Dietary supplementation of different parts of Andrographis paniculata affects the fatty acids, lipid oxidation, microbiota, and quality attributes of longissimus muscle in goats

The Effects of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.F.) Wall. Ex Nees and Andrographolide on Neuroinflammation in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) affect millions of people worldwide, and to date, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are the most common NDs. Of the many risk factors for neurodegeneration, the aging process has the most significant impact, to the extent that it is tempting to consider neurodegenerative disease as a manifestation of accelerated aging. However, genetic and environmental factors determine the course of neurodegenerative disease progression. It has been proposed that environmental stimuli influence neuroplasticity. Some clinical studies have shown that healthy lifestyles and the administration of nutraceuticals containing bioactive molecules possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have a preventive impact or mitigate symptoms in previously diagnosed patients. Despite ongoing research efforts, the therapies currently used for the treatment of NDs provide only marginal therapeutic benefits; therefore, the focus is now directly on the search for natural products that could be valuable tools in combating these diseases, including the natural compound Andrographis paniculata (Ap) and its main constituent, andrographolide (Andro). Preclinical studies have shown that the aqueous extract of Ap can modulate neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative responses, reducing inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in various NDs. Therefore, in this review, we will focus on the molecular mechanisms by which Ap and Andro can modulate the processes of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, which are significant causes of neuronal death and cognitive decline.

A Short-Term Supplementation with a Polyphenol-Rich Extract from Radiata Pine Bark Improves Fatty Acid Profiles in Finishing Lambs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a short-term supplementation with a polyphenol-rich extract from radiata pine bark (PBE) on animal performance, blood parameters, and fatty acid (FA) profiles in finishing lambs. Twenty-seven Suffolk lambs (4 months old) fed a finishing diet were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: diet without PBE or diet supplemented with PBE on a 1 or 2% dry matter (DM) basis, for 35 d (14 d adaptation and 21 d of experimental period). Data were compared using Tukey's test and orthogonal and polynomial contrasts. The results indicated that the supplementation with PBE increased (p = 0.008) relative growth rate (RGR) and improved (p = 0.003) protein conversion (CPC), whereas weight gain, carcass characteristic, and blood parameters were unaffected (p ≥ 0.106). Total mono- and polyunsaturated FAs, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and vaccenic and oleic acids were linearly increased (p ≤ 0.016) by PBE supplementation. In contrast, total saturated FAs (ΣSFA), Σn-6/Σn-3 ratio, atherogenicity index (AI), thrombogenic index (TI), and the proportion of elaidic acid were linearly decreased (p ≤ 0.018). In conclusion, the supplementation with 1 or 2% DM of PBE improves subcutaneous FA profiles by increasing CLA and reducing ΣSFA, Σn-6/Σn-3 ratio, AI, and TI. Additionally, PBE supplementation has the potential to improve RGR and CPC, with unaffected intake, growth performance, blood parameters, or carcass characteristics.

Andrographolide promote the growth and immunity of Litopenaeus vannamei, and protects shrimps against Vibrio alginolyticus by regulating inflammation and apoptosis via a ROS-JNK dependent pathway

