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Background and Aim: The effects of phycocyanin (PC) on pigmentation have been extensively studied in fish; however, its specific impact on crustaceans, particularly Procambarus clarkii, remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PCs extracted from Arthrospira platensis BUUC1503 on the color enhancement of P. clarkii crayfish when added to food pellets. Materials and Methods: The following five dietary treatments were prepared: a control (without PC) and four experimental diets with PC supplementation at concentrations of 10, 50, 100, and 500 mg/kg. The stability of the pellets in water was ensured for 180 min. P. clarkii crayfish were fed these diets at 5% of their body weight daily for 10 weeks. Body weight and total length were measured. Color changes in P. clarkii were also assessed. After the experiments, we treated the samples according to Animal Welfare Technical Information No.16.8 Correct euthanasia of decapods. Results: Although PC supplementation did not significantly affect the yellowness (b* value) of P. clarkii, it significantly enhanced the redness (a* value) and lightness (L* value) pigmentation compared with the control. At week 10, crayfish fed a diet containing 100 mg/kg PC exhibited the highest L* value (36.51 ± 1.59) (p < 0.001). Diet with 500 mg/kg PCs had the highest a* value (26.96 ± 0.64) (p < 0.001). Crayfish fed 50, 100, or 500 mg/kg PC had the highest survival rate (100%). PCs appear to positively affect weight gain in P. clarkii crayfish during weeks 8, 9, and 10 (p = 0.013, 0.003, and 0.034, respectively). However, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in length among the dietary treatments. Conclusion: PCs effectively weight-gain and enhance red pigment deposition in the epidermal layer of P. clarkii. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of vision loss among the elderly, poses a significant global health issue. This is a retinal condition that causes the loss of central vision. The demographic shift towards an aging population contributes to the increasing number of individuals affected by this condition, presenting a challenge to the medical and scientific community in developing effective prevention and treatment methods. In recent years, considerable attention has been given to the role of a proper diet and the supplementation of vitamins and antioxidants in inhibiting the progression of AMD.

The current study aimed to determine the impact of adding fried green lentil powder (FGLP) into date paste on the nutritive and sensory aspects of date bars. Date paste was partially substituted by 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5% FGLP. DSB samples enriched with 10.0 and 12.5% FGLP exhibited the highest amounts of protein (4.78 and 5.36/100 g, respectively). Total fat content was 2.2, 2.08, and 1.94 times greater in DSB samples fortified with 12.5, 10.0, and 7.5% FGLP, respectively, than in the control sample. The highest ash levels (3.06, 3.11, and 3.14/100 g, respectively) were found in DSB samples that were enriched with FGLP at 7.5, 10, and 12.5%. The crude fiber content of FGLP-fortified date samples jumped significantly, from 10.10 g/100 g for the control sample to 11.16, 11.45, and 11.74 g/100 g for date bar samples fortified with 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5% FGLP. Compared to the control sample, the carbohydrate content of date bars significantly decreased when FGLP was added. Date bars supplemented with 12.5% FGLP covered the isoleucine, leucine, lysine, total sulfur amino acids, total aromatic amino acids, threonine, and valine needs by 78.20, 100.00, 55.10, 70.40, 91.70, 46.1, and 67.7%, respectively. The content of saturated fatty acids decreased as FGLP inclusion levels increased. The mineral concentration of Mg, P, Mn, Cu, Fe, and Zn in supplemented date bars increased significantly as the FGLP replacement amount increased. Overall acceptability was not statistically different among all date bars containing up to 7.5% FGLP.

