CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF CURCUMIN AGAINST DIABETES AND NICOTINE-COMBINED OXIDATIVE STRESS

Background: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) develop through oxidative stress-induced myocardial cell apoptosis that cause cardiac tissue damage resulting in hemodynamics disturbance while Cigarette Smoking (CS) is associated with a significant increase in the risk of recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmia in ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy patients caused by oxidative stress. Curcuma longa extract (curcumin) is known to protect against hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress. This brought in mind to investigate the probability of the crcumin ability to ameliorate the combined diabetes and smoking induced oxidative stress caused DCM Materials and Methods: Diabetic rats were administered nicotine to investigate the effect of the combined oxidative stress of diabetes and nicotine. Moreover, curcumin was administered to examine its protective effect on possible oxidative stress induced diabetes and nicotine. Results: Nicotine administration in a dose of 1.5 mg/kg to diabetic rats increased the oxidative stress. This occurs through elevation of plasma nitric oxide (NO) and upregulation of cardiac tissue inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and Endothelin-1 mRNA expressions, in addition to elevation of plasma triglycerides (TG), and LDL and reduction of HDL levels. Nicotine administration also reduced the cardiac tissue protective mechanism through reduction of plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), cardiac tissue Erythropoietin (EPO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms and VEGF receptor mRNA expressions. These combined oxidative stresses were manifested by elevation of the plasma cardiac markers troponin I and creatine kinase (CK-MB). Supplementation of curcumin prevented the diabetic and nicotine-induced oxidative stress through reduction of plasma NO and iNOS and Endothelin-1 mRNA expressions to their control levels and elevation of plasma SOD and upregulation of cardiac tissue Erythropoietin (EPO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms and VEGF receptor mRNA expressions. This curcumin protective effect of the cardiac tissue was manifested by normalization of the plasma cardiac marker troponin I and CK-MB. Conclusion: These results strongly confirmed that curcumin protected cardiac tissues from the combined oxidative stress induced by diabetes and nicotine

Effects of herbal supplements on milk production quality and specific blood parameters in heat-stressed early lactating cows

The present study explored the influence of supplemental herbal mixtures on cow milk production, quality, and blood parameters in dairy cows under high ambient temperatures. Thirty Holstein cows were randomly assigned into three experimental groups of 10 each. The first control group was supplied with the commercial basal diet, whereas two treatment groups were provided with the commercial basal diet supplemented with 50 and 100 g/head/day of the herbal mixture, respectively. The results showed that the mixture of herbal supplementation did not influence weekly milk production. Milk total fat, triglyceride, and total protein values were not affected (p < 0.05) in cows fed on basal diets supplemented with herbal mixture; however, milk cholesterol was decreased significantly by 100 mg/head/day of the herbal mixture. On the other hand, lactose has increased significantly by adding 100 mg/head/day of herbal mixture. Furthermore, the total cholesterol level in serum was decreased by adding 100 mg/head/day of the herbal mixture, while plasma prolactin, cortisol, GOT, and GPT were unaffected. Regarding fatty acids (C18, C18:1 (c9), 18:1 (c11), 18:2 (c9, c12), 18:2 (t9, t12), and CLA (c9, t11)), there was no significant variation between the groups. Meanwhile, both C19:00 and 18:3 (c6, c9, and c12) were noticeably higher (p < 0.05) in the group that received 100gm, followed by 50 mg, compared to the control. In conclusion, the supplement with a herbal mixture positively affected milk quality by decreasing total cholesterol and increasing lactose, milk fatty acid profile by increasing unsaturated fatty acids content, and plasma cholesterol levels

The involvement of antioxidant, stress, and immune-related genes in the responsive mechanisms of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) to hypersalinity exposure

