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To find natural feed additives with a beneficial effect on rabbit health, thymol alone and in combination with Enterocin M were administered in drinking water for 42 days (35 -77 days of age). A total of 48 rabbits based on their weight were randomly divided into four experimental groups: C – control (basal diet), T – thymol (250 mg/L), E – Enterocin M (Ent M) (50 μL/animal/day), T + E (thymol with Ent M). Ent M (p <.05) and thymol (p <.01) separately decreased malondialdehyde in the liver. Thymol separately and in combination significantly increased phagocytic activity in the blood (p =.0051) and lactic acid in the caecum (p =.0142) and decreased coagulase-positive staphylococci in the caecum (p =.0329). Ent M separately and in combination increased immunoglobulin A content in the jejunal wall (p =.002) and decreased coliform bacteria in faeces (p =.0002). Thymol and Ent M application separately or in combination improved the antioxidant and immune response of rabbits and demonstrated an antibacterial effect. Thymol demonstrated antibacterial effect against coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) the in caecum, the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a product of lipid peroxidation in liver, and a stimulation effect on fermentation the processes in the caecum and on phagocytic activity in blood. Ent M decreased coliform bacteria in faeces and stimulated the production of IgA in jejunum. Ent M together with thymol improved the structure of the jejunal wall and liver function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of organic plant wastes and by-products from the food or pharmaceutical industries usually involves high costs. In the present study, 42 samples derived from such by-products were screened in vitro against Cryptosporidium parvum, a protozoan parasite that may contaminate drinking water and cause diarrhoea. The novel bioassay was previously established in the microtitre plate format. Human ileocaecal adenocarcinoma (HCT-8) cell cultures were seeded with C. parvum oocysts and parasite development was monitored by an indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT) and microscopic assessment for clusters of secondary infection (CSI). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and potential detrimental effects on the host cells were determined. An ethanolic extract from olive (Olea europaea) pomace, after oil pressing and phenol recovery, reproducibly inhibited C. parvum development (MIC = 250–500 μg mL−1, IC50 = 361 (279–438) μg mL−1, IC90 = 467 (398–615) μg mL−1). Accordingly, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, trans-coniferyl alcohol and oleuropein were selected as reference test compounds, but their contributions to the observed activity of the olive pomace extract were insignificant. The established test system proved to be a fast and efficient assay for identifying anti-cryptosporidial activities in biological waste material and comparison with selected reference compounds.

To our knowledge, no study has been carried out to evaluate the effects of thymol sustained administration on gut health and immune response in terms of its bioavailability in the rabbit organism. A total of 48 rabbits were randomly divided at 35 days of age into two dietary treatment groups (C/control or T/thymol at 0.025% addition). Thymol was added for 21 days and then withdrawn for 7 days. Thymol content in faeces (p < 0.001) and caecal content (p < 0.05) was significantly higher than in plasma during the thymol addition and withdrawal (2442 ± 451.4, 881.9 ± 231.3 ng/g DM and 46.2 ± 28.4 ng/ml, respectively; 149.5 ± 40.54, 45.76 ± 12.44 ng/g DM and 2.73 ± 0.45 ng/ml, respectively). Increasing of villi height to crypt depth ratio in small intestinal wall (p < 0.01), phagocytic activity in blood (p < 0.0001) and lactic acid bacteria in caecal appendix (p < 0.01) and faeces (p < 0.05) was still presented after withdrawn of thymol. The thymol at this concentration demonstrated its biological properties and was able to positively affect gut health and immune response of rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Devil's claw is used for the treatment of inflammatory symptoms and degenerative disorders in horses since many years, but without the substantive pharmacokinetic data. The pharmacokinetic parameters of harpagoside, the main active constituent of Harpagophytum procumbens DC ex Meisn., were evaluated in equine plasma after administration of Harpagophytum extract FB 8858 in an open, single‐dose, two‐treatment, two‐period, randomized cross‐over design. Six horses received a single dose of Harpagophytum extract, corresponding to 5 mg/kg BM harpagoside, and after 7 days washout period, 10 mg/kg BM harpagoside via nasogastric tube. Plasma samples at certain time points (before and 0–24 hr after administration) were collected, cleaned up by solid‐phase extraction, and harpagoside concentrations were determined by LC‐MS/MS using apigenin‐7‐glucoside as internal standard. Plasma concentration‐time data and relevant parameters were described by noncompartmental model through PKSolver software. Harpagoside could be detected up to 9 hr after administration. Cmax was found at 25.59 and 55.46 ng/ml, t1/2 at 2.53 and 2.32 hr, respectively, and tmax at 1 hr in both trials. AUC0–inf was 70.46 and 117.85 ng hr ml−1, respectively. A proportional relationship between dose, Cmax and AUC was observed. Distribution (Vz/F) was 259.04 and 283.83 L/kg and clearance (CL/F) 70.96 and 84.86 L hr−1 kg−1, respectively. Treatment of horses with Harpagophytum extract did not cause any clinically detectable side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous findings indicate alterations in brain serotonin systems in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We investigated the in vivo availability of thalamus–hypothalamus serotonin transporters (SERT) in patients with DSM-IV OCD who displayed prominent behavioral checking compulsions (OC-checkers). Four hours after injection of [123I]-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)tropane ([123I]-β-CIT), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans were performed in 24 medication-free non-depressed OC-checkers and 24 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. For quantification of brain serotonin transporter availability, a ratio of specific to non-displaceable [123I]-β-CIT brain binding was used (V″3=(thalamus and hypothalamus−cerebellum)/cerebellum). Drug-free non-depressed OC-checkers showed an 18% reduced brain serotonin transporter availability in the thalamus and hypothalamus, as compared with healthy control subjects (1.38±0.19 vs 1.69±0.21; p<0.001). There was a strong negative correlation between severity of OC symptomatology (Y-BOCS scores) and SERT availability (r=−0.80; p<0.001). Moreover, we found a significant positive correlation between illness duration and serotonin transporter availability (r=0.43; p<0.05). This first report of significantly reduced [123I]-β-CIT binding in the thalamus–hypothalamus region in OC-checkers suggests reduced brain serotonin transporter availability, which is more pronounced with increased severity of OC symptomatology and short duration of illness. The results provide direct evidence for an involvement of the serotonergic system in the pathophysiology of OCD.Neuropsychopharmacology (2007) 32, 1661–1668; doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301290; published online 27 December 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study the antimicrobial potential of various extracts from 12 medicinal plants has been investigated in vitro on multiple antibiotic resistant pathogens and some selected protozoa isolated from poultry. The initial examination was performed on E. coli (n = 10) using disc and agar well diffusion assays. Only two plants, Peganum harmala (seeds) and Eucalyptus globulus (leaves) showed positive responses. The active extracts were also investigated against an additional 19 bacteria and the clonal cultures of three protozoa (Histomonas meleagridis, Tetratrichomonas gallinarum and Blastocystis sp.). Only Peganum harmala was found to inhibit the growth of all bacteria and protozoa at 0.38-1.55 mg/mL and 0.63-1.65 mg/mL, respectively. To investigate the potential role of alkaloids in crude extracts of Peganum harmala, four known beta-carbolin alkaloids were quantified and their antimicrobial activity was compared using a microdilution assay. Harmaline was found to be in the highest concentration followed by harmine and harmalol, whereas harmane could not be detected. The activity of the pure alkaloids was in the order harmane > harmaline > harmalol > or = harmine for all bacteria, while for protozoa, it was different depending on the microorganism. It is concluded that Peganum harmala or its alkaloids could probably be used for the control of antibiotic resistant isolates of bacteria as well as protozoa.

