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This study aimed to identify Salmonella species in two systems for quail raising (deep litter system and cages system). Determination of antibiotic susceptibility, β-lactamase resistance genes profile and susceptibility to chitosan, thyme extract and S. cerevisiae was examined. Fifteen Salmonella isolates were isolated from eighty cloacal swabs examined, with a higher incidence from those of deep litter systems than cage housing systems. Regarding the environmental samples, Salmonella was higher in the deep litter system than in cage housing. Serological identification of 27 salmonella isolates typed them into 8 Salmonella spp. including S. Tsevie, S. Infantis, S. Kentucky, S. Typhimurium, S. Larochelle, S. Molade, S. Enteritidis and S. Labadi. The profile of β-lactamase-resistance genes revealed the presence of blaTEM and blaSHV genes in S. Typhimurium and S. Infantis; blaTEM and blaCTX-M1 genes in S. Enteritidis and S. Molade, while S. Kentucky and S. Tsevie were positive for the blaCTX-M1 gene only. S. Larochelle was negative for all of them. Thyme and chitosan extract showed that S. cerevisiae had the highest inhibitory activity against the tested strains. In conclusion, farms with superior biosecurity and hygiene practices will reduce the risk of pathogens and eliminate the need for prophylactic antibiotics, thereby preventing antibiotic resistance.

Current study examined the protective impact of Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea) extract on hepatic toxicity markers caused by MSG. MSG induced significant increases in hepatic stress biomarkers. There were significant declines in GSH, catalase and SOD levels, which were accompanied by substantial elevations in IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. There was hepatic cellular damage, and upregulation of caspase-3 and a decrease in Bcl-2 expression. The hepatotoxic impacts of MSG were normalized by Rhodiola supplementation. R. rosea downregulated caspase-3 and upregulated HO-1 and Nrf2 mRNA expression. R. rosea regulated the immunoreactivity of COX-2, TGF-β1, and NFkB genes associated with hepatic toxicity. R. rosea extract normalized histopathological changes induced by MSG and restored hepatic architecture. R. rosea extract exhibited anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In conclusion, R. rosea extract is a promising medication against hepatic toxicity induced by MSG, which works by regulating the different signaling pathways of inflammation-, oxidative-stress-, and apoptosis-associated markers.

Five hundred and sixty broilers were placed into seven groups. The first negative control (A) was fed the baseline diet (BD); the second positive control (B) was fed BD and exposed to clostridium infection; and the third and fourth groups (C, D) were the same as the positive control with 500 and 1000 g/ton of feed, respectively. The fifth group (E) served as a positive control for the addition of lincomycin, whereas the sixth and seventh groups (F, G) received the same designed diet as the E group but supplemented with HA at 500 and 1000 g/ton of feed, respectively. Birds infected with Clostridium perfringens had considerably decreased body weight. However, a dietary combination of HA and lincomycin resulted in a greater improvement in growth. Body weight increased after 35 days, but feed intake dropped, therefore HA and lincomycin supplementation enhanced feed conversion ratio. Supplementing with HA and lincomycin increased crude protein retention. Furthermore, these additions mitigated the detrimental effects of clostridial infection on the gut by reducing degenerative changes in intestinal villi and increasing villi length, particularly at higher HA/lincomycin doses. In conclusion, nutritional supplementation with humic acid and lincomycin improved blood biochemistry, and gut morphology in broilers infected with Clostridium difficile.

The present study was conducted to assess the effect of paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa) leaf extract (PLE) enriched diets on the quality of meat and the economic efficiency of broiler chickens. A total of 180 one-day-old male chicks (Cobb) were randomly assigned to four treatments with five replications each (9 birds per replicate). The chickens were fed corn-soybean-based diets supplemented with different levels of PLE (0, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 g kg−1) for 42 days. The results showed that the inclusion of up to 0.5 g kg−1 PLE in the diet of broiler chickens significantly improved the live body weight, carcase weight, and carcase components (liver, heart, and gizzard) weights compared to the control group (P

Objective: Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound that possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study evaluated the effects of resveratrol on oxidative stress, fibrosis and multiple genes regulation in the kidneys of high fat (HF) diet-fed rats. Methods: Wistar rats were fed with HF diet for eight weeks. These rats were also treated with resveratrol for eight weeks. Finally, kidney tissue samples were isolated from all sacrificed rats. The histological changes, creatinine and uric acid levels, oxidative stress parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide, and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) levels were analyzed. The antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels; gene expression of inflammatory and fibrosis-related genes namely, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1), and collagen-1 were assessed. Moreover, gene expression of oxidative stress-related genes such as nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf-2), SOD, catalase, and glutathione reductase, were also assessed. Results: HF diet-fed rats showed increased creatinine and uric acid levels in plasma which were lowered by resveratrol treatment. The study findings also revealed that resveratrol counterbalanced the oxidative stress and prevented the expression of the inflammatory genes; restored the catalase and SOD activities followed by the up-regulation of antioxidant genes expression in the kidneys of HF diet-fed rats. HF diet caused the Nrf-2 down-regulation followed by the decreased expression of HO-1 and HO-2 genes, which was restored by resveratrol treatment. Moreover, the histological assessment showed lipotoxicity and increased fibrosis in the kidneys of HF diet-fed rats. Resveratrol prevented the kidney fibrosis probably by limiting oxidative stress, inflammation, and down-regulating TGF-β1 mediated signaling pathway. Conclusion: In conclusion, resveratrol treatment showed beneficial effects in preventing oxidative stress and fibrosis in the kidneys of HF diet-fed rats probably by modulating the gene expression of oxidative stress and inflammation related factors and enzymes.

At high elevations, the human body experiences a number of pathological, physiological, and biochemical changes, all of which have adverse impacts on human health and organ vitality. This study aimed to investigate the alterations in the liver and kidney biomarkers, oxidative stress markers, gene expression, and cellular histology of rats maintained at high altitudes and normal sea level. A total of twenty male Wistar rats at 2 months of age were randomly assigned to two groups. The rats in group A were maintained at normal sea level in Jeddah, whereas rats in group B were maintained in an area in Taif 2600 m above sea level. After 2 months of housing, orbital blood samples were collected for the analysis of significant biochemical indicators of oxidative stress biomarkers of the liver and kidneys. Liver and kidney tissues from both groups were taken to examine the hepatorenal changes occurring at the biochemical, histological, immunohistochemical, and genetic levels. The results revealed substantial increases in the serum levels of liver and kidney biomarkers (GPT, GOT, urea, and creatinine) and decreases in the serum levels of antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, catalase, GSH, and NO). In parallel, the levels of the malondialdehyde (MDA) tissue damage marker and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) were increased in the high-altitude group compared to the normal sea level group. In addition, there were significant alterations in the oxidative and inflammatory status of rats that lived at high altitude, with considerable upregulation in the expression of hepatic VEGF, type 1 collagen, Cox-2, TNF-α, and iNOS as well as renal EPASI, CMYC, HIF-α, and EGLN-2 genes in the high-altitude group compared with controls housed at normal sea level. In conclusion, living at high altitude induces hepatorenal damage and biochemical and molecular alterations, all of which may serve as critical factors that must be taken into account for organisms living at high altitudes.

Tilmicosin (TIL) is a common macrolide antibiotic in veterinary medicine. High doses of TIL can have adverse cardiovascular effects. This study examined the effects of Rhodiola rosea (RHO) that have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic effects on tilmicosin (TIL)-induced cardiac injury targeting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, apoptotic, and anti-apoptotic signaling pathways with anti-fibrotic outcomes. Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into groups of six rats each. Rats received saline as a negative control, CARV 1 mL orally (10 mg/kg BW), and RHO 1 mL orally at 400 mg/kg BW daily for 12 consecutive days. The TIL group once received a single subcutaneous injection (SC) dose of TIL (75 mg/kg BW) on the sixth day of the experiment to induce cardiac damage. The standard group (CARV + TIL) received CARV daily for 12 consecutive days with a single TIL SC injection 1 h after CARV administration only on the sixth day of study and continued for another six successive days on CARV. The protective group (RHO + TIL) received RHO daily for the same period as in CARV + TIL-treated rats and with the dosage mentioned before. Serum was extracted at the time of the rat’s scarification at 13 days of study and examined for biochemical assessments in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cardiac troponin I (cTI), and creatine phosphokinase (CK-MB). Protein carbonyl (PC) contents, malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in cardiac homogenate were used to measure these oxidative stress markers. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to express interferon-gamma (INF-γ), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), OGG1, BAX, caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) genes in cardiac tissues, which are correlated with inflammation, antioxidants, and apoptosis. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), calmodulin (CaMKII), and other genes associated with Ca2+ hemostasis and fibrosis were examined using IHC analysis in cardiac cells (myocardium). TIL administration significantly increased the examined cardiac markers, LDH, cTI, and CK-MB. TIL administration also increased ROS, PC, and MDA while decreasing antioxidant activities (TAC and SOD mRNA) in cardiac tissues. Serum inflammatory cytokines and genes of inflammatory markers, DNA damage (INF-γ, COX-2), and apoptotic genes (caspase-3 and BAX) were upregulated with downregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 as well as the DNA repair OGG1 in cardiac tissues. Furthermore, CaMKII and α-SMA genes were upregulated at cellular levels using cardiac tissue IHC analysis. On the contrary, pretreatment with RHO and CARV alone significantly decreased the cardiac injury markers induced by TIL, inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and tissue oxidative-antioxidant parameters. INF-γ, COX-2, OGG1, BAX, and caspase-3 mRNA were downregulated, as observed by real-time PCR, while SOD and Bcl-2 mRNA were upregulated. Furthermore, the CaMKII and α-SMA genes’ immune reactivities were significantly decreased in the RHO-pretreated rats.

