Bamboo forage in Peruvian Amazon: a potential feed for cattle.

During the dry and rainy seasons of the Northeastern Zone of Peru, a chemical characterization of five species of bamboo prevalent in the area (Guadua lynnclarkiae, G. takahashiae, Bambusa vulgaris, G. weberbaueri, and Dendrocalamus asper) was conducted. Then, the effect of supplementing bamboo leaves (0, 20, and 40% inclusion of D. asper) on the intake and live weight gain of 18 Gyr × Holstein heifers was evaluated for 28 days. Among the species evaluated, D. asper has the greatest crude protein (CP) concentration (158-166 g/kg Dry matter- DM), post-ruminal CP supply (127 g/kg DM), and in vitro organic matter digestibility (444-456 g/kg DM) but similar concentrations of crude ash (124 g/kg DM), calcium (2.4-2.8 mg/g), phosphorus (0.7-2.1 mg/g), protein fractions A, B1, B2, B3, C (45, 5, 35, 56, and 17g/kg DM, respectively), rumen-undegraded CP (31% CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF, 685g/kg DM), and acid detergent fiber (ADF, 357 g/kg DM) than the other species evaluated. Dry matter intake was higher in the control treatment and in the 20% bamboo leaf inclusion treatment than in the 40% bamboo inclusion treatment. Intake of CP and NDF decreased with the increase in bamboo inclusion. Despite the differences in DM, CP, and NDF intake, the live weight gain remained similar across treatments. However, there was a greater feed conversion in the 20% bamboo leaf inclusion treatment. During the dry season, bamboo leaves can be used as an alternative supplement at a maximum inclusion of 20% without affecting the live weight gain.

Antinocicepción opioide del extracto metanólico del Chuchuhuasi (Maytenus krukovii) en un modelo de dolor visceral en rat¢n / Antinociceptive opioid of chuchuhuasi Maytenus krukoviimethanolic extract in a model of visceral pain in mice

Evaluamos la acción antinociceptiva del extracto metanólico del Chuchuhuasi (Maytenus krukovii), al 20%, administrado por vía oral, en ratones albinos, machos, raza Webster Suizo obtenidos del Centro Nacional de Produccón de Biológicos del Ministerio de Salud del Peru, utilizando un modelo de dolor visceral, mediante la administración de  ácido acático al 2%, vía intraperitoneal, a la dosis de 0,05 ml/10g de peso. Observamos una disminución del 50% del número de contorsiones abdominales, en relación al grupo control, sin prolongación del período de latencia de las mismas. El efecto analgésico observado, fue bloqueado por la naloxona, lo que sugeriría la participación de receptores opioides, o de opioides endógenos en el mecanismo de la acción analgésica. Los resultados fueron analizados estadísticamente mediante el programa estadístico SPSS versión 11.5.

We evaluated the antinociceptive action of a 20% Chuchuhuasi (Maytenus krukovii) methanolic extract administered by oral route, on male albino Swiss Webster mice, from the Peruvian Health Institute, using a model of visceral pain. Intraperitoneal injections of 2% acetic acid at a concentration of 0,05 ml/10g were administered. We found a decrease of 50% in the average number of abdominal cramps, related to the control group, without increase of the latency period of abdominal contortions. The analgesic action was blocked by naloxone and could imply the participation of opioid receptors or endogenous opioids as the mechanism of action. Data were analyzed statistically with the SPSS program version 11.5.