Balanced cytokine upregulation by diluted ethanolic extract of Bryonia alba in Delta SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein RBD-induced pathogenesis in Gallus gallus embryo.

Background: Bryonia alba extract is a well-known drug which is being utilized as phytomedicines and homoeopathic preparations since more than two centuries. This medicine is frequently used in clinical practice for flu-like conditions, respiratory tract infections, and gastrointestinal diseases, as evidenced by old literature and historical records. The plant contains Bryonicin, Bryonolic acid, Bryodin, Cucurbitacin, etc. The alkaloids in Bryonia alba have been discovered to be a powerful heme-oxygenase-1 inhibitor, which could help reduce oxidative stress during SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. During three waves of SARS-CoV-2, extracts of Bryonia alba were used; however, the actual scientific explanation for its mechanism of action is still unknown. In this experiment, we studied cytokine changes by diluted Bryonia alba extract in Delta SARS-CoV-2 spike protein RBD-induced pathogenesis, in fertilized chick (Gallus gallus domesticus) embryos. Results: The recombinant Delta SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD protein was inoculated in 14-day-old chick (Gallus gallus domesticus) embryos along with control, pre-, and post-treatment sets with diluted Bryonia extract. After 48 h, allantoic fluids were collected and stored at - 20 °C for study of different cytokines. Histological changes of the liver were also studied in each animal. Diluted Bryonia extract upregulated IFN-α and IL-10 markedly. In pre-treatment set, IFN-α, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-1ß were markedly decreased, while in the post-treatment set IL-6, IL-10, IL-8, and TGFß1 were significantly decreased, with a tendency of more anti-inflammatory surge than pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions: This experiment indicated an immunomodulatory role of diluted ethanolic extract of Bryonia particularly in the post-treatment set, decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines with beneficial effect.

Effects of fluconazole based medicated feed on haemato-immunological responses and resistance of Labeo rohita against Saprolegnia parasitica.

Fluconazole (FLZ) is a new azole antifungal drug having no earlier record of its utilization for the treatment of fish diseases. A 55-days experiment was carried out to delineate the role of FLZ based medicated feed on haemato-immunological responses and prevention of fungal infection in Labeo rohita fingerlings. Three hundred and sixty fingerlings were randomly distributed into four experimental groups in triplicates. Four iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous purified medicated feeds were prepared with 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg FLZ 100 g-1 feed. Haemato-immunological parameters like erythrocyte counts (EC), haemoglobulin (Hb), leucocyte counts (LC), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), nitro-blue tetrazolium (NBT), albumin, globulin, total plasma protein were studied. The present study revealed that the continuous feeding of FLZ based feed for 15-30 days significantly (P < 0.05) increases the erythropoiesis, heme-synthesis, as well as the leucocytosis in rohu. However, all the doses exhibited equal protection from the infectious S. parasitica after 45 days of continuous feeding.