Use of phytotherapics in dogs and cats.

Phytotherapy is one of the most utilized non conventional medicines (NCM) both in human and veterinary medicine. It can be used to mitigate and prevent slight diseases and to support conventional medicine using allopathic drugs. In this paper the Authors report the phytoterapeutics most utilized in both dogs and cats, in which the use of phytotherapics is increasing, despite the prejudices of the academic world and of the veterinary practitioners. Laws regarding the use of non conventional medicines in veterinary practises are lacking in Italy, despite many other countries in Europe; yet National Federation of Italian Veterinaries (F.N.O.V.I.) asserted that the use of NCM has to be considered a veterinary practise at all. At the end of this paper, the Authors provided many examples of phytotheapic prescriptions to control different illness in both dogs and cats

NIVALENOLENOL AND DEOXYNIVALENOL INDUCE APOPTOSIS AND DYSREGULATE WOUND REPAIR IN RAT INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS

The gastrointestinal tract represents the first barrier against ingested chemicals, food contaminants and toxins thus its integrity represents a barrier between the internal and external environments. Fusarium mycotoxins, nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON) are frequently on cereals and processed grains. Following their ingestion, intestinal epithelial cells are exposed to high concentrations of NIV and DON capable to induce mycotoxicosis (Yang et al., 2010). To investigate the effects of NIV and DON we used the intestinal epithelial cell line (IEC-6). The addition of NIV in the culture medium significantly reduced the rate of migration of IEC-6 cells into the denuded area of a model wound. Instead DON slightly reduced the rate of migration of IEC-6 cells into the denuded area compared to IEC-6 cells cultured alone. Interestingly a synergic activity on reducing the rate of migration was observed adding to IEC-6 cells NIV and DON mycotoxins together. Both NIV and DON, tested at higher concentrations (5-80µM) significantly affected IEC-6 cells viability. Moreover propidium iodide analysis revealed that the reduced cell viability was related to an apoptotic process. All together our results reported the effect of NIV and DON on intestinal epithelium highlighting the effect of the few studied NIV and the synergistic activity of both mycotoxins in reducing the IEC-6cell response to epithelial injury

EFFECTS OF NDL-PCB AND TCDD ON INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS HOMEOSTASIS

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) recognized as causing adverse effects on humans, animals and environment. Exposure occurs mainly through the consumption of contaminated food, in particular those of animal origin. the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of three ndl-PCB congeners, PCB 138, PCB 153 and PCB 180, and tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (TCDD), alone and differently combined, on non tumorigenic rat intestinal epithelial cell line (IEC-6). The results of the current study showed that ndl-PCBs and TCDD reduced significantly cell viability only at the highest concentrations (50-100 µM and 0.1-1 µM, respectively); such effect was not linked to apoptosis induction or cell cycle arrest. The contemporary presence of more than one contaminant (differently combined) did not induce any enhancement of effects on IEC-6 cell line. Intestinal restitution was not affected by low non cytotoxic concentrations of ndl-PCBs and TCDD. The results of the current study highlight the need to continue the evaluation of toxic properties of ndl-PCBs, which represent a less studied PBCs; such studies could provide useful information in particular in term of risk assessment

Cytotoxic Activity and Composition of Petroleum Ether Extract from Magydaris tomentosa (Desf.) W. D. J. Koch (Apiaceae).

The petroleum ether extract of Magydaris tomentosa flowers (Desf.) W. D. J. Koch has been analyzed by GC-MS. It is mainly constituted by furanocoumarins such as xanthotoxin, xanthotoxol, isopimpinellin, and bergaptene. Other coumarins such as 7-methoxy-8-(2-formyl-2-methylpropyl) coumarin and osthole also occurred. The antiproliferative activity of Magydaris tomentosa flower extract has been evaluated in vitro on murine monocyte/macrophages (J774A.1), human melanoma (A375) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) tumor cell lines, showing a major activity against the latter

