The effect of Macrotyloma uniflorum seed on bile lithogenicity against diet induced cholelithiasis on mice

Effect of herbal feed additives containing saponins on rumen fermentation pattern

Macrotyloma uniflorum (kulthi) seeds, Asparagus racemosus (shatavari) roots or Acacia concina (shikakai) pods were supplemented to total mixed rations (TMR) @ 0-3% (on DM basis) to assess the impact of herbal feed additives (HFAs) on the in vitro rumen fermentation pattern. The saponin content and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl- hydrate (DPHH) antioxidant activity was highest in A. racemosus than other HFAs. But total phenols, non tannin phenols, true tannins, condensed tannins, vitamin C and flavanoid contents were highest inM. uniflorum and lowest in A. concina. The dose/level of supplementation of HFAs, irrespective of their nature did not affect net gas production (NGP) and availability of metabolizable energy (ME) from TMR, but digestibility of nutrients and partitioning factor (PF) decreased in comparison to the unsupplemented group. The total and individual volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production; and acetate to propionate ratio was improved when the TMR was supplemented with HFAs at 1% level. The methane and ammonia-N production was depressed at 2% level as compared to control group. Irrespective of the dose, the total VFAs, acetate, and propionate production was higher while ammonia-N decreased in M. uniflorum supplemented TMR than other HFAs supplemented groups. Methane production from the TMR was comparable in the diet supplemented with different HFAs, however, diet supplemented with M. uniflorum resulted in lower methane production. Amongst the tested HFAs, M. uniflorum was a richer source of most of the bio-active compounds. Based on in vitro fermentation parameters, M. uniflorum supplemented to TMR @ 2% gave the best results.

Serum metabolic profile characteristics of offspring rats before and after birth caused by prenatal caffeine exposure

Epidemiological investigations have confirmed that prenatal caffeine intake could increase the incidence rate of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and multiple diseases after birth. Based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we analyzed serum metabolic profiles of offspring rats before and after birth in IUGR model induced by prenatal caffeine exposure (PCE). We discovered that differential metabolites in PCE fetuses mainly manifested as amino acids and lipid metabolism. In adulthood, PCE offspring showed less and inconsistent types of differential metabolites compared to those in utero, which still exhibited gender differences. The main differential metabolites induced by PCE, including phospholipids, platelet-activating factor, arachidonic acid, bile acid, sphingosine-1-phosphoric acid, indoxyl sulfuric acid, and cortexolone, may participate in the pathological and physiological processes of organ toxicities. This study demonstrated the short- and long-term developmental toxicity and gender differences of caffeine, providing new ideas for exploring the early warning and drug intervention targets of IUGR offspring.