Vibrio alginolyticus (V. alginolyticus) is one of the major pathogens causing mass mortality of shrimps worldwide, affecting energy metabolism, immune response and development of shrimps. In the context of the prohibition of antibiotics, it is necessary to develop a drug that can protect shrimp from V. alginolyticus. Andrographolide (hereinafter called Andr), a traditional drug used in Chinese medicine, which possesses diverse biological effects including anti-bacteria, antioxidant, immune regulation. In this study, we investigated the effect of Andr on growth, immunity, and resistance to V. alginolyticus infection of Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei) and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Four diets were formulated by adding Andr at the dosage of 0 g/kg (Control), 0.5 g/kg, 1 g/kg, and 2 g/kg in the basal diet, respectively. Each diet was randomly fed to one group with three replicates of shrimps in a 4-week feeding trial. The results showed that dietary Andr improved the growth performance and non-specific immune function of shrimps. L. vannamei fed with Andr diets showed lower mortality after being challenged by V. alginolyticus. After 6 h of V. alginolyticus infection, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, tissue injury, apoptosis, expression of inflammatory factors (IL-1 β and TNFα) and apoptosis-related genes (Bax, caspase3 and p53) were increased in hemocytes and hepatopancreas, while feeding diet with 0.5 g/kg Andr could inhibit the increase. Considering that JNK are important mediators of apoptosis, we examined the influence of Andr on JNK activity during V. alginolyticus infection. We found that Andr inhibited JNK activation induced by V. alginolyticus infection on L. vannamei. The ROS scavenger N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) suppressed V. alginolyticus-induced inflammation and apoptosis, suggesting that ROS play an important role in V. alginolyticus-induced inflammation and apoptosis. Treated cells with JNK specific activator anisomycin, the inflammation and apoptosis inhibited by Andr were counteracted. Collectively, Andr promote the growth and immunity of L. vannamei, and protects shrimps against V. alginolyticus by regulating inflammation and apoptosis via a ROS-JNK dependent pathway. These results improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of V. alginolyticus infection and provide clues to the development of effective drugs against V. alginolyticus.

Effects of a Polyherbal Dietary Additive on Performance, Dietary Energetics, Carcass Traits, and Blood Metabolites of Finishing Lambs

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of a polyherbal additive (PA) containing hydrolyzable tannins, flavonoids, and essential oils on productive performance, dietary energetics, carcass and meat characteristics, and blood metabolites of lambs in their finishing phase. Twenty-eight Pelibuey × Katahdin lambs (20.52 ± 0.88 kg body weight (BW)) were housed in individual pens and assigned to four treatments (n = 7) with different doses of PA: 0 (CON), 1 (PA1), 2 (PA2), and 3 (PA3) g of PA kg−1 of DM for 56 days. Compared to the CON, lambs in PA1 treatment had higher average daily gain (p = 0.03), higher dietary energy utilization (p = 0.01), greater backfat thickness (p = 0.02), greater Longissimus dorsi muscle area (p = 0.01), and better feed conversion ratio (p = 0.02). PA supplementation did not affect (p > 0.05) dry matter intake, carcass yield, biometric measures, and meat chemical composition. All hematological and most of the blood biochemical parameters were similar in lambs of all treatments (p > 0.05). However, compared to the CON, lambs assigned to the PA3 treatment had lower serum urea concentration (p = 0.05) and higher serum albumin concentration (p = 0.03). In conclusion, low doses of PA could be used as a growth promoter in finishing lambs without affecting dry matter intake, carcass yield, meat chemical composition, and health status of the lambs. However, more in vivo research is needed to better understand the impact of bioactive compounds from PA used on productivity, metabolism, and health status of finishing lambs.

Dietary Coleus amboinicus Lour. decreases ruminal methanogenesis and biohydrogenation, and improves meat quality and fatty acid composition in longissimus thoracis muscle of lambs

Background

Methane production and fatty acids (FA) biohydrogenation in the rumen are two main constraints in ruminant production causing environmental burden and reducing food product quality. Rumen functions can be modulated by the biologically active compounds (BACs) of plant origins as shown in several studies e.g. reduction in methane emission, modulation of FA composition with positive impact on the ruminant products. Coleus amboinicus Lour. (CAL) contains high concentration of polyphenols that may potentially reduce methane production and modulate ruminal biohydrogenation of unsaturated FA.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of BAC of Coleus amboinicus Lour. (CAL) fed to growing lambs on ruminal methane production, biohydrogenation of unsaturated FA and meat characteristics. In this study, the in vitro experiment aiming at determining the most effective CAL dose for in vivo experiments was followed by two in vivo experiments in rumen-cannulated rams and growing lambs. Experiment 1 (RUSITEC) comprised of control and three experimental diets differing in CAL content (10%, 15%, and 20% of the total diet). The two in vivo experiments were conducted on six growing, rumen-cannulated lambs (Exp. 2) and 16 growing lambs (Exp. 3). Animals were assigned into the control (CON) and experimental (20% of CAL) groups. Several parameters were examined in vitro (pH, ammonia and VFA concentrations, protozoa, methanogens and select bacteria populations) and in vivo (methane production, digestibility, ruminal microorganism populations, meat quality, fatty acids profiles in rumen fluid and meat, transcript expression of 5 genes in meat).