Chemistry meets Industry and Society A creative showcase conference

Buffalo milk contributes to 13% of the world milk production and is abundantly produced in Southern Italy regions. Buffalo milk is appreciated for its nutritive properties and is highly suitable for the manufacturing of wide range of dairy products. Several studies showed many bioactive peptides in different dairy species such as bovine, ovine and caprine milk, but few studies have been conducted on the buffalo dairy products (1). The present work is focused on the identification of bioactive peptides released after in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion of protein fraction isolated from buffalo-milk dairy products by ultra- and nanofiltration pilot plant. The gastrointestinal digests of protein fractions were monitored by RP-UHPLC-DAD, while, the peptide identification was carried out by UHPLC-Orbitrap-based tandem mass spectrometry. 165 peptides were identified in Yoghurt, 152 in Scamorza, 146 in Mozzarella, 136 in Grana and Ricotta and 120 in Ice Cream samples (1). The peptides belong to both buffalo caseins (αs1-, β-, k-CN) and whey proteins (α-LA, β-LG). Six G.I. digests of dairy products were tested in a model of oxidative stress using IEC-6 cells. Among them, buffalo ricotta cheese was the most active. UHPLC-PDA-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of two abundant β-lactoglobulin peptides (BRP: YVEELKPTPEGDL, f:60-72 and BRP2: SFNPTQL, f:168-174). To confirm the hypothesized chemical structures and study their specific biological activity, the peptides were synthesized by conventional solid-phase peptide synthesis methods. The antioxidant potential of the identified peptides was then evaluated in a model of hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress in IEC-6 cell line. The peptides reduce ROS release and increase nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 activation and the expression of antioxidant cytoprotective factors such as heme oxygenase 1, NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 and superoxide dismutase (2). The bioavailability of β-lactoglobulin peptides was evaluated in intestinal transport studies through Caco-2 cell monolayer. Only BRP2 showed equal bi-directional transport and linear permeability, suggesting that it was mainly absorbed through passive diffusion. In addition to its local effects, administration of BPR2 on mice mesenteric arteries counteracts the Angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction by Nrf2 nuclear translocation, reduction of active form of Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) and NADPH oxidase activity. The analysis at molecular level of treated vessels showed an induction of Nrf2 translocation to nucleus associated with increased expression of MnSOD and Rac1 deactivation. The data indicate how protein fraction of buffalo ricotta cheese could be an important source of antioxidant compounds, as well as YVEELKPTPEGDL and SFNPTQL peptides could be considered as an “ingredient” for nutraceuticals formulations and functional and personalized foods, in order to prevent the onset of some gastrointestinal pathologies and cardiovascular diseases

Bioavailable Citrus sinensis extract: Polyphenolic composition and biological activity

Citrus plants contain large amounts of flavonoids with beneficial effects on human health. In the present study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of bioavailable polyphenols from Citrus sinensis was evaluated in vitro and ex vivo, using the murine macrophages cell line J774A.1 and primary peritoneal macrophages. Following simulated gastro-intestinal digestion, the in vitro bioavailability of Citrus sinensis polyphenolic extract was assessed using the human cell line Caco-2 grown as monolayers on a transwell membrane. Data demonstrated a relative permeation of its compounds (8.3%). Thus, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenolic Citrus sinensis fraction (Cs) was compared to the bioavailable one (CsB). Results revealed that Citrus extract were able to reduce macrophages pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide, iNOS, COX-2 and different cytokines. Moreover, the effect of Citrus sinensis polyphenols was associated with antioxidant effects, such as a reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) increased expression. Our results provide evidence that the bioavailable polyphenolic constituents of the Citrus sinensis extract accumulate prevalently at intestinal level and could reach systemic circulation exerting their effect. The bioavailable fraction showed a higher anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential compared to the initial extract, thus highlighting its potential nutraceutical value

Hydrogen Peroxide Promotes Injury-Induced Peripheral Sensory Axon Regeneration in the Zebrafish Skin

Production of H2O2 by injured zebrafish skin cells promotes the regeneration of nearby somatosensory axon terminals, thus coordinating wound healing of the skin with sensory reinnervation