This project was designed to explore the xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory mechanism of eight structurally diverse phenolic compounds [quercetin: C1, quercetin-3-rhamnoside: C2, 4, 5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid: C3, 3, 5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid: C4, 3, 4-O-di-caffeoylquinic acid: C5, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (C6), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid: C7, and caffeic acid: C8]. For this purpose, in-vitro and different computational methods were applied to determine the xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory potential of eight structurally diverse phenolic compounds. The results revealed that phenolic compounds (C1–C8) possess strong to weak XO inhibitory activity. These results were further confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and 1H NMR analysis. Furthermore, computational study results revealed that phenolic compounds (C1–C8) bind with the surrounding amino acids of XO at the molybdenum (MO) site. These in-vitro and in-silico results divulge that phenolic compounds have a strong potential to lower uric acid levels via interacting with the XO enzyme and can be used to combat hyperuricemia.

Abstract The poultry farms need a safe and effective alternative for antibiotics that can counteract the negative impacts of necrotic enteritis (NE), which causes severe mortalities and economic losses. The current study was aimed to examine the influence of antibiotic (Flagymox) and the microbial‐based administration on carcass traits in Clostridium (C.) perfringens‐infected Cobb and Arbor Acres broilers. A total number of 360 Cobb and Arbor Acres broiler chicks (180 numbers per breed) were allocated to four groups; negative control group (without any treatments); positive control group (administration of C. perfringens at the rate of 1 × 109cfu/bird via crop gavage twice daily from day 16 to 18 post‐hatch); C. perfringens challenge plus antibiotic (Flagymox®) group, and Clostridium perfringens challenge plus microbial‐based treatment (Big‐lactoα®) group. The results indicated that the Flagymox and Big‐lactoα treated Cobb breed group achieved a significant increase in their body weight (BW) than the positive control group at the third week post‐infection. Also, the Arbor Acres breed gained significantly higher weight compared to the Cobb breed at the third week. Total weight gain (TWG) from 0 to the fifth week in the Cobb and Arbor Acres breeds were higher in the groups treated with Flagymox and Big‐lactoα compared to the birds challenged with C. perfringens without any treatment, thus, increasing the total return (TR) in the treated groups. Economic efficiency showed no significant differences (p

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the public health problems globally. The occurrence of NAFLD is usually accompanied by a series of chronic metabolic diseases, with a prevalence rate is 25.24% among adults worldwide. Therefore, NAFLD seriously affects the quality of life in patients and causes a large economic burden. It has been reported that puerarin has the function of lowering the serum lipids, but due to the complexity of NAFLD, the specific mechanism of action has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive or ameliorating effects of two doses of puerarin (0.11% and 0.22% in diet) on high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFD)-induced NAFLD in rats. The rats were fed with HFFD-mixed puerarin for 20 weeks. The results showed that puerarin ameliorated the levels of lipids in the serum and liver. Further exploration of the mechanism found that puerarin ameliorated hepatic lipid accumulation in NAFLD rats by reducing the expression of Srebf1, Chrebp, Acaca, Scd1, Fasn, Acacb, Cd36, Fatp5, Degs1, Plin2, and Apob100 and upregulating the expression of Mttp, Cpt1a, and Pnpla2. At the same time, after administration of puerarin, the levels of antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) were significantly increased in the serum and liver, and the contents of serum and hepatic inflammatory factors (interleukin-18, interleukins-1β, and tumor necrosis factor α) were clearly decreased. In addition, puerarin could ameliorate the liver function. Overall, puerarin ameliorated HFFD-induced NAFLD by modulating liver lipid accumulation, liver function, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

The current research sought to assess the effects of paulownia leaves extract (PLE) on performance, blood hematological, antioxidant activity, and immunological response of broiler chicken. In total, two hundred 1-day-old male Cobb500 chicks were allocated randomly into four equal treatments with 5 replicates. The first treatment served as a control (CNT) and was fed the basal diet only, while the other treated treatments were fed on the basal diet supplemented with 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 g/kg diet of PLE, respectively. The performance results showed significant increments (P < 0.05) in live body weight (LBW), weight gain (WG), and European production efficiency factors (EPEIs) (linearly; p < 0.001) in cooperated with increasing PLE levels in broiler diets. At the same time, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and livability percentages were numerically enhanced under the effects of PLE supplementation. Moreover, a notable increase (P < 0.05 or 0.01) in oxidative remarks activity (GSH, glutathione; SOD, super oxide-dismutase and CAT, catalase) and elevated levels of immunoglobulin (IgM, immunoglobulin M and IgG, immunoglobulin G) were noted (P < 0.05) for treatments fed with PLE in a dose-dependent manner. Also, a dramatic linear increase was observed in mRNA expression of IGF-1, GHR, IL-1β, and IL-10 genes of broiler chickens. This study concluded that enriched broiler feeds with 0.5 g/kg PLE might be a beneficial strategy to promote broiler health and production.

Abstract The herb thyme (Thymus vulgaris) has multiple therapeutic uses. In this study, we explored how T. vulgaris leaf extract protects liver cells against sodium nitrite-(NaNO2) induced oxidative stress. Mice were divided into four groups; each group received one of the following treatments orally: saline; T. vulgaris extract alone; NaNO2 alone; or T. vulgaris extract + NaNO2. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and total proteins were measured in serum using standard methods. TNF-α, hemooxygenase-1 (HO-1), thioredoxin, SOD, and GSH synthase, all of which are linked to oxidative stress, were measured using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). In mice treated with T. vulgaris extract, the effect of NaNO2 on ALT and AST levels and total proteins was reduced, and its effect on antioxidant levels was reversed. Normally, NaNO2 causes hepatocyte congestion and severe hepatic central vein congestion. Tissues in the mice treated with T. vulgaris were restored to normal conditions. Our results demonstrate that NaNO2-induced hepatic injury is significantly reduced by pretreatment with T. vulgaris extract, which protects against hepatic oxidative stress and its associated genes at the biochemical, molecular, and cellular levels.

Genetic variation and polymorphism became a hot spot for researches to study the link between societies and certain endemic diseases. This study is an attempt to examine the possible association of the incidence of ischemic heart disease with the genetic variations of 27-bp variable number of tandem repeats located in intron 4 of the eNOS3 gene among Taif population. A case-control study included 81 Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) patients and 225 unrelated healthy participants from the population living in Taif City. Genotyping of the candidate sequence 27-bp repeat located in intron 4 VNTR of the eNOS3 gene in was conducted using the polymerase chain reaction technology. The minor allele (4a) was slightly less frequent among IHD patients and insignificantly linked to reduced relative risk for IHD. In addition, a significant difference in the distribution of both heterozygous genotype 4a4b between IHD patients and normal groups (p value = 0.012). Presented data suggest that the heterozygous genotype of eNOS3 gene intron 4a4b VNTR variation is might be associated with lowering the risk of IHD in the Taif population in the west of Saudi Arabia. While the minor allele (a) of the eNOS3 gene is insignificantly related to the predisposition of IHD.

The involvement of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Smad and β-catenin signaling pathway in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is not fully elucidated. Pioglitazone improves NAFLD, whereas the underlying molecular mechanisms are not extensively clarified. In addition, cranberry and cinnamon have received increasing attention as potential therapeutic agents in metabolic disorders. Hence, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that the downregulation of HIF-1α/TGF-β1/Smad/β-catenin signaling might underlie the pioglitazone effect in HFD-induced liver steatosis in rats. In addition, the study aimed to determine whether the concurrent use of cranberry and/or cinnamaldehyde would boost biochemical and molecular gains of pioglitazone while limiting its significant side effect; weight gain. Rats were kept on a high-fat diet for 14 weeks, and HFD rats were orally treated with pioglitazone, cranberry, or their combinations for 8 weeks. Pioglitazone, cranberry, and to a lesser extent cinnamaldehyde significantly ameliorated the pathological lesions, improved the hepatic histological structure of cinnamaldehyde, and successfully rectified liver index, AST, ALT, lipid profile, hepatic triglycerides, and HOMA-IR. They also inhibited HIF-1α, β-catenin, TGF-β1 and subsequently inhibited phosphorylated/total Smad2/3 and their ratios. In conclusion, the beneficial effects of this combination in HFD-induced hepatic steatosis might be attributed to the modulation of hypoxia/HIF-1α, TGF-β1/Smads, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in the liver. Thus, cranberry and cinnamon might be potential add-on agents to other pharmacotherapies in liver steatosis.