Introduction and Objective. Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed in sufficient quantities, have gained attention in the sports community. The surge in popularity of long-distance athletic competitions such as marathons, triathlons, and cycling races has led to heightened rivalry and a rising curiosity in strategies to improve sports performance. Studies have suggested that probiotics could be a valuable aid for athletes looking to improve their well-being and overall progress. Methods. A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar with search terms like "probiotics", "gut microflora", "probiotics in sport", "human microbiome", "athletic performance", "human microbiome", “diet supplementation” and related variations. Articles published within the last five years were prioritized. Brief description of the state of Knowledge. Probiotic supplementation has been shown to positively impact the health and performance of athletes, primarily through modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This review examines the influence of probiotic supplements on athletic performance, focusing on their effects on gut microbiota, immune support, mental health, anti-inflammatory properties, and overall performance enhancement. Conclusions. ​​Probiotics have been found to have numerous health benefits within the microbiota-gut-brain axis, making them an emerging area of research in athletes. The aim of this research is to understand the potential impacts on athletes experiencing health issues such as gastrointestinal symptoms, lowered immune system, mental disorders, excessive inflammation, or those looking to improve endurance and performance.

Mucuna pruriens, a rich source of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, commonly known as L-DOPA and a precursor to dopamine, holds potential as a natural nutritional supplement. This study aimed to delve into the impact of incorporating M. pruriens seed powder (MpSP) into the feed on growth parameters and gonadal development of mono-sex common molly (Poecilia sphenops). The fish population was divided into three experimental groups, such as G1, G2, and G3, and a control group (C), each comprising 20 individuals. Over 45 days, the experimental groups were nourished with a commercial diet bolstered by MpSP in different concentrations (5, 7 and 10g/kg of feed, respectively). In contrast, the control group was provided with a regular diet devoid of the supplement. At the end of the experiment, MpSP demonstrated significant modulation (p

Abstract The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the health and well-being of animals. It is especially critical for ruminants that depend on this bacterial community for digesting their food. In this study, we investigated the effects of management conditions and supplemental feeding on the gut bacterial microbiota of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany. Fecal samples were collected from free-ranging deer, deer within winter enclosures, and deer in permanent enclosures. The samples were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene. The results showed that the gut bacterial microbiota differed in diversity, abundance, and heterogeneity within and between the various management groups. Free-ranging deer exhibited lower alpha diversity compared with deer in enclosures, probably because of the food supplementation available to the animals within the enclosures. Free-living individuals also showed the highest beta diversity, indicating greater variability in foraging grounds and plant species selection. Moreover, free-ranging deer had the lowest abundance of potentially pathogenic bacterial taxa, suggesting a healthier gut microbiome. Winter-gated deer, which spent some time in enclosures, exhibited intermediate characteristics between free-ranging and all-year-gated deer. These findings suggest that the winter enclosure management strategy, including supplementary feeding with processed plants and crops, has a significant impact on the gut microbiome composition of red deer. Overall, this study provides important insights into the effects of management conditions, particularly winter enclosure practices, on the gut microbiome of red deer. Understanding these effects is crucial for assessing the potential health implications of management strategies and highlights the value of microbiota investigations as health marker.

SUMMARY: Because of the side effects of growth stimulant antibiotics employed for poultry nutrition the poultry industry attempts to substitute them with a safer one like as phytogenic or organic acids. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the influence of single and double supplementation of broiler chickens diet with eugenol (0, 500, and 1,000 ppm) and butyric acid glycerides (BAG) (0 and 0.2% w/w) on the chemical, technological and sensory traits of the chicken breast during 60 d of storage. The biological trial was carried out on a total of 300 mixed-sex one-day-old Ross 308 chicks, which were randomly distributed into 6 dietary treatments, with 5 replicates and 10 birds each. The results revealed that L* and b* color values of the fillet samples changed significantly (p < 0.05). The pH values reduced significantly from 5.79 to 5.69 as an effect of eugenol supplementation in the diet (p < 0.05). Water binding ability of the fillet samples evaluated by drip loss, cooking loss and water holding capacity assays was not influenced by addition of BAG and eugenol to the diet of broilers. Sensorial traits of the meat samples were not negatively affected by the dietary supplementation process. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) values of the fillets were not influenced meaningfully by treatments. Overall, dietary supplementation of broiler chickens by eugenol and BAG did not result in important modifications of the physicochemical characteristics of chicken's breast.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that has a high global health burden and causes high mortality and morbidity in humans. Medicinal herbs and plants offer a promising alternative to conventional therapies for the management of diabetes. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a traditional medicinal herb that has been used for the management of several diseases. Therefore, the present study investigates the antidiabetic properties of diets supplemented with R. officinalis leaf powder on streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. First, the phytochemicals and 2,2-dephenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging activity of aqueous R. officinalis leaf extract were determined. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats were fed a diet supplemented with R. officinalis leaf powder (ROP) at 3%, 6%, and 12%, respectively, for 6 weeks. Investigations of food intake, body weight, rat relative organ weights, blood glucose, lipid profiles, creatinine, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were estimated according to standard procedures. The results show that ROP aqueous extract contains significant amounts of phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins, which exhibit in vitro DPPH free-radical scavenging activity. Based on an in vivo study, ROP reduced blood glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with ROP in diabetic rats significantly (p < 0.05) lowered ALT, AST, bilirubin, creatinine, total triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels while increasing high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) when compared with the diabetic control group. Our findings demonstrate that a diet supplemented with R. officinalis leaf powder exhibits an antidiabetic potential with improved health outcomes, as demonstrated by the improved lipid and liver profile enzymes in our animal model.