The objective of the study at hand was to investigate within the framework of a pilot project the preference of weaner pigs for either an ad libitum standard feed with thyme or oregano herb as flavouring additive or an ad libitum standard feed without any herbal additive. Thyme or oregano herbs or a combination of both were offered in two different concentrations each (1% and 0.1%) as additive (experimental diets) in standard diet in comparison to the latter without herbal additive (control diet) free of choice. The dosage of the two herbs in terms of total essential oil(s) in the feeds used in the study was 0.02% or 0.002% (v/w), which was equivalent to 1% or 0.1% herbs in the mixture, respectively. A Latin square according to Williams (1949) was used with 6 groups in order to record possible differences in feed intake. All experimental diets aside from that mixed with 0.1% thyme herb were, in comparison to the control diet, significantly less ingested. Where the weanling was given the choice, it did not choose feed with any flavouring additive. Further studies aimed at assessing the use of herbs as aroma additive in the form of a choice experiment are recommended.

Thymi Herba (Thymus vulgaris, rubbed) was given as feed additive to weanling piglets. 3 concentrations (0.1%, 0.5%, 1%) were tested against a control group. Rectal swabs were collected weekly and were sent in for bacterial testing. The shedding of haemolysing E. coli was evaluated. There was no significant difference in the shedding of haemolysing E. coli between the 4 groups. Neither was there a difference in the distribution of the various serotypes. Thymol was detected in the blood plasma in all thyme groups. The increase in thymol level with greater amounts of thyme herb was significant. Three days after withdrawal of the feed additive no thymol levels were detected. The study results did not reveal any effects on haemolysing E. coli in the gut.

The aim of the study was to test Thymi herba (1.66% v/w essential oil with 39% p-cymene and 32% thymol) in the rearing period of piglets as feed additive. Therefore, two feeding trials were performed with piglet groups ranging from 17 to 22 animals each. Either 10 g of Thymi herba/kg feed (Thymi herba group), 10 mg flavophospholipol/kg feed (flavophospholipol group) or nothing (control group) was added to the animals' feed. No significant differences in the performance parameter daily weight gain among any groups were recorded. No differences concerning feed efficiency or isolation of haemolytic E. coli serotypes were shown. In addition, the antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Thymi herba against 39 haemolytic E. coli isolates from the same weaners was investigated in vitro by disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration and bactericidal concentration testing. In contrast to the feeding results, the essential oil of the thyme batch fed showed antibacterial activity against all haemolytic E. coli investigated. This interesting antibacterial potential of Thymi herba prompts further investigations as to its value as feed additive.