Medicinal herbs: drugs or dietary supplements?

Dietary supplementation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diets with bay laurel (Laurus nobilis): alleviation of oxidative stress and amelioration of immune response, serum biochemistry, and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila

Herbal plants can enhance immunity and alleviate oxidative stress in fish. Therefore, the present work was performed to evaluate the effects of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) on growth, immunity, antioxidant activities, disease resistance, and hematology in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A total of 225 Nile tilapia fingerlings (average weight 15.36 ± 0.04 g) were divided into five treatment groups and fed with bay laurel at 0, 10, 15, 20, and 25 g/kg diet for 90 days. A completely randomized design with three replications was applied. The significantly (p < 0.05) improved weight growth (WG), food conversion ratio (FCR), average daily growth (ADG), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and survival rate were observed in fish fed with bay laurel-supplemented diet at the rate of 15 g/kg. Significantly improved red blood cells (RBCs) count, white blood cells (WBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), and significantly declined alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were found in the same diet-fed group. The immune response parameters such as nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT), lysozyme activity, phagocytic activity, total serum protein, serum albumin, serum globulin, and albumin-globulin ratio were found significantly improved at 15 g/kg bay laurel supplemented diet. The improved antioxidant response (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant activity) was also observed in the same diet-fed group. Relative percent survival after the fish challenged against Aeromonas hydrophila was significantly (p < 0.05) different. Overall, bay laurel supplementation at a 15 g/kg diet improved the nutritional physiology and immunity and, therefore, could be a potential growth-promoting feed additive for aquaculture development.

The effects of Pandanus tectorius leaf extract on the resistance of White-leg shrimp Penaeus vannamei towards pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Pandanus tectorius leaf extract effect on the White-leg shrimp Penaeus vannamei tolerance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus were investigated in this study. Thirty shrimp post-larvae measured at approximately 1 cm were exposed for 24 h to 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 g/L leaf extract and subsequently observed for survival and immune-related genes expression (Hsp70, ProPO, peroxinectin, penaeidin, crustin and transglutaminase), followed by determination of their tolerance and histological tissue profiles upon Vibrio challenge. Survival of shrimps treated with 6 g/L of leaf extract improved by up to 95% to controls. Hsp70, crustin, and prophenoloxidase mRNA levels were observed to be 8.5, 10.4, and 1.5-fold higher, respectively. Histopathological analysis of the hepatopancreas and the muscle tissues revealed major tissue degeneration in Vibrio-challenged shrimps but not in shrimps primed with P. tectorius leaf extract. Of all the dose examined, the best pathogen resistance results were obtained with a 24 h incubation of shrimp in 6 g/L P. tectorius methanolic leaf extract. The tolerance towards V. parahaemolyticus might be associated with the increased regulation of Hsp70, prophenoloxidase and crustin upon exposure to the extract, all immune-related proteins essential for pathogen elimination in Penaeid shrimp. The present study primarily demonstrated that P. tectorius leaf extract is a viable alternative for enhancing P. vannamei post-larvae resistance against V. parahaemolyticus, a major bacterial pathogen in aquaculture.

Bacterial diseases in marine fish species: current trends and future prospects in disease management

The fisheries sub-sector of aquaculture-i.e., the pisciculture industry, contributes significantly to a country's economy, employing a sizable proportion of the population. It also makes important contributions to household food security because the current demand for animal protein cannot be fulfilled by harvesting wild fish from riverines, lakes, dams, and oceans. For good pond management techniques and sustaining fish health, the fisherfolk, and the industry require well-established regulatory structures, efficient disease management strategies, and other extended services. In rearing marine fish, infections resulting from disease outbreaks are a weighty concern because they can cause considerable economic loss due to morbidity and mortality. Consequently, to find effective solutions for the prevention and control of the major diseases limiting fish production in aquaculture, multidisciplinary studies on the traits of potential fish pathogens, the biology of the fish as hosts, and an adequate understanding of the global environmental factors are fundamental. This review highlights the various bacterial diseases and their causative pathogens prevalent in the pisciculture industry and the current solutions while emphasising marine fish species. Given that preexisting methods are known to have several disadvantages, other sustainable alternatives like antimicrobial peptides, synthetic peptides, probiotics, and medicinal treatments have emerged to be an enormous potential solution to these challenges.

Advancing herbal medicine: enhancing product quality and safety through robust quality control practices

This manuscript provides an in-depth review of the significance of quality control in herbal medication products, focusing on its role in maintaining efficiency and safety. With a historical foundation in traditional medicine systems, herbal remedies have gained widespread popularity as natural alternatives to conventional treatments. However, the increasing demand for these products necessitates stringent quality control measures to ensure consistency and safety. This comprehensive review explores the importance of quality control methods in monitoring various aspects of herbal product development, manufacturing, and distribution. Emphasizing the need for standardized processes, the manuscript delves into the detection and prevention of contaminants, the authentication of herbal ingredients, and the adherence to regulatory standards. Additionally, it highlights the integration of traditional knowledge and modern scientific approaches in achieving optimal quality control outcomes. By emphasizing the role of quality control in herbal medicine, this manuscript contributes to promoting consumer trust, safeguarding public health, and fostering the responsible use of herbal medication products.

Protective Effects of Combined Utilization of Quercetin and Florfenicol on Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome Infected Litopenaeus vannamei

This study aimed to determine the immunity, survival rate, and disease resistance of Litopenaeus vannamei treated using quercetin and florfenicol alone or in combination, after infection with acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VPAHPND). After infection with VPAHPND, different types of feed were given to the shrimp for 5 days, including a control diet (drug-free), florfenicol only diet (15 mg/kg), quercetin only diet (400 mg/kg), a low-dose florfenicol/quercetin combined diet (200 mg/kg quercetin + 7.0 mg/kg florfenicol), a moderate-dose florfenicol/quercetin combined diet (400 mg/kg quercetin + 15 mg/kg florfenicol), and a high-dose florfenicol/quercetin combined diet (800 mg/kg quercetin + 30 mg/kg florfenicol). The cumulative mortality of shrimp was significantly reduced in the drug combination groups compared with either drug used alone (p < 0.05). The density of Vibrio was significantly lower and the immune parameters were significantly increased in the drug combination groups compared with either drug used alone (p < 0.05). Moreover, in the drug combination groups, the hepatopancreas tubules showed better integrity and structure compared with those when either drug was used alone. Therefore, compared with single drug treatment, the florfenicol and quercetin combination enhanced disease resistance, survival, and immune activity of VPAHPND-infected shrimp. When the combination treatment is used, the dosage of florfenicol can be reduced and a better therapeutic effect is obtained.

Application of Phyto-Stimulants for Growth, Survival Rate, and Meat Quality Improvement of Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) Maintained in a Traditional Pond

The tiger shrimp culture in East Borneo is commonly performed using traditional pond system management. In this work, the objective was to evaluate the application of Boesenbergia pandurata and Solanum ferox extract supplemented as feed additives considering shrimp growth, survival rate, and meat quality culture in a traditional pond. There were three dietary groups that were stocked with 300 shrimp in this study. The shrimp were maintained in a pond, separated with a 3 × 3 m² net. The dietary treatment applied was divided into three types, namely P1, without the extracts; P2, 20 mL kg⁻¹ dietary supplementation; and P3, 30 mL kg⁻¹ dietary supplementation in the diet. The findings revealed that the herb extract influenced the growth rate, feed efficiency, survival rate, and meat quality of the shrimp, mainly the amino and fatty acid contents in the shrimp meat. The 30 mL kg⁻¹ herb extract dose in group 3 showed a higher growth performance and survival rate. In group 3, 98% of the shrimp could survive until the final study period, while 96% of shrimp survived in group 2, and 70% of the shrimp survived in group 1. These findings indicate that the phytoimmune (B. pandurata and S. ferox) extract can be utilized as a feed additive to improve the growth, survival rate, and meat quality of the shrimp.