Salinity stress is one of the marked influencing factors on the ecophysiology of aquaculture and is considered an important reason for the retreat of the fish industry. The current study is an endeavor to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the response to salinity stress in common carp. Fish (Average weight 5 ± 2 g) were randomly distributed into two groups; the 1st is a control was exposed to tap water (0.2 ppt salinity) and the 2nd is a treated was exposed to hypersalinity (10 ppt salinity) for five days. Serum biochemical indicators including total protein, albumin, globulins, A/G ratio, blood glucose, cortisone, Na+, K+, and Cl- levels were evaluated. Besides, Tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, corticotropin-releasing hormone, and catalase enzyme mRNA expression levels were assessed in lymphoid and immunocompetent organs (liver and spleen) and osmoregulatory organs (kidney and gills) by using Real-time qPCR. Hypersalinity adversely affected the biochemical markers; total protein, albumin, and globulins decreased significantly; however, blood glucose, serum cortisol, and sodium markedly increased in fish exposed to hypersalinity compared with the control. In addition, from the molecular point of view, all the evaluated genes were upregulated at a high expression rate in the liver compared with other studied organs after the salinity challenge. On the contrary, hypersalinity modulated the expression of immune-related genes (Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β) in the kidney and spleen and upregulated corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNA in all studied organs except gills. In conclusion, the obtained data clarified the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of salinity stress on the liver, kidney, spleen, and gills. Furthermore, it strongly suggests the implication of neural, endocrine, and immune systems in the responsive mechanisms to the salinity stress in carp

Dietary clenbuterol modifies the expression of genes involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism and growth in the liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The current study aimed to evaluate whether clenbuterol, a β2-adrenergic agonist, supplementation in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diets can influence growth and blood parameters. Besides, assessment of adipogenic genes as fatty acid synthase (FAS) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) which is a key enzyme in the regulation of the flux of fatty acids in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue as well as muscle growth-regulating genes as myostatin (MYO) in muscle and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in liver. The fish were allocated into three equal groups; control group that fed basal diet only and the other two groups fed a basal diet containing clenbuterol at two doses 5 ppm and 10 ppm/kg diet for 30 consecutive days. Results revealed that clenbuterol supplementation significantly increased body weight, decreased liver, spleen and abdominal fat weights, and decreased total circulatory cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels. Moreover, clenbuterol inhibits lipogenesis by downregulation of FAS gene expression by dose and time-dependent manner in the liver while enhanced lipolysis in both the liver and in the adipose tissue. Moreover, lipolysis was reduced in muscle by dose 10 ppm on day 30. Furthermore, clenbuterol presented higher gene expression of MYO and IGF-1 in muscle and liver respectively by dose 5 ppm at day 15 on the other hand, these findings were reversed by day 30 compared with control. In conclusion, clenbuterol efficacy was apparent in a dose and time response pattern to boost growth and reduce fat deposition rates, indicating for the first time that clenbuterol has a profitable growth impact on Nile tilapia

Evaluation of Analgesic Effect of Caudal Epidural Tramadol, Tramadol-Lidocaine, and Lidocaine in Water Buffalo Calves (Bubalus bubalis)

Aim of this study was to compare the analgesic effect of tramadol and a combination of tramadol-lidocaine with that produced by lidocaine administration in the epidural space in buffalo calves. In a prospective randomized crossover study, ten male buffalo calves were used to compare the epidural analgesic effect of tramadol (1 mg/kg) and tramadol-lidocaine combination (0.5 mg/kg and 0.11 mg/kg, resp.) with that produced by 2% lidocaine (0.22 mg/kg). Loss of sensation was examined by pin-prick test. Onset time, duration, and degree of analgesia and ataxia were recorded after each treatment. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature, and haematobiochemical parameters were recorded after all treatments. Time to onset and duration of analgesia, respectively, were as follows: tramadol 11±2 min and 208±15 min; tramadol-lidocaine 6±2 min and 168±9 min; lidocaine 4±1 min and 67±13 min. Onset time and duration were significantly longer with tramadol than the other treatments. Duration was significantly longer with tramadol-lidocaine than lidocaine. Ataxia was mildly observed in tramadol-lidocaine and was moderate in lidocaine. HR, RR, and rectal temperature did not differ significantly from baseline after any treatment. Haematobiochemical parameters returned to basal levels by 24 h after all treatments. This combination might be clinically useful to provide analgesia in buffalo for long-duration surgical procedures

