Differential effectiveness of berry polyphenols as anti-giardial agents

The New Face of Berries: A Review of Their Antiviral Proprieties

Due to rising consumer preference for natural remedies, the search for natural antiviral agents has accelerated considerably in recent years. Among the natural sources of compounds with potential antiviral proprieties, berries are interesting candidates, due to their association with health-promoting properties, including antioxidant, antimutagenic, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. The past two decades have witnessed a flurry of new findings. Studies suggest promising antiviral proprieties against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, particularly of cranberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, black raspberries, and pomegranates. The aim of this review is to assemble these findings, to list the implied mechanisms of action, and thereby point out promising subjects for research in this field, in the hope that compounds obtainable from natural sources such as berries may be used someday to treat, or even prevent, viral infections.

Nutrigenomic Effects of Long-Term Grape Pomace Supplementation in Dairy Cows

Simple Summary

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of grape pomace (GP), the polyphenol-rich agricultural by-product, on dairy cows’ whole-blood transcriptome, milk production and composition. Twelve lactating Holstein-Friesian cows were randomly assigned to two groups; the first received a GP-supplemented diet for 60 days (group GP), whereas the second was given only a basal diet (CTR). The results reveal 40 protein-coding genes differentially expressed in the GP group when compared with the CTR group, but no effects were noticed on milk production, concentrations of crude protein, fat, casein, lactose and urea, or somatic cell count. Compared to CTR, GP had a transcriptomic signature mainly reflecting a reinforced immunogenic response.

Abstract

The increasing demand for more animal products put pressure on improving livestock production efficiency and sustainability. In this context, advanced animal nutrition studies appear indispensable. Here, the effect of grape pomace (GP), the polyphenol-rich agricultural by-product, was evaluated on Holstein-Friesian cows’ whole-blood transcriptome, milk production and composition. Two experimental groups were set up. The first one received a basal diet and served as a control, while the second one received a 7.5% GP-supplemented diet for a total of 60 days. Milk production and composition were not different between the group; however, the transcriptome analysis revealed a total of 40 genes significantly affected by GP supplementation. Among the most interesting down-regulated genes, we found the DnaJ heat-shock protein family member A1 (DNAJA1), the mitochondrial fission factor (MFF), and the impact RWD domain protein (IMPACT) genes. The gene set enrichment analysis evidenced the positive enrichment of ‘interferon alpha (IFN-α) and IFN-γ response’, ‘IL6-JAK-STAT3 signaling’ and ‘complement’ genes. Moreover, the functional analysis denoted positive enrichment of the ‘response to protozoan’ and ‘negative regulation of viral genome replication’ biological processes. Our data provide an overall view of the blood transcriptomic signature after a 60-day GP supplementation in dairy cows which mainly reflects a GP-induced immunomodulatory effect.

Pharmacological profile of the aerial parts of Rubus ulmifolius Schott

Background

As aerial parts of Rubus ulmifolius contains phytochemicals like flavonoids and tannins. And whereas flavonoids and tannins have antioxidant and antipyretic activity, hence, current work is carried out to screen crude methanolic extract of aerial parts of Rubus ulmifolius (Ru.Cr) and crude flavonoids rich extract of Rubus ulmifolius (Ru.F) for possible antioxidant and antipyretic activity. Ru.Cr and Ru.F are also tested for brine shrimps lethality bioassay. Ru.F is tested for the first time for possible antioxidant and antipyretic activity.

Methods

Preliminary phytochemical screening of Ru.Cr and Ru.F was performed as it provides rapid finger printing for targeting a pharmacological activity. Acute toxicity and Brine shrimps’ cytotoxicity studies of Ru.Cr and Ru.F were performed to determine its safe dose range. Antioxidant and antipyretic studies were also performed as per reported procedures.

