Study of redox status in farm animals products

Οne οf the main challenges οf tοday's sοciety is the develοpment οf the livestοck sectοr by imprοving the cοnditiοns οf animal husbandry and ensuring the prοductiοn οf high quality prοducts. In recent years it has been οbserved that the intensive grοwth rates οf farm animals have led tο the emergence οf several pathοlοgical cοnditiοns in which οxidative stress is invοlved. It is therefοre understοοd that thrοugh the οverall well-being οf animals can increase their prοductivity, prοduct quality and therefοre imprοve their cοmmercial value and eliminate cοnsumer cοncerns abοut prοduct quality. In view οf all the abοve, the impοrtance οf investigating οxidative stress markers in the tissues and prοducts οf farm animals becοmes clear. In the present dissertatiοn the levels οf redοx status in the tissues οf 144 small ruminants (48 goats and 96 sheep) and 38 cattle as well as in the blοοd and milk οf 40 dοmestic dairy sheep were evaluated. Τhe sheep and gοats belοnged tο the fοllοwing three main grοups: dοmestic gοat breed, fat-tailed sheep (Chios breed) and thin-tailed sheep breed. Τhe cattle belοnged tο the Limοusin, Charοlaise and Simmental breeds, while the dοmestic dairy sheep belοng tο the Greek breed Karagοuniki, and tο the French breed Lacaune. Τhe analysis included variables οf develοpmental stage, breed and sex. Τissues used in the analysis include: blοοd, liver, diaphragm, quadriceps and psοas majοr. Τhe samples measured indicatοrs related tο antiοxidant capacity, οxidative damage tο lipids and prοteins, as well as the effect οn the antiοxidant system οf cell cultures. Αt the same time, a cοrrelatiοn analysis was perfοrmed in οrder tο investigate predictοrs οf antiοxidant capacity and quality οf meat in the blοοd οf the respective animals. Τhe results shοwed statistically significant changes in the different variables taken intο accοunt in the analysis, particularly demοnstrating the fragile redοx equilibrium at critical periοds οf farm animals such as weaning. In additiοn, the variable οf the breed seems tο play a decisive rοle in the levels οf redοx status οf the animals as evidenced by the predοminance in the antiοxidant prοfile οf Limοusin, fat-tailed sheep breed and Karagοuniki dairy breed.Based οn the abοve, it is emerged the need for investigating further the basic levels οf redοx status indicatοrs οf farm animals and their subsequent identificatiοn as a predictοr οf meat quality with new innοvative methοds. The research in this field will contribute, οn the οne hand, to increase the value οf meat and οn the οther hand to the welfare οf farm animals but will alsο be an incentive fοr the further develοpment οf the livestοck sectοr.Μια από τις βασικές προκλήσεις της σημερινής κοινωνίας είναι η ανάπτυξη του κτηνοτροφικού τομέα μέσω της βελτίωσης των συνθηκών εκτροφής των ζώων αλλά και της διασφάλισης παραγωγής προϊόντων υψηλής ποιότητας. Τα τελευταία χρόνια έχει παρατηρηθεί πως οι εντατικοί ρυθμοί ανάπτυξης των παραγωγικών ζώων έχουν οδηγήσει στην εμφάνιση αρκετών παθολογικών καταστάσεων στις οποίες εμπλέκεται το οξειδωτικό στρες. Εξάλλου, φαίνεται πως διαμέσου της βελτίωσης της ευζωίας των ζώων μπορεί να επιτευχθεί αύξηση στην παραγωγικότητα τους, στην ποιότητα των παραγόμενων προϊόντων και επομένως βελτίωση της εμπορικής τους αξίας αλλά και άμβλυνση των προβληματισμών που διακατέχουν τους καταναλωτές σχετικά με την ποιότητα των προϊόντων ζωικής προέλευσης. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό θα μπορούσε να συνεισφέρει η διερεύνηση διαφόρων δεικτών οξειδωτικού στρες στους ιστούς και τα προϊόντα των παραγωγικών ζώων. Για τον σκοπό αυτό, στην παρούσα διατριβή αξιολογήθηκαν τα επίπεδα οξειδοαναγωγικής κατάστασης στους ιστούς 144 μικρών μηρυκαστικών (48 αιγών και 96 προβάτων) και 38 βοοειδών καθώς και στο αίμα και γάλα 40 εγχώριων γαλακτοπαραγωγικών προβάτων. Τα μικρά μηρυκαστικά ανήκαν στις εξής τρεις κύριες ομάδες: εγχώρια φυλή αιγών, πλατύουρη φυλή προβάτων (Χίου), λεπτόουρη φυλή προβάτων. Τα βοοειδή ανήκαν στις φυλές Limοusin, Charοlaise και Simmental, ενώ τα εγχώρια γαλακτοπαραγωγικά πρόβατα ανήκαν σε μια αμιγώς ελληνική φυλή, την Καραγκούνικη, και στην γαλλική Lacaune. Στην ανάλυση συμπεριλήφθηκαν οι μεταβλητές: (α) στάδιο ανάπτυξης, (β) φυλή και (γ) φύλο. Στους ιστούς που αναλύθηκαν συγκαταλέχθηκαν οι εξής: αίμα, ήπαρ, ψοΐτης μυς, τετρακέφαλος μυς και διάφραγμα. Στα δείγματα μετρήθηκαν δείκτες που σχετίζονται με την αντιοξειδωτική ικανότητα, την οξειδωτική καταστροφή σε λιπίδια και πρωτεΐνες, καθώς και η επίδρασή τους στο αντιοξειδωτικό σύστημα κυτταροκαλλιεργειών. Ταυτόχρονα έγινε ανάλυση συσχέτισης προκειμένου να διερευνηθούν πιθανοί δείκτες πρόβλεψης της αντιοξειδωτικής ικανότητας στο αίμα και της ποιότητας του κρέατος των αντίστοιχων ζώων. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν, στατιστικά σημαντικές μεταβολές στις διαφορετικές μεταβλητές που λήφθηκαν υπόψιν στην ανάλυση, καταδεικνύοντας ιδιαίτερα την ευαίσθητη οξειδοαναγωγική ισορροπία σε κρίσιμες περιόδους των παραγωγικών ζώων όπως είναι ο απογαλακτισμός. Επιπλέον η μεταβλητή ‘φυλή’ φαίνεται ότι διαδραματίζει καθοριστικό ρόλο στα επίπεδα οξειδοαναγωγικής κατάστασης των ζώων όπως φάνηκε στη φυλή Limousin, στην παχύ-ουρη φυλή προβάτων και στην Καραγκούνικη γαλακτοπαραγωγική φυλή αφού παρατηρήθηκε ενίσχυση του αντιοξειδωτικού προφίλ αυτών των φυλών. Με βάση τα παραπάνω, αναδεικνύεται η ανάγκη περαιτέρω διερεύνησης των βασικών επιπέδων των δεικτών οξειδοαναγωγικής κατάστασης των παραγωγικών ζώων και η επακόλουθη ταυτοποίηση τους ως δείκτης πρόβλεψης για την ποιότητα του κρέατος και του γάλακτος με νέες καινοτόμες μεθόδους. Η έρευνα σ’ αυτόν τον τομέα θα συμβάλλει αφενός στην αύξηση της προστιθέμενης αξίας του κρέατος και του γάλακτος και αφετέρου στην ευζωία των παραγωγικών ζώων, αλλά και θα αποτελέσει κίνητρο για την περαιτέρω ανάπτυξη του κτηνοτροφικού κλάδου

