Hypolipidemic Effect of Rice Bran Oil Extract Tocotrienol in High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) Induced by High-Fat Diet.

In recent years, the potent influence of tocotrienol (T3) on diminishing blood glucose and lipid concentrations in both Mus musculus (rats) and Homo sapiens (humans) has been established. However, the comprehensive exploration of tocotrienol's hypolipidemic impact and the corresponding mechanisms in aquatic species remains inadequate. In this study, we established a zebrafish model of a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model through high-fat diet administration to zebrafish. In the T2DM zebrafish, the thickness of ocular vascular walls significantly increased compared to the control group, which was mitigated after treatment with T3. Additionally, our findings demonstrate the regulatory effect of T3 on lipid metabolism, leading to the reduced synthesis and storage of adipose tissue in zebrafish. We validated the expression patterns of genes relevant to these processes using RT-qPCR. In the T2DM model, there was an almost two-fold upregulation in pparγ and cyp7a1 mRNA levels, coupled with a significant downregulation in cpt1a mRNA (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. The ELISA revealed that the protein expression levels of Pparγ and Rxrα exhibited a two-fold elevation in the T2DM group relative to the control. In the T3-treated group, Pparγ and Rxrα protein expression levels consistently exhibited a two-fold decrease compared to the model group. Lipid metabolomics showed that T3 could affect the metabolic pathways of zebrafish lipid regulation, including lipid synthesis and decomposition. We provided experimental evidence that T3 could mitigate lipid accumulation in our zebrafish T2DM model. Elucidating the lipid-lowering effects of T3 could help to minimize the detrimental impacts of overfeeding in aquaculture.

In Vitro Activity of Water Extracts of Olive Oil against Planktonic Cells and Biofilm Formation of Arcobacter-like Species.

Extra-virgin olive oils contain many bioactive substances that are phenolic compounds. The survival of Arcobacter-like strains in non-buffered (WEOO) and buffered (BEOO) extracts of olive oils were studied. Time kill curves of different strains were measured in the environment of olive oil extracts of different grades. The activity of the extracts was also monitored for biofilm formation using the Christensen method. In vitro results revealed that extra-virgin olive oil extracts exhibited the strongest antimicrobial effects, especially non-buffered extracts, which exhibited strain inhibition after only 5 min of exposure. The weakest inhibitory effects were observed for olive oil extracts. A decrease in biofilm formation was observed in the environment of higher WEOO concentrations, although at lower concentrations of extracts, increased biofilm formation occurred due to stress conditions. The dialdehydic forms of oleuropein derivatives, hydroxytyrosol, and tyrosol were the main compounds detected by HPLC-CoulArray. The results indicate that not all olive oils had a similar bactericidal effect, and that bioactivity primarily depended on the content of certain phenolic compounds.

The use of medical grade cannabis in Italy for drug-resistant epilepsy: a case series.

In Italy, medical grade cannabis (MGC) can be prescribed for different medical conditions, including drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), once standard and approved therapies have failed, or caused non-tolerable side effects. Here, we present a retrospective case series report of five patients with DRE who started therapy with MGC. Authorized ISO 9001:2008 pharmacies prepared MGC according to Italian laws. Olive oil extracts (OOEs) were prepared following standard extraction protocols, and cannabinoids were measured on each OOE to check for successful extraction.After treatment with MGC, all patients reported a reduction in seizure frequency and severity, and some reported improved mood, sleep quality, and general well-being without relevant side effects. Despite the small sample size and open-label nature of the data, we show that MGC may be successfully used to treat DRE. This is especially true when considering that no valid therapeutic option exists for these patients and that MGC was extremely well tolerated.

Date seed oil loaded niosomes: development, optimization and anti-inflammatory effect evaluation on rats.

