Preventive and therapeutic effects of sugar cane extract on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in chickens

Effect of Feeding Sugarcane Bagasse-Extracted Polyphenolic Mixture on the Growth Performance, Meat Quality, and Oxidative and Inflammatory Status of Chronic Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sugarcane bagasse-extracted polyphenolic mixture (SBPM) supplementation on the harmful effects of chronic heat stress (HS) in broiler chickens.

METHODS

Two hundred and eighty-eight day-old male Ross 308 chicks were fed an SBPM in 0, 75, 150, or 300 ppm-supplemented diets and reared under thermoneutral (TN, 22.1-24.8 °C) or chronic HS (28.3-36.2 °C) conditions from 11 d to 42 d.

RESULTS

The chronic HS treatment negatively affected body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05), and these changes were partially attenuated by the SBPM supplementation (p < 0.05). Plasma lipid peroxidation content, inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-β], corticosterone, and uric acid concentrations were significantly increased by HS, and these increases were attenuated by the SBPM supplementation (p < 0.05). Intestinal permeability indicator and serum fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran levels after oral gavage were increased by HS and were also suppressed by the supplementation (p < 0.05). The HS-decreased muscle drip loss, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione content were also suppressed by the SBPM supplementation. The abovementioned alleviating effects of the SBPM were of a dose-dependent manner in most cases.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that SBPM supplementation can improve the growth performance, meat quality, inflammation, and intestinal permeability of chronic HS-treated broiler chickens.

Fuzi polysaccharides improve immunity in immunosuppressed mouse models by regulating gut microbiota composition

Rationale and objectives

Fuzi, the dried root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx, is one of the widely used traditional Chinese medicines. Fuzi polysaccharides are considered the most bioactive compounds with immunomodulatory functions, however, the mechanisms have not been evaluated. This study aims to systematically investigate the effects of Fuzi polysaccharides on the gut microbiota and immune function using a mouse model immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide.

Methods

The short-chain fatty acid levels in cecal contents were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The gut microbiota 16S rRNA gene were sequenced by next generation sequencing. The mRNA expression levels of NF-κB, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS and COX-2 were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression of occludin and zonula occludens-1 were analyzed by Western blot. The white blood cells were counted using automated hematology analyzer, and CD4⁺FOXP3⁺/CD4⁺ ratio was measured by flow cytometry.

Results and Conclusions

Fuzi polysaccharides had the function of elevating the concentration of acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, and n-butyric acid in the cecum. Meanwhile, Fuzi polysaccharides could decrease the relative abundance of Helicobacter, Anaerotruncus, Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG-003, Mucispirillum, and Mycoplasma, and increase the relative abundance of Rhodospirillales, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-013, Mollicutes_RF39, Ruminococcus_1, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Muribaculaceae in the gut. Furthermore, Fuzi polysaccharides exhibited the function of increasing spleen and thymus indices and number of white blood cells and lymphocytes. Fuzi polysaccharides could reverse the decreased mRNA expression of NF-кB, IL-6, and iNOS, differentiation of CD4⁺FOXP3⁺ regulatory T cells as well as protein expression of occludin and zonula occludens-1 induced by cyclophosphamide. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression of cytokines were significantly correlated with the abundance of gut microbiota under Fuzi polysaccharides treatment. Collectively, the above results demonstrated that Fuzi polysaccharides could regulate inflammatory cytokines and gut microbiota composition of immunosuppressive mice to improve immunity, thereby shedding light on revealing the molecular mechanism of polysaccharides of traditional Chinese medicines in the future.

Effect of Different Extraction Methods on the Total Phenolics of Sugar Cane Products

The health benefits of sugar cane products are attributed to certain antioxidant compounds in plant materials. The presence of antioxidants in plant materials depends on the extraction method in terms of yield and the number of phenolic compounds identified. This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of the three extraction methods, which were selected from previous studies to show the effect of the extraction method on the content of antioxidant compounds in different types of sugar. This study also evaluates the potential of different sugar extracts in anti-diabetic activity based on in vitro assays (α-glucosidase and α-amylase). The results showed that sugar cane extracted with acidified ethanol (1.6 M HCl in 60% ethanol) was the best condition to extract a high yield of phenolic acids compared to other methods. Among the three types of sugar, less refined sugar (LRS) showed the highest yield of phenolic compounds, 57.72 µg/g, compared to brown sugar (BS) and refined sugar (RS) sugar, which were at 42.19 µg/g and 22.06 µg/g, respectively. Whereas, among the sugar cane derivatives, LRS showed minor and BS moderate inhibition towards α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity compared to white sugar (RS). Thus, it is suggested that sugar cane extracted with acidified ethanol (1.6 M HCl in 60% ethanol) is the optimum experimental condition for antioxidant content determination and provides a basis for further exploitation of the health-beneficial resources of the sugarcane products.