Results

CAL lowered in vitro methane production by 51%. In the in vivo Exp. 3, CAL decreased methane production by 20% compared with the CON group, which corresponded to reduction of total methanogen counts by up to 28% in all experiments, notably Methanobacteriales. In Exp. 3, CAL increased or tended to increase populations of some rumen bacteria (Ruminococcus albus, Megasphaera elsdenii, Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus, and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens). Dietary CAL suppressed the Holotricha population, but increased or tended to increase Entodiniomorpha population in vivo. An increase in the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) proportion in the rumen of lambs was noted in response to the CAL diet, which was mainly attributable to the increase in C18:3 cis-9 cis-12 cis-15 (LNA) proportion. CAL reduced the mRNA expression of four out of five genes investigated in meat (fatty acid synthase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty acid desaturase 1).

Conclusions

Summarizing, polyphenols of CAL origin (20% in diet) mitigated ruminal methane production by inhibiting the methanogen communities. CAL supplementation also improved ruminal environment by modulating ruminal bacteria involved in fermentation and biohydrogenation of FA. Besides, CAL elevated the LNA concentration, which improved meat quality through increased deposition of n-3 PUFA.

• Coleus amboinicus Lour. (CAL) into sheep diet decreased CH₄ emission.

• CAL did not reduce nutrient digestibility, but inhibited the methanogen community.

• CAL increased ruminal propionate proportion and decreased acetate/propionate ratio.

• CAL elevated n-3 fatty acid concentration in ruminal fluid and meat.

• Supplementation of CAL improved some meat quality traits.

Incorporation of Herbal Plants in the Diet of Ruminants: Effect on Meat Quality

The use of herbal plants as food additives in animal nutrition to enhance meat processing efficiency and meat quality has been reviewed. Today, the consumer demand is safety, nutritive value, taste, uniformity, meat variety, and good appearance of meat products. Thus, to meet the consumers' demand, development of product and research should be improved. Studies have been shown that the use of herbs, spices, and their extracts are of the major interventions, which were adopted in the industry of the meat for improving its quality traits. In the present paper, the most recent literature about use of bioactive compounds in herbal plants for evaluating a number of parameters related to meat quality, including fat content and distribution, water content, water holding capacity, collagen content, pH, tenderness color, lipid oxidation and flavor were reviewed.

Influence of Crescentia cujete and Launaea taraxacifolia leaves on growth, immune indices, gut microbiota, blood chemistry, carcass, and meat quality in broiler chickens