Effectiveness of Dietary Supplement for Skin Moisturizing in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

The dietary supplement industry offers many oral cosmetics that purportedly assist in skin moisturization often with unclear evidence supporting efficacy and safety. To update the accessible proofs pertaining to the safety and effectiveness of oral dietary supplements to facilitate skin moisturizing via an all-around review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Three on-line databases [Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL)] were retrieved from January 2000 to November 2021. An overall 66 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of skin care were recognized. Meta-analysis was performed for dietary supplements with four or more available research.

Results

Oral collagen or ceramide resulted in a statistically significant increase in skin hydration and a decrease in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) compared to placebo. No benefits regarding the improvement of skin conditions in terms of water content and TEWL were observed for lactic acid bacteria or Lactobacillus fermented foods. A statistically significant and positive effect on skin hydration was observed for both hyaluronan and procyanidin, with an unknown effect on TEWL due to insufficient RCTs. There was a non-significant improvement in the water content of stratum corneum for astaxanthin based on subgroup analyses. Among the dietary supplements trialed in ≤ 3 RCTs, the judgment regarding their effects on skin moisturizing was prevented by inconsistent conclusions as well as insufficient research. All food supplements were safe throughout the research (normally ≤ 24 weeks).

Conclusion

Oral dietary supplements, including collagen, ceramides, hyaluronan, and procyanidin, were proven to be effective for skin moisturization. At present, for skin moisturization, the proofs supporting the recommendation of other dietary supplements, such as lactic acid bacteria and astaxanthin, are insufficient.

Systematic Review Registration

http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ identifier CRD42021290818.

Enhancement of growth, antioxidative status, nonspecific immunity, and disease resistance in gibel carp (Carassius auratus) in response to dietary Flos populi extract

This study investigated the effects of dietary Flos populi extract (FPE) on the growth, antioxidation capability, innate immune response, and disease resistance in gibel carp. A total of 480 fish were fed with five different diets containing 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 g kg^-1 FPE (designated as control, D0.5, D1.0, D1.5, or D2.0 groups) for 45 days. The fish were challenged with A. hydrophila after the feeding trial. Compared with the control, the feed efficiency (FE), weight gain (WG), final body weight (FBW), and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly improved in groups D1.0 and D1.5. Dietary FPE significantly increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as glutathione (GSH) content. The contents of protein carbonyl (PCC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum decreased significantly. Additionally, FPE supplementation in diets resulted in significant improvement in serum lysozyme (LZM) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities, as well as immunoglobulin M (IgM) and complement 3 (C3) concentrations. The hepatic antioxidant enzymes (CAT and SOD) activities increased, whereas content of MDA decreased in fish treated with dietary FPE than those of control both pre- and post-challenged. After 12 h-challenge, an obvious downregulation of hepatic Kelch-like-ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), splenic tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-8, IL-1β, and toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) mRNA levels was observed in fish treated with dietary FPE, whereas hepatic Nrf2 transcription level was upregulated compared to the control. Furthermore, compared to group D0.5, higher relative percent survival (RPS) was observed in gibel carp fed dietary 1.0-2.0 g/kg FPE. Our results reveal that FPE supplemented diet has a stimulatory effect on antioxidant capacity and nonspecific immune response, along with improved growth performance and enhanced resistance against A. hydrophila infection in juvenile gibel carp.

Gut Immune System and the Implications of Oral-Administered Immunoprophylaxis in Finfish Aquaculture

The gastrointestinal immune system plays an important role in immune homeostasis regulation. It regulates the symbiotic host-microbiome interactions by training and developing the host's innate and adaptive immunity. This interaction plays a vital role in host defence mechanisms and at the same time, balancing the endogenous perturbations of the host immune homeostasis. The fish gastrointestinal immune system is armed with intricate diffused gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs) that establish tolerance toward the enormous commensal gut microbiome while preserving immune responses against the intrusion of enteric pathogens. A comprehensive understanding of the intestinal immune system is a prerequisite for developing an oral vaccine and immunostimulants in aquaculture, particularly in cultured fish species. In this review, we outline the remarkable features of gut immunity and the essential components of gut-associated lymphoid tissue. The mechanistic principles underlying the antigen absorption and uptake through the intestinal epithelial, and the subsequent immune activation through a series of molecular events are reviewed. The emphasis is on the significance of gut immunity in oral administration of immunoprophylactics, and the different potential adjuvants that circumvent intestinal immune tolerance. Comprehension of the intestinal immune system is pivotal for developing effective fish vaccines that can be delivered orally, which is less labour-intensive and could improve fish health and facilitate disease management in the aquaculture industry.

The effects of combined inclusion of Malvae sylvestris, Origanum vulgare, and Allium hirtifolium boiss for common carp (Cyprinus carpio) diet: Growth performance, antioxidant defense, and immunological parameters

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a mixture of three medicinal plants extracts (COP: common mallow (Malvae sylvestris), oregano (Origanum vulgare), and Persian shallot (Allium hirtifolium boiss)) on growth, hematological indices, immunological parameters, liver antioxidant, and digestive enzyme activity of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Accordingly, 540 common carp fingerlings were randomly allotted to 18 fiberglass tanks, including six treatments each in triplicate. Fish were fed with experimental diets supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 5% of the herbal mixture. After 60 days, the effects on growth performance, antioxidant, and immunological parameters were evaluated. According to the results, the highest final weight was observed in the fish fed 2 and 3% of the herbal mixture. Also, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed a significant decrease in fish treated with the herbal mix, so that the lowest FCR was observed in the treatment 1%. Hematological examinations such as red blood cells (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), and hemoglobin showed significant changes between different parameters compared to the control group. The highest protein content was observed in the fish supplemented with 2, 3, and 5% herbs. Besides, in contrast to glucose, the cortisol level showed a significant decrease compared to the control group. The digestive enzymes (Amylase, Lipase, and Protease) were significantly higher in 2 and 3% treatments than in the control group. Also, a significant difference was found in Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content between the experimental and control treatments. Examination of liver enzymes (and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) showed a significant difference in herbal mixture treatments with the control group, according to which the lowest amount of these enzymes was recorded in 2 and 3% herb supplemented fish. Herbal mix resulted in higher mucosal and intestinal immunity parameters, including total immunoglobulin (total Ig), lysozyme, alternative complement activities (ACH50), protease, and ALP. According to the results, supplementing the diet with a mixture of the COP can significantly improve growth parameters, stimulate the innate immune system, and improve antioxidant defenses and liver health of common carp.