Effects of Caulis Spatholobi Polysaccharide on Immunity, Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Function, and Intestinal Microbiota in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressive Chickens

The protective effects of Caulis Spatholobi polysaccharide (CSP) on immune function, intestinal mucosal barrier, and intestinal microflora in cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppressed chickens have been rarely reported. This study was designed to investigate the cecal microbiota in chickens and to elucidate the immune mechanism involved in the CSP effect on CY induced-immunosuppressed chickens. A total of 288 cocks were equally divided into six groups and used to evaluate the immune effect of CSP. Results showed that the CSP increased the body weight and immune organ index of immunosuppressed chickens, significantly increased the secretion of cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) and immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM) in sera of chickens, and restored the body immune function. The CSP reduced intestinal injury of the jejunum and ileum, increased the ratio of the intestinal villus height to crypt depth (V/C), improved the expression of tight junction protein, and protected intestinal health. The CSP activated the toll-like receptor (TLR)/MyD88/NF-κB pathway and enhanced the expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, Claudin1, and Zo-1, protecting the intestinal tract. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed that CSP increased species richness, restored CY-induced intestinal microbiome imbalance, and enhanced the abundance of Lactobacillus in the intestinal tract. In conclusion, our study provided a scientific basis for CSP as an immune enhancer to regulate intestinal microflora and protect intestinal mucosal damage in chickens.

Effects of cyclophosphamide on antioxidative and immune functions of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) via the TLR-NF-κB signaling pathway

Intensive aquaculture often results in immunosuppression in fish, which may cause a series of diseases. In this study, to investigate the immunosuppressive mechanisms in fish, tilapia were intrapleural injected cyclophosphamide (CTX) at the doses of 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg·kg^-1 to induce immunosuppression. We determined the viability of immune cells, the content of lysozyme (LZM) and immunoglobulin M (IgM), the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and antioxidant parameters. Meanwhile, the mRNA levels of complement C3 (c3), igm and the genes associated with the TLR-NF-κB signaling pathway in the head kidney (HK) and spleen were also determined. The results showed that CTX had a significant cytotoxic effect on peripheral blood leukocytes, HK macrophages and spleen cells in a dose-dependent manner. The protein and mRNA levels of C3 and IgM were down-regulated with the increase of CTX concentrations in serum, HK and/or spleen. The NO and LZM contents decreased significantly in HK and spleen after CTX treatments with 75 and 100 mg·kg^-1. CTX treatments with 50, 75 and/or 100 mg·kg^-1 markedly decreased the antioxidant ability and enhanced lipid peroxidation in HK and spleen. Furthermore, qPCR data showed that CTX treatments with 50-100 mg·kg^-1 clearly down-regulated the mRNA levels of tlr2, myd88, irak1, traf6, nfκb1, nfκb2, il-6, il-10 and tnf-α in the HK and/or spleen. Overall results suggested that CTX treatment had a cytotoxic effect on immune cells, induced lipid peroxidation, decreased the antioxidant capacity and inhibited immune function. The immunosuppressive mechanisms of CTX may be associated with the TLR-NF-κB signaling pathway.

Protective effect of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in chickens

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the protective effects of polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide (PP), an important component of rhizome polygonatum, on cyclophosphamide (CY) induced immunosuppressed chickens. Four hundred and eighty one-day-old Erlang mountainous chickens were randomly allocated into four treatments. The main factors consisted of dietary supplement (PP at 0 or 800 mg/kg of diet) and immunosuppressive challenge (birds challenged with CY or treated with sterile saline). The results showed that PP enhanced chickens' growth performance via elevating daily weight gain (DWG), serum protein production, and decreasing feed conversion ratio (FCR). Moreover, physical measurements revealed that PP accelerated recovery of relative weights of immune organs and maintained their structure and function. Biochemical analysis indicated that PP significantly stimulated immunoglobulin and antioxidant indexes in serum, and improved the proliferation of peripheral blood T lymphocytes. In addition, PP promoted immune organs cells to enter into S and G₂/M phases as well as inhibited the apoptosis in the spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius. PP up regulated the expression of IL-2, IL-6 and IFN-γ genes. Therefore, PP performs a profile in antagonizing Cy-induced immunosuppression in chickens, and it seems that PP can be used as a potential immunostimulant agent.

