Potential immune modulating properties and antioxidant activity of supplementing commercially available lactoferrin and/or Lactobacillus sp. in healthy Ossimi lambs.

The use of lactoferrin (LF) and/or lactobacillus sp. (LB) to improve animal health and pro- duction has increased recently. However, information regarding the immune-modulatory role of LB supplementations either alone or in combination with LF in sheep remains unclear. There- fore, the present study was designed to evaluate the immune modulating properties and the anti- oxidant activity of supplementing commercially available LF and/or LB in healthy lambs. For this reason, twenty-four apparently healthy Ossimi lambs were used. After three weeks of acclimati- zation, the lambs were randomly allocated to four equal-sized groups and assigned to receive one of the following supplements: LB at a dose of ~ 1 g active ingredient/head (group 1), LF at a dose rate of 0.5 gm /head (group 2), a combination of both treatments using the same dosing regimens (group 3), and (group 4) received only 10 mL of isotonic saline and was considered as a control group. All supplements were given orally twice daily for 30 consecutive days. Blood sam- ples were collected from each lamb before starting the experiment (T0) and two weeks (T15), and four weeks (T30) after giving supplements for hematological examinations, serum biochemical analyses, and RT-PCR assays. Our findings demonstrated that lambs receiving LB showed statis- tically significant (P⟨0.05) higher values of total leucocytes, lymphocytes and lysozyme activi- ty than those receiving LF. In contrast, lambs that received LF had significantly (P⟨ 0.05) higher values of serum catalase, nitric oxide and GSH with a significantly lower MDA level compared with those supplemented with LB. A combination of LF and LB supplementation elicited maxi- mal up-regulation of Tollip, TLR4, IL-5, and IL-6 gene expression compared with other groups. The results suggest that bovine LF and or LB could be used as useful nutritional supple- ments to support the immune system in healthy lambs.

Expression profiles of immunity and reproductive genes during transition period in Holstein cattle.

The transition period is a critical time for dairy cows as the animal is subjected to the physiological stress accompanying parturition. Immunosuppression and health status were examined during this period in 80 Holstein cows. Blood samples were taken from each cow 3, 2 and 1 week before and after calving, and at calving (0 day). RNA was extracted and subjected to real-time PCR to determine mRNA levels for the immune-related genes TLR 2, 4, 6, 7 and ß-defensin 5 in addition to the reproduction-related genes prolactin and IGF-I. Results showed significant up-regulation of pro-inflammatory-selected genes, TLR 4, 6 7 and ß-defensin 5 at the third-week post-calving; however, earlier periods had lower expression of such genes. In contrast, the immunosuppression biomarker TLR2 gene was up-regulated at calving and 1 week after parturition and then down-regulated again at second and third week. Prolactin and IGF-I genes expression levels were significantly and gradually increased mainly post-partum. This research highlights that the expression patterns of TLRs, BNBD5, PRL and IGF-I could be biomarkers to follow up immune and reproductive status of dairy cow at peri-parturient period to predict the most susceptible risk time for disease incidence and to build up management protocol.

Effect of Genetic Polymorphisms in GH/Hpa II and MSTN / Dra I Loci on Body Weight in Friesian Bull Calves.

OBJECTIVE: The GH and MSTN gene polymorphisms and their association with body weight were declared in a population of 100 Friesian bull calves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For DNA extraction, collection of blood samples was carried out from the studied animals. The PCR for GH and MSTN genes yielded fragments of 329 and 1346 bp, respectively. RESULTS: The PCR-HpaII digestion of 329 bp of GH gene revealed three genotypes: AA genotype possess undigested fragment (329 bp), AB genotype has three fragments (329, 224 and 105 bp) and BB genotype has two fragments (224 and 105 bp). The GH genotypes incidence and alleles frequency were calculated. For the 100 Friesian bull calves, genotypic frequencies for the AA, AB and BB genotypes were 0.1, 0.78 and 0.12, respectively and the allele frequencies for A and B allele frequencies were 0.49 and 0.51. Statistical analysis revealed that there was a significant effect of GH genotypes on body weight. The AB genotype possessed higher body weight than the other 2 genotypes. Regarding MSTN gene, PCR-DraI digestion of 1346 bp fragment was monomorphic; where it yielded four fragments (505, 427, 321 and 93 bp) in all animals under study. CONCLUSION: The outcome of this study is that it highlights the effectiveness of GH/HpaII locus as candidate marker for body weight in cattle rather than MSTN/DraI.