Date Palm Pollen Extract Avert Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy Fibrosis and Associated Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress, Inflammatory Cascade, and Apoptosis-Targeting Bax/Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 Signaling Pathways

Doxorubicin (DOX) has a potent antineoplastic efficacy and is considered a cornerstone of chemotherapy. However, it causes several dose-dependent cardiotoxic results, which has substantially restricted its clinical application. This study was intended to explore the potential ameliorative effect of date palm pollen ethanolic extract (DPPE) against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and the mechanisms underlying it. Forty male Wistar albino rats were equally allocated into Control (CTR), DPPE (500 mg/kg bw for 4 weeks), DOX (2.5 mg/kg bw, intraperitoneally six times over 2 weeks), and DPPE + DOX-treated groups. Pre-coadministration of DPPE with DOX partially ameliorated DOX-induced cardiotoxicity as DPPE improved DOX-induced body and heart weight changes and mitigated the elevated cardiac injury markers activities of serum aminotransferases, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and creatine kinase-cardiac type isoenzyme. Additionally, the concentration of serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI), troponin T (cTnT), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP), and cytosolic calcium (Ca+2) were amplified. DPPE also alleviated nitrosative status (nitric oxide) in DOX-treated animals, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant molecules as glutathione content, and glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities and inflammatory markers levels; NF-κB p65, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. As well, it ameliorated the severity of histopathological lesions, histomorphometric alteration and improved the immune-staining of the pro-fibrotic (TGF-β1), pro-apoptotic (caspase-3 and Bax), and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) proteins in cardiac tissues. Collectively, pre-coadministration of DPPE partially mitigated DOX-induced cardiac injuries via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anti-apoptotic potential

Effect of Feeding Wet Feed or Wet Feed Fermented by Bacillus licheniformis on Growth Performance, Histopathology and Growth and Lipid Metabolism Marker Genes in Broiler Chickens

The present study evaluated the effect of three feeding methods (dry feed, wet feed or wet feed fermented with Bacillus licheniformis) on the growth performance, intestinal histomorphometry and gene expression of the lipid metabolism- and growth-related genes of broiler chickens. A total of 360 one-day-old Cobb-500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted into three groups containing four replicates with 30 birds each. The first group (control) was fed a dry mash basal diet. The second and third groups were fed wet feed and fermented wet feed. The final body weight and weight gain were reduced (p < 0.01) in the wet feed group, while they did not differ between the fermented wet feed and dry feed groups. Feed intake was not altered, and feeding on wet feed significantly (p < 0.01) increased the feed-to-gain ratio compared to the remaining groups. No differences between the three feeding methods in carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry and nutrient digestibility were observed except for crude protein digestibility, which was increased (p < 0.01) in the fermented wet feed group. Duodenal and ileal villi heights were elevated in birds fed fermented wet feeds, while crypt depth was not altered. The expression fold of IGF-1, GH and m-TOR genes in the pectoral muscle of birds fed wet feed was decreased (p < 0.05), while myostatin gene expression was elevated. Feeding on wet feed reduced the hepatic gene expression of PPARγ and increased that of FAS. In conclusion, wet feed negatively affected the broiler chickens’ efficiency under heat stress; however, fermenting the wet feed with Bacillus licheniformis improved feed utilization and birds’ performance compared to the dry feed group

Assessment of Anti-Alzheimer Pursuit of Jambolan Fruit Extract and/or Choline against AlCl₃ Toxicity in Rats