N-acetylcysteine modulates cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression, liver injury, and oxidative stress in miniature pigs

Cyclophosphamide, a cytotoxic anticancer agent, induces immunosuppression and has several adverse effects. N-acetylcysteine alleviates oxidative stress, liver injury, and intestinal tissue damage. The present study examined whether N-acetylcysteine modulates the adverse effects of cyclophosphamide in pigs. Miniature pigs (n = 15) were used as an experimental model to evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine treatment on immune reactions, liver injury, and oxidative stress after cyclophosphamide challenge. Corn-soybean meal based dietary treatments were as follows: control diet with either saline injection, cyclophosphamide injection, or 0.5% N-acetylcysteine and cyclophosphamide injection. N-acetylcysteine increased the number of immune cells and decreased TNF-α production after cyclophosphamide injection and decreased TNF-α, IFN-γ, NF-κB, and IL-8 expression and increased IL-10 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Serum levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase decreased, superoxide dismutase activity increased, and malondialdehyde activity decreased following N-acetylcysteine treatment after cyclophosphamide injection. N-acetylcysteine decreases immunosuppression, liver injury, and oxidative stress in cyclophosphamide-challenged miniature pigs. The present study suggests that N-acetylcysteine has therapeutic application in livestock for modulating immune reactions, liver injury, and oxidative stress.

Effects of polysaccharides from wild morels on immune response and gut microbiota composition in non-treated and cyclophosphamide-treated mice

Polysaccharides isolated from mushrooms have been identified as potential prebiotics that could impact gut microbiota. In this study, a water-soluble polysaccharide (MP) extracted from wild morels was evaluated for its effects on the gut microbiota of non-treated and cyclophosphamide (CP)-treated mice. The results showed that MP restored the spleen weight and increased the counts of white blood cells and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and spleen of the CP-treated mice. Mice treated with MP exhibited increased levels of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, especially Lachnospiraceae, compared to normal mice, and increased levels of Bacteroidetes and SCFA-producing bacteria, especially Ruminococcaceae, compared to the CP-treated mice. Moreover, MP treatment increased the production of valeric acid and decreased the production of acetic acid in the non-treated mice and increased the production of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and valeric acid in the CP-treated mice. These results show that MP is potentially good for health.

Antioxidative stress of oral administration of tea extract granule in chickens

The present study was to evaluate antioxidative effect of tea extract granule (TEG) on oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy) in chickens. In experiment 1, chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups with 10 birds in each. Groups 3 to 5 were orally administered TEG in drinking water for 7 D at doses of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg body weight, respectively. After that, groups 2 to 5 received intramuscular injection of Cy (100 mg/kg BW) for 3 D. Group 1 was not treated as a control. In experiment 2, chickens were grouped in the same way as in experiment 1. Groups 2 to 5 received intramuscular injection of Cy (100 mg/kg BW) for 3 D. After that, groups 3 to 5 were orally administered TEG in drinking water for 7 D at doses of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg BW, respectively. Results showed that Cy injection induced significantly decreased body weight and oxidative stress. Oral administration of TEG before or after Cy injection increased body weight, the thymus, bursa, and spleen indices, total antioxidant capacity, and the levels of glutathione; elevated the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase; as well as decreased the protein carbonyl content, lipid peroxide, and malondialdehyde. In addition, TEG administration reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species. Therefore, TEG could be a promising agent against oxidative stress in the poultry industry.

Co-immunomodulatory Activities of Anionic Macromolecules Extracted from Codium fragile with Red Ginseng Extract on Peritoneal Macrophage of Immune-Suppressed Mice

In this study we investigated the immune effects of oral administration of anionic macromolecules extracted from Codium fragile (CFAM) and red ginseng extract mixture on the peritoneal macrophage cells in immune-suppressed mice. Cyclophosphamide (CY) induces the immune-suppressed condition. CY-treated mice were orally fed with different concentrations of CFAM supplemented with red ginseng extract and the peritoneal macrophages collected. CY treatment significantly decreased the immune activities of peritoneal macrophages, compared to the normal mice. The administration of CFAM mixed with red ginseng extract significantly boosted the viability of macrophage cells and nitric oxide production of peritoneal macrophages. Further, the oral administration of CFAM mixed with red ginseng extract up-regulated the expression of iNOS, COX-2, and TLR-4 as well as cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ more than the red ginseng-treated group. This study showed that CFAM enhanced the immune activity of red ginseng extract in the peritoneal macrophage cells of immune-suppressed mice. Furthermore, CFAM might be used as a co-stimulant of red ginseng extract through the regulation of macrophage cells for the enhancement of human health and immunity.

