Effects of Lactobacillus Strains as a Probiotic and a Hypolipidaemic Agent for Chickens

In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the beneficial effects of probiotics (direct-fed microbials, which include Lactobacillus) to modulate the lipid metabolism. However, the mechanism(s) involved remains unclear. A series of experiments was carried out to investigate the ability of 1 2 Lactobacillus strains to deconj ugate bile salts and to remove cholesterol in vitro, and to assess their potential as a pro biotic and as a hypolipidaemic agent for broilers and laying hens. Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity (resulting in bile salt deconjugation) of intestinal bacteria is closely linked to the lowering of cholesterol. The results of the in vitro studies showed that all the 1 2 Lactobacillus strains could deconjugate sodium glychocholate (GCA) and sodium taurocholate (TCA) bile salts, and all the strains, except L. fermentum I 24, had a higher affinity for GCA. However, only eight strains could deconjugate sodium taurodeoxycholate (TDCA). This indicates that the BSH of the Lactobacillus strains is substrate specific. The 1 2 Lactobacillus strains showed significant differences in their ability to reduce cholesterol from the growth medium (27 to 85 %) with or without bile salt, indicating that bile salt is not a prerequisite for the removal of cholesterol. Lactobacillus acidophilus I 1 6, L. crispatus I 1 2, L. brevis C 1 7 and I 2 1 1 , and L. Jermentum I 24 and I 25 removed cholesterol from the growth medium mainly through assimilation of cholesterol into the cells. On the other hand, L. brevis C 1 , C 1 0, I 23 and I 2 1 8, and L. Jermentum C 1 6 removed cholesterol through both assimilation and co-precipitation of deconjugated bile salt with cholesterol at low pH. The Lactobacillus strains assimilated more esterified than non-esterified cholesterol and the assimilated cholesterol was tightly bound to the cells. Cells grown in the presence of cholesterol were more resistant to lysis by sonication than when grown in its absence, suggesting a possible alteration of the cell wall or membrane by the assimilated cholesterol. Cholesterol removal by the Lactobacillus strains was also affected by Tween 80. The feeding trials showed that the supplementation of a mixture of the 1 2 Lactobacillus cultures (LC), as a probiotic for broilers, significantly improved growth equivalent to that provided by the antibiotic, oxytetracycline, but the feed conversion ratio was better in LC-fed broilers. The supplementation of LC also significantly lowered the total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides of the serum; the cholesterol of the carcass and liver; abdominal fat deposition; and fat contents of the liver, muscle and carcass of broilers; but there was little effect on the fatty acid compositions of the liver, muscle and carcass. In laying hens, the supplementation of LC improved the feed efficiency and hen-day egg production during the early stage of the laying cycle, and increased egg weight and influenced a shift from small and medium to large and extra large eggs throughout the laying cycle. However, LC had very little effect on improving the fatty acid composition, and the cholesterol and total fat contents of eggs

Prevalence of obesity among adults in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Background: There is an increasing prevalence of obesity globally which is associated with Non Communicable Diseases. As this trend continues even in UAE we decided to focus on determining the prevalence of obesity among adults in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), UAE.Methods: This was a retrospective observational study done in adults between the age group of 18 to 77 years using convenience sampling technique in 544 subjects. Anthropometric, bio chemical, clinical and demographic data was collected by direct interview for four consecutive years, i.e. from 2013 to 2016. Body Mass Index (BMI) was analyzed to classify individuals as overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9kg/m²), Obese grade I (BMI 30.0-34.9kg/m²), Obese grade II (BMI 35.0-39.9kg/m²) and obese grade III (BMI > 40.0kg/m²).Results: Data was obtained from 544 subjects and considered for analysis. Our results showed that the mean age of the study population was 39.29±13.43 years, the mean weight was 75.35±15.65 kilograms and the mean BMI was 27.62±5.43kg/m2. A total of 67.6% of the study population was either overweight or obese. The prevalence of overweight is 36.2% followed by obesity prevalence of 31.4% of which 22.8% were categorized as Grade I obese, 5.5% Grade II obese and 3.1% Grade III obese. We found that higher proportions of males were in overweight and obese category compared to females.Conclusions: The results derived from our study shows that obesity and overweight are widespread among Ras al khaimah population with the obesity prevalence of 31.4%. Hence, policy makers should focus on preparing national nutritional strategies and implement protocols to overcome this burden by giving practical solutions