OBJECTIVE: An optimized date seed oil (DSO) loaded niosomes was formulated. SIGNIFICANCE: Maximize the extract anti-inflammatory efficacy and govern its release characteristics from nanoparticles for osteoarthritis prevention and treatment purposes. METHODS: By using Box-Behnken Design, the effect of three formulation factors on the entrapment efficiency percentage (Y1), initial DSO release percentage after 2 h (Y2), and cumulative DSO release percentage of DSO after 12 h (Y3), were optimized and studied. The optimized DSO formulation was specified, elaborated, particle size and zeta potential assessed, examined morphologically under electron and light microscope, and in vivo evaluated via carrageenan-induced rat paw edema study. RESULTS: 65.89%, 18.39%, and 58.27% were the measured responses of the optimized niosomes for Y1, Y2, and Y3, respectively. The vesicular structure of the optimized DSO loaded nano-vesicles with nano-size range and good stability features were confirmed. Furthermore, a distinguished anti-inflammatory activity in both prompt and sustained effectiveness were exhibited via the optimized DSO niosomes. Interestingly, the delayed efficacy outcomes of the extract loaded nanoparticles showed a similarity profile as well as the negative control group outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: To emphasize, DSO loading in niosomes revealed a significant enhancement toward inflammation alleviation, which offers a promising implement in osteoarthritis remediation and prohibition.

Krill oil extract suppresses cell growth and induces apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world. The current available treatments for CRC include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, surgery is only useful when the disease is diagnosed at the earlier stage. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are associated with numerous side effects that decrease the patients' quality of life. Safer, effective alternatives, such as natural compounds, to chemotherapy are desirable. This study assessed the efficacy of free fatty acid (FFA) extract of krill oil on three human CRC cells lines. METHODS: HCT-15, SW-480 and Caco-2 cells were treated with the FFA extracts of krill oil and fish oil for 48 h while treatments with the bioactive omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) of these marine oils, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) in comparison with a n-6 PUFA, arachnoid acid (AA, C20:4n-6) were up to 72 h at the concentrations of 50, 100, 150 and 200 µM. Effects of all the treatments on cell proliferation were assessed using a water-soluble tetrazolium-1 (WST-1) assay kit at 24, 48 and 72 h. Effects of FFA extract of krill oil and EPA on apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential were determined using commercial kits after 48 h of treatment. RESULTS: Krill oil extract inhibited cell proliferation of all three cell lines in the similar manner as fish oil extract. A significant cell apoptosis and increase in mitochondrial membrane potential were observed after the treatment with krill oil extract. EPA at the concentration of 200 µM reduced significantly the proliferation of HCT-15 and SW-480 at 24, 48 and 72 h. In addition, EPA treatment (100 and 200 µM) resulted in significant cell apoptosis in all three cell lines. No significant changes were observed after treatment with DHA and AA. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the FFA extract of krill oil maybe an effective chemotherapeutic agent to suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis in CRC cells through its bioactive constitute EPA. Although the exact mechanism of the pro-apoptotic properties of krill oil extract is unclear, mitochondrial pathway seems to be implicated.

Effect of plant extracts derived from thyme on male broiler performance.

The effect of dietary thyme-oil extract (TOE) supplementation on immune functions of broilers were assessed by feeding graded levels (50, 100, 200, or 400 ppm) of TOE to male broiler chicks during a 42-d feeding trial compared with negative- or positive-control diets. Dietary control treatments included a negative-control diet with no feed-additive supplementation and 2 positive-control groups supplemented with either virginiamycin or zinc bacitracin. In total, 300 1-day-old Ross × Ross male broilers were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments that consisted of 5 replicates of 10 birds each. On d 21 and 42, 2 birds from each replicate were killed by cervical cutting to measure the relative weights of spleen and bursa of Fabricius. At 25 d of age, chicks were injected with 0.5 mL of 10% SRBC suspension. Broilers fed with 200 ppm of TOE had heavier weights of bursa of Fabricius than those fed other dietary treatments at d 42 of age. Furthermore, dietary inclusion of 100 ppm of TOE resulted in higher (P < 0.05) total immunoglobulin response in primary antibody titer against sheep erythrocytes compared with other dietary treatments. On the other hand, diet modifications had no significant effect on blood leukocyte subpopulations and heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. These results suggest that dietary supplementation with TOE, especially at the level of 100 ppm, can improve immunological responses of broiler chicks.