AbstractThe present research investigation sought to learn more about the impact of various quantities of Mentha longifolia leaves powder (MLLP) on the content of phenolics, antioxidant effectiveness, consumer approval, as well as lowering lipid peroxidation in roasted coffee (RC) powder. MLLP was added at 0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75, 1.00%, and 1.25% of the roasted coffee (RC) weight. Total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), as well as the antioxidant activity which was assessed using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical of green coffee (GC), RC, MLLP, and binary blends of RC and MLLP were assessed. The oxidative indices of coffee oil samples have been investigated during storage intervals. Furthermore, the sensory qualities of RC fortified with various dosages of MLLP were investigated. Findings MLLP showed TP contents (TPC, 2600.15 mg/100 g DWb) which was 1.83 fold greater than those reported in roasted coffee (RC) powder. The results also revealed that when the MLLP quantity increased, TPC of the investigated coffee samples significantly increased. TPC of the produced coffee increased from 1417.30 to 1432.18 mg GAE/100 g DW when MLLP inclusion incremented from 0% to 1.25%. TFC of RC supplemented with 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.00%, and 1.25% MLLP was found to be around 1.04, 1.04, 1.05, and 1.06 times greater than that of control coffee samples without MLLP addition, respectively. DPPH radical-scavenging activity increased significantly from 67.74% in control samples (without MLLP enrichment) to 69.59, 69.74, 70.32, and 71.45 (percent DPPH inhibition) in RC samples enriched with 0.50%, 0.75%, 1.00%, and 1.25% MLLP, respectively. The acid, peroxide, P-Anisidine, and Totox values of RC enriched with 1.25 MLLP were around 2.08, 1.76, 1.64, and 1.70 fold lower, respectively, than in the control sample without MLLP addition. The sensory scores of RC containing 0.50% and 0.75% MLLP were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than control samples.

The red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, and the marbled crayfish, Procambarus virginalis, are invasive species expanding their ranges on a global scale. Their spread is favored by the fact that these crayfish are also aquaculture species of great economic importance (P. clarkii) or promising prospects in this regard (P. virginalis). This study represents the first attempt to assess the impact of diet supplementation with fatty acids on growth, survival, and fatty acid content in these crayfish species, as well as the first record of fatty acid patterns in the obligate parthenogenetic marbled crayfish. Our results showed that supplementation with saturated palmitic acid increased P. clarkii survival, which has not previously been reported for crustaceans. This positive effect on the part of palmitic acid supplementation was not observed for P. virginalis individuals. Marbled crayfish had significantly higher survival rates than red swamp crayfish regardless of the diet used. The growth of both species was not affected by fatty acid supplementation. Our study indicated that young marbled crayfish had a poorer fatty acid profile than juvenile conspecifics and red swamp crayfish. Fatty acid supplementation and type of diet significantly affected the fatty acid composition in the crayfish tissues. There was an increase in unsaturated α-linolenic acid for P. clarkii and palmitic acid for P. virginalis. Palmitic acid quantitatively dominated in both species regardless of the experimental treatment, with the exception of juvenile P. virginalis, which was fed an oligochaete diet rich in EPA.

