Pathological effects of feeding aflatoxin-contaminated feed on immune status and reproductive performance of juvenile white leghorn males and its mitigation with ∝-tocopherol and Moringa oleifera.

This study was planned to detect the adverse pathological consequences of aflatoxin B1 in White Leghorn (WLH) layer breeder males. Eight-week-old male layer cockerels were separated into six experimental categories: A group was kept as negative control, offered with normal feed only; group B was fed with 400 ppb amount of aflatoxin, while groups F and D fed with normal feed and supplemented with vitamin E 100 ppm and 1% Moringa oleifera, respectively, whereas groups E and C were fed with 400 ppb aflatoxin containing feed and ameliorated with vitamin E 100 ppm and 1% Moringa oleifera, respectively. This study was continued for 2 months and immunologic disorders and reproductive parameters were observed during the trial. To find out immunological status lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P), antibody titers against sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) and carbon clear assay were performed by collecting samples from five birds from each group. The whole data was measured by ANOVA test, and group means were compared by DMR test by using M-Stat C software. Regarding the reproductive status, spermatogenesis, blood testosterone level, testes weight, testes histology, sperm motility, and morphology were negatively affected by aflatoxins, but these deviations positively ameliorated by vitamin E and Moringa. Vitamin E and Moringa found advantageous in boosting the immune status of affected bird. All the immunological parameters including antibody titers against sheed red blood cells, lymphoproliferative response to avian tuberculin and phagocytic potential of macrophages were suppressed by AFB1 however in control, Moringa and vitamin E groups these immunological responses were significantly higher.

Microwave-assisted sustainable exploration of cocklebur leaves (Xanthium strumarium L.) as a novel source of distinct yellow natural colorant for dyeing cotton fabric.

During current times, the use of bio-colorants attained public acceptance as a sustainable alternative to synthetic ones which in turn reduced the environmental contamination. The present study focused on the green, safe, and clean technology for the resurgence of natural colorant from cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) leaves and their application to cotton fabric. Natural colorants were extracted by employing an eco-friendly microwave-assisted extraction process using an aqueous and alkaline medium. Dyeing of cotton fabric was carried out using irradiated and unirradiated cotton fabric with irradiated and unirradiated natural dyes of cocklebur leaves. The results of extraction experiments revealed that 4 min microwave-assisted alkaline extract exhibited significantly outstanding color strength onto microwave-treated cotton fabric compared to aqueous one. Further to investigate the optimum dyeing conditions for cotton fabric, various dyeing variables such as dyeing time, dyeing temperature, dye concentration, and exhausting agent were monitored and found a superior result using a dye concentration of 45 ml, for dyeing cotton fabric at 75 °C for 50 min in the presence of 4 g/100 ml of table salt. For improvement in color strength and color fastness properties, the effects of various bio-mordants, such as eucalyptus bark, acacia bark, turmeric rhizome, and onion shells, and chemical mordants (aluminum and copper) on dyed cotton fabric were also evaluated. It was also observed that cotton fabric dyed with alkaline extract of cocklebur leaves using bio-mordants as pre-mordants (4% acacia, 4% eucalyptus, 2% onion) and post-mordants (3% onion, 3% eucalyptus, 4% acacia) exhibited the highest color strength and various hues with acceptable colorfastness properties against light, washing, and rubbing in comparison to chemical mordants. The ISO standard for fastness also revealed that bio-mordanting has enhanced the rating from good to excellent in comparison to chemical mordants. The results provide ample scope for the extraction of yellow natural dye from the cocklebur leaves for eco-friendly coloration of fabrics using bio-mordants.