Assessment of Antioxidant and Antimutagenic Properties of Red and White Wine Extracts In Vitro

Wine is an alcoholic beverage of complex composition obtained through the fermentation of grape must. The consumption of wine has already been associated with a multitude of beneficial effects due to its high polyphenolic content. In this study, four Greek emblematic wines from two red (i.e., Xinomavro and Agiorgitiko) and two white (i.e., Assyrtiko and Malagouzia) varieties were analyzed for the estimation of their antioxidant profiles. To address this question, we assessed their ability to scavenge both synthetic and endogenous free radicals, such as DPPH•, ABTS+•, OH•, O2−, their potential reducing power, and their antimutagenic and antigenotoxic properties. All varieties exhibited potent antioxidant activity, as indicated by the results of methods above, with the red wines appearing more effective than the white ones regarding antioxidant capacity. Our small-scale study is the first to reveal that these wine varieties may have the ability to scavenge the most reactive endogenous radicals. In the future, this finding must be accompanied by larger studies to fill a knowledge gap in the scientific literature concerning a holistic approach of the in vitro antioxidant action of plant polyphenolic compounds. Conclusively, we believe that wines possess high bioactivity that allow them to settle in the industry of food additives and medicinal products

Assessment of Antioxidant and Antimutagenic Properties of Red and White Wine Extracts In Vitro

Wine is an alcoholic beverage of complex composition obtained through the fermentation of grape must. The consumption of wine has already been associated with a multitude of beneficial effects due to its high polyphenolic content. In this study, four Greek emblematic wines from two red (i.e., Xinomavro and Agiorgitiko) and two white (i.e., Assyrtiko and Malagouzia) varieties were analyzed for the estimation of their antioxidant profiles. To address this question, we assessed their ability to scavenge both synthetic and endogenous free radicals, such as DPPH center dot, ABTS(+center dot), OH center dot, O-2(-), their potential reducing power, and their antimutagenic and antigenotoxic properties. All varieties exhibited potent antioxidant activity, as indicated by the results of methods above, with the red wines appearing more effective than the white ones regarding antioxidant capacity. Our small-scale study is the first to reveal that these wine varieties may have the ability to scavenge the most reactive endogenous radicals. In the future, this finding must be accompanied by larger studies to fill a knowledge gap in the scientific literature concerning a holistic approach of the in vitro antioxidant action of plant polyphenolic compounds. Conclusively, we believe that wines possess high bioactivity that allow them to settle in the industry of food additives and medicinal products

Association of melatonin administration in pregnant ewes with growth, redox status and immunity of their offspring.