Synergistic PA and HA mutations confer mouse adaptation of a contemporary A/H3N2 influenza virus

The mouse is the most widely used animal model for influenza virus research. However, the susceptibility of mice to seasonal influenza virus depends on the strain of mouse and on the strain of the influenza virus. Seasonal A/H3N2 influenza viruses do not replicate well in mice and therefore they need to be adapted to this animal model. In this study, we generated a mouse-adapted A/H3N2 virus (A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 [MA-H3N2]) by serial passaging in mouse lungs that exhibited greater virulence compared to the wild-type virus (P0-H3N2). Seven mutations were found in the genome of MA-H3N2: PA(K615E), NP(G384R), NA(G320E) and HA(N122D, N144E, N246K, and A304T). Using reverse genetics, two synergistically acting genes were found as determinants of the pathogenicity in mice. First, the HA substitutions were shown to enhanced viral replication in vitro and, second, the PA-K615E substitution increased polymerase activity, although did not alter virus replication in vitro or in mice. Notably, single mutations had only limited effects on virulence in vitro. In conclusion, a co-contribution of HA and PA mutations resulted in a lethal mouse model of seasonal A/H3N2 virus. Such adapted virus is an excellent tool for evaluation of novel drugs or vaccines and for study of influenza pathogenesis.

Effect of sulfated yeast beta-glucan on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in chickens

Immunosuppression is a condition that causes large economic losses in the poultry industry. To investigate the effect of sulfated yeast beta-glucan on immunosuppression, two hundred and fifty 11-day-old chickens were randomly assigned to five groups, and except for the normal control group, injected with cyclophosphamide once a day for 3 successive days. At 14 days of age, sulfated yeast beta-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae(sGSC) was orally administered at three doses to the chickens in three experimental groups for 14 days. On days 7 and 14 after the first sGSC dose, serum cytokine concentrations and peripheral lymphocyte proliferation were measured. Gut microbiota, organ index, and histopathological changes in the bursa were investigated on day 14. The results demonstrated that at 4 mg/kg, sGSC could significantly enhance the bursa index and IFN-γ and IL-6 concentrations, decrease TGF-β1 concentration, and promote lymphocyte proliferation; it could effectively decrease histopathological changes in the bursa and improve gut Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus populations in cecal digesta of chickens compared with the model control group. This indicated that sGSC could effectively alleviate immunosuppression and regulate the beneficial microbiota in the gut.

The Immuno-Enhancement Effects of Tubiechong (Eupolyphaga sinensis) Lyophilized Powder in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressed Mice

Tubiechong (Eupolyphaga sinensis) is an important material used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the immunoregulation effects of E. sinensis Lyophilized Powder (ESL) are unclear. The in vivo study thus designed to elucidate the immuno-enhancement effects of ESL in immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX). Mice were treated with three doses of ESL (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg). Compared with model group, ESL notably increased the immune organ index, mononuclear macrophages function and the level of nature killer cell (NK) (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) was also improved (p < 0.05). The level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were enhanced (p < 0.05), while malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and nitrogen monoxide (NO) were reduced (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Meanwhile, cluster determinant (CD)3⁺ T cell, CD4⁺ T cell and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were increased (p < 0.01). The cytokines secretion such as interleukin (IL)-2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were notably increased (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), and IL-6 and IL-16 were also enhanced (p < 0.05). Furthermore, ESL significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), up-regulated the B cell lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2) expression and decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in spleen tissues (p < 0.05). In brief, all these findings suggest that ESL could effectively improve immune functions via modulating oxidative systems and innate immune cells. Abbreviations: TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine; ESL: Eupolyphaga sinensis Lyophilized Powder; CCl₄: Carbon tetrachloride; ERK: Extracellular regulated protein kinases; CTX: Cyclophosphamide; DTH: Delayed type hypersensitivity; SOD: Superoxide dismutase; CAT: Catalase; MDA: Malonyldialdehyde; NO: Nitrogen monoxide; NK: Nature killer cell; CD: Cluster determinant interleukin; TNF-α: Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha; JNK: c-Jun N-terminal kinase; Bax: Bcl-2 associated X protein; Bcl-2: B cell lymphoma-2 protein; Th1: Type-1 helper; Th2: Type-2 helper; FAMEs: Fatty acid methyl esters; DNFB: 2,4 - Dinitrofluorobenzene; ELISA: Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay; MAPK: Mitogen activated protein kinase; Cyt-c: Cytochrome c; SCFAs: Short-chain fatty acids; SDS-PAGE: Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Omega-3 fatty acids modulate cyclophosphamide induced markers of immunosuppression and oxidative stress in pigs