Huge amounts of vegetable wastes are generated by the food industry. Their bioconversion into valuable products (e.g., insect flours or biofertilizer) through insect farming is a promising solution to reduce their negative environmental and economic impacts. This study evaluates the growth of Tenebrio molitor larvae and their nutritional profile after supplementing their diets with vegetable wastes. Over a 6-week period, 45-day larvae were fed a diet comprising wheat bran supplemented (1:1) with cucumber or tomato wastes from both conventional and ecological crops. The control diet consisted of wheat bran and an equivalent amount of water to compensate for the waste moisture. Larval weight was measured weekly, and length measures were taken fortnightly. Nutritional composition and fatty acid profile were analyzed at the end of the study in 90-day larvae. Regardless of using vegetable waste from conventional or ecological harvesting, the weight of 6-week supplemented larvae almost doubled that of larvae fed with just wheat bran, and their length was 15% higher. Supplementation also increased larval polyunsaturated fatty acid percentage by 22–37%, with linoleic acid being the most abundant. Likewise, larval protein content reached 50% after supplementation. This study demonstrates that both cucumber and tomato wastes from conventional or ecological crops are excellent supplements for T. molitor’s diet, improving their nutritional value and reducing the time necessary for larvae growth.

T. molitor larvae were fed with wheat bran (W) and supplemented (1:1) with cucumber (C + W) or tomato (T + W) agricultural wastes, from conventional or ecological farming, for 6 weeks. Weekly and fortnightly measurements of larvae weight/tray and length were taken, respectively. At the end of the study, the fatty acid composition of the larvae was analyzed using GC-MS. On day 43, the weight of larvae supplemented with wastes almost doubled that reached by the control larvae (647–720 vs. 370 g/tray), which were 15% smaller. Supplementation decreased the larval fat content and increased the polyunsaturated fatty acids between 22–37%, with linoleic acid being the most abundant.

Dietary antioxidant supplementation, especially astaxanthin, has shown great results on reproductive aspects, egg quality, growth, survival, immunity, stress tolerance, and disease resistance in aquatic animals. However, the effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation from different sources are still unknown. A comprehensive comparison of survival, growth, immune response, antioxidant activity, thermal resistance, disease resistance, and intestinal microbial structure was conducted in dietary antioxidant supplementation from the sources of Gracilaria lemaneiformis (GL), industrial synthetic astaxanthin (80 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group ‘SA80’), Phaffia rhodozyma (80 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group ‘PR80’) and Haematococcus pluvialis (120 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group ‘HP120’) at their optimal supplementation amounts. Furthermore, the SA80, PR80, and HP120 groups performed better in all aspects, including survival, growth, immune response, antioxidant activity, thermal resistance, and disease resistance, compared with the GL group. The PR80 and HP120 group also had a better growth performance than the SA80 group. In terms of heat stress and bacterial challenge, abalone in the PR80 group showed the strongest resistance. Overall, 80 mg/kg astaxanthin supplementation from Phaffia rhodozyma was recommended to obtain a more effective and comprehensive outcome. This study contributes to the discovery of the optimum dietary astaxanthin supplementation source for abalone, which is helpful to improve the production efficiency and economic benefits of abalone. Future research can further explore the action mechanism and the method of application of astaxanthin to better exploit its antioxidant role.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of DL-methionine (DL-Met) 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (HMTBa), or S-(5′-Adenosyl)-L-methionine chloride (SAM), using feeding trial and central administration, on live performance, plasma metabolites, and the expression of feeding-related hypothalamic neuropeptides in broilers raised to a market age (35 d). Final average body weight (BW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) from the feeding trial exceeded the performance measurements published by the primary breeder. At d35, the MTBHa group had better BW and lower feed intake, which resulted in a better FCR than the DL-Met group at 87 TSAA to lysine. At the molecular levels, the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptide (NPY) and monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 2 did not differ between all treated groups; however, the mRNA abundances of hypothalamic MCT1 and orexin (ORX) were significantly upregulated in DL-Met- treated groups compared to the control. The ICV administration of SAM significantly reduced feed intake at all tested periods (from 30 to 180 min post injection) compared to the aCSF-treated group (control). The central administration of HMTBa increased feed intake, which reached a significant level only 60 min post administration, compared to the control group. ICV administration of DL-Met slightly increased feed intake compared to the control group, but the difference was not statistically discernable. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the hypothalamic expression of NPY, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, MCT1, and MCT2 was significantly upregulated in the ICV-HMTBa group compared to the aCSF birds. The hypothalamic expression of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPKα1), D-amino acid oxidase, and hydroxyacid oxidase was significantly upregulated in DL-Met compared to the control group. The mRNA abundances of ORX were significantly increased in the hypothalamus of both DL-Met and HMTBa groups compared to the aCSF birds; however, mTOR gene expression was significantly downregulated in the SAM compared to the control group. Taken together, these data show, for the first time, that DL-Met and HMTBa have a common downstream (ORX) pathway, but also a differential central pathway, typically NPY-MCT for HMTBa and mTOR-AMPK for methionine.