Homometallic Dinuclear Cu(II) and Zn(II) Complexes Derived from Salophen-type Ligand: Synthesis, Characterization and Anticancer Screening

Introduction: A series of salophen-type Cu(II) and Zn(II) dinuclear metal complexes of a Schiff base derived from o-phenylenediamine were successfully synthesized, characterized and screened for their anticancer activity. Methods and Results: All compounds were characterized physicochemical and spectral techniques namely elemental analysis (C, H, N), magnetic susceptibility (MSB), molar conductivity, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The shifting of C=N, C-O phenolic and C-O methoxy peaks and the appearance of new peaks assignable to M-N and M-O in IR spectra of the complexes indicated the coordination of azomethine N, phenolic O and methoxy O donor atoms with metal centers. The disappearance of the hydroxyl peak in 1H NMR spectra of the Zn(II) complex supported the involvement of phenolic O upon formation of the metal complex. The Cu(II) complex was paramagnetic with magnetic moment values of 1.97, close to the theoretical spin only magnetic moment, μso, for Cu(II). The compounds were screened for anticancer activity against human colon cancer cells (HCT116). The Cu(II) complex revealed the highest activity with IC50 value of 21.17 ± 0.76 μM. Conclusion: The ligand coordinated as a hexadentate ligand through O and N donor atoms of phenolic, methoxy and azomethine groups. From anticancer screening, it was observed that Cu2(OVanOPD) complex exhibited the highest activity followed by OVanOPD ligand and Zn2(OVanOPD) complex

Effects of dietary prebiotics, probiotic and synbiotics on performance, caecal bacterial populations and caecal fermentation concentrations of broiler chickens

Background: In view of a worldwide attempt to restrict or ban the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal production, probiotics, prebiotics and combinations of both, as synbiotics, have been suggested as potential alternatives. In this study, the effects of a prebiotic (isomalto-oligosaccharides, IMO), a multi-strain probiotic (consisting of 11 Lactobacillus strains), and a combination of these dietary additives as a synbiotic on the performance, caecal bacterial populations and concentrations of caecal volatile fatty acids and non-volatile fatty acids of broiler chickens were evaluated. Results: Supplementation of 1g kg−1 probiotic (PRO); 5 g kg−1 prebiotic IMO (PRE05); 10 g kg−1 prebiotic IMO (PRE10); synbiotic consisting of 1g kg−1 probiotic + 5 g kg−1 prebiotic IMO (SYN05); or synbiotic consisting of 1g kg−1 probiotic + 10 g kg−1 prebiotic IMO (SYN10) significantly (P < 0.05) improved weight gain of broiler chickens at 22–42 and 1–42 days of age, and feed conversion rate from 1 to 21, 22–42 and 1–42 days of age. The supplementation of probiotic (PRO), prebiotics (PRE05 and PRE10) or synbiotics (SYN05 and SYN10) also significantly (P < 0.05) increased the caecal populations of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, and decreased the caecal Escherichia coli at 21 days of age, and increased the caecal VFA at 21 and 42 days of age. In all parameters studied, synbiotics did not show a two-fold synergistic effect, when compared to those of probiotic or prebiotic alone. Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that prebiotic IMO (5 g kg−1 or 10 g kg−1), probiotic and their combinations as synbiotics were effective in improving the performance of broiler chickens and in increasing the caecal beneficial bacteria and fatty acids

