From seaweed to healing: the potential of fucoidan in wound therapy.

This bibliometric review examines the current state of research on fucoidan, a sulphated polysaccharide found in brown seaweed species, and its potential for wound healing. The review included 58 studies that investigated fucoidan's effects on wound healing, revealing that it possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that could aid in the healing process. Fucoidan was also found to promote cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, essential for wound healing. However, the optimal dosage, treatment duration, safety, and efficacy of fucoidan in various wound types and patient populations still require further investigation. Additionally, advanced wound dressings like hydrogels have garnered significant attention for their potential in wound healing. While this review indicates promise for fucoidan as a natural wound healing compound, it underscores the need for additional clinical trials to determine its optimal use as a commercial therapeutic agent in wound healing.

Coriander response to nitrogen fertilizer sources in different competing levels of weeds.

The competition of weeds with crops and nutrient management has a significant effect on the yield and economic efficiency of a country. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of sulfur-coated urea and common urea on the yield and fatty acid composition of three coriander genotypes (Nahavandi, Pishgam, Ethiopia) under weeded and unweeded conditions. Traits including 1000 seeds weight, fruit yield, content of oil, and composition of fatty acids were examined. Nitrogen fertilizer and weeding treatments significantly improved the weight of 1000 seeds and weeds decreased the yield of fruit. The highest fruit yield was obtained by the Ethiopia genotype in weed-free conditions. Results showed that N fertilizer increased the oil percentage of coriander fruit. Urea fertilizer resulted in the highest oil content in the Nahavandi and Pishgam genotypes under weeded plots in the first and second years, respectively. Also, petroselinic, linoleic, and palmitic acids were the major coriander fatty acid composition. Nahavandi genotype showed the highest palmitic acid. Also, urea in the weed condition led to increase the linoleic acid content in the Nahavandi genotype. Overall, results showed that N fertilizer, especially urea, improved the quality characteristics of coriander fruits.

Effects of the algae derivatives on performance, intestinal histomorphology, ileal microflora, and egg yolk biochemistry of laying Japanese quail.

We examined the effect of the Persian Gulf algae derivates, phycocyanin (PC) and fucoidan (FUC), on production performance, egg quality, intestinal histomorphology, ileal microflora, and egg yolk biochemistry of laying Japanese quail. A total of 250 six-wk-old Japanese quails with an average body weight of 215 ± 10 g were allocated to 5 treatments, 5 replicates and 10 birds in each replicate in a completely randomized design. The treatment groups received PC (from Spirulina platensis) and FUC (from brown seaweed) in their drinking water while control groups did not. Treatment groups received PC and FUC at 20 or 40 mg/L levels (denoted as PC20, PC40, FUC20, and FUC40, respectively). All birds were fed the same diet. All treatments significantly improved the percentage of hen day egg production (HDEP) (P = 0.002), egg mass (P = 0.002), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P = 0.022) but no difference was noted in egg weight (EW) and feed intake (FI). Different levels of PC and FUC significantly increased the thickness of eggshells (P = 0.022); however, the weight of the digestive tract (liver, spleen, proventriculus, gizzard, and pancreas) and oviduct was not affected. Algal derivates improved the villus height (P = 0.007) and crypt depth (P = 0.007) of the duodenum, as well as, the villus height (P = 0.005) and crypt depth (P = 0.026) of the jejunum. Both algal derivates positively affected the intestinal microflora (populations of Lactobacillus (P = 0.017), Coliform (P = 0.005), and Clostridium (P = 0.000)) whereas aerobic bacteria were unaffected. Yolk cholesterol P = 0.012) and yolk malondialdehyde P = 0.050) content were significantly reduced in experimental treatments compared to the control group. In conclusion, our results showed that the treatment of laying Japanese quails with algal derivates positively affects quail performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal microflora, and yolk cholesterol and malondialdehyde. Additional studies exploring optimal dosages and mechanisms of action is warranted to fully understand the scope of the algae derivates in poultry production.

Improving performance, reproduction, and immunity in laying Japanese quail with algal derivatives.

