Nano-selenium and Macleaya cordata Extracts Improved Immune Function and Reduced Oxidative Damage of Sows and IUGR Piglets After Heat Stress of Sows in Late Gestation

Glycyrrhiza Extract and Curcumin Alleviates the Toxicity of Cadmium via Improving the Antioxidant and Immune Functions of Black Goats

To investigate the mitigative effects of glycyrrhiza extract (GE) and curcumin (CUR) on the antioxidant and immune functions of the Guizhou black goat exposed to cadmium (Cd), 50 healthy Guizhou black goats (11.08 ± 0.22 kg, male, six months old) were used in a 60-day trial and were randomly assigned to five groups with 10 replicates per group, one goat per replicate. All goats were fed a basal diet, with drinking water and additives varying slightly between groups. Control group: tap water (0.56 μg·L-1 Cd); Cd group: drinking water containing Cd (20 mg Cd·kg-1·body weight, CdCl2·2.5H2O); GE group: drinking water containing Cd, at days 31 to 60, the basic diet had added 500 mg·kg-1 GE; CUR group: drinking water containing Cd, at days 31 to 60, the basic diet had added 500 mg·kg-1 CUR; combined group: drinking water containing Cd, at days 31 to 60, the basic diet had added 500 mg·kg-1 GE and CUR. Compared with the Cd group, GE and CUR significantly increased the levels of hemoglobin and red blood cell count in the blood, and the activities of serum antioxidant enzyme activity and immune function in the Guizhou black goat (p < 0.05). The treatment effect in the combined group was better than that in the GE and CUR groups. The results showed that GE and CUR improved the antioxidant and immune functions of the serum and livers of the Guizhou black goat and alleviated the toxicity damage of Cd contamination. This research has positive implications for both livestock management and human health.

Cadmium Exposure Affects Serum Metabolites and Proteins in the Male Guizhou Black Goat

Food safety and environmental pollution are the hotspots of general concern globally. Notably, long-term accumulation of trace toxic heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd), in animals may endanger human health via the food chain. The mechanism of Cd toxicity in the goat, a popular farmed animal, has not been extensively investigated to date. Therefore, in this study, ten male goats (Nubian black goat × native black goat) were exposed to Cd via drinking water containing CdCl2 (20 mg Cd·kg-1·BW) for 30 days (five male goats per group). In this study, we used an integrated approach combining proteomics and metabolomics to profile proteins and metabolites in the serum of Cd-exposed goats. It was found that Cd exposure impacted the levels of 30 serum metabolites and 108 proteins. The combined proteomic and metabolomic analysis revealed that Cd exposure affected arginine and proline metabolism, beta-alanine metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. Further, antioxidant capacity in the serum of goats exposed to Cd was reduced. We identified CKM and spermidine as potential protein and metabolic markers, respectively, of early Cd toxicity in the goat. This study details approaches for the early diagnosis and prevention of Cd-poisoned goats.

The combination of macleaya extract and glucose oxidase improves the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function and cecal microbiota of piglets

This study aims to investigate the effects of macleaya extract and glucose oxidase combination (MGO) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, and cecal microbiota in piglets. A total of 120 healthy 28-day-old weaned piglets were randomly divided into two treatments of six replicates. Piglets were either received a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg MGO (2 g/kg sanguinarine, 1 g/kg chelerythrine, and 1 × 106 U/kg glucose oxidase). The results showed that MGO supplementation increased average daily gain (ADG) and decreased feed:gain ratio (F/G) (p < 0.05). MGO increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) content (p < 0.05), but decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) content (p < 0.05). The jejunal mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) were increased in MGO group (p < 0.05), while that of kelch like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1) was decreased (p < 0.05). The Firmicutes was significantly increased at phylum levels in MGO group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 250 mg/kg MGO improved piglet growth, and regulated intestinal flora of piglets, which provided a theoretical basis for MGO as an alternative additive for antibiotics.

Heat Stress-Induced Intestinal Barrier Impairment: Current Insights into the Aspects of Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Heat stress (HS) occurs when the sensible temperature of animals exceeds their thermoregulatory capacity, a condition that exerts a detrimental impact on health and growth. The intestinal tract, as a highly sensitive organ, has been shown to respond to HS by exhibiting mucosal injury, intestinal leakage, and disturbances in the gut microbiota. Oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) are both potential outcomes of long-term exposure to high temperatures and have been linked to apoptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis. In addition, HS alters the composition of the gut microbiota accompanied by changed levels of bacterial components and metabolites, rendering the gut more vulnerable to stress-related injury. In this review, we present recent advances in mechanisms of oxidative stress-associated ERS in response to HS, which is destructive to intestinal barrier integrity. The involvement of autophagy and ferroptosis in ERS was highlighted. Further, we summarize the relevant findings regarding the engagement of gut microbiota-derived components and metabolites in modulation of intestinal mucosal injury induced by HS.

