Review: Chinese herbs as alternatives to antibiotics in feed for swine and poultry production: Potential and challenges in application

Gong, J., Yin, F., Hou, Y. and Yin, Y. 2014. Chinese herbs as alternatives to antibiotics in feed for swine and poultry production: Potential and challenges in application. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 223–241. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of clinical practice, and its own theoretical framework focused on functions at the whole-body level. However, due to cultural differences, TCM has not been fully recognized in Western countries. With the recent development of the theory of whole-body systems biology and “-omics”, there is a new opportunity to study TCM and to close the gap between TCM and Western medicine, because of the similarity in the theoretical foundations between TCM and whole-body systems biology. The uniqueness of TCM theory and practice is the approach to maintain and restore the body balance as a whole with no or little unfavourable side effects. Recent studies have also shown that Chinese herbs used as feed additives can modulate nutritional metabolism, immune responses, and intestinal health of food-producing animals, demonstrating good potential as substitutes for dietary antibiotics. Nonetheless, some issues need to be addressed before Chinese herbs can reach their full application. This article has critically reviewed recent progresses in scientific research of Chinese herbs as feed additives and their potential to replace dietary antibiotics. Possible challenges in future application for swine and poultry production are also discussed.

Enhanced immobilization of gold nanoclusters on graphite

The immobilization of individual biological molecules by metal nanoparticles requires that the particles themselves be immobilized. We introduce a new technique for immobilization of gold clusters based on their binding to small tunnels in a graphite support, themselves created by the implantation of small clusters. These tunnels are shown to perform as more effective cluster immobilization sites than point defects on the surface of graphite. The method is tested with atomic force microscopy (AFM) (both contact and noncontact mode) scanning. Size-selected clusters with 923, 561, 309, and 147 atoms have been immobilized and imaged with high-resolution, noncontact AFM.

Development and application of an analytical method using gas chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry for characterizing alkylated chrysenes in crude oil samples

RATIONALE

Recent advances in analytical techniques have led to the development of gas chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry methods that allow the identification of target analytes in complex environmental samples. We have employed this technology to develop a method for characterizing alkylated chrysenes, which are environmental toxins that are resistant to weathering.

METHODS

An Agilent 7890 gas chromatograph coupled to an Agilent 7000B triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used. The mass spectral fragmentation of seven commercially available alkylated chrysene standards was studied under full-scan and product-ion scan conditions. The calibration curves used were in the linear range with r(2) values greater than 0.99. The recovery and limit of detection of target analytes in the samples were in the range of 80-120% and 0.11-1.09 ng/mL, respectively.

RESULTS

The information inferred from full-scan and product-ion scan data was combined with literature data to develop a GC/MS/MS method for the identification and quantification of C1 -, C2 -, C3 -, and C4 -chrysene homologues. The method was employed to characterize MC252 crude oil which was released during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident. The results showed that the chrysene concentrations estimated by the proposed method were well within the range of previously reported values.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed method is useful for analyzing chrysene and its alkylated homologues in crude oil samples.

Regulation of insulin secretion by geniposide: possible involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate kinase

AIM

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by lack of, or relative deficiency in, insulin productions and insensitivity of target tissues to insulin. Improvement of β-cell functions is a potential strategy for the clinical management of this disease. We reported before that geniposide improved glucose-stimulated insulin secretion with the activation of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) in INS-1 pancreatic β cells, but the cell signaling mechanism of geniposide regulating glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in β cells is so far poorly understood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Effect of LY294002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K, on GSIS in the presence or absence of geniposide in INS-1 cells. In addition, the differential protein expression of geniposide treated INS-1 cells was examined by Western blot.

RESULTS

After pretreatment with 10 µM LY294002 for 1 hour, the insulin secretion induced by geniposide was partly abolished in INS-1 cells. After treatment with geniposide, the phosphorylation of PDK1 and Akt473 increased gradually to the maximum at 60 minutes or 120 minutes respectively. Furthermore, geniposide also inhibited the phosphorylation of downstream target GSK3β, and this effect was counteracted by preincubation with LY294002. And the expression of GLUT2 was increased after treatment with different doses geniposide.

CONCLUSIONS

Geniposide increases insulin secretion in pancreatic β cells in a PI3K dependent mechanism potentially through increased GLUT2 protein levels.

Preparation and Characterization of Bamboo Fibers Coated with Titanium Urushiol and its Composite Materials with Polypropylene

Bamboo fibers (BFs) coated with titanium urushiol (BFTiU) was prepared by in situ reaction. Effects of activation time, urushiol concentration, reaction time and butyl titanate concentration etc on the coating ratio of BFTiU were investigated. On the other hand, the BFTiU was characterized by FTIR measurements, scanning electron microscope, thermo gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that titanium urushiol compound was coated on the BFs by coordination reaction and the coating ratio of BFTiU reached 35% at the optimal preparation condition. It also could be found that BFTiU possessed better heat resistant properties than BFs. Due to titanium urushiol coated on BFs, the elongation at break, the maximum deflection and the bending strength of BFTiU/PP composites were 33%, 30 % and 10% higher than those of BP/PP composites respectively. Particularly, the tensile strength of BFTiU/PP composites was better than that of BP/PP composites at the presence of 70% BFTiU.