Cannabis oil extracts for chronic pain: what else can be learned from another structured prospective cohort?

Introduction: The use of medicinal cannabis for managing pain expands, although its efficacy and safety have not been fully established through randomized controlled trials. Objectives: This structured, prospective questionnaire-based cohort was aimed to assess long-term effectiveness and safety of cannabis oil extracts in patients with chronic pain. Methods: Adult Israeli patients licensed to use cannabis oil extracts for chronic pain were followed prospectively for 6 months. The primary outcome measure was change from baseline in average weekly pain intensity, and secondary outcomes were changes in related symptoms and quality of life, recorded before treatment initiation and 1, 3, and 6 months thereafter. Generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze changes over time. In addition, "responders" (≥30% reduction in weekly pain at any time point) were identified. Results: The study included 218 patients at baseline, and 188, 154, and 131 at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. At 6 months, the mean daily doses of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol were 22.4 ± 24.0 mg and 20.8 ± 30.1 mg, respectively. Pain decreased from 7.9 ± 1.7 at baseline to 6.6 ± 2.2 at 6 months (F(3,450) = 26.22, P < 0.0001). Most secondary parameters also significantly improved. Of the 218 participants, 24% were "responders" but could not be identified by baseline parameters. "Responders" exhibited higher improvement in secondary outcomes. Adverse events were common but mostly nonserious. Conclusion: This prospective cohort demonstrated a modest overall long-term improvement in chronic pain and related symptoms and a reasonable safety profile with the use of relatively low doses of individually titrated Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol.

Integrated metabolomics and proteomics analyses to reveal anticancer mechanism of hemp oil extract in colorectal cancer.

Cannabis sativa L., with a rich history in Chinese folk medicine, includes hemp strains that offer substantial economic and medical benefits due to their non-addictive properties. Hemp has demonstrated various pharmaceutical activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor effects. This study explores the potential of hemp oil extract (HOE) in treating colorectal cancer (CRC). Despite its promise, the specific anticancer mechanisms of HOE have not been well understood. To elucidate these mechanisms, we employed mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and proteomics to investigate the global effects of HOE on CRC cells. Additionally, bioinformatics approaches, including bulk RNA-seq and single-cell RNA-seq, were used to identify gene expression differences and cellular heterogeneity. The results were validated using flow cytometry, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Our findings reveal that HOE induces significant alterations in purine metabolism pathways, down-regulates c-MYC, and inhibits the expression of cell cycle-related proteins such as CCND1, CDK4, and CDK6, leading to cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. This comprehensive analysis demonstrates that HOE effectively blocks the cell cycle in the G1 phase, thereby inhibiting colorectal cancer cell proliferation. These findings provide experimental evidence supporting the potential therapeutic use of hemp in medicine.

Evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer activities and molecular docking of Moringa oleifera seed oil extract against experimental model of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in Swiss female albino mice.

The current research intended to evaluate the antitumor properties of Moringa oleifera oil extract (MOE). Fifty-six female Swiss albino mice were employed in this study. Animals were assigned into four groups: control (C) group, moringa oil extract (MOE) group administered (500 mg/kg b. wt) MOE daily via gavage, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) group and EAC group administered daily with (500 mg/kg b.wt) MOE for two weeks (EAC/MOE). The results showed that MOE significantly ameliorated the EAC increase in body weight and reduced the EAC cell viability. In addition, they upgraded the levels of hepatic and renal functions, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers and EAC-induced hepatic and renal histopathological changes. Treatment of EAC with MOE induced antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and normalized most of the tested parameters besides the histopathological alterations in both renal and hepatic tissues. HPLC for the MOE identified Cinnamic acid, Ellagic acid, Quercetin, Gallic acid, Vanillin and Hesperidin as major compounds. The molecular docking study highlighted the virtual binding of the identified compounds inside the GSH and SOD proteins, especially for Quercetin which exhibited promising binding affinity with good interactive binding mode with the key amino acids. These results demonstrate that the antitumor constituents of MOE against EAC induced oxidative stress and inflammation by preventing oxidative damage and controlling EAC increase.