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Melatonin is a known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory regime, while in sheep it is broadly used to accelerate the onset of the breeding season. Our recent study showed that melatonin administration during pregnancy in heat-stressed ewes improved fertility rate and number of lambs born per ewe, the redox status of the maternal organism and the produced milk quantity until weaning. In this study, we present the impact of melatonin administration in stressed ewes during pregnancy considering: (a) humoral response of both maternal organism and offspring during the first two days after parturition, (b) chemical composition and antioxidant parameters of colostrum and milk until weaning and (c) redox status of the offspring until weaning. The results indicated that melatonin improved the redox status of the offspring and the quality of colostrum. Moreover, melatonin could be administered as immune-modulatory regime, apart from antioxidant, in prenatally stressed offspring in order to cope with the crucial first days of their life, as the humoral response results suggested. ABSTRACT: In this study, the effects of melatonin treatment on growth, redox status and immunity in prenatally stressed newborn lambs were evaluated. Thirty-seven newborn lambs were allocated into two groups (melatonin-MEL and control-CON), based on whether their mothers were treated with melatonin implants or not, respectively. All pregnant ewes were exposed to heat stress. The body weight of lambs was recorded at birth (L0), and then on days 15 (L15) and 40 (L40). Redox biomarkers [total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)] were assayed in blood samples collected from lambs on days L0, L1, L2, L5, L10 and L40. Chemical analysis and antioxidant capacity were evaluated in colostrum and milk samples collected at the same time points with blood samples. Cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ) and immunoglobulin (IgG) were assayed in blood and colostrum samples collected from ewes on days L0 and L1, and in lambs’ blood on days L0, L1 and L2. The results revealed that body weight gain of newborn lambs did not differ between the two groups (p > 0.05). Better redox status was found in MEL lambs until L2, as well as higher antioxidant capacity in the colostrum of MEL ewes compared to CON ones on day L0 (p < 0.05). In MEL ewes’ colostrum, higher protein content was measured on day L0 and higher fat content on L1 compared to CON group (p < 0.05). The highest level of IL-6 was found in MEL ewes on L1, with a concomitant increase of IL-10 level in MEL lambs in comparison to CON lambs on L2. Moreover, CON colostrum resulted in a higher level of IL-10 within time, coupled with an increased level of IgG found in lambs’ plasma on L2 (p = 0.04). This study indicated that melatonin could be administered as antioxidant and immune-modulatory regime in prenatally stressed offspring in order to cope with the crucial first days of their life. This effect of melatonin was also amplified by crosstalk between IL-6, IL-10 and IgG production, resulting in an improved quality of produced milk

Association of Melatonin Administration in Pregnant Ewes with Growth, Redox Status and Immunity of Their Offspring

In this study, the effects of melatonin treatment on growth, redox status and immunity in prenatally stressed newborn lambs were evaluated. Thirty-seven newborn lambs were allocated into two groups (melatonin-MEL and control-CON), based on whether their mothers were treated with melatonin implants or not, respectively. All pregnant ewes were exposed to heat stress. The body weight of lambs was recorded at birth (L0), and then on days 15 (L15) and 40 (L40). Redox biomarkers [total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)] were assayed in blood samples collected from lambs on days L0, L1, L2, L5, L10 and L40. Chemical analysis and antioxidant capacity were evaluated in colostrum and milk samples collected at the same time points with blood samples. Cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ) and immunoglobulin (IgG) were assayed in blood and colostrum samples collected from ewes on days L0 and L1, and in lambs’ blood on days L0, L1 and L2. The results revealed that body weight gain of newborn lambs did not differ between the two groups (p &gt; 0.05). Better redox status was found in MEL lambs until L2, as well as higher antioxidant capacity in the colostrum of MEL ewes compared to CON ones on day L0 (p &lt; 0.05). In MEL ewes’ colostrum, higher protein content was measured on day L0 and higher fat content on L1 compared to CON group (p &lt; 0.05). The highest level of IL-6 was found in MEL ewes on L1, with a concomitant increase of IL-10 level in MEL lambs in comparison to CON lambs on L2. Moreover, CON colostrum resulted in a higher level of IL-10 within time, coupled with an increased level of IgG found in lambs’ plasma on L2 (p = 0.04). This study indicated that melatonin could be administered as antioxidant and immune-modulatory regime in prenatally stressed offspring in order to cope with the crucial first days of their life. This effect of melatonin was also amplified by crosstalk between IL-6, IL-10 and IgG production, resulting in an improved quality of produced milk