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Milk yield and milk qualitative parameters were evaluated in Lacaune ewes on a diet supplemented with extruded linseed, verbascoside and vitamin E. A 98 d-trial was conducted on 44 ewes and started 40±2 d post partum. The animals were divided into four homogeneous groups of eleven animals each; one control group (CON) without extruded linseed and dietary supplements, and the diet of the other three experimental groups was enhanced with extruded linseed (L group), extruded linseed-verbascoside (LVB group), and extruded linseed-verbascoside-vitamin E (LVBE group). All animals individually received an isoenergetic diet, consisting of 700 g concentrated feed and meadow hay ad libitum. Body weight, body condition score, milk yield and milk qualitative parameters were assessed. LVB and LVBE groups resulted in a significant improvement (P<0·05) in milk yield due to the verbascoside supplementation. The extruded linseed supplementation L, LVB and LVBE groups produced a milk fat increase and a better milk fatty acid profile in terms of a higher monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content and a reduced saturated fatty acid (SFA) content, a lower n-6/n-3 ratio and atherogenic and thrombogenic index. The dietary verbascoside supplementation in the LVB and LVBE group resulted in a better milk quality due to the low cholesterol level and higher vitamin A and E contents, in addition to an increased oxidative stability highlighted by the lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level. Thus, the addition of extruded linseed and verbascoside supplements improved milk yield and quality both from a chemical and nutritive point of view.

A study was carried out to evaluate meat quality traits and heavy metals content of longissimus thoracis muscle from wild boar of different estimated live weight (50, 70, 100 kg; n = 25, 24, 18, respectively), sex and hunting area of Molise region. Meat quality data were analysed by GLM, live weight and sex were the main factors, for heavy metals the hunting area was also included. Neither live weight nor sex affected pH, colour, vitamin E and total lipid. Cholesterol was tendentially affected by live weight and sex. Collagen content was affected only by sex. Lighter boars showed a higher content (p<.05) of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), n − 6 and n − 3 PUFA, and PUFA/SFA ratio (p<.05) compared to other weight classes. Lighter boars had a better atherogenic index compared to boars of intermediate weight. Compared to females, males (M) had higher n − 3 PUFA and a lower n − 6/n − 3 ratio (p<.05). Weight, sex and hunting area did not affect cadmium (0.001 mg/kg), lead (0.011–0.026 mg/kg), copper (0.696–1.151 mg/kg) and manganese (0.083–0.130 mg/kg) levels. Chromium was affected by sex (M: 0.072 mg/kg; p=.012). Nickel (Ni) was higher (p<.01) in the heaviest boars (0.035 mg/kg) than the other weight classes (0.017 mg/kg). Significant differences between the two areas were found for Ni content, interactions (p<.01) were detected among all factors. In conclusion, lighter boars showed a better meat nutritional quality. The low content of heavy metals in the meat indicates a low level of anthropogenic pollution of the areas under study. Meat from younger boars showed a better meat nutritional quality. Low levels of heavy metals in meat indicates a low level of anthropogenic pollution of the studied areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of a topical antioxidant and ultraviolet (UV) shielding action formulation containing riboflavin and D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) vitamin E against corneal UV-induced damage in vivo rabbit eyes. In vivo experiments were performed using male albino rabbits, which were divided into four groups. The control group (CG) did not receive any UV irradiation; the first group (IG) was irradiated with a UV-B−UV-A lamp for 30 min; the second (G30) and third (G60) groups received UV irradiation for 30 and 60 min, respectively, and were topically treated with one drop of the antioxidant and shielding formulation every 15 min, starting one hour before irradiation, until the end of UV exposure. The cornea of the IG group showed irregular thickening, detachment of residual fragments of the Descemet membrane, stromal fluid swelling with consequent collagen fiber disorganization and disruption, and inflammation. The cornea of the G30 group showed edema, a mild thickening of the Descemet membrane without fibrillar collagen disruption and focal discoloration, or inflammation. In the G60 group, the cornea showed a more severe thickening, a more abundant fluid accumulation underneath the Descemet membrane with focal detachment, and no signs of severe tissue alterations, as were recorded in the IG group. Our results demonstrate that topical application of eye drops containing riboflavin and TPGS vitamin E counteracts UV corneal injury in exposed rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selected serum biochemical parameters and plasma oxidative status were evaluated in Lacaune ewes on a diet supplemented with extruded linseed, verbascoside and vitamin E. A 98 day-trial was conducted on 44 ewes and started 40 ± 2 days post partum. The animals were divided into four homogeneous groups of eleven animals each; one control group (CON) with a basal diet, and the other three experimental groups supplemented with extruded linseed (L group), extruded linseedverbascoside (LVB group) and extruded linseed-verbascoside-vitamin E (LVBE group). All animals individually received an isoproteic and isoenergetic diet, consisting of 700g of concentrated feed and meadow hay ad libitum. Blood sampling of the ewes was performed three times: at the beginning (0 d), midway (49 d) and end of the trial (98 d). The following parameters were determined: triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), vitamin A and vitamin E. Dietary integration in the LVB and LVBE groups resulted in an improvement in the blood profile, characterized by a significant (P=0.001) increase in HDL cholesterol and a marked decrease in triglycerides (P=0.001), total cholesterol (P=0.017), LDL cholesterol (P=0.001) and bilirubin (P=0.035), due to the verbascoside supplementation. In the same groups, there was an increase in blood vitamin A (P=0.002) and vitamin E (P=0.001), and a reduction (P=0.001) in ROMs and TBARS, with an improved plasma oxidative status. The dietary vitamin E integration did not produce a significant improvement in the parameters studied, with no statistical differences between LVB and LVBE groups. Animal feed containing extruded flaxseed, might therefore benefit from the addition of a verbascoside supplement, because of the positive effect showed by this molecule on the blood parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]