In vitro antibacterial activity of nimbolide against Helicobacter pylori.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Nimbolide is one of hundreds of phytochemicals that have been identified within the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). As an evergreen tree native to the Indian subcontinent, components of the neem tree have been used for millennia in traditional medicine to treat dental, gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and blood-related ailments, ulcers, headaches, heartburn, and diabetes. In modern times, natural oils and extracts from the neem tree have been found to have activities against a variety of microorganisms, including human pathogens. AIM OF THE STUDY: Helicobacter pylori, a prevalent gastric pathogen, shows increasing levels of antibiotic resistance. Thus, there is an increasing demand for novel therapeutics to treat chronic infections. The in vitro activity of neem oil extract against H. pylori was previously characterized and found to be bactericidal. Given the numerous phytochemicals found in neem oil extract, the present study was designed to define and characterize specific compounds showing bactericidal activity against H. pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Azadirachtin, gedunin, and nimbolide, which are all common in neem extracts, were tested for antimicrobial activity; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined for nine strains of H. pylori. The specific properties of nimbolide were further characterized against H. pylori strain G27. Bactericidal kinetics, reversibility, effectiveness at low pH, and activity under bacteriostatic conditions were examined. The hemolytic activity of nimbolide was also measured. Finally, neem oil extract and nimbolide effectiveness against H. pylori biofilms were examined in comparison to common antibiotics used to treat H. pylori infection. RESULTS: Nimbolide, but not azadirachtin or gedunin, was effective against H. pylori; MICs and MBCs against the nine tested strains ranged between 1.25-5 µg/mL and 2.5-10 µg/mL, respectively. Additionally, neem oil extract and nimbolide were both effective against H. pylori biofilms. Nimbolide exhibited no significant hemolytic activity at biologically relevant concentrations. The bactericidal activity of nimbolide was time- and dose-dependent, independent of active H. pylori growth, and synergistic with low pH. Furthermore, nimbolide-mediated H. pylori cell death was irreversible after exposure to high nimbolide concentrations (80 µg/mL, after 2 h of exposure time and 40 µg/mL after 8 h of exposure). CONCLUSIONS: Nimbolide has significant bactericidal activity against H. pylori, killing both free living bacterial cells as well as cells within a biofilm. Furthermore, the lack of hemolytic activity, synergistic activity at low pH and bactericidal properties even against bacteria in a state of growth arrest are all ideal pharmacological and biologically relevant properties for a potential new agent. This study underscores the potential of neem oil extract or nimbolide to be used as a future treatment for H. pylori infection.

Home Care and the Effects of Hypericum tetrapterum Oil Extract in the Treatment of Chronic Wounds During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing brought about sudden changes in the health system and treatment strategies. Patients with chronic wounds were affected by these changes and had limited access to professional treatment in hospitals. They were at a higher risk of infection with COVID-19 due to comorbidities and advanced age. The aim of the study was to develop an appropriate protocol for the in-home treatment of chronic wounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic when access to hospitals is limited and the risk of infection for these patients is high. In our case, Hypericum tetrapterum oil extract was applied for four months on a volunteer, a 78-year-old male patient with a chronic wound, additionally infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and comorbidities. His healing status was monitored by measuring the wound size and microbiological analysis at certain intervals. The scab of wound DPHR2 (right lower leg chronic wound 2), with its diameters of d1 (40 mm) and d2 (20 mm), fell off after 22 days of the first Hypericum tetrapterum oil extract application. The scab of wound DPHR1 (right lower leg chronic wound 1), with its diameters of d1 (74 mm) and d2 (35 mm), fell off after two and a half months of treatment with Hypericum tetrapterum oil extract. The results of our study indicated that Hypericum tetrapterum oil extract has a significant wound-healing potential and might be used as traditional medicine in the treatment of chronic wounds.

Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Ethiopian Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Leaf and Flower Oil Extracts.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of multidrug resistant pathogenic microbes has initiated the development of natural antimicrobial agents from plants. Oils from herbal sources have drawn scientific interest due to their potential source of bioactive compounds. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to examine the physicochemical and biological activities including antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of the oil extracted from basil leaves and flowers. METHODS: The physicochemical properties of the oil extracts were measured based on oil yield, specific gravity, acid value, free fatty acids and peroxide values whilst the antioxidant activities were assessed by ascorbic acid, DPPH (2, 2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), and hydrogen peroxide free radical scavenging activities. The antimicrobial experiment was conducted based on disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. RESULTS: The result of antioxidant activity of Ocimum basilicum indicated significantly higher DPPH (86.45%) for leaf oil extract. The strongest antibacterial activity with maximum zone of inhibition (15.47 mm), minimum inhibitory concentration MIC (0.09 µg/ml), and corresponding minimum bactericidal concentration MBC (0.19 µg/ml) was exhibited by the flower oil extract against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-25923. The strongest antifungal activity with maximum zone of inhibition (15.90 mm), MIC (0.125 µg/ml, the least value), and minimum fungicidal concentration MFC (0.09 µg/ml) were recorded for leaf oil against Candida albicans. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded from the present study that the sweet basil flower and leaf oil extracts can be potential antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal agents.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil-Based Green Formulations With Promising Antimicrobial Activity Against Drug-Resistant Isolates.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) from Olea europaea L. drupes, a cornerstone in the Mediterranean diet, is well known for its nutritional and health properties, especially for prevention of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Traditionally, beneficial health effects have been largely attributed to the high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids, and in recent years, these have also been related to other components including oleacein and oleocanthal. Here, we evaluated, for the first time, the antimicrobial activity of different green extra virgin olive oil-based formulations in natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs) emerging as powerful and biocompatible solvents. Specifically, the antimicrobial activity of the EVOO extract, as well as purified oleocanthal and oleacein in two NaDESs (choline/glycerol and choline/propylene glycol), against several drug-resistant clinical isolates and standard microbial strains has been evaluated. The main result was the inhibitory activity of the EVOO extract in choline/glycerol as well as oleacein in choline/propylene glycol toward drug-resistant Gram-positive and -negative strains. Specifically, the EVOO extract in choline/glycerol showed the highest antibacterial activity against several clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus, whereas oleacein in choline/propylene glycol was the most effective toward various clinical strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In addition, all the formulations tested were effective against Candida spp. In conclusion, our results suggest EVOO-based formulations in NaDESs as an interesting strategy that may help in reducing the risk of development of drug resistance. Under this perspective, the usage of NaDESs for the preparation of new antimicrobial formulations may represent a promising approach.

The neem [Azadirachta indica a. juss (meliaceae)] oil reduction in the in vitro production of zearalenone by Fusarium graminearum.

Zearalenone, a mycotoxin produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium, including F. graminearum, triggers reproduction disorders in certain animals and hyperestrogen syndromes in humans. Current research investigates three concentrations of neem oil extract (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5%) in reducing the production of zearalenone. Neem oil extract decreased zearalenone amount in the three concentrations but highest inhibition (59.05%) occurred at 0.1%.

Effect of some plant extracts from Egyptian herbal plants against Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in vitro.