The rising concerns pertaining to the safety of synthetic supplements in livestock production have encouraged the exploration of potential alternatives. This study investigated the growth, gut microbiota, blood chemistry, immune indices, meat quality, and antioxidant status in broiler chickens supplemented with Crescentia cujete leaf (CCL), Launaea taraxacifolia leaf (LTL), and a combination of antibiotic (70% oxytetracycline + 30% neomycin) and tert-Butylhydroxyanisole. One-day-old Ross 308 chicks (n = 420) were randomly assigned to either T-1, basal diet (BD) only; T-2, BD + 0.4 g/kg antibiotic + 0.13 g/kg tert-butylhydroxyanisole; T-3, BD + 2.5 g/kg LTL; T-4, BD + 5 g/kg LTL; T-5, BD + 2.5 g/kg CCL; or T-6, BD + 5 g/kg CCL for 42 days. Each dietary group had seven replicates with ten chicks per replicate. Body weight gain and carcass weight were higher (P < 0.05) in the T-2, T-4, T-5, and T-6 birds compared with those of other birds. At 1-21 days, the T-2 and T-4 birds consumed more feed than the T-1 and T-3 birds. At 22-42 days, the T-4 birds consumed more (P < 0.05) feed than the T-1 and T-3 birds. During 1-42 days, the T-1 and T-3 birds consumed less (P < 0.05) feed than other birds. At 22-42 days and 1-42 days, the T-1 had lower feed efficiency (P < 0.05) than other birds except for the T-3 birds. The CCL and LTL birds had lower (P < 0.05) serum LDL cholesterol and higher HDL cholesterol compared with other birds. Hematology, splenic interleukin-1β, immunoglobulin M, ileal and caecal total aerobic bacteria counts, caecal Lactobacillus spp., and meat physicochemical properties were unaffected by diets. The T-1 birds had higher (P < 0.05) ileal and caecal Clostridium spp., E. coli, and Salmonella spp. compared with birds fed other diets. The CCL and LTL birds had higher ileal Lactobacillus counts. Splenic IL-10 was higher (P < 0.05) in the T-2, T-4, and T-6 birds compared with that in other birds. Dietary supplementation with CCL, LTL, and a combination of antibiotic and tert-butylhydroxyanisole repressed (P < 0.05) splenic tumor necrosis-α and immunoglobulin G. The T-1 breast meat had lower glutathione peroxidase and catalase. The T-4 meat had higher (P < 0.05) superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity compared with other meats. On day 3 postmortem, meats obtained from birds supplemented with CCL, LTL, and a combination of antibiotic and tert-butylhydroxyanisole had lower (P < 0.05) carbonyl and malondialdehyde contents than the meat from the non-supplemented birds. The 5 g/kg CCL and 5 g/kg LTL could be used as antimicrobial and antioxidant in broiler diets.

Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees and its major constituent andrographolide as potential antiviral agents

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees is widely used all over the world, especially in subtropical regions such as India, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. As a traditional folk Chinese medicine, A. paniculata has been extensively utilized for the treatment of cold, fever, sore throat, cough, carbuncle, and sores, and it is commonly employed for 'clearing heat and resolving toxicity'. Typical symptoms of 'heat and toxicity' include swollen, painful gums, associated with virus-related diseases to a great extent. In vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated the potential antiviral properties of A. paniculata and identified its major active constituents against various viruses.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review focuses on connecting the traditional 'clearing heat and resolving toxicity' effect to compelling recent research advances on the antiviral effects of A. paniculata, explaining its major antiviral mechanisms, and assessing the shortcomings of existing work. Besides, ethnobotany, ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemicals, and toxicology of A. paniculata have been researched.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information about A. paniculata was collected from various sources including classic books about Chinese herbal medicine, and scientific databases including WEB OF SCIENCE, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer, ACS, SCOPUS, CNKI, CSTJ, and WANFANG.

RESULTS

In this review, the underlying mechanisms of antiviral effect mainly involve the regulation of virus entry, gene replication, and synthesis of functionally mature proteins. Also, A. paniculata is a safe agent without obvious toxicity. Ethnobotany, ethnopharmacological uses, and chemical constituents have been summarized.

CONCLUSION

Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees could be used as an imperative complementary medicine for the treatment of diverse virus infection, efforts should be made to gain insights into its antiviral properties.