We investigated the effect of the Persian Gulf algae derivatives, namely phycocyanin (PC) and fucoidan (FUC), on the performance, reproductive traits, and immune responses of laying Japanese quails. A completely randomized design was used to distribute 250 six-wk-old Japanese quails with an average body weight of 215 ± 10 g into 5 treatments, 5 replicates, and 10 birds in each replicate over a 5-wk period. Unlike the control groups, the treatment groups received drinking water supplemented with PC and FUC at concentrations of 20 or 40 mg/L, denoted as PC20, PC40, FUC20, and FUC40, respectively, while all birds were provided with identical feed. Supplemental algal derivatives notably improved hen day egg production (HDEP), egg mass, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Incorporating PC and FUC had no significant effect on the weight of males' testes or the weight and length of hens' oviducts. Additionally, the experimental treatments had no impact on the chicks' hatching weight. The supplementation of PC and FUC resulted in increased fertility (P = 0.038) and hatchability (P < 0.001) rates, with the exception of fertility in the PC40 group. The effect of the experimental treatments on immune responses was largely not statistically significant, except in the case of ND. Specifically, the experimental treatments resulted in increased (P = 0.033) antibody titers against ND when compared to the control group, with the exception of FUC20. Supplemental algal derivatives significantly (P < 0.01) reduced total cholesterol, creatinine, and triglycerides (except in the case of PC20). Overall, these findings underscore the potential of algal derivatives to enhance quail performance, reproductive traits, and immune responses.

The anticoccidial effect of alcoholic extract of Citrullus colocynthis fruit and Juglans regia peel| in experimentally infected domestic chicken.

One of the main illnesses within the poultry industry is coccidiosis. Anticoccidial medicines applied in the poultry industry show many shortcomings and new control measures are necessary. The current research aimed to study the effect of extract of Citrullus colocynthis and Juglans regia peel on growth performance, gut bacteria, Haematological, Anticoccidial Index (ACI), and Optimum Anticoccidial Activity (OAA) of coccidiosis-infected domestic chicken. The maximum weight gain was observed in the groups treated with 0.001% and 0.01% C. colocynthis extract. Moreover, 0.01% C. colocynthis extract treatment increased two factors of ACI and OAA by 121.42 and 109, respectively, which were higher than commercial anticoccidial (Sulfaclozine). The extract of C. colocynthis fruit and J. regia peel decreased monocytes and eosinophils haematological factors and increased basophils in birds infected with Eimeria. Both extracts modulated intestinal microbiome haematological factors in birds infected with Eimeria, while J. regia peel extract had better performance than C. colocynthis fruit extract. These results indicate that used C. colocynthis and J. regia extracts have an anti-coccidial effect and the potential to control Eimeria infection.

Effects of four herbs as a dietary on properties of egg and immune response against Newcastle and avian influenza vaccine in Japanese laying quail.

This study shows the effectiveness of diet containing Trachyspermum copticum (TC), Majorana hortensis Minch (MH), Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl (SL), and Zingiber officinale (ZO) on the growth performance, biochemical factors, and qualitative agents of eggs of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and their immune responses against Newcastle and Avian Influenza vaccine. For this prepose, 675 quails were divided into 9 groups with three replicates and fed with different treatment diets (basic diet with no supplements (control treatment diet) and diets supplemented with one of two levels (0.5 and 2%) of each plant powders). Data showed that the use of TC 2% increased the Haugh unit significantly (P < 0.05) compared with the control (P < 0.05). At the end of the experiment, shell weight (g) and shell thickness were also remarkably enhanced in treated groups compared with the control group. Moreover, the findings of this study showed the thiobarbituric acid and yolk cholesterol level reduced remarkably (P < 0.05) in the MH and SL groups without significant adverse effect on albumen protein (%) and total protein (%) level. In this study, TC-2%, ZO-2%, and SL-2% all increased the antibody titers against avian influenza. The use of a diet containing MH-2% increased Newcastle disease in Japanese quail in comparison to both controls and different levels of other medicinal herb powders. Based on these results, using these four herbal plant powders in Japanese quail, diets could positively affect their egg qualitative and biochemical factors.

Effect of sex ratio, storage time and temperature on hatching rate, fertility and embryonic mortality in Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar).

Chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) are frequently reared in captivity with the aim of producing fertile eggs and chicks. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effect of male to female sex ratio on hatching rate and fertility and to determine the optimal temperature and time for egg storage and its effect on hatching rate and embryonic mortality in Chukar partridges. Maximum hatching rate and fertility rate were affected by male:female ratios during breeding (P < 0.05). The greatest embryonic mortality rate was with eggs that were stored at 25 °C for 15-20 d, however, the greatest hatching rate was when eggs were stored at 10 and 15 °C for 5 days. Storage time of Chukar partridge eggs can be extended for as long as 5 d, but longer storage periods can negatively affect hatching rate. In conclusion, a reduction of storage temperature and duration of time of storage in combination with reducing the sex ratio of the egg producing females and males during the breeding period might improve fertility, hatching rate and fertility of Chukar partridge eggs.