Nowadays, herbal extracts are considered to be a potential source for developing new drugs that will overcome resistance to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. This study was aimed to explore the efficacy of several Egyptian plant extracts against Toxoplasma gondii infection in vitro for future development of a new, safe, and effective compound for T. gondii. Methanol extracts from Matricaria chamomilla (German chamomile), Laurus nobilis, Citrullus colocynthis, Cinnamum camphora, Boswellia scara, and Melissa officionalis plants and oil extracts (either essential or fixed oils) of some plants such as: lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), marjoram (Origanum majorana), watercress (Nasturtium officionale), wheat germ (Triticum aestivum), sesame (Sesamum indicum), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), clove (Syzygum aromaticum), jojoba (Simmondsia chinesis), and basil (Ocimum basilicum) were investigated for their anti-Toxoplasma activities. The methanol extracts from C. colocynthis and L. nobilis and the oil extracts from lemon grass and marjoram were active against T. gondii with half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 22.86 µg/ml, 31.35 µg/ml, 4.6 µg/ml, and 26.24 µg/ml, respectively. Their selectivity index (SI) values were <10. Interestingly, the methanol extract from M. chamomilla and oil from citronella had the lowest IC50 values for T. gondii (3.56 µg/ml and 2.54 µg/ml, respectively) and the highest SI values (130.33 and 15.02, respectively). In conclusion, methanol extract from M. chamomilla and oil from citronella might be potential sources of novel therapies for treating toxoplasmosis.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a standardized Curcuma longa Linn formulation in cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: The anti-cancer activity of phytomolecules present in turmeric or haridra (Curcuma longa Linn) extracts against cancer has been described in various 'in vitro and in vivo' studies. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer and chemo-preventive activity of a new standardized Supercritical Turmeric Oil Extract (SCTOE) NBFR-03 was evaluated in cervical cancer models. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In vitro cytotoxicity of this formulation was assessed at 10, 20, 40, and 80 µg/ml concentrations, in three cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, SiHa, ME180) using Sulforhodamine B assay. The in vivo anti-cancer activity was evaluated in two groups of female nude mice; the first one was with tumor xenograft implants and at the same time treatment was started with 96 µl/kg/day p.o. and 192 µl/kg/day p.o. NBFR-03 for three months. The second group was kept as chemoprevention group where mice were pre-treated with the formulation (96 µl/kg/day p.o.) for two weeks and injected with cancer cell suspension with continued treatment for three months. RESULTS: No cytotoxicity was seen in any cell line with the extract when compared to positive control (Adriamycin 10 µg/ml). In mice the first treatment group with tumor xenograft implants did not show any significant anti-tumor activity but showed a trend where higher dose group had smaller tumor volumes as compared to lower dose group and controls (p = 0.37 and p = 0.34 respectively). The chemopreventive group with pre-treated mice also showed smaller tumor size as compared to controls (p = 0.163). CONCLUSION: NBFR-03 turmeric oil extract showed a promising trend in mice pre-treated with NBFR-03. There is a scope for further studying the potential of this extract as complementary therapy and as a chemopreventive.

Clinicopathological and bacteriological studies on lamb bacterial enteritis and monitoring the oregano oil and vitamins A,D3,E effect on its treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the effect of A,D3,E (I/M) and oregano oil extract 15% on some clinicopathological parameters during lamb bacterial enteritis treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty Barki lambs, 20 apparently healthy (control group) and, 40 suffered from bacterial enteritis [enteric group (EG)], were subdivided into four treated groups (TGs): antibiotic group (AG), antibiotic + A,D3,E group (A + A,D3,E), antibiotic + oregano oil (AOG), and oregano group (OG). Fecal swabs were collected from EG then aseptically cultured, isolated, phenotypically identified, genotypically confirmed, and sequenced by PCR 16srRNA. Paper disk diffusion test was used for estimation of oregano oil extract 15% antibacterial activity. After blood sample aspiration from all animals, they were clinicopathologically and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Escherichia coli, followed by Salmonella species and then Klebsiella species, was the main causative agents of lamb diarrhea and were susceptible to oregano oil extract 15%. A + A,D3,E and AOG showed significant (p < 0.05) enhancement of some clinicopathological parameters more than AG or OG. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), yielded area under the curve, sensitivity, negative predictive value as 1, 100% and 100% respectively, were determined in both EG and TGs. CONCLUSION: Oregano oil extract 15% has good antibacterial properties against enteric bacteria in vitro and in vivo. The combination between antibiotic and antioxidant vitamins or oregano plant extract of 15% has a good impact on some clinicopathological alterations in lamb bacterial enteritis treatment. TAC, MMP-9, and MMP-2 may be good markers for the disease and its treatment follow-up.