Due to its association with several other stress factors (poultry house gases, inadequate ventilation, heat, cold and poor hygiene), the high stocking density is a major stress factor that adversely affects the health and performance of poultry and the quality of the poultry products. Therefore, this experimental study was aimed at analysing the impact of different doses of dietary tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) on the serum apelin, plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (p-BDNF), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations, and the correlation between these indicators in laying hens housed at different stocking densities. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of adding tarragon in different ratios to laying hen rations in the 2nd ovulation period on the cTnI, apelin, and BDNF hormone concentrations and the liver histopathology. The experiment was carried out over a period of eight weeks, with 192 Lohman Brown commercial hybrids at 50 weeks of age. Eight groups (four replicates each), composed of laying hens of equal body weight, which were housed at stocking densities of 580 cm2/hen and 810 cm2/hen and received 0, 1, 5 and 10 mmol/kg of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) in the feed, were established. At the end of the trial, 96 of the housed egg-laying hens (3 birds in each subgroup, a total of 12 birds in each group) were randomly selected and blood samples were taken from the vena subcutanea ulnaris. The samples collected were analysed for the apelin, p-BDNF, and cTnI contents. The analysis results demonstrated that tarragon supplementation had no effect on the serum apelin, p-BDNF and cTnI concentrations (P > 0.05). The Sub-Groups ST1, ST1.2, and ST6 presented with severe hyperaemia of the sinusoidal, portal and acinar blood vessels, whilst the hyperaemia of these blood vessels was moderate in Sub-Group ST12. Apelin, BDNF, and cTnI can act as protective factors against negative consequences of stress (e.g., stocking density or heat stress).

Background: The cost of feed in fish farming can exceed 70% of the total costs. Thus, the feed industry have sought to formulate balanced diets including low-cost by-products. Objective: To evaluate sunflower meal as a partial substitute (0, 10, and 20%) for soybean meal, with or without phytase supplementation (1,500 FTU/kg) in isoproteic (27% crude protein (CP)) and isoenergetic diets (3,400 kcal/ED/kg of feed) for silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) juveniles. Methods: A total of 360 fish (weight: 15.77 ± 0.56 g) were randomly distributed in 24 tanks in a completely randomized design following a factorial scheme (3x2) with 4 replicates. The fish were evaluated on the following variables after 90 days: productive performance, hematological variables, histology of intestinal tissue, bromatological composition of carcass, and composition of bone mineral matter. Results: 20% dietary inclusion of sunflower meal improved weight gain and protein efficiency. No difference was observed in the other treatments and no interactions were observed between the other factors. Conclusion: 20% sunflower meal can be included in the feed of silver catfish as a substitute for soybean meal. Phytase inclusion (1,500 FTU/kg) did not improve the nutritional value of the treatments.