Abstract Hyperuricemia is an abnormal metabolic condition characterized by an increase in uric acid levels in the blood. It is the cause of gout, manifested by inflammatory arthritis, pain and disability. This study examined the possible ameliorative impacts of parsley (PAR) and celery (CEL) as hypouricemic agents at biochemical, molecular and cellular levels. PAR and CEL alone or in combination were orally administered to hyperuricemic (HU) mice and control mice for 10 consecutive days. Serum levels of uric acid and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), xanthine oxidase activity, antioxidants, inflammatory (IL-1β and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) were measured. mRNA expression of urate transporters and uric acid excretion genes in renal tissues were examined using qRT-PCR (quantitative real time PCR). Normal histology and immunoreactivity of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) in kidneys was examined. Administration of PAR and CEL significantly reduced serum BUN and uric acids in HU mice, ameliorated changes in malondialdehyde, catalase, and reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10 in hyperuricemic mice. Both effectively normalized the alterations in mURAT-1, mGLUT-9, mOAT-1 and mOAT-3 expression, as well as changes in TGF-β1 immunoreactivity. Interestingly, combined administration of PAR and CEL mitigated all examined measurements synergistically, and improved renal dysfunction in the hyperuricemic mice. The study concluded that PAR and CEL can potentially reduce damaging cellular, molecular and biochemical effects of hyperuricemia both individually and in combination.

Abstract Background Hyperuricemia is an abnormal increase in uric acid levels in the blood. It is the cause of gout that manifested by inflammatory arthritis and painful disable. Therefore, current study evaluated the potential ameliorative impact of Lesinurad and Allopurinol on the kidneys of hyperuricemic mice at the biochemical, molecular and cellular levels. Methods Lesinurad and allopurinol alone or in combination were orally administered to hyperuricemic and control mice for seven consecutive days. Levels of uric acid and blood urea nitrogen, along with antioxidants and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) were measured in the serum. The mRNA expression of mouse urate anion transporter-1, glucose transporter 9, organic anion transporters, in renal tissues were examined using quantitative real time PCR. Simultaneously, the immunoreactivity of transforming growth factor-beta 1 was examined immunohistochemically. Results Lesinurad and allopurinol administration resulted in significant decrease in serum levels of uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, xanthine oxidase activity, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) reported in hyperuricemic mice. Both partially reversed oxonate-induced alterations in renal mURAT-1, mGLUT-9, mOAT-1 and mOAT-3 expressions, as well as alterations in the immunoreactivity of TGF- β1, resulting in the increase of renal uric acid secretion and excretion. The combined administration of lesinurad and ALP restored all altered parameters in a synergistic manner, improving renal function in the hyperuricemic mouse model employed. Conclusion This study confirmed synergistic ameliorative hypouricemic impact of both lesinurad and allopurinol in the treatment of hyperuricemia in mice at the biochemical, molecular and cellular levels.

Honey-processed Astragalus (HPA) is a mixture of Astragalus and honey, which is a processed product of Chinese medicine. It has the active ingredients of Astragalus and the unique effects of honey. However, the mechanism of HPA for improving alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is not clear. The purpose of this study is to explore the ameliorating effect and mechanism of HPA (4 and 8 g/kg bw) on alcoholic liver injury. Two doses of HPA were orally administered to alcohol-treated mice for four weeks. The results showed that HPA could effectively reduce triglycerides (TG) by 59% and free fat acid (FFA) and total cholesterol (TC) in serum and hepatic were reduced by least 25.9%. HPA could cause a decrease in serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from 0.145 mM to 0.117 mM, and the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was increased. After alcohol-treated mice were supplemented with HPA, antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)), liver function index (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)), proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)), and liver tissue were all significantly improved. This is related to the fact that HPA can promote the expression of oxidative stress-related genes and inhibit the expression of inflammation-related genes. In addition, HPA could also regulate the disturbance of the intestinal microflora. In general, HPA could significantly improve the accumulation of serum and liver lipids caused by alcohol and the imbalance of intestinal flora in mice. It could also improve liver function, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Salsola imbricata is a herbal plant native to Saudi Arabia, known for its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. This study explored the protective effects of an ethanolic leaf extract of Salsola imbricata against the oxidative stress and hepatic injury caused by acrylamide. Rats received intragastric administrations of 20 mg/kg of body weight of acrylamide to induce hepatic injury, or 300 mg/kg of body weight of Salsola ethanolic extract orally for 7 days before acrylamide administration. The treatments were continued for 3 weeks. Blood and liver samples were collected from all the groups, and the following biochemical parameters were tested: serum ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), GGT (gamma glutaryl transferase), urea, albumin, total proteins, catalase, SOD (superoxide dismutase), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), and MDA (malondialdehyde). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to examine the expression of Nrf2 (Nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2), HO-1 (Hemoxygenase-1), COX-2 (Cyclooxgenase-2), TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor-beta1), Bax, and Bcl2 (B-cell lymphoma 2), which are associated with oxidative stress, fibrosis, apoptosis, and anti-apoptotic effects. The annexin and survivin immunoreactivity were examined at the immunohistochemical level. Pretreatment with the Salsola ethanolic extract reduced the negative impact of acrylamide on ALT, AST, GGT, urea, albumin, and total proteins. The Salsola ethanolic extract reversed acrylamide's effects on serum and tissue antioxidants. Nrf2/HO-1 expression was downregulated, while COX-2 and TGF-β1 were upregulated in the acrylamide-administered group and normalized by the pre-administration of Salsola ethanolic extract to the acrylamide experimental group. The immunoreactivity of annexin and survivin was restored in the experimental group administered Salsola ethanolic extract plus acrylamide. In conclusion, Salsola ethanolic extract inhibits and regulates the side effects induced in the liver by acrylamide. Salsola induced its impacts by regulating inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis-/anti-apoptosis-associated genes at the biochemical, molecular, and cellular levels. Salsola is recommended as oxidative stress relievers against environmental toixicity at high altitude areas.

Hydroxyurea (HDU) is a widely used medication for various malignancies, thalassemia, and sickle cell anemia with reported side effects. The current study investigated HDU- induced hepatic injury and the protective potential of the royal jelly (RJ) against this hepatotoxic effect in the light of hepatic oxidative/ antioxidative status, pro-inflammatory cytokine, apoptosis signaling pathway, and histopathology. Sixty albino rats were used (n = 10/group) for 60 days: control, RJ (100 mg/kg body weight, orally), HDU (225 mg/kg body weight, orally), 2HDU (450 mg/kg body weight, orally), and HDU + RJ groups. HDU-treated rats showed significant elevation of liver function tests as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase, as well as malondialdehyde and nitric oxide (oxidative biomarkers) and significant decreased hepatic antioxidant molecules (reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase), compared to a control group, that more pronounced in the high dose of HDU. In addition, HDU induced significant upregulation of TNF-α and the Caspase-3 apoptotic pathway. Moreover, the liver of HDU treated groups showed various hepatic lesions from mild to severe necrotic changes related to the HDU dose. However, administration of RJ with HDU improved liver function tests, liver histology, and hepatic oxidative/antioxidative status concerning HDU groups. Furthermore, oral RJ administration with HDU significantly lessens the immune-expression area % of TNF-α and Caspase-3. Thus, the royal jelly has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties against HDU- induced hepatic injury and could be, therefore, used as adjuvant therapy in patients with long-term HDU medication.

Objectives: The adverse deleterious influences of Ipomoea carnea on brain tissue and Taurine's relative ability to prevent this neurotoxicity have been examined. Methods: We utilized sixty Wistar male rats weighing 1752 g. The rats were allotted into 4 groups of fifteen each: The control group got saline i.p. daily for eight weeks; the Ipomoea carnea extract (ICE) group received ICE (15 mg/kg b.w./day) orally for eight weeks. Taurine-treated rats, in which rats were administered Taurine (200 mg·kg−1, i.p./Day) for 2 months. Taurine + ICE group in which rats were supplemented with (200 mg·kg−1, i.p. Taurine + ICE 15 mg/kg b.w./day orally) for 2 months. Result: The findings indicated that Ipomoea persuaded an increase in lipid peroxidation markers as well as a disruption in antioxidant homeostasis, along with brain and serum cholinesterase (AChE) elevated levels, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), total creatine phosphokinase (CPK), creatine phosphokinase isoenzymes BB (CPK-BB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). A considerable drop (P

Plant-derived bioactive compounds with promising nutritional and therapeutic attributes (phytogenics) are among the top priorities in the aquaculture sector. Therefore, the impact of thymol (Thy) and/or thymoquinone (ThQ) on the growth, immune response antioxidant capacity, and Aeromonas sobria (A. sobria) resistance of Nile tilapia was investigated. Four fish groups were fed a control diet and three basal diets supplemented with 200 mg/kg diet of Thy or ThQ and a blend of both Thy and ThQ at a level of 200 mg/kg diet each. At the end of the feeding trial (12 weeks), the tilapias were challenged intraperitoneally with virulent A. sobria (2.5 × 108 CFU/mL) harboring aerolysin (aero) and hemolysin (hly) genes. The results revealed that tilapias fed diets fortified with a combination of Thy and ThQ displayed significantly enhanced growth rate and feed conversion ratio. Notably, the expression of the genes encoding digestive enzymes (pepsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, α-amylase and lipase) and muscle and intestinal antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase) was significantly upregulated in Thy/ThQ-fed fish. An excessive inflammatory response was subsided more prominently in the group administrated Thy/ThQ as supported by the downregulation of il-β, il-6 and il-8 genes and in contrast, the upregulation of the anti-inflammatory il-10 gene. Remarkably, dietary inclusion of Thy/ThQ augmented the expression of autophagy-related genes, whilst it downregulated that of mtor gene improving the autophagy process. Furthermore, Thy/ThQ protective effect against A. sobria was evidenced via downregulating the expression of its aero and hly virulence genes with higher fish survival rates. Overall, the current study encouraged the inclusion of Thy/ThQ in fish diets to boost their growth rates, promote digestive and antioxidant genes expression, improve their immune responses and provide defense against A. sorbia infections with great economic benefits.