Nano Metal based Herbal theranostics for Cancer management: coalescing nature's boon with nanotechnological advancement

Cancer is amongst the leading public health problems globally with continuously increasing prevalence rate that demands for extensive and expensive treatment. Despite availability of number of potential cancer therapies, inadequate success has been achieved due to complexity and heterogeneity of tumors. Moreover, late/ terminal stage cancer leads to multidrug resistance, excruciating side effects, recurrence, etc. This is because of low penetrability and deleterious effects of drug on non-target cells/ tissues. This requires for cost effective, efficacious, alternative/ adjunct, complementary medicines with targeted drug delivery approach. A potential strategy to resolve this difficulty is to use theranostics i.e., formulations having both a therapeutic element and an imaging agent. Phytotherapeutics have been extensively used since times immemorial, having wide acceptability, easy availability, minimal side effects and comparatively inexpensive. These herbal formulations are mostly orally administered and thus subjected to adverse pH, enzymatic degradation, poor gut absorption, low bioavailability and non-targeted delivery that ultimately lead to their poor effectiveness. Constraints associated with conventional phyto-pharmaceuticals can be improved by designing and using "Nano Delivery Systems" (NDS). The foremost aim of metal based NDS is to provide sustained drug release, site-specific action, improved patient's compliance and enhanced efficacy. Metal Nanocarriers carrying herbal drugs will avoid these obstructions, so the drug can circulate into the blood for a longer period of time and provide optimal amount of the drug to the site of action. Besides, Herbal drugs with NDS thus would be efficacious as alternative/ complementary cancer theranostics. Present review describes about novel theranostic systems employing metal nanocarriers with diagnostic and therapeutic properties as are an effective strategy for cancer treatment. These systems when conjugated with herbal drugs provide an efficient management strategy for cancer.

The effect of dietary supplementation of Astragalus membranaceus and Bupleurum chinense on the growth performance, immune-related enzyme activities and genes expression in white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Astragalus membranaceus or/and Bupleurum chinense on the growth performance, immune enzymes, and related gene expression of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vanammei). Six experimental diets were formulated and supplemented with two levels (0.25% and 0.5%) of each herb and their combination. At the end of the trial, the specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio of shrimp were significantly (P < 0.05) improved by herbal diets. Besides, the activities of immune-related enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and lysozyme in serum and hepatopancreas were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in shrimp fed A. membranaceus or/and B. chinense. The high expression levels of immune deficiency (IMD), lysozyme, and Toll-like receptor mRNA directly or indirectly reflected the activation effect of innate immune in shrimp by dietary A. membranaceus or/and B. chinense. However, no significant difference (P > 0.05) among the herbal incorporated treatments was detected on the growth performance and immune response. In conclusion, the results suggest that A. membranaceus and B. chinense could be used as a beneficial feed additives and alternatives to antibiotics for white shrimp aquaculture.

Rheum officinale extract promotes the innate immunity of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) and exerts strong bactericidal activity against six aquatic pathogens

We investigated the antimicrobial properties and the effects of Rheum officinale extract (ROE) on nonspecific immune parameters of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro analysis was conducted by treating grouper primary head kidney leukocytes with various concentrations of ROE. The phagocytic rate of the leukocytes was elevated in a dose-dependent manner from 0.01 to 0.1 mg/ml, but decreased with higher concentrations of ROE (0.5 and 1.0 mg/ml). The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was strongly enhanced in a dose-dependent manner by treatment with ROE doses of 0.1-10.0 mg/ml. However, morphological changes (e.g., rounding and shrinkage of cells, chromatin condensation, fragmentation, and appearance of apoptotic bodies) were observed in the leukocytes after incubation with higher concentrations of ROE (1.0 and 10.0 mg/ml). A 28-day feeding trial was performed to assess the impact of dietary administration of ROE on grouper innate immunity parameters. Fish were fed with feed supplemented with 0, 0.1, 1.0, or 5.0 g ROE per kg of feed. The phagocytic activity of the animals' leukocytes was significantly elevated in all ROE-fed groups on day 1 and in groups fed with ROE at 0.1 or 1.0 g/kg on day 14. Production of ROS was substantially increased on day 1 in fish fed with ROE at 1.0 and 5.0 g/kg, but decreased steadily later on. The ability to generate ROS increased steadily until day 7 in fish fed the lowest concentration of ROE (0.1 mg/ml), but decreased thereafter. ROE showed excellent antibacterial activity against six pathogens of aquatic animals: Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. alginolyticus, V. carchariae, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Edwardsiella tarda. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of measured ROE-derived anthraquinones were 10.57-84.53 μg/ml and 10.57-169.05 μg/ml, respectively.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Achillea tenuifolia Lam. Essential Oil at Different Phenological Stages from Khoy

Achillea species and in particular Achillea tenuifolia Lam. is generally used as a food flavor and traditional remedies, especially in the initial developmental stage for medical conditions in the Mediterranean part of Iran. In this report, we extracted the essential oil from the aerial parts of A. tenuifolia (collected from Khoy), at various developmental stages (i. e., vegetative, flowering and fruiting), characterized them and studied their antibacterial activities. Of 46, 51 and 38 components found in the vegetative, flowering, and fruiting stages, respectively, 35 were present in all three stages, including oxygenated terpenes such as carvacrol (30.85-34.11), germacrene C (16.21-17.87), spathulenol (7.26-8.96), β-sesquiphellandrene (4.11-4.25), τ-muurolol (2.27-3.25) and α-cadinol (2.01-3.29). We witnessed that the composition of the essential oils varies with phenological stages and geographic regions. The essential oil demonstrated substantial antibacterial properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, indicated by disk method, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) assays. Except Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the essential oils of various phenological stages showed higher antibacterial activity against tested bacteria, with Bacillus anthracis as the most sensitive strain. Moreover, although antibacterial characteristics of the essential oil from the vegetative and flowering stages were similar (p=0.91), they were significantly different from those of fruiting stage (p<0.005 in both MIC and MBC tests). This emphasizes the importance of the developmental stage of the plant in the biological properties of its essential oil and justifies the widespread application of this plant in the vegetative stage.

Buton Forest Onion Extract (<i>Eleutherine bulbosa</i> (Mill.) Potential on Growth Performance of Vannamei Shrimp (<i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i>)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Vannamei shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei is an economically valuable aquaculture commodity but still faces problems due to disease and growth performance. Buton forest onion extract Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill.) Urbhas been shown can protect the shrimp from disease. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the Buton forest onion extract on the growth of vannamei shrimp in tarpaulin pond.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiments were conducted for 90 days by adding Buton forest onion extract in feed at a dosage of 40 g kg-1. The Buton forest onion bulbs was extracted by maceration method using 96% ethanol. The test feed was made through the re-pelleting method. Treatment include supplementation of Buton forest onion extract diet supplemented with Buton forest onion extract diet at twice a week (treatment A) and control was without Buton forest onion extract(treatment K). Parameter measurement include final weight, average daily growth (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival rate and water quality (temperature, salinity, turbidity and pH).

RESULTS

This study was demonstrated the addition of Buton forest onion extract on feed with a frequency twice a week in significantly improve the growth performance of vannamei shrimp by improving the final weight and average daily growth at 65 and 90 days of maintenance. Water quality during the study was still within the optimum range for L. vannamei shrimp growth.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that supplementation of Buton forest onion extract was able to improve the growth performance of shrimp in tarpaulin ponds.