Immunosuppression directly correlates with economic benefits in livestock. Although omega-3, known as an energy source, is used as a pharmaceutical molecule, it remains unknown whether dietary supplementation with omega-3 can alleviate cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in pigs. Omega-3 treatment increased the number of white blood cell, lymphocytes, and monocytes and decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production under CTX challenge. In addition, we confirmed that omega-3 decreased the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, TNF-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-8 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Additionally, omega-3 alleviated the activities of liver injury markers (alanine transaminase [ALT] and aspartate transaminase [AST]) and modulated oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase [SOD], malondialdehyde [MDA], and glutathione peroxidase [GPx]) in the blood serum after the CTX challenge. Based on these results, we suggest that omega-3 treatment modulates CTX-induced immunosuppression and oxidative stress in pigs. These results may have important implications in the development of new therapeutic approaches to improve immunosuppression, hepatic injury and dysfunction, and oxidative stress in pigs.

Immunomodulatory effect of γ-irradiated Astragalus polysaccharides on immunosuppressed broilers

In this study, we irradiated Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) using 25 kGy ⁶⁰ Co γ ray to obtain γ-irradiated Astragalus polysaccharides (IAPS) and then investigated the effects of IAPS on growth performance and immune function of cyclophosphamide (CPM)-treated broilers. The physicochemical properties of APS and IAPS (molecular weight, water solubility, viscosity, morphological and structural properties) were evaluated. Then, 384 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks with similar initial weight were randomly assigned into 6 groups: the non-treated group (control), and CPM-treated groups were fed either a basal diet or the diets containing 900 mg/kg APS, or 900, 600, 300 mg/kg IAPS, respectively. On days 16, 18, and 20, all broilers except for the control group were intramuscularly injected with 0.5 ml CPM (40 mg/kg·BW). Broilers in the control group were intramuscularly injected with 0.5 ml sterilized saline (0.75%, wt/vol). This trial lasted for 21 days. The physicochemical treatment showed that γ irradiation could decrease the molecular weight and viscosity, and increase the water solubility of APS (p < 0.05), whereas the structural properties of APS was not affected. In the animal trial, 900 mg/kg APS or 900, 600 mg/kg IAPS relieved the decreased growth performance, thymus index, T lymphocytes proliferation, serum IgG concentration, NOS activity and the increased blood heterophil:lymphocyte ratio in CPM-treated broilers (p < 0.05). CPM-induced decreases in B lymphocytes proliferation and serum IgM concentration were only increased by IAPS at 900 mg/kg (p < 0.05). Overall, both APS and IAPS alleviated CPM-induced immunosuppression. Especially, IAPS possessed better immunomodulatory effect than APS, indicating that γ irradiation could be used as an effective method to enhance the immunomodulatory activity of APS.

Características produtivas, carcaça, cortes e resposta imune humoral de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes fontes de óleo e vitamina E

RESUMO A adição de óleos na dieta de frangos de corte proporciona muitas vantagens, visto que, dependendo do perfil de ácidos graxos, pode melhorar o desempenho e atuar como estimulante do sistema imune. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as características produtivas, o rendimento de carcaça, os cortes e a resposta imune humoral de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes fontes de óleos e vitamina E. Foram utilizados 312 pintainhos de corte machos da linhagem Cobb com um dia de idade, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com oito repetições compostas de 13 aves por parcela experimental. Os tratamentos experimentais consistiram em óleo de soja, óleo de canola e óleo de canola mais adição de vitamina E. As variáveis analisadas foram ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, rendimento de carcaça, cortes comerciais e resposta imune humoral. Os resultados obtidos mostram que houve diferença significativa no desempenho somente na fase pré-inicial, quando as aves que receberam o tratamento com óleo de canola e vitamina E apresentaram piores ganhos de peso. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas para as outras variáveis analisadas. Conclui-se que a utilização de diferentes fontes lipídicas associadas ou não à vitamina E não afeta as características produtivas de carcaça, cortes e resposta imune humoral em frangos de corte em relação ao uso de óleo de soja.

Immuno-enhancement effects of ethanol extract from Cyrtomium macrophyllum (Makino) Tagawa on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in BALB/c mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cyrtomium macrophyllum (Makino) Tagawa has been traditionally used as a herbal medicine for the treatment of various infectious diseases such as tapeworm infestation, colds, and viral diseases. However, no systematic study of the immunity of Cyrtomium macrophyllum ethanol extracts (CM) has yet been reported. The present work evaluates these traits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

120 male BALB/c mice were divided into 6 groups of 20 mice each: (1) normal group (sterile physiological saline), which served as a blank control; (2) model group (Cyclophosphamide, CY) group (sterile physiological saline), which served as a negative control; (3) low-dose CM (50 mg/kg BW); (4) intermediate-dose CM (100 mg/kg BW); (5) high-dose CM (200 mg/kg BW); (6) CM group (200 mg/kg BW). CY (0.2 ml) was administered via intraperitoneal injection. The other regimens were administered via gavage in 0.2 ml solution. Phytochemical of CM was characterized by HPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap. The acute toxicity effect of the ethanol extract of Cyrtomium macrophyllum was also investigated.