Ellagic acid, a natural polyphenolic compound commonly present in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other edible plants, exerts many pharmacological activities. The present project was designed to explore the hepatoprotective effect of ellagic acid against alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD) and the correlation among alcohol, oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut microbiota. Fifty percent (v/v) alcohol (10 mL/kg bw daily) was orally administrated for 4 weeks in mice along with ellagic acid (50 and 100 mg/kg bw). Alcohol administration significantly (p < 0.05) increased the activities of alanine aminotransferase and serum aspartate aminotransferase, levels of triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, free fatty acid, and total cholesterol, and decreased contents of the high-density lipoprotein in model group compared with the control group, which were further improved by ellagic acid (50 or 100 mg/kg bw). Furthermore, daily supplementation of ellagic acid alleviated hepatic antioxidant activities (glutathione peroxidase, catalase, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione), proinflammatory cytokines levels (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α), genes expressions (Tlr4, Myd88, Cd14, Cox2, Nos2, and Nfκb1), and histopathological features in alcohol-induced liver injured mice. Additionally, results also revealed that ellagic acid supplementation improved alcohol-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis. In conclusion, ellagic acid mitigated oxidative stress, inflammatory response, steatosis, and gut microbiota dysbiosis in ALD mice. Our results suggested that ellagic acid could be applied as an ideal dietary therapy against ALD.

Wheat germ oil (WGO) is a well-known product with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The current study aimed to investigate the impacts of WGO against ethanol-induced liver and kidney dysfunction at the serum, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants and anti-apoptotic signaling pathways. Rats received saline orally as a negative control or WGO in a dose of 1.5 mL/kg (1400 mg/kg body weight orally) for 15 days. The affected group received ethanol 50% v/v 10 mL/kg (5 g/kg) body weight orally once a day for consecutive 15 days to induce hepatorenal injuries in ethanolic non-treated group. The protective group received WGO daily 1 h before ethanol administration. Serum (1.5 mL) from blood was extracted and examined for the changes in biochemical assessments in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin, serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), total protein, serum albumin, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), urea, creatinine, uric acid, potassium (K+), Beta-2 microglobulin (β2M), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Kidney and liver homogenate was used to measure MDA, GSH and catalase activities. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to express Nrf2 and HO-1 in liver, and NF-kB and kidney injury molecule (KIM-1) in kidneys, which are correlated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Capase-3 and Bcl2 genes were examined using immunohistochemical analysis in the kidney and liver. Ethanol administration induced significant alteration in examined liver and kidney markers (AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, total proteins, urea, creatinine and uric acid). Moreover, alcohol administration decreased antioxidant activities at serum and hepatorenal tissues (GSH, catalase and SOD), while MDA was increased as a tissue degradation marker. Inflammatory cytokines, together with genes of oxidative stress markers (Nrf2 and HO-1), were all affected. At cellular levels, apoptotic marker caspase-3 was upregulated, while antiapoptotic marker B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), was down regulated using immunohistochemical analysis. Of interest, pretreatment with WGO improved the side effects induced by ethanol on hepatic, renal biomarkers and reversed its impact on serum and tissue antioxidant parameters. Nrf2/HO-1 were upregulated, while NFk-B and KIM-1 were downregulated using real time PCR. Immune reactivities of caspase-3 and Bcl2 genes were restored in the protective group. In conclusion, WGO ameliorated ethanol-induced hepatic and renal dysfunction at the biochemical, molecular and cellular levels by regulating some mechanisms that controls oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation and anti-apoptotic pathways.

Cyclosporine A (CSA) is an immunosuppressive drug that has improved transplant survival rates. However, its use is often limited because it is thought to be linked to the development of chronic kidney disease after kidney transplants. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of physiological unconjugated (UC) hyperbilirubinemia mediated by UGT1A1 antisense oligonucleotide in a mouse model of CsA-induced chronic kidney disease, and match these with that of chitosan (CH) as a natural chelator against kidney injury. In the current study, CsA-treated mice were given an intravenous injection of UGT1A1 antisense morpholino oligonucleotide (16 µg/kg) every third day for 14 days. In serum samples, bilirubin, creatinine, and urea were determined. Markers of oxidative stress, antioxidant activities, and mRNA expression of target genes PPAR-α, cFn, eNOS, NF-B, AT1-R, ETA-R, Kim-1, and NGAL were measured in the kidney tissues. Moreover, histopathological examinations were carried out on the kidney tissue. Physiological UC hyperbilirubinemia could be a promising protective strategy against CsA-induced kidney disease in transplant recipients. UGT1A1 antisense oligonucleotide-induced physiological UC hyperbilirubinemia serum significantly protected against CsA-induced kidney dysfunction. UCB acts as a signaling molecule that protects against kidney disease through different mechanisms, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hormonal action, by activating nuclear hormone receptors (PPAR-α). Moreover, it significantly downregulated mRNA expression of NF-kB, ETA-R, iNOS, AT1-R, cFn, Kim-1, and NGAL in the kidney tissue and alleviated CsA-induced kidney histological changes in CsA-treated mice.

Oxidative stress is considered the main etiologic factor involved in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Integration of nanocarriers for natural therapeutic agents with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential is a novel promising candidate for curing IBD. Herein, the colonic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of different concentrations of quercetin nanoparticles (QT-NPs) were evaluated using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. Following colitis induction, the efficacy and mechanistic actions of QT-NPs were evaluated by assessing lesion severity, molecular aids controlling oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and histopathological and immunohistochemistry examination of colonic tissues. Administration of QT-NPs, especially at higher concentrations, significantly reduced the disease activity index and values of fecal calprotectin marker compared to the colitic group. Colonic oxidant/antioxidant status (ROS, H2O2, MDA, SOD, CAT, GPX and TAC) was restored after treatment with higher concentrations of QT-NPs. Moreover, QT-NPs at levels of 20 mg/kg and, to a lesser extent, 15 mg/kg reduced Nrf2 and HO-1 gene expression, which was in line with decreasing the expression of iNOS and COX2 in colonic tissues. Higher concentrations of QT-NPs greatly downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines; upregulated genes encoding occludin, MUC-2 and JAM; and restored the healthy architectures of colonic tissues. Taken together, these data suggest that QT-NPs could be a promising alternative to current IBD treatments.

Arsenic (As) contamination of the rice agro-ecosystem is a major concern for rice farmers of South East Asia as it imposes a serious threat to human and animal life; thus, there is an unrelenting need to explore the ways by which arsenic stress mitigation could be achieved. In the present investigation, we explore the effect of zinc (Zn2+) supplementation using the seed priming technique for the mitigation of As-induced stress responses in developing rice seedlings. In addition to the physiological and biochemical attributes, we also studied the interactive effect of Zn2+ in regulating As-induced changes by targeting antioxidant enzymes using a computational approach. Our findings suggest that Zn2+ and As can effectively modulate redox homeostasis by limiting ROS production and thereby confer protection against oxidative stress. The results also show that As had a significant impact on seedling growth, which was restored by Zn2+ and also minimized the As uptake. A remarkable outcome of the present investigation is that the varietal difference was significant in determining the efficacy of the Zn2+ priming. Further, based on the findings of computational studies, we observed differences in the surface overlap of the antioxidant target enzymes of rice, indicating that the Zn2+ might have foiled the interaction of As with the enzymes. This is undoubtedly a fascinating approach that interprets the mode of action of the antioxidative enzymes under the metal/metalloid-tempted stress condition in rice by pointing at designated targets. The results of the current investigation are rationally significant and may be the pioneering beginning of an exciting and useful method of integrating physiological and biochemical analysis together with a computational modelling approach for evaluating the stress modulating effects of Zn2+ seed priming on As-induced responses in developing rice seedlings.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae are a universal public health alarm frequently identified among humans, animals, and poultry. Livestock and poultry production are a possible source of multidrug-resistant microorganisms, including ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, which confer antimicrobial resistance to different β-lactam antimicrobial agents. From January to May 2020, a cross-sectional study was carried out in three dairy cattle farms and four poultry farms in different districts of northern Egypt to assess the prevalence of ESBLs, AmpC beta-lactamase-producing E. coli and Klebsiella in livestock, poultry, and human contacts, and to investigate the genetic relatedness of the recovered isolates. In total, 140 samples were collected, including human fecal samples (n = 20) of workers with intimate livestock contact, cattle rectal swabs (n = 34), milk (n = 14), milking machine swabs (n = 8), rations (n = 2), and water (n = 2) from different cattle farms, as well as cloacal swabs (n = 45), rations (n = 5), water (n = 5) and litter (n = 5) from poultry farms. The specimens were investigated for ESBL-producing E. coli and Klebsiella using HiCrome ESBL media agar. The agar disk diffusion method characterized the isolated strains for their phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility. The prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae was 30.0%, 20.0%, and 25.0% in humans, cattle, and poultry, respectively. Further genotypic characterization was performed using conventional and multiplex PCR assays for the molecular identification of ESBL and AmpC genes. The majority of the ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae showed a multi-drug resistant phenotype. Additionally, blaSHV was the predominant ESBL genotype (n = 31; 93.94%), and was mainly identified in humans (n = 6), cattle (n = 11), and poultry (14); its existence in various reservoirs is a concern, and highlights the necessity of the development of definite control strategies to limit the abuse of antimicrobial agents.

