Effect of Flavonoid-Rich Extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra on Gut-Friendly Microorganisms, Commercial Probiotic Preparations, and Digestive Enzymes.

Flavonoid-rich extract prepared from Glycyrrhiza glabra has been found to be beneficial in patients with functional dyspepsia and was reported to possess some gut health-promoting properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-Helicobacter pylori activities. In the present study, the flavonoid-rich extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra was evaluated for its compatibility with probiotic strains (Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Streptococcus thermophilus), commercial probiotic drinks, and digestive enzymes (pancreatic α-amylase, α-glucosidase, phytase, xylanase, and pancreatic lipase). Results of this study indicated that the flavonoid-rich extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra is compatible with the tested probiotic strains, probiotic drinks and digestive enzymes.

Dietary P regulates phosphate transporter expression, phosphatase activity, and effluent P partitioning in trout culture.

Phosphate utilization by fish is an important issue because of its critical roles in fish growth and aquatic environmental pollution. High dietary phosphorus (P) levels typically decrease the efficiency of P utilization, thereby increasing the amount of P excreted as metabolic waste in effluents emanating from rainbow trout aquaculture. In mammals, vitamin D3 is a known regulator of P utilization but in fish, its regulatory role is unclear. Moreover, the effects of dietary P and vitamin D3 on expression of enzymatic and transport systems potentially involved in phosphate utilization are little known. We therefore monitored production of effluent P, levels of plasma vitamin D3 metabolites, as well as expression of phosphatases and the sodium phosphate cotransporter (NaPi2) in trout fed semipu diets that varied in dietary P and vitamin D3 levels. Mean soluble P concentrations varied markedly with dietary P but not with vitamin D3, and constituted 40-70% of total effluent P production by trout. Particulate P concentrations accounted for 25-50% of effluent P production, but did not vary with dietary P or vitamin D3. P in settleable wastes accounted for <10% of effluent P. The stronger effect of dietary P on effluent P levels is paralleled by its striking effects on phosphatases and NaPi2. The mRNA abundance of the intestinal and renal sodium phosphate transporters increased in fish fed low dietary P; vitamin D3 had no effect. Low-P diets reduced plasma phosphate concentrations. Intracellular phytase activity increased but brushborder alkaline phosphatase activity decreased in the intestine, pyloric caeca, and gills of trout fed diets containing low dietary P. Vitamin D3 had no effect on enzyme activities. Moreover, plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were unaffected by dietary P and vitamin D3 levels. The major regulator of P metabolism, and ultimately of levels of P in the effluent from trout culture, is dietary P.

Phytase activity, phosphorus and calcium retention, and performance of single comb White Leghorn layers fed diets containing two levels of available phosphorus and supplemented with direct-fed microbials.

The presence of phytase activities in condensed cane molasses solubles (CCMS) and CCMS-Lactobacillus (Lacto) were determined. Single Comb White Leghorn layers were fed .25 and .45% available P (AP) diets supplemented with CCMS and CCMS-Lacto for nine 28-d periods to determine phytase activities of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract contents and intestine, liver, and pancreatic tissues, the GI tract pH, the P and Ca retention, and layer performance. Six dietary treatments were corn-soybean (C-S) control, C-S+CCMS, and C-S+CCMS-1,100 mg Lacto/kg diet (ppm) [4.4 x 10(7) cfu/mg Lacto] each with .25 and .45% AP. The CCMS were used as a carrier for the Lacto, and the CCMS and CCMS-Lacto premix were incorporated at 2% of the diets. Phytase activity was much higher in CCMS-Lacto premix than in CCMS. Phytase activities of the crop contents were higher with the CCMS-Lacto diets regardless of the AP level. Intestinal phytase activity was higher with the .45% AP CCMS-Lacto diet than the unsupplemented .45% AP diets. Lactobacillus supplementation did not stimulate phytase activities in the intestinal contents or liver and pancreatic tissues. The pH of the crop and intestinal contents were much lower for the Lacto-fed layers than the layers fed unsupplemented diets regardless of dietary AP levels. No differences in Ca retentions were observed with Lacto supplementation regardless of the dietary AP levels. However, higher P retentions were observed with the Lacto supplementation in the .25% AP diet. Layers fed .25 and .45% AP Lacto-supplemented diets had lower hen-day egg production, poorer feed conversion value, consumed slightly more feed, produced less egg mass, and laid larger eggs than the layers fed .25 and .45% AP unsupplemented diets. Lacto supplementation to .25% AP diet produced eggs with higher specific gravity than the unsupplemented .45% AP diet, but not different from unsupplemented .25% AP diet. Layers fed the .25% AP diets had lower BW gains then layers fed the .45% AP diets regardless of lacto supplementation. Phytase activity was present in the lacto source, and the presence of phytase and Lacto supplementation to a .25% AP diet improved P retention in layers.