RESULTS

The spleen and thymus indices of mice receiving low, intermediate, and high doses of CM recovered more quickly than those of CY mice, and they did so in a dose-dependent manner. These mice also showed higher T cell and B cell proliferation responses and macrophage function than those of CY mice, and their serum levels of interleukin-6 and interferon-γ had become normal. In acute toxicity test, CM exhibited no mortality and behavioral changes in mice. Quantitative phytochemical analysis showed flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins to be the major compounds present in the extract, at 27.64%, 30.87%, and 11.22%, respectively. We found that 16 compounds were characterized by the interpretation of their mass spectra obtained by the MS/MS.

CONCLUSION

The current study demonstrates that Cyrtomium macrophyllum ethanol extract improved immune function in CY-treated mice.

Reduced Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Induced Nitric Oxide Production in Peritoneal Macrophages and Inhibited LPS-Induced Lethal Shock in Mice by a Sugar Cane (Saccharum officinarumL.) Extract

A sugar cane extract (SCE) has been found to have an immunostimulating effect in several animals. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is known to induce endotoxin shock via the production of inflammatory modulators such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and nitric oxide (NO). We examined in the present study the effects of SCE on the TNF-alpha and NO production in LPS-stimulated mice peritoneal cells and the endotoxin shock in mice. The supplementation of SCE to peritoneal macrophages cultured with LPS resulted in a significant decrease in NO production. All the mice injected intraperitoneally with LPS and D-galactosamine (LPS+GalN) died within 24 h. However, a peritoneal injection, but no intravenous or oral administration, of SCE (500-1,000 mg/kg) at 3 to 48 h before the LPS+GalN-challenge resulted in a significantly improved survival rate. These results suggest that SCE had a protective effect on LPS-induced endotoxin shock via one of possible mechanisms involving the suppression of NO production in the mouse peritoneal cavity.

Microemulsion can improve the immune-enhancing activity of propolis flavonoid on immunosuppression and immune response

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether the immune-enhancing activity of propolis flavone (PF) could be improved after PF was made into PF microemulsion (PFM). Two experiments were carried out. In immunosuppression experiment, the immune-enhancing effect of PFM in immunosuppressive chickens was performed. The results showed that PFM at high and medium doses was able to overcome the CTX-induced immunosuppression, significantly increases the immune organ indexes, enhances lymphocyte proliferation and improves the concentrations of IL-2 and IL-6 in serum when compared with PF. In immune response experiment, the adjuvant effect of PFM at three doses and PF were compared on chickens which were immunized intramuscularly with Avian Influenza Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus bivalent Vaccine. The results showed that PFM at high and medium doses could significantly promote lymphocyte proliferation, enhances antibody titer and the concentrations of IgG and IgM, and its efficacy were significantly better than PF at most time points. These results indicated that PFM could significantly improve the immune-enhancing activity and adjuvanticity of PF, and its high and medium doses possessed the best efficacy. Therefore, the microemulsion could be used as an effective formulation for enhancing the bioavailability of PF.

Astragalus polysaccharide and sulfated epimedium polysaccharide synergistically resist the immunosuppression

The immunoenhancement of compound polysaccharides, APS-sEPS composed with astragalus polysaccharide (APS) and sulfated epimedium polysaccharide (sEPS), was observed in immunosuppressed model chicken induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy). 11-day-old chickens were injected with Cy once a day for three successive days except vaccine control group. At day-14-old, all chickens were vaccinated with ND vaccine, and in experimental groups simultaneously administrated with APS-sEPS at three dosages, APS and sEPS once a day for three successive days. On days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after the administration, the peripheral T-lymphocyte proliferation, serum antibody titers, IFN-γ, IL-2, IgG and IgM were determined. The results displayed that APS-sEPS could overcome Cy-induced immunosuppression, significantly promote T-lymphocyte proliferation and raised serum antibody titers, IFN-γ, IL-2, IgG and IgM levels, its high and medium doses were superior to single APS or sEPS. This demonstrated that APS and sEPS could synergistically resist the immunosuppression and APS-sEPS was an effective immunopotentiator.

