Encapsulated probiotic Lactiplantibacillus strains with promising applications as feed additives for broiler chickens.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), particularly Lactobacilli strains, represent a widely studied and promising group of probiotics with numerous potential health benefits. In this study, we isolated LAB strains from fecal samples of healthy broiler chickens and characterized their probiotic properties. Out of 62 initial isolates, five strains were selected for further investigations based on their antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. These selected strains were identified as Lactiplantibacillus species. They exhibited desirable probiotic traits, including non-hemolyis, non-cytotoxicity, lack of antibiotic resistance, acid tolerance, auto-aggregation, and antioxidative potential. Encapsulation of these strains in alginate beads enhanced their survival compared to free cells, in stomach (69-87 % vs. 34-47 %) and intestinal (72-100 % vs. 27-51 %) juices, after 120 min exposure. These findings suggest that encapsulated Lactiplantibacillus strains could be used as feed additives for broiler chickens. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to set on their probiotic potential in vivo.

Targeting Oxidative Stress Markers, Xanthine Oxidase, TNFRSF11A and Cathepsin L in Curcumin-Treated Collagen-Induced Arthritis: A Physiological and COSMO-RS Study.

The effectiveness of curcumin in preventing and treating collagen-induced inflammatory arthritis (CIA) in rats and oxidative stress in rats was investigated. We investigated curcumin's curative and preventive effects on paw edema, arthritic size, body weight, and radiologic and histological joint abnormalities. It has been shown that curcumin may dramatically lower the risk of developing arthritis. In addition, the number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the body has dropped, which is a strong indication that curcumin has anti-inflammatory characteristics. A follow-up theoretical investigation of curcumin molecular docking on xanthine oxidase (XO) was carried out after the properties of curcumin were determined using the conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) theory. Because of the interaction between curcumin and the residues on XO named Ile264, Val259, Asn351, and Leu404, XO may be suppressed by this molecule. Curcumin's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may be responsible for the anti-arthritic effects that have been seen on oxidative stress markers and XO. On the other hand, more research is being conducted to understand its function better in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To determine whether or not curcumin interacts with AR targets, a molecular docking study was conducted using MVD software against TNFRSF11A and cathepsin L.

Oleanolic acid and hederagenin glycosides from Weigela stelzneri.

Four previously undescribed and one known oleanolic acid glycosides were isolated from the roots of Weigela stelzneri, and one previously undescribed and three known hederagenin glycosides were isolated from the leaves. Their structures were elucidated mainly by 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis and mass spectrometry as 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyloleanolic acid, 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-D-xylopyranosyloleanolic acid, 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-D-xylopyranosyloleanolic acid, 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyloleanolic acid 28-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl ester, and 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-arabinopyranosylhederagenin 28-O-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-ß-D-glucopyranosyl ester. The majority of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against two tumor cell lines (SW480 and EMT-6), and for their anti-inflammatory activity. The compounds 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyloleanolic acid and 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-D-xylopyranosyloleanolic acid exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity on both cancer cell lines. They revealed a 50% significant inhibitory effect of the IL-1ß production by PBMCs stimulated with LPS at a concentration inducing a very low toxicity of 23% and 28%, respectively.

Spirostane-type saponins from Dracaena fragrans "Yellow Coast".

Three steroidal glycosides were isolated from the bark of Dracaena fragrans (L.) Ker Gawl. "Yellow Coast", and a fourth from the roots and the leaves. Their structures were characterized on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments and mass spectrometry, and by comparison with NMR data of the literature. These saponins have the spirostane-type skeleton and are reported in this species for the first time.

Cytotoxic steroidal glycosides from Allium flavum.

Three new spirostane-type glycosides (1-3) were isolated from the whole plant of Allium flavum. Their structures were elucidated mainly by 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis and mass spectrometry as (20S,25R)-2α-hydroxyspirost-5-en-3ß-yl O-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-[ß-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)]-ß-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-ß-D-galactopyranoside (1), (20S,25R)-2α-hydroxyspirost-5-en-3ß-yl O-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)]-ß-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-ß-D-galactopyranoside (2), and (20S,25R)-spirost-5-en-3ß-yl O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3). The three saponins were evaluated for cytotoxicity against a human cancer cell line (colorectal SW480).

Steroidal saponins from Dracaena marginata.

Three new steroidal saponins and ten known ones were isolated from the bark of Dracaena marginata, along with two known steroidal saponins from the roots. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments and mass spectrometry as (25R)-26-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)3beta,22alpha-dihydroxyfurost-5-en-1beta-yl O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), (25R)-26-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-3beta,22alpha-dihydroxyfurost-5-en-1beta-yl O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-4-O-sulfo-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (2), and (25S)-3beta-hydroxyspirost-5-en-1beta-yl O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-4-O-sulfo-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (3).