssidae).

Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acari: Macronyssidae) is a common ectoparasite that feeds on the blood of poultry. Following infestation, this mite will cause symptoms such as weight loss, anemia, and decreased egg production. To explore green and safe drugs for the prevention and treatment of O. sylviarum, this study evaluated the effects of ethanol extracts of seven Chinese medicinal herbs-Leonurus artemisia (motherwort), Illicium verum (star anise), Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon), Hibiscus syriacus, Artemisia argyi (Chinese mugwort), Taraxacum sp. (dandelion), and Syzygium aromaticum (clove)-on O. sylviarum at different life stages. The results showed that different methods of administration affected the acaricidal efficacy of these plant extracts on O. sylviarum. After 6 h of administration with the fumigation method, the acaricidal efficacy of S. aromaticum on adults, nymphs and larvae of O. sylviarum reached 100%. 30 min after administration with the infiltration method, S. aromaticum, H. syriacus and L. artemisia showed acaricidal effects on adults and nymphs of O. sylviarum reaching 100%. In another experiment evaluating the inhibition of egg hatching of O. sylviarum with alcohol extracts of these seven herbs, at 48 h after treatment, A. argyi and C. cassia showed inhibition rates of 19.4%. The results of this study indicate that S. aromaticum induced mortality at all stages of O. sylviarum, whereas A. argyi was found to be the most effective at inhibiting the mite's egg hatching among the seven herbs. These herbs can therefore be used as potential substitutes for chemical pesticides to prevent and control O. sylviarum. These results provide practical knowledge for the control of O. sylviarum.

Dietary supplementation with Clostridium butyricum improves growth performance of broilers by regulating intestinal microbiota and mucosal epithelial cells.

Clostridium butyricum has been widely considered an antibiotic substitute in recent years. It can promote growth performance, improve the immune response and enhance the intestinal barrier function of the host. In the present study, 1-d-old Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were fed C. butyricum (1 × 109 cfu/kg) for 28 d. The transcriptomic characteristics of epithelial cells of the cecal mucosa were determined by RNA-sequence, and the cecal microbiota composition was explored by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. The changes in the intestinal mucosa of broilers were then analyzed by tissue staining. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations identified substance transport and processes and pathways that might participate in intestinal development and cell viability. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes are involved in numerous pathways related to amino acid and vitamin metabolism and antioxidant and defensive functions, among others. The relative expression of some genes associated with intestinal barrier function (claudins 2, 15, 19, and 23, tight junction proteins 1, 2, and 3 and mucin 1) was significantly increased in the treatment group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, the proportion of Firmicutes was higher in the C. butyricum-treated group, whereas the proportion of Proteobacteria was higher in the control group. At the genus level, the relative abundances of Butyricicoccus and Lactobacillus, among other bacteria, were increased after C. butyricum supplementation. The tissue staining analysis showed that the cecal mucosa of broilers was significantly ameliorated after the addition of C. butyricum (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These results showed that dietary supplementation with C. butyricum can enhance the antioxidant capacity, mucosal barrier function, and stabilize the cecal microbiota, resulting in improving the growth performance.