Immunostimulation of sugar cane extract on neutrophils to Salmonella typhimurium infection in mice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of sugar cane extract (SCE) on the biological activities of neutrophils in mice. Six-week-old BALB/c mice were fed 1250 mg/kg of SCE once. The generation, migration and biological functions of neutrophils and the survival rates of the mice in response to Salmonella typhimurium infection were evaluated. The results show that the numbers of both bone marrow cells and neutrophils were significantly increased in response to SCE administration (p < 0.05) compared with controls. The migration, phagocytosis and H₂O₂ generation of neutrophils were all significantly enhanced in SCE-treated mice (p < 0.05). After challenge with S. typhimurium (lethal dose, 50% (LD₅₀), SCE-treated mice had a 19.2% higher survival rate and milder hepatic lesions than the controls. Additionally, fewer invasive bacteria were recovered from the spleens of SCE-treated mice. In conclusion, our results suggest that SCE has a positive regulatory effect on the biological function of mouse neutrophils that may increase host resistance against bacterial infections.

Effects of yeast cell walls on performance and immune responses of cyclosporine A-treated, immunosuppressed broiler chickens

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cell walls (YCW) from the yeast extract industry on performance and immune function of cyclosporine A (CSA)-treated, immunosuppressed broiler chickens. A total of 240 day-old male broilers were allocated randomly into four treatments: (1) non-challenged control; (2) non-challenged control+0·3 % YCW; (3) CSA-challenged group; (4) CSA-challenged+0·3 % YCW. On days 1–4 and 22–25 of age, broilers were subcutaneously injected with CSA or sterile saline. The results showed that supplementation of YCW significantly improved daily weight gain (DWG) during the starter (days 1–21,P < 0·01), finisher (days 22–42,P < 0·01) and overall (days 1–42,P < 0·05) periods compared with the control birds, but had no effect on feed conversion ratio (FCR,P>0·05). Compared with the CSA-treated birds, YCW alleviated the decrease of DWG (P < 0·01) and increase of FCR (P < 0·05) caused by CSA challenge at different periods and cumulatively. On days 21 and 42, YCW mitigated the CSA-induced decrease of peripheral blood lymphocyte blastogenic response (P < 0·01). In addition, YCW improved the relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius (P < 0·01) and thymus (P < 0·01) and up-regulated the splenic expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β (P < 0·01) and IL-6 (P < 0·01) on day 42 compared with the CSA-treated birds. These results indicate that YCW supplementation has beneficial effects in attenuating the immunosuppressive effects of CSA challenge, therefore improving growth performance of broiler chickens.

Histological alterations of the intestinal villi and epithelial cells in chickens fed dietary sugar cane extract

1. Sugar cane extract (SCE) is the residue after removing glucose, fructose and sucrose from sugar cane juice. To investigate the effects of dietary SCE on growth performance and alterations to intestinal histology, 36 male Sanuki Cochin chickens were divided into three groups: a control group was fed a commercial diet (180 g/kg CP, 13.59 MJ/kg ME) and the treatment groups were fed the commercial diet supplemented with 0.5 or 10 g/kg SCE ad libitum for 35 d. 2. Feed intake and weight gain tended to be higher in the 0.5 and 10 g/kg SCE groups than in the control group. No specific gross morphological alterations were observed in the visceral organs of chickens in any of the groups. However, intestinal villus height, villus area, epithelial cell area and cell mitosis in each intestinal segment had higher values in the SCE groups than in the control group. In the 0.5 and 10 g/kg SCE groups, but not in the control group, the cells on the villus apical surface protuberated and had larger cell clusters and some areas with cells with no microvilli. 3. The observed alterations to intestinal histology in chickens fed dietary SCE diets demonstrate that the function of villi and cells on the villus tip might be activated in all the intestinal segments and that cell turnover is also accelerated. These activated intestinal functions appear to promote growth and immuno-stimulation in chickens fed SCE diets, especially in the 0.5 g/kg group.

Immunostimulating effects of the polyphenol-rich fraction of sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) extract in chickens

The phagocytic activity of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) in chickens orally administered sugar cane extracts (SCE) or polyphenol-rich fraction (PRF) of SCE (500 mg/kg/day) for 3 consecutive days increased significantly, when compared with that of saline-administered control chickens. Chickens orally administered SCE or PRF (500 mg/kg/day) for 3 consecutive days showed significantly higher antibody responses against sheep red blood cells and Brucella abortus than control chickens. In addition, oral administration of SCE or PRF also resulted in a significant increase in the number of IgM- and IgG-plaque forming cell responses of PBL, intestinal leukocytes and splenocytes, when compared with those of control chickens. Furthermore, delayed type hypersensitivity responses to human gamma globulin significantly increased in chickens orally administered SCE or PRF, compared with those of control chickens when evaluated on the basis of net increased wattle thickness at 24, 48 and 72 h after challenge. These results suggest that PRF of SCE has an immunostimulating effect in chickens.

