Effects of Amino Acid-Bound Zinc and Manganese Feed Additives on MHC Haplotype Chickens Challenged with Infectious Bronchitis Coronavirus.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) congenic chicken lines have been used as a model to study infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) immune responses in chickens. Zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) are trace minerals that act as enzyme cofactors in cellular reactions. In addition, Zn is an important modulator of immune responses, especially in the respiratory tract. Zinc and Zn + Mn amino acid complex supplements were tested to alleviate the effects of an IBV challenge using relatively resistant and susceptible MHC congenic chicken lines. Prior to the challenge with IBV, the amino acid-bound supplements induced better weight gain in the IBV-resistant chicken line (331/B2) compared to the birds fed with the sulfate-delivered supplements. No body weight differences were detected between IBV-challenged and unchallenged 331/B2 birds supplemented with Zn in amino acid complex. A reduction of respiratory signs was observed in 335/B19 birds fed with the diet supplemented with Zn in amino acid complexes at 4 dpi. Compared to the sulfate-bound trace minerals, 331/B2 chickens fed with the amino acid-bound supplements presented milder clinical sign trends at 6 dpi and less severe airsacculitis at 14 dpi. The total antibody response in serum in 331/B2 birds fed with the amino acid-bound Zn ration was the highest among all groups tested. Both amino acid-delivered trace mineral supplements induced a slightly higher antibody response than the sulfate-bound ration in both chicken lines. This experiment provides insights into the effect of Zn and Mn on the immunity of chickens with known different susceptibilities to IBV.

Indigofera suffruticosa Mill. (Anil): Plant Profile, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology Review.

Indigoferasuffruticosa Mill. (Fabaceae) is known as anil or anileira and also with other names, due to the production of a blue pigment, which is commonly used for yarn dyeing. It is distributed in some states of Brazil (Pernambuco, Paraíba, Mato Grosso, São Paulo, Bahia, Pará, and others) and is used in the popular medicine as a febrifuge, antispasmodic, diuretic, abortive, analgesic, purgative, or soothing agent against stomach and urinary problems, jaundice, and ulcers and also as an insecticide. In addition, I. suffruticosa can be used as animal feed. This review aimed at providing important data on the botanical, distribution, ethnopharmacology, phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicity of I. suffruticosa based on the scientific literature. Information on I. suffruticosa was gathered via the Internet (from Elsevier, NCBI, and Sci-Hub) and libraries in the period from February to March 2016. More than 40 chemical compounds have been identified and a few compounds isolated, and the main origins are the essential oils, organic extracts, and aqueous extracts of different parts of the plant. I. suffruticosa and its active compounds possess wide pharmacological actions in the literature, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidative, antitumor, antimutagenic, anticonvulsant, gastroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. Therefore, as an important traditional popular medicine, further studies on I. suffruticosa are required for the development of new drugs and therapeutics for various diseases.

Antimicrobial Activity and Phytochemical Analysis of Organic Extracts from Cleome spinosa Jaqc.

Due to the use of Cleome spinosa Jacq. (Cleomaceae) in traditional medicine against inflammatory and infectious processes, this study evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial potential and phytochemical composition of extracts from its roots and leaves. From leaves (L) and roots (R) of C. spinosa different extracts were obtained (cyclohexane: ChL and ChR; chloroform: CL and CR; ethyl acetate: EAL and EAR, methanol: ML and MR). The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the broth microdilution method to obtain the minimum inhibitory (MIC) and microbicidal (MMC) concentrations against 17 species, including bacteria and yeasts. Additionally, antimicrobial and combinatory effects with oxacillin were assessed against eight clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. All C. spinosa extracts showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, as they have inhibited all tested bacteria and yeasts. This activity seems to be related to the phytochemicals (flavonoid, terpenoids and saponins) detected into the extracts of C. spinosa. ChL and CL extracts were the most actives, with MIC less than 1 mg/mL against S. aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Micrococcus luteus. It is important to note that these concentrations are much lower than their 50% hemolysis concentration (HC50) values. Strong correlations were found between the average MIC against S. aureus and their phenolic (r = -0.89) and flavonoid content (r = -0.87), reinforcing the possible role of these metabolite classes on the antimicrobial activity of C. spinosa derived extracts. Moreover, CL and CR showed the best inhibitory activity against S. aureus clinical isolates, they also showed synergistic action with oxacillin against all these strains (at least at one combined proportion). These results encourage the identification of active substances which could be used as lead(s) molecules in the development of new antimicrobial drugs.

Treatment with essential oil of Achyrocline satureioides in rats infected with Trypanosoma evansi: relationship between protective effect and tissue damage.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with free and nanoencapsulated essential oil of Achyrocline satureioides on trypanosomosis and its oxidative/antioxidants variables in liver and kidney of rats infected experimentally with Trypanosoma evansi. For that, 48 rats were divided into six groups (A-F), eight animals each group. Groups A, C and D were composed of uninfected animals, while animals in groups B, E and F were inoculated intraperitoneally with T. evansi. Groups A and B were used as controls, negative and positive, respectively. Groups C and E receive oil (orally), as well as the animals in groups D and F were treated with nanoencapsulated essential oil. The treatment was not able to eliminate the parasites, but it remained the levels of parasitemia low. The carbonyl levels in liver and kidney did not differ between groups. Infected animals (group B) showed an increase in the TBARS levels and a decrease in the CAT activity and NPSH levels in liver and kidney, compared with the same parameters in the control (group A). Treatment with A. satureioides (groups C and D) did not influence the TBARS levels and CAT activity in the liver, but it increased the CAT activity in kidneys of the animals of group C. NPSH levels decreased in liver in the groups treated with nanoencapsulated essential oil (groups D and F). An interesting result observed was that the animals infected and then treated with essential oil of A. satureioides (groups E and F) did not differ from animals of group A for TBARS, CAT and NPSH, unlike what happened with the animals of group B. Therefore, the treatment with essential oil did not eliminate the parasites from the bloodstream, but it reduced the number of trypanosomes, mainly by its nanoencapsulated form. The same occurred with the lipid peroxidation in the liver. However, the treatments reduced the oxidative damage, and it led to the activation of the antioxidant enzymes. We believe that the association of this natural product with a trypanocidal drug may enhance its curative effect.