Dietary Radix Bupleuri extracts improves hepatic lipid accumulation and immune response of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀)

In this study, two experiments were performed to explore the effect of Radix Bupleuri extracts (RBE) on growth, lipid deposition and metabolism and immune response of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀) using in vitro and in vivo models. In vitro, we used 2 ml/L 20% lipid emulsion (LE)-induced steatosis in hybrid grouper primary hepatocytes, then RBE (200, 400 and 800 μg/ml) was added to the hepatocytes after (post-treatment) the incubation with 20% LE (2 ml/L) in the culture medium. We found that RBE markedly increased cell viability, which were consistent with hepatocytes morphological structure examination and lipid metabolism and immune related genes study. The above result suggested that RBE has a protective effect on this model of hepatocytes damage. In vivo, five graded levels of RBE at 0, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg diet were supplemented to a basal diet with 15% lipid levels (high lipid), and fed to a total of 300 hybrid grouper with an average initial weight of 25.58 ± 0.05 g for 8 weeks. Growth performance, liver histology, plasma biochemical parameters, and expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and immune-related were measured. The study indicated that dietary RBE significantly improved growth performance and feed utilization and reduced hepatosomatic index. Dietary supplementation with 200-800 mg/kg RBE diets effectively decreased serum ALP, ALT, AST and LDH contents in fish. Furthermore, adipogenesis relative mRNA levels of DGAT2, G6PD, ME1 and DGKα in fish fed 200-400 mg/kg RBE diets were lower (P < 0.05) than in those fed RBE0 diets, while dietary supplementation with 200-800 mg/kg RBE diets up-regulated lipolysis-related genes (CPT1, LPL and PPARα) expression in the liver of hybrid grouper. Moreover, dietary RBE down-regulated the expression of apoptosis-related genes (caspase-9), up-regulated the expression of antioxidant genes (CAT) and immune-related genes (MHC2, IKKα and TGF-β1). Thus, our data suggest that RBE suppressed lipid accumulation and enhanced immune capability in hybrid grouper both in vitro and in vivo. These results offer new insight into RBE as a hepatoprotective in fish.

Effectiveness of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, San-Huang-San, in combination with enrofloxacin to treat AHPND-causing strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection in Litopenaeus vannamei

The effects of oral administration of enrofloxacin (ENR) and San-Huang-San (SHS), singly or in combination, on the survival performance, disease resistance, and immunity of Litopenaeus vannamei were investigated. After challenge with an AHPND-causing strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP_AHPND), shrimp were immediately fed a drug-free diet, diets containing only ENR (20 mg·kg^-1) or SHS (500 mg·kg^-1) or diets containing low-dose (10 mg·kg^-1 ENR + 250 mg ·kg^-1 SHS), medium-dose (20 mg·kg^-1 ENR + 500 mg ·kg^-1 SHS), and high-dose (40 mg·kg^-1 ENR + 1000 mg ·kg^-1 SHS) drug combinations for 5 days. The cumulative shrimp mortality over 5 days after injection of VP_AHPND in the ENR + SHS combination groups was significantly lower than that in the ENR or SHS alone groups (p < 0.05). Immune parameters, including the vibrio density, total hemocyte counts (THCs), hemocyanin (HEM) concentration, antibacterial activity, activity levels of lysozyme (LZM), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and phenoloxidase (PO) in cell-free hemolymph, and the expression levels of the immune-related genes anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF), cathepsin B (catB), crustin, lectin (Lec), lysozyme (LZM), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) in hemocytes were determined in the shrimp. The results showed that the shrimp in drug combination groups cleared more VP_AHPND than that in the ENR or SHS group in the same time. The values for other immune parameters in the drug combination groups were higher than those in the ENR or SHS group (p < 0.05). Finally, in the histological examinations, the histological structural alignment and integrity of the hepatopancreatic tubules in the drug combination groups were better than that in the ENR and SHS groups. Under the experimental conditions, compared with ENR or SHS used alone, the combination use of ENR and SHS could improve immunity and disease resistance in shrimp after VP_AHPND infection, and could reduce the use of ENR when the better therapeutic effect was achieved.

Evaluation of combination effects of Astragalus polysaccharides and florfenicol against acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease-causing strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Litopenaeus vannamei

The effects of oral administration of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) and florfenicol (FFC), singly or in combination, on the survival performance, disease resistance, and immunity of Litopenaeus vannamei were investigated. After challenge with an AHPND-causing strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP_AHPND), shrimp were immediately fed a drug-free diet, diets containing only APS (200 mg·kg^-1) or FFC (15 mg·kg^-1), or diets containing low-dose (7.5 mg·kg^-1 FFC + 100 mg·kg^-1 APS), medium-dose (15 mg·kg^-1 FFC + 200 mg·kg^-1 APS), and high-dose (30 mg·kg^-1 FFC+400 mg·kg^-1 APS) drug combinations for 5 days. The cumulative shrimp mortality over 5 days after injection of VP_AHPND in the APS + FFC combination groups was significantly lower than that in the APS or FFC alone groups (p < 0.05). Immune parameters, including the total hemocyte counts (THCs), hemocyanin (HEM) concentration, antibacterial activity, activity levels of lysozyme (LZM), and levels of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and phenoloxidase (PO) in cell-free hemolymph, and the expression levels of the immune-related genes anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF), cathepsin B (catB), crustin, lectin (Lec), lysozyme (LZM), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) in hemocytes and hepatopancreas were determined in the shrimp. The values for these immune parameters in the drug combination groups were higher than those in the APS or FFC group (p < 0.05). Finally, in the histological examinations, the histological structural alignment and integrity of the hepatopancreatic tubules in the drug combination groups was better than that in the APS and FFC groups. Under the experimental conditions, dietary APS and FFC had a synergistic effect on immunity and disease resistance among shrimp after VP_AHPND infection.

Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz extract inhibits adipogenesis and lipase activity in vitro

Background

Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz (O. indicum) is found in Thailand. It has been used for the treatment of obesity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of an O. indicum extract (OIE) on the adipogenic and biomolecular change in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Methods

Initial studies examined the chemical components of OIE. The cell line 3T3-L1 was used to establish potential toxic effects of OIE during the differentiation of pre-adipocytes to adipocytes. The inhibitory effect of OIE on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells was investigated. Moreover, the impact of OIE on pancreatic lipase activity was determined. In further experiments, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) was used to monitor and discriminate biomolecular changes caused by the potential anti-adipogenic effect of OIE on 3T3-L1 cells.

Results

Chemical screening methods indicated that OIE was composed of flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, and tannins. The percentage viability of 3T3-L1 cells was not significantly decreased after exposure to either 200 or 150 μg/mL of OIE for 2 and 10 days, respectively compared to control cells. The OIE exhibited a dose-dependent reduction of lipid accumulation compared to the control (p < 0.05). The extract also demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory effect upon lipase activity compared to the control. The inhibitory effect of the OIE on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells was also confirmed using FTIR microspectroscopy. The signal intensity and the integrated areas relating to lipids, lipid esters, nucleic acids, glycogen and carbohydrates of the OIE-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were significantly lower than the non-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated four distinct clusters for the FTIR spectra of 3T3-L1 adipocytes based on biomolecular changes (lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates). This observation was confirmed using Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis (UHCA).

Conclusions

These novel findings provide evidence that the OIE derived from the fruit pods of the plant is capable of inhibiting lipid and carbohydrate accumulation in adipocytes and also has the potential to inhibit an enzyme associated with fat absorption. The initial observations indicate that OIE may have important properties which in the future may be exploited for the management of the overweight or obese.

