The effect of propolis addition to the laying-hen diet on performance, serum lipid profile and liver fat rate.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of propolis (P) on performance, egg quality parameters, serum lipid profile, some liver enzymes and liver fat ratio. One-hundred-and-twenty Lohmann (LSL) laying hens were divided into five groups, and each group consisted of six subgroups. The control group was fed basal diet. The other groups were fed high-energy (HE) diets to induce fatty liver syndrome, and 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg kg-1 of propolis were supplemented with high-energy feeds. During the 8-week trial, feed and water were given ad libitum. It was determined that egg production and feed conversion ratio were decreased in the high-energy feed group without the addition of propolis. The highest egg production was found in HE + 100 and HE + 200 mg kg-1 of P groups. It was found that liver fat ratios were higher in the group fed with HE + 0 mg kg-1 of P feed (P<0.01) than other groups. But the addition of P decreased the liver fat rate significantly. The highest very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) values were found for the HE + 0 mg kg-1 of P group. The addition of 200 mg kg-1 of P to high-energy feed increased glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) values. In conclusion, high-energy feed adversely affected egg production and liver fat ratio, but the addition of 100 or 200 mg kg-1 of propolis improved egg production and decreased liver fat ratio.

The effects of Berberis vulgaris L. and Berberis aristata L. in metabolic syndrome patients: a systematic and meta-analysis study.

INTRODUCTION: This meta-analysis study assessed the effects of Berberis vulgaris L. and Berberis aristata L. in patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Data were analysed through "random-effects meta-regression" performance. RESULTS: The findings indicated that LDL was 0.68 and 2.92 lower in the B. vulgaris L. and B. aristata L.-treated groups versus the controls. The HDL was 0.71-fold higher in the B. aristata L.-treated group versus the controls. The total-cholesterol levels were 1.02 and 2.25 folds lower in the B. vulgaris L. and B. aristata L.-treated groups versus the matched control groups. The triglyceride levels were 1.35 and 1.16-fold lower in the B. vulgaris L. and B. aristata L.-treated groups versus the controls. Glucose was 0.96 and 0.54 folds lower in the B. vulgaris L. and B. aristata L.-treated groups versus the control groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: B. vulgaris L. and B. aristata L. have beneficial effects in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Antihemorrhoidal activity of organic acids of Capsella bursa-pastoris on croton oil-induced hemorrhoid in rats.

This study was aimed to investigate the antihemorrhoidal effects of ethanol (CBE) and water extracts (CBW) of Capsella bursa-pastoris, an edible plant and a precipitant (CBW-1) obtained from the CBW in croton oil (CO)-induced hemorrhoid model in rats. CBW-1 was contain three organic acids, citric acid (36.09%), malic acid (35.56%), and quinic acid (17.73%). Hemorrhoids were evaluated by histopathology of recto-anal tissues and biochemical parameters in plasma and recto-anal tissues of rats. CBW, CBE, and CBW-1 significantly reduced hemorrhagic necrotic enteritis induced by CO. CO also increased the cytokines and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in serum, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and LPO in recto-anal tissues, and reduced the GSH, CAT, GPx, and SOD levels in serum and recto-anal tissues. However, CBE, CBW, and CBW-1 ameliorated the levels of the cytokines, LPO, MPO, and the antioxidants. Our results conclude that the curative effect of Capsella bursa-pastoris is closely related with its organic acids constituents, citric, malic, and quinic acids. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The fresh leaves of Capsella bursa-pastoris are edible, eaten raw or cooked, and also used in salad. It has a widespread traditional usage in the treatment of the hemorrhoids in the Anatolia and in the Middle East Countries. According to our literature survey, any scientific evidence has not been found in the literature that C. bursa-pastoris could be used in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to investigate the antihemorrhoidal and antioxidant effects of ethanol and water extracts, and a precipitant (CBW-1) obtained from the CBW of C. bursa-pastoris in croton oil (CO)-induced hemorrhoid model in rats. The current results showed that its water extract and CBW-1 containing three organic acids, citric acid (36.09%), malic acid (35.56%), and quinic acid (17.73%) significantly reduced the hemorrhagic necrotic enteritis induced by CO ameliorating the levels of the cytokines, LPO, MPO, and the antioxidants. Our results conclude that the curative effect of C. bursa-pastoris is closely related with its organic acids constituents, citric, malic, and quinic acids.

Effect of Helichrysum plicatum DC. subsp. plicatum ethanol extract on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible therapeutic or protective effects of Helichrysum plicatum DC. subsp. plicatum ethanol extract (HPE) against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Thirty-six Sprague Dawley male rats weighing between 200 and 250 g were used as live material. They were formed into six groups containing 6 rats each and were allowed to adapt to laboratory conditions for 7 d. Group I: control, 5% DMSO intraperitoneal (i.p.); Group II: HPE 100 mg/(kg·d) i.p.; Group III: HPE 200 mg/(kg·d) i.p.; Group IV: gentamicin as 80 mg/(kg·d) i.p.; Group V: gentamicin as 80 mg/(kg·d) i.p.+HPE 100 mg/(kg·d) i.p.; and Group VI: gentamicin as 80 mg/(kg·d) i.p.+HPE 200 mg/(kg·d) i.p. for 8 d. Following treatment, serum, liver, and kidney tissues were used to assess blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and lipid peroxidation. Gentamicin significantly increased serum BUN, creatinin, and liver and kidney levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). It also decreased the activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Treatment with the HPE 100 mg/kg reversed gentamicin-induced alterations as evidenced by decreased serum BUN and creatinin, liver and kidney oxidant marker, and tubular necrosis as well as by an increase in antioxidant enzymes. It was found that HPE 200 mg/kg significantly increased liver and kidney tissue MDA levels in nephrotoxicity in rats. As a result, these findings support the proposition that HPE in 100 mg/kg dose demonstrates in the kidney and liver as free radicals and scavenger to prevent the toxic effects of gentamicin in both the biochemical and histopathology parameters.