Evaluation of the alleviative role of Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis extract against ovarian dysfunctions induced by monosodium glutamate in mice

Modulation of rumen bacterial community and feed utilization in camel and sheep using combined supplementation of live yeast and microalgae

The combination of live yeast and microalgae as feed supplementation could improve rumen fermentation and animal productivity. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a mixture of (YA) yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and microalgae (Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris) as feed supplementation on feed intake, rumen disappearance of barley straw, bacteria, and fermentation, blood parameters of camels and sheep. Three fistulated camels and three fistulated rams were fed a concentrates mixture and ad libitum barley straw as a basal diet alone or supplemented with YA mixture. The dietary supplementation improved the feed intake, rumen disappearance of barley straw nutrients, and the blood immunity parameters. The YA supplementation affected rumen fermentation as well as the composition and diversity of rumen bacteria; however, the response to the supplementation varied according to animal species. Principle Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) separated bacterial communities based on animal species and feeding treatment. Phylum Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes dominated the bacterial community; and the dominant genera were Prevotella, RC9_gut_group, Butyrivibrio, Ruminococcus, Saccharofermentans, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Succiniclasticum. Our results suggest positive impacts of YA supplementation in rumen fermentation and animal performance.

Effect of the Lipid Fraction of Microalgae on Biochemical Parameters in Female C57BL/6 Mice

We studied the effect of microalgae of various systematic groups added to the ration on the biochemical parameters of blood serum and liver and kidney tissue in rats. It was found that microalgae had different effects on the levels of proteins, lipids, and sex hormones, activity of aminotransaminases, and filtration capacity of the kidneys. Microalgae also affected the biochemical parameters of the liver and kidney tissues.

Effects of Sargassum virgatum extracts on the testicular measurements, genomic DNA and antioxidant enzymes in irradiated rats

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are primarily responsible for the development of male infertility after exposure to γ-irradiation. The present work aimed to assess the ameliorative and therapeutic roles of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the edible seaweed Sargassum virgatum (S. virgatum) on spermatogenesis and infertility in γ-irradiated Wistar rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Induction of infertility was performed by exposing the rats to 137Cs-gamma rays, using a single dose of 3.5 Gy. γ-irradiated rats were given the S. virgatum ethanolic (S. virgatum-EtOH) and aqueous extracts intraperitoneally on a daily base for two consecutive weeks at doses of 100 and 400 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.) for each seaweed extract. Morphometric data of the testes, semen quality indices, antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation were assessed. The results obtained were taken during two-time intervals of 15 and 60 days from the commencement of the algal treatments. In vitro antioxidant assays and polyphenolic compounds of S. virgatum were characterized.

RESULTS

Significant negative changes in the semen quality and morphometric data of the testes, as well as remarkable DNA fragmentation, were detected in the irradiated rats compared to the control. The levels of the endogenous antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH, and GPx) were also significantly diminished. Nonetheless, treatments of γ-irradiated rats with the S. virgatum-EtOH and aqueous extracts significantly improved the above-mentioned enzymes, in addition to noteworthy amendments in the dimensions of the testes, the semen quality, as well as the DNA structure.

CONCLUSIONS

The ameliorative potency of S. virgatum to cure γ-irradiation-induced male infertility, particularly 400 mg/kg ethanolic extract for 60 days, is the result of the consistent therapeutic interventions of its potent antioxidant and anti-apoptotic polyphenols, particularly protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, rosmarinic, chlorogenic, cinnamic and gentisic acids, as well as the flavonoids catechin, hesperidin, rutin and quercetin. Besides its high-value nutraceutical importance, S. virgatum could be a natural candidate for developing well-accepted radioprotectant products capable of treating γ-irradiation-induced male infertility.

Natural products as safeguards against monosodium glutamate-induced toxicity

Monosodium glutamate is a sodium salt of a nonessential amino acid, L-glutamic acid, which is widely used in food industry. Glutamate plays an important role in principal brain functions including formation and stabilization of synapses, memory, cognition, learning, as well as cellular metabolism. However, ingestion of foodstuffs rich in monosodium glutamate can result in the outbreak of several health disorders such as neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, obesity and diabetes. The usage of medicinal plants and their natural products as a therapy against MSG used in food industry has been suggested to be protective. Calendula officinalis, Curcuma longa, Green Tea, Ginkgo biloba and vitamins are some of the main natural products with protective effect against mentioned monosodium glutamate toxicity through different mechanisms. This review provides a summary on the toxicity of monosodium glutamate and the protective effects of natural products against monosodium glutamate -induced toxicity.