Effects of sugar cane extract on pseudorabies virus challenge of pigs

This experiment aimed to evaluate the efficacy of sugar cane extract (SCE) on the modulation of porcine immunity against pseudorabies virus (PrV) infection. Twelve-week-old experimental pigs were fed with SCE (500 mg/kg of body weight per day) for 3 days and challenged with PrV (2 x 10(5) TCID(50)) on the second day. Pigs that were only challenged with PrV and without SCE-treatment served as controls. The leukocyte functional assays were performed on the 7th and 14th day post-PrV challenge. Our results showed a significant enhancement (P<0.05) of natural killer cytotoxicity, lymphocyte proliferation, phagocytic function of monocytes, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production of CD4(+) and gammadelta T cells in the SCE-treated pigs compared with the controls. In addition, SCE administration reduced the severity of clinical signs and brain lesion in the course of disease in PrV-challenged pigs. SCE-treated pigs showed a 12% growth enhancement compared with untreated controls. SCE administration had an immunostimulating effect on porcine immunity that may subsequently enhance protective activities against PrV infection which may be extensively applied in field for the prevention of infections.

Histological Intestinal Recovery in Chickens Refed Dietary Sugar Cane Extract

Sugar cane extract (SCE), the residue after removing glucose, fructose, and sucrose from sugar cane juice, has growth-promoting, antistress, and immunostimulation effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of refeeding dietary SCE on recovery of BW and intestinal histology after withdrawing feed from chickens. Forty-eight male Sanuki Cochin chickens were assigned randomly to 6 treatments and 8 replicates in a completely randomized design. The 6 treatments were intact control chickens fed ad libitum a basal commercial grower mash diet; 3 d of feed withdrawal; feed withdrawal followed by 1 d of ad libitum access to the same commercial mash diet (AFC); and free access to the commercial mash diet with 0.05, 1, or 3% SCE for 1 d. All SCE groups gained more weight in 1 d of refeeding than the AFC group (P < 0.05). Compared with the AFC group, the SCE groups increased cell mitosis (P < 0.05). On the villus apical surface, flat epithelial cells of the feed withdrawal group developed more protuberated cells than those of the intact control group in all refeeding groups. Compared with the AFC group, the SCE groups showed more protuberated cells. In addition, in the 0.05% SCE group, cell clusters aggregated by many cells were observed on the villus apical surface. The present histological intestinal alterations in chickens refed a SCE-containing diet demonstrate that the villi and epithelial cells might be hypertrophied because of some component in the SCE, resulting in quicker BW recovery in SCE-fed birds compared with those in the AFC group.

Protective effects of sugar cane extract on endotoxic shock in mice

Sugar cane extract (SCE) has been shown to have an immunostimulating effect in chickens. This study evaluated the effect of SCE on Salmonella Abortusequi lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lethal shock in d-galactosamine (GalN)-sensitized mice. Mice were administered intraperitoneally SCE (500 mg/kg) or phosphate buffered saline before or after injection of LPS and GalN. All the mice injected with LPS and GalN (control group) died of histopathologically congestive and hemorrhagic hepatic insufficiency within 24 h, showing significantly increased activities of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST; 380 IU/mL) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT; 130 IU/mL). Pretreatment of mice with SCE at 3 h before challenge with LPS and GalN (SCE treated group) resulted in significantly improved survival rates (92.3%) and a decrease in liver injury. These surviving mice in the SCE treated group showed no changes in the mean levels of plasma AST (60 IU/mL) and ALT (18 IU/mL). However, the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the SCE treated group was not significantly different when compared with that in the control group challenged with LPS and GalN. These results suggest that SCE has protective effects on LPS-induced mortality in this mouse model.

Radioprotective effect of sugar cane extract in chickens

To evaluate the radioprotective effect of sugar cane extract (SCE), SCE was orally administered into the crop of 3-week-old chickens for 3 consecutive days before or after x-ray radiation at a dose of 500 mg/kg/day. The survival rate of SCE administered chickens before x-ray radiation at a dose of 920 rad increased to 68.8% when compared with that of the irradiated control (50%). Histopathological examination revealed the intestine of SCE administered chickens to have mild to moderate pathological changes, when compared with that of the irradiated control animals.