Myalgia and new-onset of type 2 diabetes have been associated with statin treatment, which both could be linked to reduced coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in skeletal muscle and impaired mitochondrial function. Supplementation with CoQ10 focusing on levels of CoQ10 in skeletal muscle and mitochondrial function has not been investigated in patients treated with statins. To investigate whether concomitant administration of CoQ10 with statins increases the muscle CoQ10 levels and improves the mitochondrial function, and if changes in muscle CoQ10 levels correlate with changes in the intensity of myalgia. 37 men and women in simvastatin therapy with and without myalgia were randomized to receive 400 mg CoQ10 daily or matched placebo tablets for eight weeks. Muscle CoQ10 levels, mitochondrial respiratory capacity, mitochondrial content (using citrate synthase activity as a biomarker), and production of reactive oxygen species were measured before and after CoQ10 supplementation, and intensity of myalgia was determined using the 10 cm visual analogue scale. Muscle CoQ10 content and mitochondrial function were unaltered by CoQ10 supplementation. Individual changes in muscle CoQ10 levels were not correlated with changes in intensity of myalgia. CoQ10 supplementation had no effect on muscle CoQ10 levels or mitochondrial function and did not affect symptoms of myalgia.

The inclusion of corn-dried distillers’ grains (DDG) could be an alternative supplement to increase animal performance, nitrogen efficiency usage (NEU), and decrease enteric methane (CH4) emissions. Our goal was to determine whether DDG could replace a traditional supplement (cottonseed meal) without affecting animal performance, N balance, and CH4 emissions. The experiment was conducted during the forage growing season (December to April), with 15 d adaptation, and a 112 d experimental period. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments: a mineral supplement (MS), cottonseed meal supplement (CS), 50% replacement of CS by DDG (50DDG), and 100% replacement of CS by DDG (100DDG). Cottonseed meal and DDG were used as protein supplement. A total of 12 paddocks, 3 per treatment, were used to measure forage mass: morphological and chemical composition of forage, forage allowance, and animal performance. Six animals per treatment were used to evaluate DM intake, digestibility, CH4 emissions, microbial protein production (MCP), and NEU of each treatment. Eighty-one Young Nellore bulls (48 testers, 12 per treatments and 33 adjusters) with initial BW of 255 ± 5 kg (10–12 months old) were supplemented with each supplement type at a level of 0.3% of BW. Pasture management was continuous stocking with a variable stocking rate (put-and-take). Enteric CH4 was measured using the gas tracer technique. The MCP was quantified using purine derivatives and the NEU mass balance. No differences were found in nutrient intake (P > 0.228). Individual animal performance and gain per area were higher in the treatments with concentrates compared with that of MS; however, there was no difference among treatments CS, 50DDG, and 100DDG. The ADG was 0.83 for MS and 1.08 kg/animal/d when supplemented (P

Traditional medicine which is based on the observations of the patient’s condition after administration of herbal remedies describes a vast number of plant species with potential application in Tuberculosis (TB) treatment. However, only a small number of plant derived secondary metabolites were shown to influence Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in mico- or nanomolar concentrations. Nevertheless, plant-based food products were proven to be useful in tuberculosis treatment, including eradication of Mtb, boosting natural immunity, managing disease symptoms and side effects of tuberculostatic drugs, as well as providing proper nutrition and diet supplementation. This review describes natural products, with a focus on plant-based food products, useful in antimycobacterial therapy. It summarizes the antituberculous potential of ethnopharmacologically selected medicinal plants, herbs, spices and fruits. Moreover, the use of plant-based food products as supportive treatment of TB therapy is discussed. Proper diet supplementation in tuberculosis treatment is also considered.

Ruminants produce approximately 30% of total anthropogenic methane emissions globally. The objective of this manuscript was to review nutritional enteric methane abatement practices for ruminants that are applicable under grazing conditions. A total of 1548 peer-reviewed research articles related to the abatement of enteric methane emissions were retrieved and classified into four categories: non-experimental, in vitro, in vivo confined, and in vivo grazing. The methane abatement strategies for grazing systems were arranged into grazing management and supplementation practices. Only 9% of the retrieved papers have been conducted under grazing conditions. Eight grazing management practices have been evaluated to reduce methane emissions. Decreasing the pre-grazing herbage mass reduced the methane emission per unit of product. Other grazing management practices such as increased stocking rate, decreased forage maturity, rotational stocking, and incorporating tannin-containing or non-tannin-containing feeds showed contradictory results. Nitrogen fertilization or silvopastoral systems did not modify methane emissions. Conversely, supplementation practices in grazing conditions showed contradictory responses on methane emissions. Lipid supplementation showed promising results and suggests applicability under grazing conditions. Identifying and implementing grazing strategies and supplementation practices under grazing conditions is required to increase efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of these systems.

