Ganoderma tsuage promotes pain sensitivity in aging mice.

Advances in modern medicine have extended human life expectancy, leading to a world with a gradually aging society. Aging refers to a natural decline in the physiological functions of a species over time, such as reduced pain sensitivity and reaction speed. Healthy-level physiological pain serves as a warning signal to the body, helping to avoid noxious stimuli. Physiological pain sensitivity gradually decreases in the elderly, increasing the risk of injury. Therefore, geriatric health care receives growing attention, potentially improving the health status and life quality of the elderly, further reducing medical burden. Health food is a geriatric healthcare choice for the elderly with Ganoderma tsuage (GT), a Reishi type, as the main product in the market. GT contains polysaccharides, triterpenoids, adenosine, immunoregulatory proteins, and other components, including anticancer, blood sugar regulating, antioxidation, antibacterial, antivirus, and liver and stomach damage protective agents. However, its pain perception-related effects remain elusive. This study thus aimed at addressing whether GT could prevent pain sensitivity reduction in the elderly. We used a galactose-induced animal model for aging to evaluate whether GT could maintain pain sensitivity in aging mice undergoing formalin pain test, hot water test, and tail flexes. Our results demonstrated that GT significantly improved the sensitivity and reaction speed to pain in the hot water, hot plate, and formalin tests compared with the control. Therefore, our animal study positions GT as a promising compound for pain sensitivity maintenance during aging.

Protective Effects of Chlorella vulgaris Supplemented Diet on Antibacterial Activity and Immune Responses in Rohu Fingerlings, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), Subjected to Aeromonas hydrophila Infection.

The current study focuses on the antibacterial activity and potential efficiency of dietary supplements of Chlorella vulgaris on the immune response, improved growth performance, and disease resistance of Labeo rohita fingerlings against Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Crude ethanolic extract of Chlorella and partially purified fractions of the extract were tested against two selected fish pathogens using the disc diffusion method. A total number of 360 rohu fingerlings (25 ± 2 g) were allocated to 4 treatments for 90 days. They were fed with an experimental diet containing Chlorella powder (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 g Kg-1 of a basic diet). To evaluate the non-specific immunity parameters including serum bactericidal, lysozyme activity, superoxide anion production, and biochemical and haematological indices, the fish were sampled at day 30, 60, 90, and after bacterial challenge. Mortalities of the fish were observed over 10 days post challenge with A. hydrophila. The protein and globulin levels of the treatment group were significantly higher after being treated with Chlorella than those of the control group. The total blood-cell count and haemoglobin content were also increased in the algal-diet-treated group. Among all the experimental diets, the 0.5 g Kg-1Chlorella fed group of fish showed significantly (p < 0.05) increased serum bactericidal activity and superoxide anion production when compared with the control group on day 90. Maximum lysozyme activity (750.00 ± 3.27) was noticed in the 1.0 g Kg-1 diet fed group on day 30. The Chlorella treated group exhibited a better growth performance of the fish. The maximum survivability (86.5%) was recorded in the 1.0 g Kg-1 diet fed group at the end of the 10-day fish exposure to A. hydrophila. These results suggest that the optimum dietary Chlorella supplementation could be 0.5-1.0 g Kg-1 of the diet, which stimulates immunity and protects L. rohita from A. hydrophila infection.

Effect of ß-glucan on the immune response of early stage of Anabas testudineus (Bloch) challenged with fungus Saprolegnia parasitica.

The present study was carried out to study the effect of different dosages of ß-glucan suspension on immune response and disease resistance in Anabas testudineus spawns against a fungal pathogen Saprolegnia parasitica. Eight day old spawns were exposed for 3 h in four different dosages of ß-glucan suspension in phosphate buffered saline at the rate of 0, 5, 10, 15 mg l(-1). The cell suspension of spawn was assayed for total protein, acid phosphate, lysozyme, bactericidal and NBT activity. The spawns were then challenged with 3x10(5) CFU ml(-1) of S. parasitica. The survivability percentage and immunological parameters were assayed upto day 7. Exposure of fish for 3h to all the concentrations of ß-glucan recorded a significant enhancement in the immunological parameters such as lysozyme activity, bactericidal activity and NBT activity by the end of day 7. The challenge study indicated least mortality in the groups exposed to 10 mgl(-1) and 15 mgl(-1) but 15 mgl(-1) gives little higher survivability. Thus 3 h exposure of ß-glucan suspension could reduce the mortality and increase the immunity of A. testudineus spawns against S. parasitica.

The effect of Euglena viridis on immune response of rohu, Labeo rohita (Ham.).

The study evaluated the effect of dietary doses of Euglena viridis on the immune response and disease resistance of Labeo rohita fingerlings against infection with the bacterial pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila. L. rohita fingerlings were fed with diet containing 0 (Control), 0.1 g, 0.5 g, 1.0 g Euglena powder kg(-1) dry diet for 90 days. Biochemical (serum total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin:globulin ratio), haematological (WBC, RBC, haemoglobin content) and immunological (superoxide anion production, lysozyme, serum bactericidal activity) parameters of fish were examined after 30, 60 and 90 days of feeding. Fish were challenged with A. hydrophila 90 days post-feeding and mortalities were recorded over 10 days post-infection. The results demonstrate that fish fed with Euglena showed increased levels of superoxide anion production, lysozyme, serum bactericidal activity, serum protein and albumin (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. Following challenge with A. hydrophila less survivability was observed in the control group (56.65%) than the group fed the experimental diets. The group fed 0.5 g Euglena kg(-1) dry diet showed the highest percentage survival (75%). These results indicate that Euglena stimulates the immunity and makes L. rohita more resistant to A. hydrophila infection.

Effect of Mangifera indica kernel as a feed additive on immunity and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in Labeo rohita fingerlings.

The study evaluated the efficacy of dietary doses of Mangifera indica (mango) kernel on the immune response and disease resistance of Labeo rohita fingerlings against the bacterial pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila infections in. L. rohita fingerlings fed diet containing 0 (Control), 1g, 5 g, 10 g mango kernel kg(-1) dry diet for 60 days. Biochemical (serum total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin:globulin ratio, blood glucose), haematological (WBC, RBC, haemoglobin content) and immunological (superoxide anion production, lysozyme, serum bactericidal activity) parameters of fish were examined at 20, 40 and 60 days of feeding. Fish were challenged with A. hydrophila 60 days post feeding and mortalities were recorded over 10 days post-infection. The results demonstrate that fish fed with mango kernel showed enhanced superoxide anion production, lysozyme, serum bactericidal, serum protein, albumin (P<0.05) compared with the control group. The mortality (%) was recorded up to 10 th day post-challenge. Less survivability was observed in control group (50%) up to day 10 after infection. The survivability was higher in experimental diets. The group fed 5 g kernel kg(-1) dry diet showed highest percentage survival (98%). These results indicate that mango kernel stimulates the immunity and makes L. rohita more resistant to A. hydrophila infection.