Bile salt deconjugation and cholesterol removal from media by Lactobacillus strains used as probiotics in chickens

BACKGROUND: Bile salt deconjugation by Lactobacillus strains is often closely linked to bile tolerance and survival of the strains in the gut and lowering of cholesterol in the host. The present study investigated the deconjugation of bile salts and removal of cholesterol by 12 Lactobacillus strains in vitro. The 12 strains were previously isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of chickens. RESULTS: The 12 Lactobacillus strains could deconjugate sodium glycocholate (GCA, 16.87-100%) and sodium taurocholate (TCA, 1.69-57.43%) bile salts to varying degrees, with all strains except L. salivarius I 24 having a higher affinity for GCA. The 12 Lactobacillus strains also showed significant (P < 0.05) differences in their ability to remove cholesterol from the growth medium (26.74-85.41%). Significant (P < 0.05) correlations were observed between cholesterol removal and deconjugation of TCA (r = 0.83) among the L. reuteri strains (C1, C10 and C16) and between cholesterol removal and deconjugation of TCA (r = 0.38) and GCA (r = 0.70) among the L. brevis strains (I 12, I 23, I 25, I 211 and I 218). In contrast, although L. gallinarum I 16 and I 26 and L. panis C 17 showed high deconjugating activity, there was no correlation between cholesterol removal and deconjugation of bile salts in these strains. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the 12 Lactobacillus strains were able to deconjugate bile salts and remove cholesterol in vitro, but not all strains with high deconjugating activity removed cholesterol effectively

Synthesis, antimicrobial, anticancer evaluation and QSAR studies of 2/3-bromo-N′-(substituted benzylidene/3-phenylallylidene)benzohydrazides

AbstractIn the present study, a series of 2/3-bromo-N′-(substituted benzylidene/3-phenylallylidene)benzohydrazides was synthesized and evaluated in vitro for its antimicrobial and anticancer potentials. The results of antimicrobial and anticancer study indicated that compounds 3, 15 and 18 (pMICam=1.62μM/ml) were found to be most potent antimicrobial agents and compound 4 (IC50=1.88±0.03μM) was found to be the most potent anticancer agent. The results of QSAR analysis indicated the importance of topological parameters, Balaban index (J) and valence first and second order molecular connectivity indices (1χv and 2χv) in describing antimicrobial activity of the synthesized benzohydrazides

IN-SITU FILM-FORMING SOLUTION FOR TOPICAL APPLICATION OF TERBINAFINE HCL: BIOPHARMACEUTICAL EVALUATION AND IN VIVO ANTIFUNGAL PERFORMANCE USING ANIMAL MODEL

Objective: The main purpose of this study is to develop a film-forming solution with optimum physical-mechanical characteristics and excellent antifungal activity to enhance deposition and penetration into the stratum corneum (SC). Methods: The film-forming solutions of terbinafine HCl were formulated using methacrylate copolymers, polyethylene glycol 400, and ethanol as diluent. The selected formulations were subjected to test of physical-mechanical properties, drug release, drug permeation across the stratum corneum and drug deposition study. The best formulation was further evaluated for in vivo antifungal efficacy. Results: The selected formulations exhibited superior pharmaceutical characteristics, including rapid drying, non-stickiness, and being transparency on the skin. Formulation A (FA) had significantly lower tensile strength (4.78 N/m2, p&lt;0.05) and higher percentage elongation at break (33.61%, p&lt;0.05), which reduced the firmness of the film, allowing it to be super-flexible in following the movement of the skin and preventing loss of film through abrasion. FA showed significantly (p&lt;0.05) rapid drug permeation (1510.51 µg/cm2) across the stratum corneum (SC) at 24 h when compared with the other formulations and the positive control proprietary drug (PD), Terbex® cream formulation (475.8 µg/cm2). Conclusion: Having superior physical-mechanical and drug permeation characteristics, FA can be considered as an efficient, reproducible, and efficacious antifungal formulation for topical application