The present experiment investigated the potential protective role of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) seed meal (PSM) in alleviating methomyl (MET)-adverse impacts on growth, whole-body composition, hematological indicators, hepatorenal function, immune response, oxidative status, and disease resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For this purpose, 225 healthy Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were allotted into five groups (45 fish/group in triplicate). One group was reared in clean water and fed a non-supplemented basal diet, while the other groups were exposed to 20.39 μg L−1 MET and fed a non-fortified basal diet or basal diets supplemented with 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0% of PSM for 60 days. The obtained data revealed significantly lower weight gain, feed intake, and specific growth rate, but higher feed conversion ratio and decreases in crude protein, lipid, and ash contents in the MET-exposed fish. Anemia, leukopenia, lymphocytopenia, and esonipenia were also obvious. Furthermore, MET-exposed fish had significantly higher serum levels of hepatic enzymes and renal damage products. Nevertheless, there was a significant depletion of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and increased malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels in MET-exposed fish. The MET exposure significantly depressed lysozyme activity, nitric oxide, complement3, acetylcholinesterase activity, total proteins, globulin, and albumin levels in O. niloticus serum. Furthermore, pathological alterations in the liver and kidney were noted. The relative percentage of survival rate in MET-exposed fish was dramatically reduced on day 14 post-challenge with P. aeruginosa. The inclusion of PSM, on the other hand, greatly alleviated most of the MET-related negative effects. Taken together, the dietary intervention with PSM has a promising role in alleviating MET-deleterious impacts, rendering parsley seeds a viable aqua feed additive for O. niloticus.

This study aims to see if Ginseng® can reduce the hepatorenal damage caused by malathion. Four groups of forty male Wistar albino rats were alienated. Group 1 was a control group that got orally supplied corn oil (vehicle). Group 2 was intoxicated by malathion dissolved in corn oil orally at 135 mg/kg/day. Group 3 orally received both malathion + Panax Ginseng® (300 mg/kg/day). Group 4 was orally given Panax Ginseng® at a 300 mg/kg/day dose. Treatments were administered daily and continued for up to 30 consecutive days. Malathion’s toxic effect on both hepatic and renal tissues was revealed by a considerable loss in body weight and biochemically by a marked increase in liver enzymes, LDH, ACP, cholesterol, and functional renal markers with a marked decrease in serum TP, albumin, and TG levels with decreased AchE and Paraoxonase activity. Additionally, malondialdehydes, nitric oxide (nitrite), 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, and TNFα with a significant drop in the antioxidant activities were reported in the malathion group. Malathion upregulated the inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic genes, while Nrf2, Bcl2, and HO-1 were downregulated. Ginseng® and malathion co-treatment reduced malathion’s harmful effects by restoring metabolic indicators, enhancing antioxidant pursuit, lowering the inflammatory reaction, and alleviating pathological alterations. So, Ginseng® may have protective effects against hepatic and renal malathion-induced toxicity on biochemical, antioxidant, molecular, and cell levels.

Boldenone Undecylenate (BLD) is a synthetic derivative of testosterone and a widely used anabolic androgenic steroid. The health risk of BLD use as a pharmaceutical or dietary supplement is still underestimated and under-reported. Vitamin C (VC) has been recognized as an antioxidant with prominent hepatorenal protective effects. This study investigated the possible preventive activity of VC against BLD-induced hepatorenal damage. Forty adult male Wistar rats were classified into five groups: control, vehicle control, VC (orally given 120 mg/kg b. wt./day), BLD (intramuscularly injected 5 mg/kg b. wt./week), and BLD + VC-treated groups. The experiment continued for eight weeks. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured. Serum contents of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and very-low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (VLDL-C) were also assayed. Urea, creatinine, and uric acid levels were determined together with sodium and potassium electrolytes measuring. Moreover, oxidative stress indicators including reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GSR) as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in both hepatic and renal tissues. Corresponding histological examination of renal and hepatic tissues was conducted. Besides, immunohistochemical evaluations for androgen receptors protein (AR) and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp 90) expressions were performed. BLD caused significant rises in serum ALT, AST, TP, ALB, TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, urea, creatinine, uric acid, potassium, and MDA levels. Further, BLD-injected rats showed significant declines in the serum levels of HDL-C, sodium, GSH, GPx, GST, and GSR. Besides, distinct histopathological perturbations were detected in renal and hepatic tissues of BLD-injected rats. AR and Hsp 90 immunoexpression were increased in hepatic and renal tissues. In contrast, VC significantly reversed the BLD-induced hepatorenal damage in co-treated rats but not ameliorated AR protein overexpression. VC could be an efficient preventive supplement for mitigating BLD-induced hepatorenal damage, possibly via controlling oxidative stress events.

The study was conducted to assess the long-term effects of predominant land uses on physicochemical properties, nutrient status and their interactions in soils of south-western Punjab representing the semi-arid soils of India. From each site, soil samples of three predominant land use viz. croplands, horticultural lands and uncultivated lands were collected from 0–15, 15–30, 30–60 and 60–90 cm depths. Soils of both croplands and horticultural lands were classified as sandy loam whereas uncultivated lands showed loamy sand texture with relatively higher pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and bulk density (Bd). Greater soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) in horticulture might be due to the higher addition of OC and mineral nutrients through the decomposition of leaf litterfall and root deposits over their removal from soils while long-term use of potassic fertilizer raised the available K contents in croplands. Profile study up to 90 cm depicted the largest sequestration of 74.89 Mg C ha−1 under orchards which was 40 and 70% higher than croplands and uncultivated lands respectively. Significant variability in water-stable aggregates (WSA) (R2 = 0.5843, p < 0.05) and mean weighted diameter (MWD) (R2 = 0.6497, p < 0.01) with SOC indicated better soil stability in horticulture due to the presence of higher SOC. Positive relations of soil available micronutrients with SOC and finer soil particles were supported by the results of correlation, Principal component analysis and dendrogram indicating horticulture as a potent source of available micronutrients. An overall superiority of horticultural land use over the other two land uses in terms of nutrient status and soil stability suggests its inclusion as a positive strategy that could be taken into account in policymaking for maintaining productivity along with the sustainability of the concerned land degradation prone area.

The current study was instigated by investigating the ameliorative potential of Ornipural® solution against the hepato-renal toxicity of malathion. A total number of 35 male Wistar albino rats were divided equally into five groups. Group 1 served as control and received normal saline intraperitoneally. Group 2, the sham group, were administered only corn oil (vehicle of malathion) orally. Group 3 was orally intoxicated by malathion in corn oil at a dose of 135 mg/kg BW via intra-gastric gavage. Group 4 received malathion orally concomitantly with Ornipural® intraperitoneally. Group 5 was given Ornipural® solution in saline via intraperitoneal injection at a dose of (1 mL/kg BW). Animals received the treatment regime for 30 days. Histopathological examination revealed the harmful effect of malathion on hepatic and renal tissue. The results showed that malathion induced a significant decrease in body weight and marked elevation in the activity of liver enzymes, LDH, and ACP. In contrast, the activity of AchE and Paraoxonase was markedly decreased. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the serum content of bilirubin, cholesterol, and kidney injury markers. A significant elevation in malondialdehyde, nitric oxide (nitrite), and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine was observed, along with a substantial reduction in antioxidant activity. Furthermore, malathion increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha, the upregulation of IL-1B, BAX, and IFN-β genes, and the downregulation of Nrf2, Bcl2, and HO-1 genes. Concurrent administration of Ornipural® with malathion attenuated the detrimental impact of malathion through ameliorating metabolic biomarkers, restoring antioxidant activity, reducing the inflammatory response, and improving pathologic microscopic alterations. It could be concluded that Ornipural® solution demonstrates hepatorenal defensive impacts against malathion toxicity at biochemical, antioxidants, molecular, and cellular levels.