Influence of dietary supplementation of Crassocephalum crepidioides leaf on growth, immune status, caecal microbiota, and meat quality in broiler chickens

The effect of dietary supplementation of Crassocephalum crepidioides leaf powder (CCLP) in comparison with oxytetracycline and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) on growth, caecal microbiota, immune status, blood chemistry, carcass traits, meat quality, and oxidative stability in broiler chickens was evaluated. Two hundred and eighty 1-day-old Arbor acre chicks were randomly assigned to a basal diet containing either no additive (control, CON), 400 ppm oxytetracycline + 150 ppm BHA (ANTIBIOX), 1000 ppm CCLP (CCLP-1), or 2000 ppm CCLP (CCLP-2) for 42 days. Each dietary group had seven replicates with ten birds per replicate. Supplemented birds had higher (P < 0.05) feed efficiency, hemoglobin, and hematocrit compared with the CON birds. Diet did not affect feed intake, body weight gain, splenic interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and serum IgM. The CCLP-2 birds had lower (P < 0.05) serum total and LDL cholesterol than did birds fed other treatments. Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli counts and serum IgG were higher in the CON birds than in the supplemented birds. The ANTIBIOX birds had lower (P < 0.05) Lactobacillus spp. count, and higher (P < 0.05) E. coli count compared with the CCLP-supplemented birds. Carcass, muscle pH, and cook loss were not affected by diet. The CON breast meat had higher drip loss and lower redness than did the breast meat of the supplemented birds. Carbonyl content and TBARS value in the thigh and breast meat of the supplemented birds were lower (P < 0.05) than those of the CON birds. These results infer that CCLP exhibited antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that were comparable to those of BHA and oxytetracycline in the diet of broiler chickens.

Comparative effect of dietary Morinda lucida leaf and Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) on carcass traits, meat quality, and oxidative stability of broiler chickens

This study examined the impact of dietary supplementation of Morinda lucida leaf powder (MLLP) and Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) on carcass traits, physicochemical properties, and sensory attributes of different muscles in broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty 1-day old Arbor acre chicks were randomly allotted to either a negative control (NC), basal diet without additive; M-0.1, basal diet + 0.1%MLLP; M-0.2, basal diet + 0.2%MLLP; or Positive Control, (PC), basal diet + 0.02%BHA, fed for 42 d, and euthanized. The physicochemical properties and oxidative stability of thigh and breast muscles were assessed over a 5 d postmortem chill storage. Diet had no effect (p > 0.05) on carcass traits and chemical composition, cook loss, pH and sensory attributes of breast and thigh muscles in broiler chickens. Total phenolic content was higher (p = 0.032) in the supplemented meats than in the NC meat. Carbonyl content, TBARS value and drip loss were higher (p < 0.05), while redness was lower (p = 0.021) in the NC meat compared with the meat of the supplemented birds. Carbonyl content was lower (p < 0.0001) in the PC meat compared with the M-0.1 and M-0.2 meats. The M-0.1 and M-0.2 meats had lower (p < 0.0001) TBARS value than the PC meat. Chill storage and muscle type influenced (p < 0.05) the physicochemical properties and oxidative stability of broiler meat. There were significant interactions between diet, muscle type, and chill storage on the oxidative stability of broiler meat. These results suggest that MLLP exhibited antioxidant potential that was comparable to that of BHA in the diets of broiler chickens.

Recent insight and future techniques to enhance rumen fermentation in dairy goats

Recent development of novel techniques in systems biology have been used to improve and manipulate the rumen microbial ecosystem and gain a deeper understanding of its physiological and microbiological interactions and relationships. This provided a deeper insight and understanding of the relationship and interactions between the rumen microbiome and the host animal. New high-throughput techniques have revealed that the dominance of Proteobacteria in the neonatal gut might be derived from the maternal placenta through fetal swallowing of amniotic fluid in utero, which gradually decreases in the reticulum, omasum, and abomasum with increasing age after birth. Multi "omics" technologies have also enhanced rumen fermentation and production efficiency of dairy goats using dietary interventions through greater knowledge of the links between nutrition, metabolism, and the rumen microbiome and their effect in the environment. For example, supplementation of dietary lipid, such as linseed, affects rumen fermentation by favoring the accumulation of α-linolenic acid biohydrogenation with a high correlation to the relative abundance of Fibrobacteriaceae. This provides greater resolution of the interlinkages among nutritional strategies, rumen microbes, and metabolism of the host animal that can set the foundation for new advancements in ruminant nutrition using multi 'omics' technologies.