Protective efficacy of Mucuna pruriens (L.) seed meal enriched diet on growth performance, innate immunity, and disease resistance in Oreochromis mossambicus against Aeromonas hydrophila

The impact of Mucuna pruriens (L.) seed meal diet on growth performance, innate immune response, and disease resistance in Oreochromis mossambicus against Aeromonas hydrophila is reported for the first time. Infected O. mossambicus was fed with 2 g kg^-1, 4 g kg^-1, and 6 g kg^-1 of M. pruriens seed meal diets significantly increased initial body weight (IBW) and final body weight (FBW) over control, for a period of 4 weeks. At 4 g kg^-1 and 6 g kg^-1 the enriched diet significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the survival rate, weight gain (WG), protein efficiency ratio (PER), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed efficiency (FE) when compared to the control; besides, from weeks 2-4 these diets significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the complement activity, phagocytic activity, respiratory burst activity, and lysosome activity. On being fed with 4 g kg^-1 and 6 g kg^-1-enriched diets the cumulative mortality was lower (10% and 12%) than with 2 g kg^-1 diet (24%). The present investigation suggests that the enriched diet at 4 g kg^-1 and 6 g kg^-1 improved the growth performance more than that of the control and negative control; it also positively enhanced the innate immunity and disease resistance against A. hydrophilla in O. mossambicus. Hence M. pruriens can be used as a feed additive to stimulate immunity for effective production of economically valuable freshwater fish, O. mossambicus.

Potent suppression of both spontaneous and carcinogen-induced colitis-associated colorectal cancer in mice by dietary celastrol supplementation

Celastrol is an anti-inflammatory natural triterpenoid, isolated from the herb Tripterygium wilfordii or thunder god vine. Here, we define mechanisms mediating anti-inflammatory activity of celastrol and demonstrate efficacy of a dietary celastrol supplement for chemoprevention of inflammation-driven carcinogenesis in mice. Dietary celastrol (31.25 ppm in rodent diet from 8 weeks to 25 weeks of age) is well tolerated and protects against LPS-induced acute inflammation in C57BL/6 mice, potently suppressing LPS-induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β. To test whether dietary celastrol suppresses inflammation-driven colorectal cancer (CRC), we employed a unique model of spontaneous, inflammation-driven CRC in mice harboring a germ line deletion of the p27Kip1 gene and a T cell-specific deletion of Smad4 gene (Smad4co/co;Lck-crep27Kip1-/-or DKO), which develop severe intestinal inflammation and carcinogenesis as early as 3 months of age. Exposure of DKO mice to daily dietary celastrol (12.5 ppm in diet) from 6 weeks of age significantly suppressed development of colitis-associated CRC (CAC). Celastrol chemoprevention of CAC in this new model of intestinal neoplasia was associated with significant suppression of iNOS at 4 months of age, and iNOS, COX-2 and NFκB at 6 months of age, with significant reduction in inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and IL-1β. Chemoprevetion of CAC by dietary celastrol was further confirmed in the model of azoxymethane (AOM) plus dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced carcinogenesis in C57BL/6 mice. These data suggest the potential for celastrol as a safe and effective dietary supplement in the chemoprevention of CAC in humans.

Inhibitory Effect of Selaginellins from Selaginella tamariscina (Beauv.) Spring against Cytochrome P450 and Uridine 5'-Diphosphoglucuronosyltransferase Isoforms on Human Liver Microsomes

Selaginella tamariscina (Beauv.) has been used for traditional herbal medicine for treatment of cancer, hepatitis, and diabetes in the Orient. Numerous bioactive compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, lignans, and selaginellins have been identified in this medicinal plant. Among them, selaginellins having a quinone methide unit and an alkylphenol moiety have been known to possess anticancer, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective activity. Although there have been studies on the biological activities of selaginellins, their modulatory potential of cytochrome P450 (P450) and uridine 5'-diphosphoglucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activities have not been previously evaluated. In this study, we investigated the drug interaction potential of two selaginellins on ten P450 isoforms (CYP1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, 2J2 and 3A) and six UGT isoforms (UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A6, 1A9 and 2B7) using human liver microsomes and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Selaginellin and selaginellin M had high inhibitory potential for CYP2C8-mediated amodiaquine O-demethylation with IC₅₀ values of 0.5 and 0.9 μM, respectively. Selaginellin and selaginellin M also showed medium inhibitory potential against CYP2C9, CYP2J2, UGT1A1, and UGT1A3 (1 μM < IC₅₀ < 5 μM). These two selaginellins had low inhibitory potential against CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2E1, and UGT1A6 (IC₅₀ > 25 μM). This information might be helpful to predict possible drug interaction potential of between selaginellins and co-administered drugs.

Effect of Cucurbita mixta (L.) seed meal enrichment diet on growth, immune response and disease resistance in Oreochromis mossambicus

The impact of Cucurbita mixta (L.) seed meal enriched diet on growth performance, innate immune response, and disease resistance in Oreochromis mossambicus against Aeromonas hydrophila was investigated. O. mossambicus was fed with 2 g kg^-1, 4 g kg^-1, and 6 g kg^-1 C. mixta seed meal diets for a period of 4 weeks. The results indicated that C. mixta seed meal diets at 4 g kg^-1 and 6 g kg^-1 significantly (P < 0.05) enhances the survival rate, weight gain (WG), protein efficiency ratio (PER), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed efficiency (FE) from weeks 1-4 when compared to control. C. mixta seed meals administered as feed supplements significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the complement activity, phagocytic activity, respiratory burst activity, and lysosome activity in infected fish fed with 4 g kg^-1 and 6 g kg^-1 of C. mixta seed meal enriched diet from weeks 2-4. The cumulative mortality was lower in the fish fed with 4 g kg^-1 and 6 g kg^-1 of C. mixta seed meal enriched diets (15% and 18%) than with 2 g kg^-1 diet (26%). The present investigation suggested that C. mixta seed meal enriched diet at 4 g kg^-1 and 6 g kg^-1 enhance the better growth performance, innate immunity, and disease resistance against A. hydrophilla in O. mossambicus.

Role of medicinal plants on growth performance and immune status in fish

Disease outbreaks increase proportionally with increases in intensive aquaculture. Natural products including medicinal plants have been known from thousands of years for treating some human diseases. It is well known that many active compounds are responsible for potential bio-activities. For that reason, there has been considerable interest in the use of medicinal plants in aquaculture with a view to providing safe and eco-friendly compounds for replacing antibiotics and chemical compounds as well as to enhance immune status and control fish diseases. This article describes a wide range of medicinal plants such as herbs, seeds, and spices with different forms such as crude, extracts, mixed and active compounds, used as immunostimulants and resulting in a marked enhancement in the immune system of fish to prevent and control microbial diseases. Moreover, different activity was recorded from plant parts like seeds, roots, flowers and leaves. The mode of action of medicinal plants was stimulation of the cellular and humoral immune response which was monitored through elevation in immune parameters. Various levels of immune stimulation have been shown by medicinal plants at different concentrations through injection or immersion or oral administration. However, it is critically important to determine the optimal dose to enhance the immune system of fish and avoid the risk of immunosuppression. Some medicinal plants have been used to replace the protein in fishmeal as a cheap source of protein and proved to be efficient in this respect. Medicinal plants can act as a growth promoter and immunomodulator at the same time. Further investigations should be carried out to examine the influence of those plants on fish health (including physiological and histological parameters) as a preliminary step for use in large scale in aquaculture. The current review describes the role of medicinal plants and their derivatives on innate and adaptive immune status as well as growth performance in fish.