Results

Ru.Cr tested positive for presence of tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids and steroids. Ru.Cr is safe up to 6 g/kg following oral doses for acute toxicity study. Ru.Cr is safe up to 75 μg/kg (p.o), LC₅₀ for Ru.Cr and Ru.F are 16.7 ± 1.4 μg/ml 10.6 ± 1.8 μg/ml, respectively (n = 3). Both Ru.Cr and Ru.F demonstrated comparable antioxidant activity using vitamin C as standard (p ≤ 0.05). In test dose of 300 mg of Ru.Cr, rectal temperature was reduced by 74% (p ≤ 0.05) on 4^th hour of the administration. More, Ru.F produced 72% reduction in pyrexia (p ≤ 0.05) on 4^th hour of administration of paracetamol in Westar rats.

Conclusions

The current work confirms that aerial parts of Rubus ulmifolius contain flavonoids that are safe up to 6 g/kg (p.o). Crude methanolic extract and flavonoids rich fraction of Rubus ulmifolius have significant antioxidant and antipyretic activity. Further work is required to isolate the pharmacologically active substances for relatively safe and effective antipyretics and antioxidants.

Promising Health Benefits of the Strawberry: A Focus on Clinical Studies

The potential health benefits associated with dietary intake of fruits have attracted increasing interest. Among berries, the strawberry is a rich source of several nutritive and non-nutritive bioactive compounds, which are implicated in various health-promoting and disease preventive effects. A plethora of studies have examined the benefits of strawberry consumption, such as prevention of inflammation disorders and oxidative stress, reduction of obesity related disorders and heart disease risk, and protection against various types of cancer. This review provides an overview of their nutritional and non-nutritional bioactive compounds and which factors affect their content in strawberries. In addition, the bioavailability and metabolism of major strawberry phytochemicals as well as their actions in combating many pathologies, including cancer, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, neurodegeneration, along with microbial pathogenesis have been reviewed, with a particular attention to human studies.

Antigiardial effect of Anethum graveolens aqueous extract in children

Background:

Giardia lamblia is the most common intestinal parasite of humans identified worldwide. In spite of metronidazole (Met) is the most commonly used drug for the treatment of giardiasis in humans, low patient compliance and side-effects, especially in children encourage efforts to look for new and safe agent; many plants used in folk medicine thought to have antigiardial effect, Anethum graveolens (AG) (dill) is an annual herb cultivated in Iraq used both as a medicinal agent and as food spice. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extract (AE) of AG leave in the treatment of giardiasis, compared with that of standard drug Met.

Patients and Methods:

A prospective randomized clinical trial was carried out on 28 pediatric patients of both sexes with age of <1 year ranging from 3 to 11 months, who attend to outpatient private clinic in Baghdad for a period of 6 months from June 2013 to December 2013,Patients participate in this study were allocated into two groups Group A composed of 14 patients treated with Met 15 mg/kg 3 times a day for 5 days. Group B composed of 14 patients treated with AGAE 1 ml 3 times a day for 5 days. Stool samples were collected at 0 time before administration of treatment, after 5 days and after 14 days from starting the treatments to check the efficacy of treatment.

Results:

Administration of AGAE results in a significant decrease in incidence of G. lamblia after 5 days of treatment indicating the efficacy of AGAE in the treatment of giardiasis a result that is comparable to that of Met.

Conclusion:

This study showed that pediatric patients with giardiasis may benefit from 5 days treatment with AGAE administered as 1 ml 3 times daily, the improvement in the symptom with this herbal agent was comparable to the standard pharmacological agent Met; results showed that AG is safe and tolerable over treatment course.

3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid isolated from Artemisia argyi and its ester derivatives exert anti-leucyl-tRNA synthetase of Giardia lamblia (GlLeuRS) and potential anti-giardial effects

An aqueous ethanol extract of Artemisia argyi inhibited the aminoacylation activity of LeuRS from Giardia lamblia (GlLeuRS). The bioassay-guided fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (1), with an IC₅₀ of 5.82 μg/mL. The ester derivatives of 1 were also found to possess strong anti-GlLeuRS effects, with IC₅₀ values of 1.79, 5.51 and 2.56 μg/mL respectively. Anti-giardial assay showed that the derivatives, especially 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid propyl ester (4) (IC₅₀=4.62 μg/mL), were effective at killing G. lamblia.