Krill oil extract inhibits the migration of human colorectal cancer cells and down-regulates EGFR signalling and PD-L1 expression.

BACKGROUND: The currently available treatments for colorectal cancer (CRC) are often associated with serious side-effects. Therefore, the development of a novel nutraceutical agent may provide an alternative complementary therapy for CRC. Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) associates with a range of cancers while downregulation of EGFR signalling can inhibit cancer growth. Our previous studies have shown that the free fatty acid extract (FFAE) of krill oil exhibits anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic properties. This study determines the effects of krill oil extract on the migration of human CRC cells, and its potential role in modulating EGFR signalling pathway and the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). METHODS: Human CRC cells, DLD-1 and HT-29 were treated with FFAE of KO at 0.03 and 0.12 µL/100 µL for 8 or 24 h. Cell migration was determined by Boyden chamber migration assay. The expression of EGFR, phosphorylated EGFR (pEGFR), protein kinase B (AKT), phosphorylated AKT (pAKT), extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2), phosphorylated ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) as well as PD-L1 were assessed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The FFAE of krill oil significantly inhibited cell migration compared to ethanol-treated (vehicle control) cells (P < 0.01 to P < 0.001). At the molecular level, krill oil extract reduced the expression of EGFR, pEGFR (P < 0.001 for both) and their downstream signalling, pERK1/2 and pAKT (P < 0.01 to P < 0.001) without altering total ERK 1/2 and AKT levels. In addition, the expression of PD-L1 was reduced by 67 to 72% (P < 0.001) following the treatment with krill oil extract. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated that krill oil may be a potential therapeutic/adjunctive agent for CRC attributed to its anti-migratory effects.. The potential anti-cancer properties of krill oil are likely to be associated with the downregulation of EGFR, pEGFR and their downstream pERK/ERK1/2 and pAKT/AKT signalling pathways along with the downregulation of PD-L1.

Chromatographic and spectroscopic determination of solvent-extracted Lantana camara leaf oil.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the chemical profile of Lantana camara leaf oil. METHODS: The essential oil was extracted from dried leaf samples using the Soxhlet extraction method. The oil was separated from the solvent and the bioactive compounds were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The identified peaks in the mass spectrum were matched with the database of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library. RESULTS: The FT-IR results indicated the presence of alcohols, carboxylic acids, phenols, alkanes, ketones, and primary amine compounds. GC-MS identified 43 compounds representing 95% of the total leaf essential oil components. Some of the major isolated compounds included a pyrrolizine; 1-dodecanol; 1,2-nonadecanediol; phytol; 1,3-dioxolane; 4-undecene, 9-methyl, (Z)-; 1-eicosanol; and imidazole. CONCLUSIONS: The identified constituents of the extracted oil have established pharmacologic and insecticidal activities, and these compounds are also used in the drink, food, and cosmetic industries. This extract is highly valuable for the medical treatment of various ailments.

Anti-depressant effects of oil from fructus gardeniae via PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling.

The dried ripe fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis was usually applied as an herb medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It was suggested that the Gardenia jasminoides oil extract (oil from Fructus Gardeniae [OFG]) might serve as a potential treatment for depression, whereas its pathogenesis still remained not fully understood. The present research was conducted to evaluate the anti-depressive effect of OFG in mice and explore its potential mechanism. The OFG and ketamine (KET) were intragastrically and intraperitoneally treated, respectively. Thereafter, the animals were subjected to the behavior tests. The expressions of protein kinase A (PKA), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in hippocampus were detected by Western blot. The selective PKA inhibitor H-89 was also applied to confirm the mechanism. As a result, OFG and KET treatment improved the behavior performance. Furthermore, the administrations of OFG effectively enhanced the expressions of PKA, p-CREB, and BDNF. With the application of selective PKA inhibitor H-89, the ameliorated effects caused by OFG were blocked, but not by KET. In conclusion, the presented work indicated that OFG-exerted protective effect on depression through PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling.