Dietary supplementation with glutamine improves gastrointestinal barrier function and promotes compensatory growth of growth-retarded yaks.

The growth retardation of yaks commonly exists on the Tibetan Plateau, and the gastrointestinal barrier function of growth-retarded yaks is disrupted. Glutamine (Gln) is an effective feed additive to improve the gastrointestinal barrier function of animals. This research evaluated the effects of Gln on growth performance, serum permeability parameters, gastrointestinal morphology and barrier function of growth-retarded yaks. Thirty-two male growth-retarded yaks (74.0 ±â€¯6.16 kg of BW and 480 ±â€¯5.50 days of age) were randomly allocated to 4 groups: the negative control (GRY, fed basal ration), Gln1 (fed basal ration and 60 g/d Gln per yak), Gln2 (120 g/d) and Gln3 (180 g/d). Another 8 male growth normal yaks (112 ±â€¯6.11 kg of BW and 480 ±â€¯5.00 days of age) with same breed were used as a positive control (GNY, fed basal ration). The results showed that GRY had lower growth performance and higher (P < 0.05) diamine oxidase, D-lactic acid and lipopolysaccharide concentrations in serum as compared to GNY. Glutamine improved the average daily gain (ADG) of growth-retarded yaks, and the Gln2 group displayed highest ADG. Glutamine supplementation reduced markers of gut permeability in growth-retarded yaks. The GRY and Gln2 groups were selected to study the gastrointestinal barrier function. Growth-retarded yaks fed Gln2 showed higher (P < 0.05) height and surface area of ruminal papillae as compared to GRY. A similar trend of height and surface area in jejunal villus was found between GRY and Gln2 groups. The Gln2 increased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A in jejunum and ileum of growth-retarded yaks. The rumen and jejunum of Gln2 yaks exhibited lower (P < 0.05) interleukin-1ß and higher (P < 0.05) interleukin-10 mRNA expressions. Growth-retarded yaks fed Gln2 increased (P < 0.05) the expressions of claudin-1, occludin and zonula occludens-1 in the rumen and jejunum. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with Gln could improve the gastrointestinal barrier function and promote the compensatory growth of growth-retarded yaks.

Discovery of anti-microbial and anti-tubercular molecules from Fusarium solani: an endophyte of Glycyrrhiza glabra.

AIMS: Glycyrrhiza glabra is a high-value medicinal plant thriving in biodiversity rich Kashmir Himalaya. The present study was designed to explore the fungal endophytes from G. glabra as a source of bioactive molecules. METHODS AND RESULTS: The extracts prepared from the isolated endophytes were evaluated for anti-microbial activities using broth micro-dilution assay. The endophytic strain coded as A2 exhibiting promising anti-bacterial as well as anti-tuberculosis activity was identified as Fusarium solani by ITS-5.8S ribosomal gene sequencing technique. This strain was subjected to large-scale fermentation followed by isolation of its bioactive compounds using column chromatography. From the results of spectral data analysis and comparison with literature, the molecules were identified as 3,6,9-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-4,4-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-1H-benzo[g]isochromene-5,10-dione (1), fusarubin (2), 3-O-methylfusarubin (3) and javanicin (4). Compound 1 is reported for the first time from this strain. All the four compounds inhibited the growth of various tested bacterial strains with MIC values in the range of <1 to 256 µg ml-1 . Fusarubin showed good activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv with MIC value of 8 µg ml-1 , whereas compounds 1, 3 and 4 exhibited moderate activity with MIC values of 256, 64, 32 µg ml-1 , respectively. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that reports significant anti-tuberculosis potential of bioactive molecules from endophytic F. solani evaluated against the virulent strain of M. tuberculosis. This study sets background towards their synthetic intervention for activity enhancement experiments in anti-microbial drug discovery programme. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Due to the chemoprofile variation of same endophyte with respect to source plant and ecoregions, further studies are required to explore endophytes of medicinal plants of all unusual biodiversity rich ecoregions for important and or novel bioactive molecules.

Cardiovascular activity of the n-butanol fraction of the methanol extract of Loranthus ferrugineus Roxb

We investigated the vascular responses and the blood pressure reducing effects of different fractions obtained from the methanol extract of Loranthus ferrugineus Roxb. (F. Loranthaceae). By means of solvent-solvent extraction, L. ferrugineus methanol extract (LFME) was successively fractionated with chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The ability of these LFME fractions to relax vascular smooth muscle against phenylephrine (PE)- and KCl-induced contractions in isolated rat aortic rings was determined. In another set of experiments, LFME fractions were tested for blood pressure lowering activity in anesthetized adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g, 14-18 weeks). The n-butanol fraction of LFME (NBF-LFME) produced a significant concentration-dependent inhibition of PE- and KCl-induced aortic ring contractions compared to other fractions. Moreover, NBF-LFME had a significantly higher relaxant effect against PE- than against high K+-induced contractions. In anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats, NBF-LFME significantly lowered blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner and with a relatively longer duration of action compared to the other fractions. HPLC, UV and IR spectra suggested the presence of terpenoid constituents in both LFME and NBF-LFME. Accordingly, we conclude that NBF-LFME is the most potent fraction producing a concentration-dependent relaxation in vascular smooth muscle in vitro and a dose-dependent blood pressure lowering activity in vivo. The cardiovascular effects of NBF-LFME are most likely attributable to its terpenoid content.

Cardiovascular activity of the n-butanol fraction of the methanol extract of Loranthus ferrugineus Roxb.

We investigated the vascular responses and the blood pressure reducing effects of different fractions obtained from the methanol extract of Loranthus ferrugineus Roxb. (F. Loranthaceae). By means of solvent-solvent extraction, L. ferrugineus methanol extract (LFME) was successively fractionated with chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The ability of these LFME fractions to relax vascular smooth muscle against phenylephrine (PE)- and KCl-induced contractions in isolated rat aortic rings was determined. In another set of experiments, LFME fractions were tested for blood pressure lowering activity in anesthetized adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g, 14-18 weeks). The n-butanol fraction of LFME (NBF-LFME) produced a significant concentration-dependent inhibition of PE- and KCl-induced aortic ring contractions compared to other fractions. Moreover, NBF-LFME had a significantly higher relaxant effect against PE- than against high K+-induced contractions. In anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats, NBF-LFME significantly lowered blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner and with a relatively longer duration of action compared to the other fractions. HPLC, UV and IR spectra suggested the presence of terpenoid constituents in both LFME and NBF-LFME. Accordingly, we conclude that NBF-LFME is the most potent fraction producing a concentration-dependent relaxation in vascular smooth muscle in vitro and a dose-dependent blood pressure lowering activity in vivo. The cardiovascular effects of NBF-LFME are most likely attributable to its terpenoid content.

Lipomatosis of the ileocecal valve causing recurrent small bowel obstruction.

A case of lipomatosis of the ileocecal valve causing recurrent intestinal obstruction is described. Barium enema with air contrast provides an important diagnostic tool. If confirmed intraoperatively and by histopathologic examination on frozen section, limited resection of the ileum and cecum is advocated rather than blind right hemicolectomy.