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Ayrle H, Mevissen M, Bruckmaier RM, Wellnitz O, Kaske M, Bieber A, Vögtlin A, Fricker R, Walkenhorst M. Effects of an oral hydro-ethanolic purple coneflower extract on performance, clinical health and immune parameters in calves. Res Vet Sci 2021; 138:148-160. [PMID: 34144282 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded field trial was to investigate the effects of oral administration of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L. (EP)) on performance, health and immune parameters in calves. Calves (n = 27) were enrolled to three groups (9 calves per group): 0.5 g EP/calf per day (ECL), 5 g EP/calf per day (ECH) or placebo. Calves were vaccinated with Bluetongue-Virus (BTV) serotype 4 vaccine to investigate EPs effects on seroconversion. Clinical and performance parameters, inter alia body weight, health and milk intake were recorded for 57 days. Blood samples were analyzed for BTV antibodies and IgG by ELISA, white and red blood cell counts by flow cytometry and mRNA abundance of various inflammatory markers in leukocytes (IL-1β, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2) and prostaglandin E synthase) was studied. The findings demonstrated no differences between groups regarding performance parameters. In all groups, calves suffered from diarrhea for a minimum of 2 days, but EP reduced the number of diarrhea days by 44% in ECL and increased the body temperature. Interestingly, ECL resulted in an increased number of respiratory disease days during the follow-up period. EP did not change blood cell and IgG counts, whereas eosinophil granulocytes were reduced in ECL. Decreased levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit were found in ECH. Prostaglandin E synthase levels in leukocytes were higher in ECL and ECH, whereas no differences were obtained for IL-1β, IL-8, TNFα and Cox-2. Due to the unexpected occurrence of BTV seropositive calves before the first vaccination, 13 calves were excluded from the evaluation on seroconversion and no statistical analyses could be performed regarding antibody production. BTV-4 antibodies were not produced in 4 placebo-calves, whereas 4 of 5 and 1 of 6 ECL- and ECH-calves produced antibodies. Further investigations are needed to draw final conclusions on mode of action and efficacy of EP in calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Ayrle
- Department of Livestock Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Ackerstrasse 113, Frick 5070, Switzerland; Division Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern 3012, Switzerland.
| | - Meike Mevissen
- Division Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern 3012, Switzerland.
| | - Rupert M Bruckmaier
- Veterinary Physiology, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, Bern 3012, Switzerland.
| | - Olga Wellnitz
- Veterinary Physiology, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, Bern 3012, Switzerland.
| | - Martin Kaske
- Swiss Calf Health Service, Department of Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich 8057, Switzerland.
| | - Anna Bieber
- Department of Livestock Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Ackerstrasse 113, Frick 5070, Switzerland.
| | - Andrea Vögtlin
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern & Mittelhäusern, Switzerland and Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, Bern 3012, Switzerland.
| | - Raffael Fricker
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern & Mittelhäusern, Switzerland and Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, Bern 3012, Switzerland.
| | - Michael Walkenhorst
- Department of Livestock Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Ackerstrasse 113, Frick 5070, Switzerland.
