The effect of fermented and raw rapeseed meal on the growth performance, immune status and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens.

We evaluated the effect of fermented and raw rapeseed meal (FRCM and RRSM) on the growth performance, carcass traits, serum biochemical indexes, immune status and intestinal morphology of broilers. A total of 420-day-old Arbor Acre male broilers were randomly assigned to a 1 + 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with one basal diet group, two rapeseed meal (RSM) varieties (FRCM and RRSM) and three addition levels (5%, 10% and 15%) for a duration of 42 days. FRSM significantly increased the ADG and ADFI of broilers during the 22-42 days and 1-42 days (p < 0.05) growth periods compared with RRSM groups. No significant difference was observed in ADG and ADFI between broilers fed FRSM in different dietary levels and control diets (p > 0.05), but broilers fed diet with 15% RRSM showed significantly lower ADG, ADFI and spleen index (p < 0.05). Both FRSM and RRSM in different dietary levels affected the anti-oxidation function of broilers, including a significant increase in the serum contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p < 0.05), and a significant decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05). Fermentation tends to increase the villus height of duodenum (p = 0.09), and significantly increased the villus height and V/C ratio of duodenum (p < 0.05) in birds. The duodenum villus height was the highest in the 5% FRSM group and lowest in birds of 5% RRSM group. A 10% level significantly increased the duodenal V/C ratio in both FRSM and RRSM birds. The results indicated that FRSM could be used to supplemented in broilers diet to improve the production performance and maintain good health. FRSM can be added to broilers diet at 10% without adverse effect on growth performance or immune function.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Potential, and Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of Aqueous Extract and Essential Oil of Thymus Serrulatus Hochst. Ex Benth.

Thymus serrulatus, an endemic plant of Ethiopia, is traditionally used to cure various diseases and as a food ingredient. In the Ethiopian folk medicine, the decoction is orally taken as a remedy to treat diabetes and high blood pressure. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effects of the aqueous extract and of the essential oil of Thymus serrulatus. The chemical composition of the aqueous extract was determined by LC-MS and the essential oil was characterized by GC-MS analysis. Radical scavenging assays, namely scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•), hydroxyl (•OH), and nitric oxide (•NO), were used as a first approach to screen the potential antioxidant abilities of the samples. Alpha-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory studies were also employed to evaluate the in vitro antihyperglycemic potential of the plant. The in vivo blood glucose lowering effect of the extracts was assessed using hypoglycemic activity and the oral glucose tolerance test in normal and in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice. When compared to the aqueous extract, the essential oil showed superior radical scavenging activity, particularly for •NO, as well as greater inhibitory potency against α-amylase and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 0.01 mg/ml and 0.11 mg/ml, respectively). Both tested samples showed a statistically significant antihyperglycemic effect. The aqueous extract at 600 mg/kg exerted maximum antihyperglycemic activity (44.14%), followed by the essential oil (30.82%). Body weight and glucose tolerance parameters were also improved by the samples both in normal and diabetic mice. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that aqueous extract and essential oil of T. serrulatus are promising therapeutic agents.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive property of Capparis tomentosa Lam. root extracts.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Capparis tomentosa Lam. root is one of the commonly used traditional medicines for the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions by the Kunama ethnic group of Ethiopia. Yet, its ethnomedicinal claim has not been scientifically investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociception activities of root extracts of Capparis tomentosa Lam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-inflammatory activity of the 70% ethanolic extracts and solvent fractions was determined using invitro hyaluronidase inhibition assay and in vivo carrageenan-induced paw edema in Swiss albino mice model. The anti-nociception effect was determined using the acetic acid-induced writhing model and tail immersion model in Swiss albino mice. RESULTS: The root extract of Capparis tomentosa has exhibited significant hyaluronidase inhibition activity which was comparable with the reference drug, indomethacin. Significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema was observed in all the test sample treated mice compared to the negative control with the highest activity observed from butanol fraction which was equivalent to the effect of acetylsalicylic acid. All the root extract and solvent fractions have possessed a significant and dose-dependent abdominal writhing inhibition with the highest effect observed in the aqueous fraction. Additionally, the crude extract was found better in increasing the reaction latency of the mice to the hot water stimulus than the solvent fractions which were significant after 60-120 min compared to the distilled water treated group. The root extract and solvent fractions were also found safe at a single oral dose of 2 mg/g in Swiss albino mice. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study may partially support the folkloric use of Capparis tomentosa root for the treatment of pain and inflammation.