Quinolizidine alkaloid profiles of Lupinus varius orientalis, L. albus albus, L. hartwegii, and L. densiflorus.

Alkaloid profiles of two Lupinus species growing naturally in Egypt (L. albus albus [synonym L. termis], L. varius orientalis) in addition to two New World species (L. hartwegii, L. densiflorus) which were cultivated in Egypt were studied by capillary GLC and GLC-mass spectrometry with respect to quinolizidine alkaloids. Altogether 44 quinolizidine, bipiperidyl and proto-indole alkaloids were identified; 29 in L. albus, 13 in L. varius orientalis, 15 in L. hartwegii, 6 in L. densiflorus. Some of these alkaloids were identified for the first time in these plants. The alkaloidal patterns of various plant organs (leaves, flowers, stems, roots, pods and seeds) are documented. Screening for antimicrobial activity of these plant extracts demonstrated substantial activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus and Bacillus subtilis.

Constituents and biological activity of Bidens pilosa L. grown in Egypt.

Column chromotography and preparative TLC of the light petroleum-diethyl ether extract from Bidens pilosa L. afforded tridecapentyn-1-ene, trideca-2,12-diene-4,6,8,10-tetrayne-1-ol, trideca-3,11-diene-5,7,9-triyne-1,2-diol and trideca-5-ene-7,9,11-triyne-3-ol. The compounds were identified on the bases of UV, 1H-NMR spectra and comparison with reported data. The chloroform extract was chromatographed to yield B-amyrin, phytosterin-B, esculetin and B-sitosterol glucoside. The petroleum ether extract afforded long chain ester, saturated hydrocarbon, long chain alcohol, B-amyrin, phytosterin-B, lupeol and lupeol acetate. GLC analysis of the fatty acids indicated the presence of 5 acids. The antimicrobial test was carried out to indicate an evident activity. The antidiabetic activity showed non significant decrease of blood glucose.

Constituents of West African medicinal plants. XXX. Tridictyophylline, a new morphinan alkaloid from Triclisia dictyophylla.

Triclisia dictyophylla Diels (Menispermaceae) is a woody climber indigenous to West Africa which has been used natively as a medicinal in the treatment of several ailments. Chromatography of an extract of the whole plant afforded tridictophylline (3), a new morphinan alkaloid whose structure was established by a consideration of spectral data and confirmed by x-ray crystallographic analysis. The bisbenzylisoquinoline dibenzodioxin alkaloids cocsuline (1) and trigilletimine (2) were also isolated from the same extract.

Chemical constituents of Curatella americana (Dilleniaceae).

A phytochemical investigation of an ethanolic extract of the leaves of Curatella americana Linn. (Dilleniaceae) resulted in the isolation and identification of the flavonol glycoside avicularin and gallic acid.

Constituents of West African medicinal plants. XXI. Tiliafunimine, a new imino bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid from Tiliacora funifera.

Tiliacora funifera (Menispermaceae) is a woody climber of Ghana and West Africa that has been used natively as a medicinal in the treatment of numerous ailments. Chromatography of an extract of the leaves of T. funifera afforded tiliafunimine (13) whose ir, uv, nmr, and mass spectra were characteristic of a trimethoxylated phenolic iminobisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid. Reduction of tiliafunimine with sodium borohydride afforded the dihydro-derivative (14) which upon treatment with formalin gave thalrugosine (12). The final structural assignment of tiliafunimine (13) as an iminobisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid was made by nmr and mass spectral considerations. Other alkaloids isolated from the same extract include the bisbenzylisoquinoline bases isotetrandrine (11) and thalrugosine (12).