This study aimed to investigate the oxidative neurotoxicity induced by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and assess the neuroprotective effects of quercetin against this toxicity. Forty adult male rats were divided into four equal groups: control, AgNPs (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally), quercetin (50 mg/kg orally), and quercetin + AgNPs. After 30 days, blood and brain tissue samples were collected for further studies. AgNP exposure increased lipid peroxidation and decreased glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities in brain tissue. AgNPs decreased serum acetylcholine esterase activity and γ-aminobutyric acid concentrations. AgNPs upregulated tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and Bax transcript levels. AgNPs reduced the transcripts of claudin-5, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, paraoxonase, nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2 (Nrf2), and Bcl-2. Histopathologically, AgNPs caused various degenerative changes and neuronal necrosis associated with glial cell reactions. AgNPs increased the immunohistochemical staining of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cerebrum and cerebellum. Oral treatment with quercetin efficiently counteracted the opposing effects of AgNPs on brain tissue via modulation of tight junction proteins, Nrf2, and paraoxonase, and its positive mechanism in modulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and the downregulation of GFAP expression, and the apoptotic pathway. AgNPs also altered the severity of histopathological lesions and modulated GFAP immunostaining in the examined tissue.

Chemical insecticides have many harmful effects, including as foodborne residues and environmental contaminants, as well as side effects on natural enemies and serious risks for human health. The use of plant-derived essential oils (EOs) as effective bio-agents has become an essential component of integrated pest management. In this study, the contact toxicity, deterrent, and repellent activities were evaluated for essential oils obtained from Mentha piperita, Mentha longifolia, Salvia officinalis, and Salvia rosmarinus, grown at high altitudes in the Taif region, KSA, on Aphis punicae. Furthermore, the toxicity of these EOs against the predator Coccinella undecimpunctata was estimated. A total of 17, 14, 16, and 26 compounds were identified in the EOs of M. piperita, M. longifolia, S. officinalis, and S. rosmarinus, respectively. They showed a variation in the major compounds: M. piperita (Carvone, 61.16%), M. longifolia (Pulegone, 48.6%), S. officinalis (Eucalyptol, 33.52%), and S. rosmarinus (α-pinene, 36.65%). A contact toxicity test on A. punicae imago and C. undecimpunctata larvae showed that LC50 were approximately four-fold greater for all tested EOs towards aphids compared to towards the predator, while the two species of Salvia sp. were more effective than the other two species of Mentha sp. The LC50 values on A. punicae ranged from 1.57 to 2.97 µg/mL, while on C. undecimpunctata larvae, they ranged from 5.96 to 10.33 µg/mL. Furthermore, the EOs of two species of Salvia sp. showed excellent repellence and deterrence against A. punicae. In conclusion, the tested EOs, especially those from Salvia sp., have been shown to be promising natural aphicides, repellent, and deterrent against A. punicae, and they are safe for important insect predators.

Moringa Oleifera (MO) is a herbal plant native to South Asia known for its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. This study explored the protective effects of MO leaf extract (MOLE) against oxidative stress and hepatic and renal injuries caused by methotrexate (MTX) therapy. Mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg body weight MTX to induce hepatic and kidney injuries. They then received 300 mg/kg body weight of MOLE orally for seven days, followed by MTX on day 7 then five more days of MOLE (12 days total). Blood, liver and kidney samples were collected from all groups and the following biochemical parameters were tested: serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total proteins. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to examine Nrf2, HO-1, BAX, TIMP, XIAP, and NFkB, which are associated with apoptosis, anti-apoptosis and oxidative stress. Capase-9 and Bcl2 genes underwent immunohistochemical analysis. Pretreatment with MOLE reduced the effect of MTX on ALT, AST and total proteins, and reversed its effect on serum and tissue antioxidants. Nrf2/HO-1, apoptotic and anti-apoptotic gene expression was regulated, and Bax and TIMP were reduced; XIAP expression was increased in both the liver and kidney samples, and immunoreactivity of caspase-9 and Bcl2 was restored in the MOLE-administered experimental group. Overall, the study concluded that MOLE can inhibit the effects of hepato-renal injuries caused by MTX by regulating oxidative stress, apoptosis and anti-apoptotic genes at biochemical, molecular and cellular levels.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of some natural compounds against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Methods: Forty-three bacterial strains were collected. Disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests were carried out for natural compounds including quercetin, Acacia nilotica , Syzygium aromaticum , and Holothuria atra . Scanning electron microscope analysis and bacterial DNA apoptosis assays were performed. Results: Staphylococcus aureus strains were resistant to imipenim, ampicillin, and penicillin. Most Escherichia coli strains were resistant to amoxicillin, clavulanat, and ampicillin. Finally, tigecycline was effective with Klebsiella pneumoniae and was resistant to all antibiotics. Only S aromaticum had an antibacterial effect on K pneumoniae . Most S aureus strains were sensitive to S aromaticum , A nilotica , and quercetin. All examined natural extracts had no effect on E coli . Holothuria atra had no effect on any of the strains tested. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values for examined plants against S aureus were 6.25 to 12, 1.6 to 3.2, and 9.12 to 18.24 mg/mL, respectively. Syzygium aromaticum was active against K pneumoniae with an MIC of 12.5 mg/mL. Scanning electron microscope analysis performed after 24 and 48 hours of incubation showed bacterial strains with distorted shapes and severe cell wall damage. Syzygium aromaticum , quercetin, and A nilotica showed clear fragmentations of S aureus DNA. Conclusions: Current findings confirmed the beneficial effect of using natural products such as clove (S aromaticum) , quercetin, and A nilotica as a promising therapy to overcome multidrug resistant bacteria.

The Acrylamide is a toxic compound generated under oxidative stress arising from intracellular ROS production and induced toxicity. It is frequently used in industry and generated through the heating of tobacco and foods high in carbohydrates. The exact mechanism of its toxicity is still unclear. In this study, an extract of the peels of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), a nutritious and visually appealing fruit with a diverse bioactive profile, was examined for its potential anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. A total of 40 adult male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups of 10 rats each: Group 1 was a negative-control group (CNT) and received normal saline; Group 2 was a positive-control acrylamide group and received acrylamide orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg/bw; in Group 3, the rats were supplemented with pomegranate-peel extract (P.P; 150 mg/kg/bw) orally on a daily basis for 3 weeks, administered simultaneously with the acrylamide treatment described for Group 2; Group 4 was a protective group, and the animals received the pomegranate-peel extract and acrylamide as stated for Groups 2 and 3, with the pomegranate-peel extract (P.P. extract) administered 1 week earlier than the acrylamide. The results indicate that acrylamide exposure increased the serum levels of AST, ALT, creatinine, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6 in an extraordinary manner. In addition, it increased the lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA) and simultaneously weakened antioxidant biomarker activities (SOD, GSH, and catalase) and reduced the levels of interleukin-10. The pomegranate-peel extract was shown to reduce the inflammatory blood markers of interleukin-1 beta and IL-6. Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and interleukin-10 were all significantly elevated in comparison to the acrylamide-treatment group as a result of the significant reduction in MDA levels induced by the P.P extract. In addition, the pomegranate-peel extract normalized the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and caspase-3 levels, with a significant upregulation of the mRNA expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2), and Bcl-2. Therefore, these data reveal that pomegranate peel has anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, free-radical-scavenging, and powerful antioxidant activity that protects against acrylamide toxicity.

The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility profiles, and some toxin genes of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in unpasteurized raw cow’s milk collected from retail outlets located at Mansoura, Dakahliya governorate, Egypt. In that context, a total of 700 raw cow’s milk samples were investigated for the presence of S. aureus, which was identified in 41.1% (288/700) of the samples. Among the S. aureus isolates, 113 PVL-positive S. aureus were identified and subjected for further analysis. The PVL-positive S. aureus were investigated for the existence of toxin-related genes, including hemolysin (hla), toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (tst), and enterotoxins (sea, seb, sec, see, seg, sei, and selj). Genotypic resistance of PVL-positive strains was performed for the detection of blaZ and mecA genes. Among the PVL-positive S. aureus, sea, seb, and sec were detected in 44.2, 6.2%, and 0.9%, respectively, while the hla and tst genes were identified in 54.9% and 0.9%, respectively. The blaZ and mecA genes were successfully identified in 84.9 (96/113) and 32.7% (37/113) of the total evaluated S. aureus isolates, respectively. PVL-positive S. aureus displayed a high level of resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Multidrug resistance (resistant to ≥3 antimicrobial classes) was displayed by all methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 38.2% of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolates. The obtained findings are raising the alarm of virulent PVL-positive MRSA clones in retail milk in Egypt, suggesting the requirement for limiting the use of β-lactam drugs in food-producing animals and the importance of implementing strong hygiene procedures in dairy farms and processing plants.

The impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the pathogenesis of coccidiosis in broiler chickens was tested. A total of 160 1-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated into 4 groups (n = 40). Group 1: unchallenged, unmedicated; Group 2: challenged, unmedicated; Group 3: challenged, supplemented with diclazuril (1 ppm); Group 4: challenged, supplemented with ZnO-NPs (20 ppm). Mixed Eimeria species (E. maxima, E. acervulina, E. mivati, and E. tenella) of a commercial coccidial vaccine (FORTEGRA®) were used to perform the coccidial challenge by 15× of its vaccinal dose on the 14th day of age. Diclazuril and ZnO-NPs supplementation in Group 3 and 4, respectively, reduced the mortality rate due to coccidial challenge to 5.8% compared to 11.9% in Group 2. The growth performance was improved by ZnO-NPs in coccidiosis-infected group (p ≤ 0.05) compared to Group 2 and was comparable to that of Group 3 (p ≥ 0.05). The average oocyst count was lower in Groups 3 and 4 (7.8 × 103 and 14.3 × 103, respectively) than in Group 2 (67 × 103 oocysts). Group 3 had a decreased gross lesion score in duodenum and caecum (p ≤ 0.05) as well as jujenum and ileum (p ≥ 0.05) compared to Group 2; while the average lesion scores of all intestinal parts in Group 4 were significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05). However, diclazuril was superior to ZnO-NPs in reducing caecal lesion score (p ≤ 0.05). Plasma carotenoids levels were increased by diclazuril (p ≥ 0.05) and ZnO-NPs (p ≤ 0.05) supplementation compared to Group 2. Oxidative stress appeared on the fourth week post-challenge (pc) in Group 2 (p ≤ 0.05) compared to Group 1, while the dietary supplementation with either diclazuril or ZnO-NPs numerically decreased Malondialdhyde (p ≥ 0.05) and statistically increased antioxidant activity (p ≤ 0.05). Both medications significantly improved the PCV%, Hb% and RBCs count on the 6th-day and 4th-week pc (p ≤ 0.05) compared to Group 2, though this improvement was higher significantly in Group 4 than Group 3 on the 6th day pc (p ≤ 0.05). Neither coccidial challenge nor medications had an impact on the total WBCs count as well as organ index, except Bursa of fabricious index that significantly improved by ZnO-NPs on the 4th-week pc compared to Group 2. Coccidial challenge reduced total protein and globulin levels and increased the serum alanine aminotransferase, serum cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels (p ≤ 0.05) compared to Group 1, while those of both medicated groups (Group 3 and 4) were comparable to Group 1 (p ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, ZnO-NPs were found to be as effective as diclazuril against coccidiosis. However, further research is needed to fully comprehend its anticoccidial mechanisms.

Mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) is prebiotic with high functionality in aquaculture. The current study investigated the potential roles of MOS on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, carcass composition, and blood chemistry of Thinlip grey mullet (Liza ramada). Four tested diets with 34.49% crude protein and 6.29% of total lipids were prepared and fortified with 0, 0.5, 1, and 2% MOS. Fish of initial weight = 5.14 ± 0.11 g/fish were distributed in 12 hapas (0.5 × 0.5 × 1 m) at 15 fish per hapa (triplicates) and fed the test diets to the satiation level two times a day (08:00 and 15:00) for eight weeks. At the end of the trial, all fish were weighed individually for growth performance calculation. Blood was collected to check blood chemistry traits, and intestines were dissected for digestive enzyme analysis. Fish treated with MOS had marked enhancement in the final body weight, feed conversion ratio, protein gain, and protein retention regardless of inclusion dose (p < 0.05). The weight gain, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio were meaningfully enhanced by including MOS at 0.5 and 1%, followed by fish fed with 2% MOS, while the lowest values were in the control group (p < 0.05). Insignificant influences of MOS were seen on the chemical composition of carcass components (moisture, crude protein, total lipids, and ash) (p > 0.05). Fish treated with MOS at 0.5 and 1% had marked enhancement in the amylase, lipase, and protease activities regardless of inclusion dose (p < 0.05). The blood total protein and albumin levels were meaningfully enhanced by including MOS at 0.5 and 1%, followed by fish fed with 2% MOS, while the lowest values were in the control group (p < 0.05). The blood globulin was significantly enhanced in fish fed 1% MOS than fish treated with 0, 0.5, and 2% of MOS (p < 0.05). The blood lysozyme activity was meaningfully enhanced by including MOS at 1%, followed by fish treated with 0.5 and 2%, while the lowest values were in the control group (p < 0.05). Phagocytic activity and phagocytic index were markedly improved in fish treated with 1 and 2% MOS, followed by those fed 0.5% compared with fish fed MOS-free diet (p < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were markedly improved in fish treated with 1, and 2% MOS, followed by those fed 0.5% compared with fish fed MOS-free diet (p < 0.05). Dietary MOS (0.5, 1, and 2%) meaningfully enhanced catalase activity while decreased the malondialdehyde concentration (p < 0.05). In summary, dietary MOS is required at 0.5–1% for enhancing the growth rate, feed efficiency, digestive enzyme activity, blood chemistry, and antioxidative capacity of grey mullet.

The government of Nepal has recommended blanket fertilizer application for rice cultivation, which results in lower nutrient use efficiency (NUE) particularly under rainfed conditions. With the aim of finding an appropriate nutrient management practices concerning rice production and profitability, a field experiment was conducted during rainy season of 2017 and 2018 at Kavrepalanchowk and Dang district of Nepal. Altogether, five treatments comprising various nutrient management practices viz. Nutrient Expert Model (NE), use of Leaf Color Chart (LCC), Government Recommended Fertilizer Dose (GON), Farm Yard Manure (FYM), and Farmers’ Field Practice (FFP), were laid out in RCBD with four replications in farmers’ fields. The analysis of variance showed significant difference between treatments for test weight and grain yield in Kavrepalanchowk whereas all traits except number of effective tillers were significant in Dang. The significantly higher grain yield and harvest index were obtained in NE, followed by LCC; and the overall straw yield was highest in LCC, followed by NE in both the locations. Also, yield gap analysis suggested the NE had 44.44% and 23.97% increase in yield as compared to FPP in Kavrepalanchowk and Dang, respectively. The combined analysis with Best Linear Unbiased Estimator revealed the interaction of nutrient management and location significantly effects the straw yield and harvest index across both the locations. The estimated mean straw yield and harvest index were 10.93 t/ha and 34.98%, respectively. Both correlation study and biplot of principal component analysis signaled grain yield had positive correlation with all other traits. Furthermore, the net revenue was maximum for NE, followed by LCC in both the locations. The benefit: cost ratio was highest for NE which was 1.55 in Kavrepalanchowk and 2.61 in Dang. On the basis of these findings, NE and LCC can be effectively used as nutrient management practice by the farmers to obtain maximum production and profitability in Rice.

The bioavailability and pharmacokinetics in turkeys of cefquinome (CFQ), a broad-spectrum 4th-generation cephalosporin antibiotic, were explored after a single injection of 2 mg/kg body weight by intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) routes. In a crossover design and 3-weeks washout interval, seven turkeys were assigned for this objective. Blood samples were collected prior to and at various time intervals following each administration. The concentration of CFQ in plasma was measured using HPLC with a UV detector set at 266 nm. For pharmacokinetic analysis, non-compartmental methods have been applied. Following IV administration, the elimination half-life (t1/2ʎz), distribution volume at steady state (Vdss), and total body clearance (Cltot) of CFQ were 1.55 h, 0.54 L/kg, and 0.32 L/h/kg, respectively. Following the IM administration, CFQ was speedily absorbed with an absorption half-life (t1/2ab) of 0.25 h, a maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of 2.71 μg/mL, attained (Tmax) at 0.56 h. The bioavailability (F) and in vitro plasma protein binding of CFQ were 95.56% and 11.5%, respectively. Results indicated that CFQ was speedily absorbed with a considerable bioavailability after IM administration. In conclusion, CFQ has a favorable disposition in turkeys that can guide to estimate optimum dosage regimes and eventually lead to its usage to eradicate turkey’s susceptible bacterial infections.