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Ayrle H, Mevissen M, Kaske M, Nathues H, Gruetzner N, Melzig M, Walkenhorst M. Medicinal plants--prophylactic and therapeutic options for gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets? A systematic review. BMC Vet Res 2016; 12:89. [PMID: 27268043 PMCID: PMC4896019 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0714-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets lead to significant economic losses in livestock husbandry. A high morbidity has been reported for diarrhea (calves ≤ 35%; piglets ≤ 50%) and for respiratory diseases (calves ≤ 80%; piglets ≤ 40%). Despite a highly diverse etiology and pathophysiology of these diseases, treatment with antimicrobials is often the first-line therapy. Multi-antimicrobial resistance in pathogens results in international accordance to strengthen the research in novel treatment options. Medicinal plants bear a potential as alternative or additional treatment. Based on the versatile effects of their plant specific multi-component-compositions, medicinal plants can potentially act as 'multi-target drugs'. Regarding the plurality of medicinal plants, the aim of this systematic review was to identify potential medicinal plant species for prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases and for modulation of the immune system and inflammation in calves and piglets. RESULTS Based on nine initial sources including standard textbooks and European ethnoveterinary studies, a total of 223 medicinal plant species related to the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases was identified. A defined search strategy was established using the PRISMA statement to evaluate 30 medicinal plant species starting from 20'000 peer-reviewed articles published in the last 20 years (1994-2014). This strategy led to 418 references (257 in vitro, 84 in vivo and 77 clinical trials, thereof 48 clinical trials in veterinary medicine) to evaluate effects of medicinal plants and their efficacy in detail. The findings indicate that the most promising candidates for gastrointestinal diseases are Allium sativum L., Mentha x piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L.; for diseases of the respiratory tract Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH, Thymus vulgaris L. and Althea officinalis L. were found most promising, and Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH, Camellia sinensis (L.) KUNTZE, Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and Origanum vulgare L. were identified as best candidates for modulation of the immune system and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS Several medicinal plants bear a potential for novel treatment strategies for young livestock. There is a need for further research focused on gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets, and the findings of this review provide a basis on plant selection for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Ayrle
- Department of Livestock Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Ackerstrasse 113, postbox 219, Frick, 5070, Switzerland. .,Division Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, Department Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 124, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
| | - Meike Mevissen
- Division Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, Department Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Laenggassstrasse 124, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
| | - Martin Kaske
- Department of Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Heiko Nathues
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Swine Clinic, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
| | - Niels Gruetzner
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Swine Clinic, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Melzig
- Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Koenigin-Luise-Strasse 2 + 4, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Michael Walkenhorst
- Department of Livestock Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Ackerstrasse 113, postbox 219, Frick, 5070, Switzerland
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Abstract
Regulated differently than drugs or foods, the market for botanical dietary supplements continues to grow worldwide. The recently implemented U.S. FDA regulation that all botanical dietary supplements must be produced using good manufacturing practice is an important step toward enhancing the safety of these products, but additional safeguards could be implemented, and unlike drugs, there are currently no efficacy requirements. To ensure a safe and effective product, botanical dietary supplements should be developed in a manner analogous to pharmaceuticals that involves identification of mechanisms of action and active constituents, chemical standardization based on the active compounds, biological standardization based on pharmacological activity, preclinical evaluation of toxicity and potential for drug-botanical interactions, metabolism of active compounds, and finally, clinical studies of safety and efficacy. Completing these steps will enable the translation of botanicals from the field to safe human use as dietary supplements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard B. van Breemen
- UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research,
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois College of Pharmacy, 833 S. Wood Street, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
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Applications of the phytomedicine Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) in infectious diseases. J Biomed Biotechnol 2011; 2012:769896. [PMID: 22131823 PMCID: PMC3205674 DOI: 10.1155/2012/769896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2011] [Accepted: 08/29/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracts of Echinacea purpurea (EP, purple coneflower) have been used traditionally in North America for the treatment of various types of infections and wounds, and they have become very popular herbal medicines globally. Recent studies have revealed that certain standardized preparations contain potent and selective antiviral and antimicrobial activities. In addition, they display multiple immune-modulatory activities, comprising stimulation of certain immune functions such as phagocytic activity of macrophages and suppression of the proinflammatory responses of epithelial cells to viruses and bacteria, which are manifested as alterations in secretion of various cytokines and chemokines. These immune modulations result from upregulation or downregulation of the relevant genes and their transcription factors. All these bioactivities can be demonstrated at noncytotoxic concentrations of extract and appear to be due to multiple components rather than the individual chemical compounds that characterize Echinacea extracts. Potential applications of the bioactive extracts may go beyond their traditional uses.
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