Mitigation potential of individual and combined dietary supplementation of local Bentonite Clay and Distillery Sludge against Ochratoxin-A induced toxicity in broilers.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of dietary supplementation of local bentonite clay (BN) and distillery sludge (DS) alone and in combination on ochratoxin-A (OTA) induced toxicity in broilers. For this purpose, day-old-broiler chicks (n = 270) were procured from the local market and reared under standard management conditions. After 7 days of acclimatization, birds were divided into 2 main groups A and B with respect to OTA inclusion level in feed, each with four sub-groups viz. A1-A4, each challenged with OTA at a dietary inclusion level of 250 µg/kg feed and B1-B4, each challenged with OTA at the level of 500 µg/kg feed and a common control group that was fed with basal feed throughout the experiment. In groups A and B, BN and DS were administered with feed at the rate of 10 g/kg of feed and 5 g/kg of feed alone and in combination, respectively. RESULTS: Results showed that OTA administration alone resulted in poor feed conversion ratio (FCR) and immunological responses along with increased serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), urea and creatinine (P < 0.05). A significant decrease (P < 0.05) in serum protein levels (albumin, globulin and total protein) was also observed in OTA-fed groups in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of BN at 10 g/kg of OTA-contaminated feed resulted in better FCR and immunological responses as compared to those fed OTA only. The BN supplementation also conferred protection against elevation of serum biochemical parameters when compared with OTA-fed groups. However, the addition of DS could not provide significant protection (P > 0.05) on alteration of serum biochemical parameters in response to the OTA induced toxicity. The combined supplementation of BN and DS resulted in amelioration of OTA-induced toxicity and showed improved FCR, immunological, hematological and serum biochemical parameters (P < 0.05) when compared with other groups. Similarly, BN and DS resulted in a significant decline (P < 0.05) in the OTA tissue residues compared with other groups and control. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, combined dietary supplementation of BN (10 mg/kg) and DS (05 mg/kg) in feed reduced the toxic effects of OTA contamination at levels of 250 and 500 µg/kg of feed in broilers. So, the combination products of BN and DS may be successfully developed for use in poultry for protection against OTA-induced toxicity in broilers.

An update on carbohydrases: growth performance and intestinal health of poultry.

Poultry is an imperative domesticated livestock species that provides high quality protein and micronutrients as meat and eggs. In poultry production, feed is the single major input constituting 70-75% of total production cost. Feed mainly consists of cereal grains, those provide energy to the birds. However, these grains contain different levels of anti-nutritional factors such as non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). These NSP are indigestible by poultry birds due to the lack of vital endogenous enzymes (carbohydrases) thus increase intestinal viscosity which slower the migration and absorption of nutrients. Consequently, these NSP may also increase the chances for infection by inducing competition within gut microbiota for digestible nutrients. This affects bird's health and increases the production cost. Therefore, there is a need to find efficient and effective solutions for these problems. Carbohydrases supplementation have an important role in poultry diets with high NSP contents. Feed enzymes are being used from years to enhance growth performance and digestibility but have limited activity for selective ingredients. New generation carbohydrases with a board range of activity and stability help to degrade the complex substrates and improve growth performance of poultry. Present review summarizes the updated literature on the use of carbohydrases to improve bird's performance and intestinal health.

Gastroprotective and antioxidant potential of Euphorbia prostrata against aspirin induced gastric ulcers in rabbits.

Present study was planned to estimate the gastroprotective activity of Euphorbia prostrata plant against aspirin induced gastric ulcers in male adult albino rabbits. The ulcer was induced by oral administration of aspirin in all groups except normal control group. Gastric contents were used to estimate total acid output, gastric volume and gastric pH. Results showed that there was a significant decrease in gastric volume, total acid output, ulcer score and ulcer index in groups treated with extract of E. prostrata and it enhanced the pH of gastric mucosa. Blood samples were collected and serum was used for the estimation of total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT). Results suggested that E. prostrata extract significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the TAC and CAT activity comparable to synthetic antiulcer drug cimetidine while it caused a significant (P<0.05) reduction in TOS and MDA levels. Results of this study revealed that extract of E. prostrata at 10, 20 and 40mg/kg showed gastric protection of 33.79%, 53.15% and 70.66% respectively. Cimetidine was used as a synthetic antiulcer drug in the study, which showed 72.85% gastric protection. From the above mentioned results it was demonstrated that E. prostrata extract at dose rate of 40 mg/kg showed gastroprotective activity similar as cimetidine.

Haematopoietic effects of Angelica sinensis root cap polysaccharides against lisinopril-induced anaemia in albino rats.