Healthy, weaned, coccidial-free male rabbits from two breeds (New Zealand white (NZ) and V-line (VL)) were divided into 10 equal groups (5 groups each for NZ and VL) (3 replicates/group, 6 rabbits/replicate, 18 rabbits/group). All rabbits were inoculated with 5 × 104 Eimeria spp. oocysts (E. intestinalis (67%), E. magna (22%), and E. media (11%)) except for the rabbits in the first group (G1), which were inoculated with a sterile solution and served as a negative control. The remaining four groups were treated as follows: G2, no treatment/positive control, G3, treated with neem leaf extract, G4, treated with pomegranate peel extract (PPE), and G5, treated with a combination of neem leaf extract and PPE. For both breeds, our results showed that the use of neem leaf and/or pomegranate peel extract resulted in improved growth performance, with a significant improvement in relative feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the positive control groups, which recorded the worst values, as well as a significant (p ≤ 0.05) reduction in mean oocyst count compared to the positive control groups. We also observed downregulation of mRNA levels of IL-1βα, IL6, and TNF-α in the herbal treatment groups compared with the mRNA levels of these genes in the positive control groups. Herbal treatment with neem leaf and/or pomegranate peel extracts had positive effects on the NZ and VL rabbits experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria species, as evidenced by their healthy appearance, good appetite, no mortalities, an anticoccidial index > 120, and a significantly higher total return and net profit when compared to the positive control groups of both breeds. In NZ rabbits, the treatment with neem leaf extract alone (G3) or in combination with PPE (G5) recorded the most efficient economic anticoccidial activity.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic potential of the new triamilide macrolide antibiotic, tulathromycin, at 20 and 40 mg/kg of body weight (BW), subcutaneously against acute pain in mice. Acute pain was induced either chemically (using acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin-induced pain tests) or thermally (using hot-plate, and tail-flick tests). In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, tulathromycin induced a dose-dependent and significant decrease in the number of writhes compared with the control group. In the late phase of the formalin test, a significant decline in hind paw licking time compared with the control group was observed. In the hot-plate and tail-flick tests, tulathromycin caused a dose-dependent and significant prolongation of latency of nociceptive response to heat stimuli, compared with the control group. These findings may indicate that tulathromycin possesses significant peripheral and central analgesic potentials that may be valuable in symptomatic relief of pain, in addition to its well-established antibacterial effect.

Dietary egg lysozyme has beneficial roles in the growth performance and health conditions of animals. The study was performed using 90 multicolored rabbits in three groups (each replicate with thirty rabbits). In the control group, rabbits were fed a diet without zinc bacitracin (ZnB) or egg lysozyme, while the second and third groups were treated with ZnB and lysozyme additive at 100 mg/kg, respectively. After eight weeks, the final weight and body weight gain (BWG) of rabbits fed dietary egg lysozyme and ZnB additives were meaningfully increased (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was markedly decreased by dietary egg lysozyme and ZnB (p < 0.05). Interestingly, dietary egg lysozyme resulted in higher final weight and BWG and lower FCR than rabbits treated with ZnB (p < 0.05). Rabbits treated with egg lysozyme and ZnB additives had markedly lower populations of Clostridium spp. and Escherichia coli (p < 0.05) compared with the control. However, the counts of Lactobacillus and total bacteria were meaningfully increased in the the intestines of rabbits treated with egg lysozyme and ZnB (p < 0.05). The blood total protein and globulin of rabbits fed dietary egg lysozyme and ZnB additives were meaningfully increased (p < 0.05). Blood creatinine was significantly lowered by dietary egg lysozyme compared with the control and ZnB-treated rabbits (p < 0.05). The levels of blood urea, ALT, and AST were markedly lowered (p < 0.05) by dietary egg lysozyme and ZnB. The gene expressions of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in the liver of rabbits fed dietary egg lysozyme and ZnB additives were markedly upregulated (p < 0.05) compared with the control. Dietary egg lysozyme resulted in higher expression of SOD1 and GPX genes than rabbits treated with ZnB (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of egg lysozyme could replace the inclusion of ZnB in the diets of rabbits.

The existing study was designed to assess the influences of dietary activated charcoal (AC) on the growth performance, immune responses, antioxidative status, and its mitigating roles against the physiological responses of Nile tilapia exposed a sub-lethal dose of a neonicotinoid agriculture pesticide, namely, as imidacloprid (IMID). Nile tilapia juveniles were fed on diets supplemented with graded AC levels as 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, and 20 g/kg diet for eight weeks. Growth, hemato-biochemical indices, and antioxidant and immune responses of fish in all groups were evaluated at the end of the feeding experiment. Afterward, fish in all experimental groups were subjected to a sub-lethal dose of IMID (0.0109 μg/L) for two weeks. Then, fish mortalities, stress indicators, and IMID residual levels in liver and flesh were examined. Results of the feeding experiment showed that total feed intake, weight gain, final body weights, and feed efficiency ratio were significantly increased in all AC groups compared with the control group. The survival rate was 100% in all experimental groups. No statistical differences were observed in the hematological picture of all experimental groups except the lymphocyte count, which was significantly increased in all AC groups compared to the control group. Total protein, albumin, globulin, nitric oxide levels, lysozyme, and respiratory burst activities were significantly increased in all AC groups. Serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in all AC groups compared with the AC0 group. After exposure to a sub-lethal dose of IMID, survival rates were significantly elevated, and IMID residual levels in liver and flesh were significantly decreased in all AC groups than in the control group. Moreover, second-order polynomial regression showed that dietary supplementation with 14.30 g AC/kg diet resulted in the lowest blood glucose and serum MDA levels. Conclusively, we suggest dietary supplementation with 14.30 g AC/kg diet to modulate physiological responses of Nile tilapia to sub-lethal IMID toxicity.

This study examined the effect of sodium salicylates (SS), alone and in combination with curcumin (CUR), on kidney function and architecture in rats. Five rat groups were given 1 mL physiological saline/rat orally, 1 mL olive oil/rat orally, 50 mg CUR/kg bwt orally, 300 mg SS/kg bwt intraperitoneally, or CUR+SS for 15 days. The hematological indices, serum protein profile, serum electrolytes balance, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation of kidney tissues were assessed. The histopathological examination and immune expression of Caspase-3 and nuclear factor kappa (NF-κB) were conducted. The findings showed that SS injection induced nephrotoxic activity, including increased serum urea, creatinine, and uric acid levels. It also caused apparent pathological alterations with increased Caspase-3 and NF-κB immuno-expression. In addition, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hypocalcemia, and hypomagnesemia but not hyperkalemia and hyperphosphatemia were evident in SS-injected rats. Moreover, SS exposure increased serum α1 globulin, renal tissue malondialdehyde, and Caspase-3 levels but superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and Bcl-2 levels declined. Meanwhile, CUR significantly counteracted the SS harmful impacts on kidneys but SS+CUR co-administration induced an anemic condition. Overall, CUR has an evident protective role against SS-induced renal damage, but the disturbed hematological alterations should be carefully taken into consideration in their combined use.

Nile tilapia Juveniles (19.50 ± 0.5 g) were fed on a basal diet (control group (CTR)) and a diet supplemented with 1 g Aspergillus oryzae (ASP) per kg diet for 12 weeks. Fish were then subjected to different salinity levels (0, 10, 15, and 20 practical salinity units (psu)) for another 15 days. Two-way ANOVA analysis revealed that the individual effects of ASP in Nile tilapia exposed to salinity levels presented a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in values of haemato-biochemical indices (such as glucose, cortisol, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and malondialdehyde) compared to those in the CTR group exposed to the same salinity levels. Moreover, significant increases (p < 0.05) of blood protein profile (albumin, globulin, and total protein), non-specific immune responses (lysozyme activity, phagocytic activity, and phagocytic index), and antioxidant enzymes activities (glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) were observed in ASP-supplemented groups. Interestingly, there was significant (p < 0.05) downregulation of the mRNA expression values of heat shock protein 70 and interferon-gamma genes, alongside upregulation of the mRNA expression values of interleukin 1 beta and interleukin 8 genes, in the hepatic tissues of Nile tilapia in ASP-supplemented groups exposed to different salinities compared to those in the CTR group exposed to the same salinity levels. Taken together, these findings supported the potential efficacy of dietary supplementation with ASP in alleviating salinity stress-induced haemato-biochemical alterations, immune suppression, and oxidative stress in the exposed Nile tilapia.

Abstract Background Hypercholesterolemia is a serious diseases associated with type-2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disorders and liver diseases. Humans seek for safe herbal medication such as karela (Momordica charantia/bitter melon) to treat such disorders to avoid side effect of pharmacotherapies widely used. Methods Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups; control group with free access to food and water, cholesterol administered group (40 mg/kg BW orally); karela administered group (5 g /kg BW orally) and mixture of cholesterol and karela. The treatments continued for 10 weeks. Karela was given for hypercholesterolemic rats after 6 weeks of cholesterol administration. Serum, liver and epididymal adipose tissues were taken for biochemical, histopathological and genetic assessments. Results Hypercholesterolemia induced a decrease in serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH) and an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels that were ameliorated by karela administration. Hypercholesterolemia up regulated antioxidants mRNA expression and altered the expression of carbohydrate metabolism genes. In parallel, hypercholesterolemic groups showed significant changes in the expression of PPAR-alpha and gamma, lipolysis, lipogenesis and cholesterol metabolism such as carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1). Acyl CoA oxidase (ACO), fatty acids synthase (FAS), sterol responsible element binding protein-1c (SREBP1c), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoAR) and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) at hepatic and adipose tissue levels. Interestingly, Karela ameliorated all altered genes confirming its hypocholesterolemic effect. Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings revealed that hypercholesterolemia induced hepatic tissue changes compared with control. These changes include cholesterol clefts, necrosis, karyolysis and sever congestion of portal blood vessel. Caspase-3 immunoreactivity showed positive expression in hepatic cells of hypercholesterolemic rats compared to control. All were counteracted and normalized after Karela administration to hypercholesterolemic group. Conclusion Current findings confirmed that karela is a potential supplement useful in treatment of hypercholesterolemia and its associated disorders and is good for human health.