Abstract Background Supplementing farm animals diet with functional ingredients may improve the nutritional quality of meat products. Diet composition has been also demonstrated to influence the gene expression with effect on biological processes and pathways. However, the knowledge on the effect of nutrients at the molecular level is scant. In particular, studies on the effects of antioxidants and polyphenols dietary supplementation have been investigated mainly in rodents, and only scarcely in farm animals so far. RNA-Seq with next-generation sequencing is increasingly the method of choice for studying changes in the transcriptome and it has been recently employed also in pig nutrigenomics studies to identify diet-induced changes in gene expression. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of diets enriched with functional ingredients (linseed, vitamin E and plant extracts) on the transcriptome of pig Longissimus thoracis to elucidate the role of these compounds in influencing genes involved in muscle physiology and metabolism compared to a standard diet. Results Eight hundred ninety-three significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (FDR adjusted P-value ≤ 0.05) were detected by RNA-Seq analysis in the three diet comparisons (D2-D1, D3-D1, D4-D1). The functional analysis of DEGs showed that the diet enriched with n-3 PUFA from linseed (D2) mostly downregulated genes in pathways and biological processes (BPs) related to muscle development, contraction, and glycogen metabolism compared to the standard diet. The diet supplemented with linseed and vitamin E/Selenium (D3) showed to mostly downregulate genes linked to oxidative phosphorylation. Only few genes involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) organization were upregulated by the D3. Finally, the comparison D4-D1 showed that the diet supplemented with linseed and plant extracts (D4) upregulated the majority of genes compared to D1 that were involved in a complex network of pathways and BPs all connected by hub genes. In particular, IGF2 was a hub gene connecting protein metabolism, ECM organization, immune system and lipid biosynthesis pathways. Conclusion The supplementation of pig diet with n-3 PUFA from linseed, antioxidants and plant-derived polyphenols can influence the expression of a relevant number of genes in Longissimus thoracis muscle that are involved in a variety of biochemical pathways linked to muscle function and metabolism.

ABSTRACT Although diet supplementation is a well‐established tool for managing livestock distributions and improving vegetation, the principle is less commonly applied to wild ungulates. One reason for this is that it is not known whether wildlife species, such as elk (Cervus elaphus), will habituate to novel supplements and feeders in the landscape. We, therefore, performed a pilot study during winters of 2013 and 2014 to test Rocky Mountain elk (C. e. nelsoni) preferences for 4 diet supplements—2 high in energy (beet pulp and molasses) and 2 high in protein (soybean meal and canola meal)—at a feeding ground in northern Utah, USA. We also tested elk preference for 2 types of feeders that differed in shape, size, and color. We measured the amounts of supplement consumed by elk and used observational techniques (scan sampling) to determine supplement and feeder preference. The weights of refused supplements showed that elk discriminated among supplements, showing greater preferences for high‐energy supplements during periods of low ambient temperatures (P

Mollicutes, a widespread class of bacteria associated with animals and plants, were recently identified as abundant abdominal endosymbionts in healthy workers of attine fungus-farming leaf-cutting ants. We obtained draft genomes of the two most common strains harbored by Panamanian fungus-growing ants. Reconstructions of their functional significance showed that they are independently acquired symbionts, most likely to decompose excess arginine consistent with the farmed fungal cultivars providing this nitrogen-rich amino-acid in variable quantities. Across the attine lineages, the relative abundances of the two Mollicutes strains are associated with the substrate types that foraging workers offer to fungus gardens. One of the symbionts is specific to the leaf-cutting ants and has special genomic machinery to catabolize citrate/glucose into acetate, which appears to deliver direct metabolic energy to the ant workers. Unlike other Mollicutes associated with insect hosts, both attine ant strains have complete phage-defense systems, underlining that they are actively maintained as mutualistic symbionts.