Jambolan fruit extract and choline were investigated for Aluminum tri chloride (AlCl3)-induced Alzheimer’s disease in rats. Thirty-six male “Sprague Dawley” rats weighing (150 ± 10 g) were allocated into six groups; the first group was fed a baseline diet and served as a negative control. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was induced in Group 2 rats by oral administration of AlCl3 (17 mg/kg body weight) dissolved in distilled water (served as a positive control). Rats in Group 3 were orally supplemented concomitantly with both 500 mg/kg BW of an ethanolic extract of jambolan fruit once daily for 28 days and AlCl3 (17 mg/kg body weight). Group 4: Rivastigmine (RIVA) aqueous infusion (0.3 mg/kg BW/day) was given orally to rats as a reference drug concomitantly with oral supplementation of AlCl3 (17 mg/kg body weight) for 28 days. Group 5 rats were orally treated with choline (1.1 g/kg) concomitantly with oral supplementation of AlCl3 (17 mg/kg body weight). Group 6 was given 500 mg/kg of jambolan fruit ethanolic extract and 1.1 g/kg of choline orally to test for additive effects concurrently with oral supplementation of AlCl3 (17 mg/kg bw) for 28 days. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency ratio, and relative brain, liver, kidney, and spleen weight were calculated after the trial. Brain tissue assessment was analyzed for antioxidant/oxidant markers, biochemical analysis in blood serum, a phenolic compound in Jambolan fruits extracted by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and histopathology of the brain. The results showed that Jambolan fruit extract and choline chloride improved brain functions, histopathology, and antioxidant enzyme activity compared with the positive group. In conclusion, administering jambolan fruit extract and choline can lower the toxic impacts of aluminum chloride on the brain

Effect of different monochromatic LED light colour and intensity on growth performance, physiological response and fear reactions in broiler chicken

This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of different monochromatic LED light colour (white ‘WL’, green ‘GL’, blue ‘BL’ and mixed green and blue ‘GL × BL’) and two levels of light intensity (5 lx and 20 lx) on growth performance, physiological responses (haematological and biochemical), behaviour and fear reactions in broiler. A 4 × 2 factorial treatment structure was used to evaluate the impact of 4 LED light colours (WL, GL, BL and GL × BL) and 2 levels of light intensity (5 lx and 20 lx) in triplicates. One-day-old Cobb Avian-48 chicks (N = 384, 36.29 ± 0.092 g) were used. Results revealed a significant effect of light colour on performance (final weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio [FCR]), haematological parameters (haemoglobin, RBCs, PCV, TLC and H/L ratio), biochemical parameters (TP, albumin (AL), and AL/globulin (GL) ratio), tonic immobility (TI) duration and open field (OF) test (latency to first step, mobility duration, immobility duration, immobility sitting, immobility standing, pecking and dropping) with the best results observed in GL × BL. Light intensity had no effects on studied parameters except for H/L ratio, TI duration, latency to first step, immobility sitting, immobility standing and pecking with better findings detected in 5 lx. There was a significant light colour × light intensity interaction on final weight, weight gain, AL, TI duration, mobility duration, immobility duration, immobility sitting, immobility standing and pecking. Conclusively, monochromatic LED light (GL × BL, BL and GL) particularly of low intensity could be a source of light in broiler houses that might have the potential to improve broiler welfare.Highlights LED light is an important factor in the broiler production. Mixed blue and green, blue or green light of 5 lx improves broiler performance and health status. Mixed blue and green, blue or green light of low intensity reduced fear reaction in broilers

Dietary Vitamin B Complex: Orchestration in Human Nutrition throughout Life with Sex Differences

The importance of B complex vitamins starts early in the human life cycle and continues across its different stages. At the same time, numerous reports have emphasized the critical role of adequate B complex intake. Most studies examined such issues concerning a specific vitamin B or life stage, with the majority reporting the effect of either excess or deficiency. Deep insight into the orchestration of the eight different B vitamins requirements is reviewed across the human life cycle, beginning from fertility and pregnancy and reaching adulthood and senility, emphasizing interactions among them and underlying action mechanisms. The effect of sex is also reviewed for each vitamin at each life stage to highlight the different daily requirements and/or outcomes. Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, and folic acid are crucial for maternal and fetal health. During infancy and childhood, B vitamins are integrated with physical and psychological development that have a pivotal impact on one’s overall health in adolescence and adulthood. A higher intake of B vitamins in the elderly is also associated with preventing some aging problems, especially those related to inflammation. All supplementation should be carefully monitored to avoid toxicity and hypervitaminosis. More research should be invested in studying each vitamin individually concerning nutritional disparities in each life stage, with extensive attention paid to cultural differences and lifestyles