Physiological Benefits of Novel Selenium Delivery via Nanoparticles

Dietary selenium (Se) intake within the physiological range is critical to maintain various biological functions, including antioxidant defence, redox homeostasis, growth, reproduction, immunity, and thyroid hormone production. Chemical forms of dietary Se are diverse, including organic Se (selenomethionine, selenocysteine, and selenium-methyl-selenocysteine) and inorganic Se (selenate and selenite). Previous studies have largely investigated and compared the health impacts of dietary Se on agricultural stock and humans, where dietary Se has shown various benefits, including enhanced growth performance, immune functions, and nutritional quality of meats, with reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, and finally enhanced thyroid health and fertility in humans. The emergence of nanoparticles presents a novel and innovative technology. Notably, Se in the form of nanoparticles (SeNPs) has lower toxicity, higher bioavailability, lower excretion in animals, and is linked to more powerful and superior biological activities (at a comparable Se dose) than traditional chemical forms of dietary Se. As a result, the development of tailored SeNPs for their use in intensive agriculture and as candidate for therapeutic drugs for human pathologies is now being actively explored. This review highlights the biological impacts of SeNPs on growth and reproductive performances, their role in modulating heat and oxidative stress and inflammation and the varying modes of synthesis of SeNPs.

Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles in Biomedical Sciences: Properties, Current Trends, Novel Opportunities and Emerging Challenges in Theranostic Nanomedicine

Selenium is an important dietary supplement and an essential trace element incorporated into selenoproteins with growth-modulating properties and cytotoxic mechanisms of action. However, different compounds of selenium usually possess a narrow nutritional or therapeutic window with a low degree of absorption and delicate safety margins, depending on the dose and the chemical form in which they are provided to the organism. Hence, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are emerging as a novel therapeutic and diagnostic platform with decreased toxicity and the capacity to enhance the biological properties of Se-based compounds. Consistent with the exciting possibilities offered by nanotechnology in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases, SeNPs are useful tools in current biomedical research with exceptional benefits as potential therapeutics, with enhanced bioavailability, improved targeting, and effectiveness against oxidative stress and inflammation-mediated disorders. In view of the need for developing eco-friendly, inexpensive, simple, and high-throughput biomedical agents that can also ally with theranostic purposes and exhibit negligible side effects, biogenic SeNPs are receiving special attention. The present manuscript aims to be a reference in its kind by providing the readership with a thorough and comprehensive review that emphasizes the current, yet expanding, possibilities offered by biogenic SeNPs in the biomedical field and the promise they hold among selenium-derived products to, eventually, elicit future developments. First, the present review recalls the physiological importance of selenium as an oligo-element and introduces the unique biological, physicochemical, optoelectronic, and catalytic properties of Se nanomaterials. Then, it addresses the significance of nanosizing on pharmacological activity (pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics) and cellular interactions of SeNPs. Importantly, it discusses in detail the role of biosynthesized SeNPs as innovative theranostic agents for personalized nanomedicine-based therapies. Finally, this review explores the role of biogenic SeNPs in the ongoing context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and presents key prospects in translational nanomedicine.

Effects of Macleaya cordata Extract on Blood Biochemical Indices and Intestinal Flora in Heat-Stressed Mice

Heat stress (HS) leads to disturbance of homeostasis and gut microbiota. Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and gut health maintenance properties. Still, the specific effects of MCE on blood biochemical indices and gut microbiota homeostasis in heat-stressed mice are not entirely understood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of MCE on blood biochemical indices and gut microbiota in heat-stressed mice. A control group (CON) (25 °C, n = 6) and HS group (42 °C, n = 6) were gavaged with normal saline 0.2 mL/g body weight/day, and HS plus MCE group (HS-MCE) (42 °C, n = 6) was gavaged with 5 mg MCE/kg/day. HS (2 h/d) on 8–14 d. The experiment lasted 14 days. The results showed that HS increased mice’ serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transferase activities, heat shock protein 70 level, and malondialdehyde concentrations, and decreased serum catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. HS also disrupted microbiota diversity and community structure in mice, increasing the Bacteroidetes and decreasing Firmicutes and Lactobacillus; however, MCE can alleviate the disturbance of biochemical indicators caused by HS and regulate the flora homeostasis. Furthermore, MCE was able to moderate HS-induced metabolic pathways changes in gut microbiota. The Spearman correlation analysis implied that changes in serum redox status potentially correlate with gut microbiota alterations in HS-treated mice.

Toxicological effects of nanoselenium in animals

The productivity and sustainability of livestock production systems are heavily influenced by animal nutrition. To maintain homeostatic balance in the body of the animal at different phases of life, the percentage of organically active minerals in livestock feed must be optimized. Selenium (Se) is a crucial trace mineral that is required for the maintenance of many functions of the body. Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) attracted considerable interest from researchers for a variety of applications a decade ago, owing to their extraordinary properties. SeNPs offer significant advantages over larger-sized materials, by having a comparatively wider surface area, increased surface energy, and high volume. Despite its benefits, SeNP also has toxic effects, therefore safety concerns must be taken for a successful application. The toxicological effects of SeNPs in animals are characterized by weight loss, and increased mortality rate. A safe-by-strategy to certify animal, human and environmental safety will contribute to an early diagnosis of all risks associated with SeNPs. This review is aimed at describing the beneficial uses and potential toxicity of SeNPs in various animals. It will also serve as a summary of different levels of SeNPs which should be added in the feed of animals for better performance.