ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: At present, detailed studies are being conducted to confirm the safety of the use of metal-containing ultrafine particles (UFP) in animal feeding, preventing the possibility of negative effects on productive qualities and physiological state, as well as on the environment and final consumer, that is, humans. Thus, the purpose of this research was to study the safety of cobalt- and manganese-containing UFP (UFP Co3O4, Mn2O3 UFP) together with Origanum vulgare (PB) herb extract in a bioluminescence inhibition test, as well as the effect of this composition on ruminal digestion in vitro. Materials and Methods: The safety of the studied samples was determined using a multifunctional microplate analyzer TECAN Infinite F200 (Tecan Austria GmbH, Austria), recording the luminescence value of the bacterial strain Escherichia coli K12 TG11 (Ecolum, JSC NVO Immunotech, Russia). Dry matter (DM) digestibility studies were performed using the in vitro method on an "artificial rumen" model using an ANKOM Daisy II incubator unit (AD II; USA). The number of protozoa in ruminal fluid was counted in a Goryaev chamber. The bacterial mass was assessed by differential centrifugation followed by drying. This method is based on differences in the sedimentation rate of particles that differ in size and density. Results: UFP Co3O4 and Mn2O3 at concentrations above 1.5 × 10-5 and 1.9 × 10-3 mol/L, respectively, have a pronounced bactericidal effect, suppressing more than 50% of the luminescence of E. coli K12 TG1. The combined use of UFP metals and plant extract increases the luminescence of the test object, indicating its safety. The combined use of UFP and PB increases the digestibility of feed DM in vitro and the number of protozoa in 1 mL of ruminal fluid; however, the combination of UFP Mn2O3 + PB (13.8%) yielded the best result, which is recommended for further in vivo research. Conclusion: Origanum vulgare extract reduces the toxicity of UFP Co3O4 and Mn2O3 in vitro, indicating that their combined use is safer.
ABSTRACT
Investigation of SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) effect on Eisenia fetida showed no toxic effect of the metal at a concentration of 250, 500 and 1000 mg per kg of soil, but conversely, a biomass increase from 23.5 to 29.5% (at the protein level decrease from 60 to 80%). The reaction of the earthworm organism fermentative system was expressed in the decrease in the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on the 14th day and in the increase in its activity to 27% on the 28th day. The catalase level (CAT) showed low activity at average element concentrations and increase by 39.4% at a dose of 1000 mg/kg. Depression of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) was established at average concentrations of 11.2% and level increase up to 9.1% at a dose of 1000 mg/kg with the prolongation of the effect up to 87.5% after 28-day exposure. The change in the microbiocenosis of the earthworm intestine was manifested by a decrease in the number of ammonifiers (by 42.01-78.9%), as well as in the number of amylolytic microorganisms (by 31.7-65.8%). When the dose of SiO2 NPs increased from 100 to 1000 mg/kg, the number of Azotobacter increased (by 8.2-22.2%), while the number of cellulose-destroying microorganisms decreased to 71.4% at a maximum dose of 1000 mg/kg. The effect of SiO2 NPs on Triticum aestivum L. was noted in the form of a slight suppression of seed germination (no more than 25%), an increase in the length of roots and aerial organs which generally resulted in an increase in plant biomass. Assessing the soil microorganisms' complex during introduction of metal into the germination medium of Triticum aestivum L., there was noted a decrease in the ammonifiers number (by 4.7-67.6%) with a maximum value at a dose of 1000 mg/kg. The number of microorganisms using mineral nitrogen decreased by 29.5-69.5% with a simultaneous increase in the number at a dose of 50 mg/kg (+ 20%). Depending on NP dose, there was an inhibition of the microscopic fungi development by 18.1-72.7% and an increase in the number of cellulose-destroying microorganisms. For all variants of the experiment, the activity of soil enzymes of the hydrolase and oxidoreductase classes was decreased.