Major achievements of evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine in treating major diseases

A long history of use and extensive documentation of the clinical practices of traditional Chinese medicine resulted in a considerable number of classical preparations, which are still widely used. This heritage of our ancestors provides a unique resource for drug discovery. Already, a number of important drugs have been developed from traditional medicines, which in fact form the core of Western pharmacotherapy. Therefore, this article discusses the differences in drug development between traditional medicine and Western medicine. Moreover, the article uses the discovery of artemisinin as an example that illustrates the "bedside-bench-bedside" approach to drug discovery to explain that the middle way for drug development is to take advantage of the best features of these two distinct systems and compensate for certain weaknesses in each. This article also summarizes evidence-based traditional medicines and discusses quality control and quality assessment, the crucial steps in botanical drug development. Herbgenomics may provide effective tools to clarify the molecular mechanism of traditional medicines in the botanical drug development. The totality-of-the-evidence approach used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for botanical products provides the directions on how to perform quality control from the field throughout the entire production process.

Antibacterial function of herbal extracts on growth, survival and immunoprotection in the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

This study examined the effects of an herbal extract composed of nine herbs i.e Aloe vera, Andrographis pariculata, Annona squamosa, Azadirachta indica, Citrus aurantifolia, Coriandrum sativum, Ocimum sanctum, Ollium cepa and Psidium guajava on growth, survival rate and immunoprotection against pathogenic Vibrio harveyi in the tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. The petroleum ether, methanol and N-hexen extracts of different herbal plants were selected, processed and thoroughly mixed in equal proportions and added to the shrimp diets at a concentration of 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mL kg^-1. After 60 days of feeding, shrimps were challenged with V. harveyi bacteria (1 × 10⁷ cells mL^-1), which were isolated and propagated from the infected shrimps. The shrimps fed on diets with methanolic extraction of 2.5 mL kg^-1 had significantly (P < 0.001) higher survival rate (76%), specific growth rate (4.26 ± 0.11%) and better food conversion ratio (1.5) than the other groups. This study indicates that addition of methanolic herbal extracts of 2.5 mL kg^-1 can positively influence the immune response of tiger shrimp against V. harveyi infection.

Silybin counteracts lipid excess and oxidative stress in cultured steatotic hepatic cells

AIM: To investigate in vitro the therapeutic effect and mechanisms of silybin in a cellular model of hepatic steatosis.

METHODS: Rat hepatoma FaO cells were loaded with lipids by exposure to 0.75 mmol/L oleate/palmitate for 3 h to mimic liver steatosis. Then, the steatotic cells were incubated for 24 h with different concentrations (25 to 100 μmol/L) of silybin as phytosome complex with vitamin E. The effects of silybin on lipid accumulation and metabolism, and on indices of oxidative stress were evaluated by absorption and fluorescence microscopy, quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, spectrophotometric and fluorimetric assays.

RESULTS: Lipid-loading resulted in intracellular triglyceride (TG) accumulation inside lipid droplets, whose number and size increased. TG accumulation was mediated by increased levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c). The lipid imbalance was associated with higher production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in increased lipid peroxidation, stimulation of catalase activity and activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). Incubation of steatotic cells with silybin 50 μmol/L significantly reduced TG accumulation likely by promoting lipid catabolism and by inhibiting lipogenic pathways, as suggested by the changes in carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1), PPAR and SREBP-1c levels. The reduction in fat accumulation exerted by silybin in the steatotic cells was associated with the improvement of the oxidative imbalance caused by lipid excess as demonstrated by the reduction in ROS content, lipid peroxidation, catalase activity and NF-κB activation.

CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the direct anti-steatotic and anti-oxidant effects of silybin in steatotic cells, thus elucidating at a cellular level the encouraging results demonstrated in clinical and animal studies.

In vitro assays in natural products research - a matter of concentration and relevance to in vivo administration using resveratrol, α-mangostin/γ-mangostin and xanthohumol as examples

Herbal or botanical dietary supplements are an ever increasingly popular category of products in the United States and around the world. In vitro data can provide meaningful insight into the potential target and mechanism of action for a proposed active compound but may also be misused to promote a supplement to consumers with unverified health claims. In vitro data need to be considered alongside pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data in preclinical animal and clinical human trials. While considerable activity of compounds and extracts in vitro may lead to further testing in vivo, in many instances, concentrations tested in cell lines or isolated targets are not achievable at the target site in vivo. Thus, whether the in vitro data are relevant to humans after oral administration is questionable. This review will discuss this discrepancy using in vitro and in vivo data of resveratrol, xanthones (α-mangostin and γ-mangostin) and xanthohumol.

Effect of different phytogenic additives on oxidation stability of chicken meat

The aim of the study was to evaluate the oxidative stability (TBARS method) of breast and thigh muscle after application of feed mixtures enriched by phytogenic additives. The experiment started with 150 pieces one-day-old chicks of Cobb 500 hybrid combination. They were divided into one control (C) and two experimental groups (1st EG and 2nd EG). Each group included 50 chicks. In experimental groups, feed additives were applied as followed: 100 mg.kg-1 Agolin Poultry (in the 1st EG) and 500 mg.kg-1 Agolin Tannin Plus (in the 2nd EG). Experimental broiler chickens were fed during 42 days by ad libitum. Chicken meat samples of breast and thigh muscle were analysed in the 1st day, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th month of storage in frozen storage at -18 °C. We recorded positive influence on chicken meat oxidative stability in all experimental groups with application of phytogenic feed additives. Obtained results showed that applied phytogenic additives had positive influence on oxidative stability of breast and thigh muscles. At the end of frozen storage (in 6th month), we found higher malondialdehyde (MDA) values and lower oxidative stability (p <0.05) of breast muscle in control group (0.167 mg.kg-1) compared to experimental groups (from 0.150 mg.kg-1 in 1. EG to 0.155 mg.kg-1 in 2. EG). In the thigh muscle, we found similar tendency of oxidative changes as in the breast muscle. At the end of frozen storage (in the 6th month), MDA average values of thigh muscle were higher (p <0.05) in control group (0.181 mg.kg-1) compared to experimental groups (1. EG 0.164 mg.kg-1 and 2. EG 0.169 mg.kg-1). Significant differences (p <0.05) between the control and experimental groups were found from the 5th month of storage in thigh and breast muscle. Obtained results indicate positive influence of phytogenic additives applied in chicken nutrition, namely on stabilization of fatty substance to degradation processes.