CONTEXT: Angelica sinensis L. (Umbelliferae) has medicinal properties. OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluates the haematopoietic effects of A. sinensis polysaccharides (ASP) against lisinopril-induced anaemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty healthy adult male albino rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6). Group I was control group. Group II was treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI, 20 mg/kg/day) to induce anaemia. In group III, erythropoietin (EPO, 100 IU/kg/each) was administered in combination with ACEI. Group IV was treated with ASP (1 g/kg/day), extracted from A. sinensis root caps. In Group V, ASP (1 g/kg/day) was treated with ACEI. After 28 days, blood and tissue samples were collected for haematological and histopathological analysis, respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that ACEI significantly reduced the haemoglobin (Hb, 10.0 g/dL), packed cell volume (PCV, 39.5%), red blood cells (RBCs, 6.2 million/mm3), mean corpuscular volume (MCV, 53.5 fL) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH, 16.2 pg/cell) values. In the group treated with ASP, the Hb (13.7 g/dL) and RBCs (7.8 million/mm3) increased significantly (p < 0.05). The combination of ASP and ACEI led to the significant (p < 0.05) reduction in Hb (10.7 g/dL), PCV (33.3%), RBCs (6.0 million/mm3), MCV (54.42 fL) and MCH (16.44 pg/cell) values. While histopathological examination of the liver and kidney cells showed a mild degree of toxicity in the ASP-treated group. CONCLUSION: ASP has a potentiating effect on haematological parameters when given alone. However, when administered simultaneously with lisinopril, it showed an unfavourable effect with more complicated anaemia so it should not be used with ACEIs.

In vitro and in vivo toxicological evaluations of methyl ferulate, methyl p-coumarate, and pulegone 1,2-epoxide.

CONTEXT: Toxicological screening of natural compounds for medicinal purposes. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the toxicity of methyl ferulate (MF), methyl p-coumarate (MpC), and pulegone 1,2-epoxide (PE) with in vitro and in vivo assays. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The in vitro toxicity of MF, MpC, and PE was assessed at a concentration of 10 mg/ml with the Ames assay using two strains of Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100. Human red blood cells (RBC) were used to determine the hemolytic activity of these compounds. The cytotoxicity of above compounds was determined with brine shrimp lethality bioassay (BSLB) at the concentrations of 0.1-20 mg/ml. While dermal and ocular irritation studies were conducted on healthy rabbits (n = 8) for 96 and 12 h post-topical application of test compounds, respectively. RESULTS: PE produced 6-8% hemolysis of RBCs at all the tested concentrations while MF and MpC produced 10-5% hemolysis up to 20 mg/ml, and 50-85% hemolysis at concentrations of 40 and 80 mg/ml, respectively. The Ames assay indicated that MF, MpC, and PE were non-mutagenic as the test values were not significantly higher as compared with background values of the assay. BSLB suggested the lethal concentration (LC50) values of MF, MpC, and PE as 4.38, 6.74, and 25.91 mg/ml, respectively. In vivo ocular and dermal irritation scores of MF, MpC, and PE were comparable with ethanol (control) in rabbits indicating the non-irritant nature of these natural compounds. CONCLUSION: The present studies suggest that these compounds are non-toxic/non-irritant and might be used for medicinal purposes.

Brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in preventing brain metastases in patients with renal cell carcinoma is unclear. METHODS: Preclinical studies were conducted to determine the steady-state brain and plasma concentrations of sorafenib and sunitinib in mice deficient in the drug efflux transporters; p-glycoprotein, and breast cancer resistance protein. A single-institution retrospective analysis of patients treated from 2008 to 2010 was conducted to assess the incidence of brain metastases before and during TKI treatment. RESULTS: Transport of sorafenib and sunitinib across the blood-brain barrier was restricted. Retrospective analysis revealed that the median time to develop metastatic brain disease was 28 months (range, 1-108 months) while on TKI therapy and 11.5 months (range, 0-64 months) in patients who did not receive TKI therapy. The incidence of brain metastases per month in patients not treated with TKI therapy was 1.6 higher than the incidence in patients treated with TKI therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Penetration of sorafenib or sunitinib through an intact blood-brain barrier to brain tissue is limited; however, the incidence of brain metastases per unit time is decreased in patients on TKI therapy in comparison with the "cytokine" era.