Avian gametologs as molecular tags for sex identification in birds of prey of Iran.

Global environmental change and rapid destruction of natural habitats necessitate the conservation of endangered and threatened birds of prey. Recently, molecular sex identification methods based on amplification of introns of chromodomain-helicase DNA binding protein1 (CHD1) have provided valuable tools for ecological study and conservation breeding programs of birds. These methods employ a primer pair flanking an intron which varies considerably in length between the avian gametologs CHD1Z and CHD1W. Herein, we test the applicability of CHD1Z and CHD1W as universal tags for molecular sex identification in birds of prey of Iran. We showed successful sex identification in 22 species of birds of prey using feathers as the source of DNA. The results suggest that the regions of CHD1W and CHD1Z amplified in this study are conserved among most of Falconiformes, enabling accurate sex identification in birds of prey.

Efficacy and transmissibility of Newcastle disease I-2 vaccine strain against a field isolate of virulent ND virus (JF820294.1) in village chicken.

This study was conducted to assess efficacy of heat-stable I-2 vaccine against Newcastle diseases in vaccinated and vaccinated in contact birds group following challenge against virulent Newcastle disease (ND) virus in village chicken. Also, to assess whether birds that have been exposed to vaccine virus-shedding, birds were protected against mortality and clinical signs after infection with a virulent strain of the ND virus (NDV). One hundred fifty one-day-old native chickens were divided into seven groups (4 experimental groups of 30 birds/group and 3 control groups (unvaccinated unchallenged, challenged, and just vaccinated). Birds in experimental groups were vaccinated either via drinking water or as food carrier with thermostable I-2 vaccine and then challenged with virulent isolate of NDV (JF820294.1), and eight birds were added as in-contact birds to vaccinated groups. Following challenge, seven extra birds were added to each group as in contact with vaccinated and challenged birds. Survival rate, clinical signs, necropsy finding, and mean antibody titer were evaluated in different experimental and control groups. Birds vaccinated via drinking water showed 100% survival rate. However, birds vaccinated with food carrier vaccine showed less than 50% survival rate. Based on the results obtained from this study, it can be recommended that I-2 vaccination via drinking water can effectively prevent ND in village chicken, since I-2 strain has been able to transmit to non-vaccinated-sensitive birds more effectively than velogenic NDV.

In vitro and in vivo susceptibility of Salmonella spp. isolated from broiler chickens.

Salmonellosis is the most important zoonotic disease, causing diarrhea and systemic infections. Due to poor management in antibiotic consumption, microbial resistance has increased in the treatment of zoonotic diseases. This study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella spp. isolated from day-old broiler chickens which were referred to a private laboratory in Mazandaran-a province in the north of Iran-from 2008 to 2010. After harvesting the samples from the yolk sac, liver, and intestine of chickens, intestinal samples were transferred to selenite F and then incubated at 43 °C for 12-16 h. A loopful from selenite F and samples of liver and yolk sac were streaked on XLD and S.S agars. After incubation, the suspected colonies were inoculated into TSI agar for biochemical confirmation. The disk diffusion method on Muller Hinton agar was used to determine the susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Because of the predominant use of enrofloxacin, sulfadiazine + trimethoprim, and flumequine for controlling Salmonella and Escherichia coli infections in the first week of broilers brooding in Iran, these three antibiotics were used in the in vivo study. From day 2 and continuing for 4 days, antibiotics were administrated in water, and after 10 days, samples from the liver, heart, and intestine were taken for isolation of Salmonella. In antimicrobial resistant tests, the most susceptible antibiotics were chloramphenicol, cefotaxime, and sulfadiazine + trimethoprim. The antimicrobial resistance to enrofloxacin, flumequine, colistin, and neomycin were 6.6, 11.6, 21.6, and 33.3 %, respectively. The results showed that 12 parties of broiler chickens were infected with paratyphoid salmonellae and the in vivo study showed that enrofloxacin and sulfadiazine + trimethoprim had the best and the weakest performance, respectively.