Slimming and Appetite-Suppressing Effects of Caraway Aqueous Extract as a Natural Therapy in Physically Active Women

Following the current 'Globesity' trend, there is an increasing demand for alternative natural therapies for weight management. Numerous phytoconstituents reduce body weight through suppressing appetite and reducing food intake. Caraway (Carum carvi L.) is one of the medicinal plants that is traditionally used for weight loss. In this study, the appetite-suppressing effects of caraway aqueous extract (CAE) on 70 aerobically trained, overweight, and obese women were examined in a triple-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study. Subjects were randomly allocated into placebo and experimental groups and consumed either 30 mL/day of CAE or placebo without changing their diet or physical activity over a period of 90 days. Calorie and macronutrient intake and anthropometric indices were measured before and after the intervention. In addition, appetite changes were assessed through a visual analog scale and an ad libitum pizza test. After the intervention, the results showed a significant reduction in appetite levels and carbohydrate intake of the experimental group compared with the placebo group. All of the anthropometric indices were reduced significantly in CAE compared with placebo group (p < 0.01). These preliminary outcomes suggest that a dietary CAE might be effective in weight management of physically active, adult females, reducing their body size and hunger level. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Sucupira as a Potential Plant for Arthritis Treatment and Other Diseases

Trees of the genus Pterodon, commonly known as “sucupira-branca” or “faveira,” are native to central Brazil. The Pterodon fruits are traditionally used in ethnomedicine as an infusion, in small doses, and at regular time intervals as an antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, tonic, and depurative agent. The various compounds present in the Pterodon class are, generally, water-insoluble and derived from the fusion of high-molecular weight pentacarbonate units. Scientific research has shown that the major compounds isolated from Pterodon species are linear and/or tetracyclic diterpenes with vouacapane skeletons that partly underlie the pharmacological activities of the fruit-derived oil. Material from Pterodon species has several biological properties, such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Therefore, recent studies have sought to microencapsulate these extracts to protect them from potential chemical degradation and improve their water solubility, ensuring greater stability and quality of the end products. This review presents a succinct overview of the available scientific evidence of the biological activity and toxicity of Pterodon species in addition to other important aspects, including phytochemical and technological features.

Metabolic interactions of magnolol with cytochrome P450 enzymes: uncompetitive inhibition of CYP1A and competitive inhibition of CYP2C

Magnolol (MAG; 5,5'-diallyl-2,2'-biphenyldiol) is a major bioactive component of Magnolia officinalis. We investigated the metabolic interactions of MAG with hepatic cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP) through in vitro microsomal metabolism study using human (HLM) and rat liver microsomes (RLM). CYP2C and 3A subfamilies were significantly involved in the metabolism of MAG, while CYP1A subfamily was not in HLM and RLM. The relative contribution of phase I enzymes including CYP to the metabolism of MAG was comparable to that of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) in RLM. Moreover, MAG potently inhibited the metabolic activity of CYP1A (IC50 of 1.62 μM) and 2C (IC50 of 5.56 μM), while weakly CYP3A (IC50 of 35.0 μM) in HLM and RLM. By the construction of Dixon plot, the inhibition type of MAG on CYP activity in RLM was determined as follows: uncompetitive inhibitor for CYP1A (Ki of 1.09-12.0 μM); competitive inhibitor for CYP2C (Ki of 10.0-15.2 μM) and 3A (Ki of 93.7-183 μM). Based on the comparison of the current IC50 and Ki values with a previously reported liver concentration (about 13 μM) of MAG after its seven times oral administration at a dose of 50 mg/kg in rats, it is suggested that MAG could show significant inhibition of CYP1A and 2C, but not CYP3A, in the in vivo rat system. These results could lead to further studies in clinically significant metabolism-mediated MAG-drug interactions.

Functional components and medicinal properties of food: a review

Research has proved a relationship between functional components of food, health and well-being. Thus, functional components of food can be effectively applied in the treatment and prevention of diseases. They act simultaneously at different or identical target sites with the potential to impart physiological benefits and promotion of wellbeing including reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, inflammation, type II diabetes, and other chronic degenerative diseases, lowering of blood cholesterol, neutralization of reactive oxygen species and charged radicals, anticarcinogenic effect, low-glycaemic response, etc. Previously, it was thought that functional ingredients such as non-starchy carbohydrates including soluble and insoluble dietary fibres, fucoidan; antioxidants including polyphenols, carotenoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytosterols, isoflavones, organosulphur compounds; plant sterols and soy phytoestrogens occur only in plant foods (whole grains, fruits, and vegetables) as phytochemicals. However, probiotics, prebiotics, conjugated linolenic acid, long-chain omega-3, -6 and -9-polyunsaturated fatty acids, and bioactive peptides have proved that functional components are equally available in animal products such as milk, fermented milk products and cold-water fish. The way a food is processed affects its functional components. Many processing techniques have been found to lower the concentration of functional components in food. Conversely, other techniques were found to increase them. Hence, in a time when the role of a healthy diet in preventing non-communicable diseases is well accepted, the borderline between food and medicine is becoming very thin.

Effect of honokiol on cytochrome P450 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzyme activities in human liver microsomes

Honokiol is a bioactive component isolated from the medicinal herbs Magnolia officinalis and Magnolia grandiflora that has antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and antitumor activities. The inhibitory potentials of honokiol on eight major human cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4, and four UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) 1A1, 1A4, 1A9, and 2B7 in human liver microsomes were investigated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Honokiol strongly inhibited CYP1A2-mediated phenacetin O-deethylation, CYP2C8-mediated amodiaquine N-deethylation, CYP2C9-mediated diclofenac 4-hydroxylation, CYP2C19-mediated [S]-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation, and UGT1A9-mediated propofol glucuronidation with K_i values of 1.2, 4.9, 0.54, 0.57, and 0.3 μM, respectively. Honokiol also moderately inhibited CYP2B6-mediated bupropion hydroxylation and CYP2D6-mediated bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation with K_i values of 17.5 and 12.0 μM, respectively. These in vitro results indicate that honokiol has the potential to cause pharmacokinetic drug interactions with other co-administered drugs metabolized by CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and UGT1A9.

Amelioration by chicory seed extract of diabetes- and oleic acid-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) via modulation of PPARα and SREBP-1

We evaluated the effect of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) seed extract (CI) on hepatic steatosis caused by early and late stage diabetes in rats (in vivo), and induced in HepG2 cells (in vitro) by BSA-oleic acid complex (OA). Different dosages of CI (1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/ml) were applied along with OA (1 mM) to HepG2 cells, simultaneously and non-simultaneously; and without OA to ordinary non-steatotic cells. Cellular lipid accumulation and glycerol release, and hepatic triglyceride (TG) content were measured. The expression levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) were determined. Liver samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Significant histological damage (steatosis-inflammation-fibrosis) to the cells and tissues and down-regulation of SREBP-1c and PPARα genes that followed steatosis induction were prevented by CI in simultaneous treatment. In non-simultaneous treatment, CI up-regulated the expression of both genes and restored the normal levels of the corresponding proteins; with a greater stimulating effect on PPARα, CI acted as a PPARα agonist. CI released glycerol from HepG2 cells, and targeted the first and the second hit phases of hepatic steatosis. A preliminary attempt to characterize CI showed caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and chicoric acid, among the constituents.