Silymarin is a complex of plant-derived compounds obtained from the seed shells of the milk thistle (Silybum marianum). It is used in medicine primarily to protect the liver. The mixture contains mainly flavonolignans, with silybin as a paramount bioactive component of the extract. This article presents the potential health benefits for silymarin as an antifungal drug against five references strains: C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei with MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values ranging from 30 to 300 µg/mL. Additionally, this study revealed that the compound suppressed the growth of cells of most of the tested clinical Candida albicans strains with MIC values between 30 and 1200 µg/mL. Based on the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI), the combination of silymarin with antifungal drugs caspofungin, fluconazole, and amphotericin B did not significantly change the MIC values for the tested Candida strains. Furthermore, no antagonistic reactions were observed in any combination of drugs. In addition, this substance shows anti-virulence properties including the destabilization of mature biofilm and the inhibition of the secretion of hydrolases. qRT-PCR-based experiments demonstrated that the SAP4 gene involved in virulence was downregulated by silymarin. These results indicate completely new advantages of dietary supplementation with this natural plant extract.

Sub-fertility represents a common challenge in canine reproduction. Different protocols, supplementing daily given quantities of micronutrients, were investigated to improve poor sperm concentration and/or function, which represent breeding major constraining factors in the canine species. Little information is available for dogs concerning the effect of a daily supplementation with a complex of vitamin E, zinc, selenium, folic acid, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on semen quality. Thus, the present study investigated this effect on semen motility and sperm membrane properties. Serial semen analyses from fourteen healthy normospermic dogs, fed with the same commercial diet, were performed on Days 0 (T0), 30 (T30), 60 (T60), and 90 (T90). Seven dogs were randomly included in the treatment (T) group, receiving a supplementation of vitamin E, zinc, selenium, folic acid, n-3 PUFA; and seven other subjects composed the control (C) group. Total Sperm Count (TSC), Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) indexes, mortality, and functional membrane integrity were assessed. The ANOVA compared results between groups and sampling times (p < 0.05). From T60, the supplementation significantly improved TSC, progressive motility, functional membrane integrity, and decreased mortality. Present results lead us to consider ameliorative effects of a two-month healthy diet supplementation on canine spermatozoa. The positive effects of the described balanced integration of micronutrients on sperm motility and prevention of oxidative stress should be considered, especially when decreased seminal parameters may result from inadequate intake, reduced absorption, increased losses or demand, or to attenuate the impact of age.

Cancer patients present high mobilization of host protein, with a decrease in lean body mass and body fat depletion occurring in parallel to neoplastic growth. Since leucine is one of the principal amino acids used by skeletal muscle for energy, we investigated the changes in body composition of pregnant tumor-bearing rats after a leucine-supplemented diet. Sixty pregnant Wistar rats divided into six groups were fed a normal protein diet (18%, N) or a leucine-supplemented diet (3% L-leucine, L). The pregnant groups were: control (CN), Walker 256 carcinoma-bearing rats (WN), control rats pair-fed with tumor-bearing rats (pfN), leucine-supplemented (CL), leucine-supplemented tumor-bearing (WL), and leucine-supplemented rats pair-fed with tumor-bearing rats (pfL). At the end of pregnancy, all animals were sacrificed and body weight and tumor and fetal weight were determined. The carcasses were then analyzed for water, fat and total, collagen and non-collagen nitrogen content. Carcass weight was reduced in the WN, WL, pfN and pfL groups compared to control. The lean body mass and total carcass nitrogen were reduced in both tumor-bearing groups. Despite tumor growth and a decrease in fetal weight, there was a slight decrease in collagen (7%) and non-collagen nitrogen (8%) in the WL group compared with the WN group which showed a decrease of 8 and 12%, respectively. Although the WL group presented severe tumor growth effects, total carcass nitrogen and non-collagen nitrogen were particularly higher in this leucine-supplemented group compared to the WN group. These data suggest that the leucine-supplemented diet had a beneficial effect, probably attenuating body wasting.