Effects of essential oils on milk production, milk composition, and rumen microbiota in Chios dairy ewes

The effect of the addition of an essential oil (EO) preparation (containing a mixture of natural and nature-identical EO) on the performance of dairy ewes of the Chios breed was investigated. Eighty lactating ewes were allocated into 4 equal groups in a randomized block design, each with 4 replicates of 5 ewes housed in the same pen. The 4 groups were fed the same total mixed ration allowance, the roughage being a mixture of corn silage, lucerne hay, and wheat straw, and the concentrate based on cereals and oil cakes. Control ewes were fed their daily allowance of total mixed ration without any EO. The other 3 groups were supplemented with EO at levels of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg of the concentrated feed, respectively. Individual milk yield was recorded daily and feed refusals were recorded on a pen basis weekly during the first 5 mo of lactation. Milk samples were analyzed for chemical composition, somatic cell count, and urea content. Rumen samples were analyzed for pH, NH(3)-N content, and protozoa, cellulolytic, hyper-ammonia-producing, and total viable bacteria counts. Results showed that inclusion of EO increased milk production per ewe, the effect being dose dependent [1.565, 1.681, 1.876, and 2.119 L/d (standard error of the difference ± 0.176) for the control, 50, 100, and 150 mg of EO/kg of concentrate diets, respectively], and thus improved feed utilization. Although the inclusion of EO did not affect milk composition, it lowered urea concentration and somatic cell count in milk samples at the highest supplementation level compared with the control. Total counts of viable and cellulolytic bacteria and protozoa were not influenced by EO supplementation; however, counts of hyper-ammonia-producing bacteria were decreased at the 2 highest supplementation levels compared with the control group. Rumen pH was not affected by EO supplementation, but rumen NH(3)-N was reduced at the highest EO supplementation level, and acetate rumen concentrations tended to decrease and propionate to increase in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, EO supplementation may improve feed utilization and performance of the high-yielding dairy Chios ewes; however, the underlying mechanisms leading to this improvement merit further investigation.

Acute toxicity and hepatotoxicokinetic studies of Tamarindus indica extract

Tamarindus indica is widely used as a food and beverage and in traditional medicine. The apparent lack of dose standardization in herbal medicine necessitates the evaluation of the lethality T. indica on Artemia salina nauplii and chicken embryos via in vitro and in vivo techniques. Furthermore, hepatotoxicokinetics of the crude extract and fractions on Wister rats was also assessed. At concentrations of 200, 20 and 2 µg/mL, crude extract and fractions showed brine shrimp death percentages ranging from 86.70% to 3.30% and the sub-fractions showed death percentage ranges of 46.70% to 3.30%. Calculated LD₅₀ values ranged from 832 µg/mL to 5,019 µg/mL. Dosing Wister rats with 25% and 50% concentration of LD₅₀ determined for crude extract and fractions on chicken embryos showed an elevation in the ALT and AST levels in the serum. Brine shrimps and chicken embryos showed a positive correlation, with R² values of 0.541 and 0.588 (P ≤ 0.05) for fractions and subfractions, respectively, as media for the lethality assay. Dose standardization in folk herbal medicine is imperative as T. indica used as food and medicine has been shown to be toxic at high doses. Brine shrimp and chicken embryos may be comparably used as medium for toxicity assay.

Corydaline inhibits multiple cytochrome P450 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzyme activities in human liver microsomes

Corydaline is a bioactive alkaloid with various antiacetylcholinesterase, antiallergic, and antinociceptive activities found in the medicinal herb Corydalis Tubers. The inhibitory potential of corydaline on the activities of seven major human cytochrome P450 and four UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes in human liver microsomes was investigated using LC-tandem MS. Corydaline was found to inhibit CYP2C19-catalyzed S-mephenytoin-4’-hydroxylatoin and CYP2C9-catalyzed diclofenac 4-hydroxylation, with K_i values of 1.7 and 7.0 μM, respectively. Corydaline also demonstrated moderate inhibition of UGT1A1-mediated 17β-estradiol 3-glucuronidation and UGT1A9-mediated propofol glucuronidation with K_i values of 57.6 and 37.3 μM, respectively. In the presence of corydaline, CYP3A-mediated midazolam hydroxylation showed a decrease with increasing preincubation time in a dose-dependent manner with K_i values of 30.0 μM. These in vitro results suggest that corydaline should be evaluated for potential pharmacokinetic drug interactions in vivo due to potent inhibition of CYP2C19 and CYP2C9.

Effects of eupatilin and jaceosidin on cytochrome p450 enzyme activities in human liver microsomes

Eupatilin and jaceosidin are bioactive flavones found in the medicinal herbs of the genus Artemisia. These bioactive flavones exhibit various antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antiallergic, and antitumor activities. The inhibitory potentials of eupatilin and jaceosidin on the activities of seven major human cytochrome P450 enzymes in human liver microsomes were investigated using a cocktail probe assay. Eupatilin and jaceosidin potently inhibited CYP1A2-catalyzed phenacetin O-deethylation with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 9.4 μM and 5.3 μM, respectively, and CYP2C9-catalyzed diclofenac 4-hydroxylation with IC₅₀ values of 4.1 μM and 10.2 μM, respectively. Eupatilin and jaceosidin were also found to moderately inhibit CYP2C19-catalyzed [S]-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation, CYP2D6-catalyzed bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation, and CYP2C8-catalyzed amodiaquine N-deethylation. Kinetic analysis of human liver microsomes showed that eupatilin is a competitive inhibitor of CYP1A2 with a K_i value of 2.3 μM and a mixed-type inhibitor of CYP2C9 with a K_i value of 1.6 μM. Jaceosidin was shown to be a competitive inhibitor of CYP1A2 with a K_i value of 3.8 μM and a mixed-type inhibitor of CYP2C9 with K_i value of 6.4 μM in human liver microsomes. These in vitro results suggest that eupatilin and jaceosidin should be further examined for potential pharmacokinetic drug interactions in vivo due to inhibition of CYP1A2 and CYP2C9.

Evaluation of inhibitory activities of plant extracts on production of LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory mediators in J774 murine macrophages

Whole plant methanolic extracts of 14 traditionally used medicinal herbs were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. Extracts of Grindelia robusta, Salix nigra, Arnica montana, and Quassia amara showed up to 4.5-fold inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in the J774 murine macrophage cells challenged with LPS without cytotoxicity. These four selected extracts significantly reduced the protein levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as observed by Western blot analysis. Culture supernatants from cells treated with these extracts indicated 3-5-fold reduction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). However, only G. robusta and Q. amara extracts significantly inhibited (by 50%) IL-1beta and IL-12 secretions. Furthermore, all these plant extracts were shown to prevent the LPS-mediated nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). All the above observations indicate the anti-inflammatory potential of these plant extracts.

Chemopreventive and remediation effect of Hydrocotyl bonariensis Comm. Ex Lam (Apiaceae) leave extract in galactose-induced cataract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hydrocotyl bonariensis Comm. Ex Lam (Apiaceae) is being widely used in Western Nigeria in treating various symptoms of ophthalmic diseases; however scientific data in support of this medicinal use have not been reported.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study, investigated the efficacy of Hydrocotyl bonariensis leave extract in offering protection against experimental cataract and also examined its remediation effect when administered after cataract onset.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Weanling albino rats fed with 30% galactose diet were used in the study. Mechanisms of action of the extract were investigated by measuring the degree of lens peroxidation, lens antioxidant status and lens protein concentration. Severity of cataract was determined by measuring the cataract index.

RESULTS

The extract at 500 mg kg(-1) reduced cataract index significantly and also reduced cataract progression when administered after cataract onset. Administration of this dosage also significantly reduced the degree of lens peroxidation, increased the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the lens catalase and superoxide dismutase activity. The extract also prevents protein insolubilization. Administration of the extract at 1000 mg kg(-1) reduced cataract index and lens peroxidation but did not increase the antioxidant status significantly. Administration of the extract after cataract onset reduced cataract index, moderately increased percentage soluble protein above the value prior to the arrest of hypergalactosemia but did not increase the antioxidant status.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that Hydrocotyl bonariensis protects against galactose-induced cataract, and that administration of the extract after cataract onset reduced cataract progression but did not reverse cataractogenesis.