Administration Of ME Research Articles

94 Effects of orally administered Megasphaera elsdenii during finishing diet realimentation on feedlot steer fecal consistency, clinical depression, and rumination

Abstract The objective of the study was to determine the effects of oral administration of Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125 (ME) during finishing diet realimentation on fecal consistency, clinical depression, and rumination of feedlot steers. Steers [n = 60; initial body weight (BW) = 591 kg ± 38 kg] were assigned to microbial supplement treatment in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were 1) no ME (CON); and 2) orally administered microbial supplement (1 x 1010 colony forming units ME/capsule; LP) immediately before diet reintroduction. Preceding study initiation, steers consumed a finishing diet with 88% concentrate [dry matter (DM) basis] primarily consisting of whole shelled corn and corn silage for 200 d. Steers were transported from a local feedyard 27 km and upon arrival offered ad libitum long stem hay. Forty-eight h after arrival, steers were reintroduced to a 90% concentrate (DM basis) finishing diet with consisting of dry-rolled corn, dried distiller’s grains plus solubles, liquid supplement, and wheat hay. The diet was introduced initially at 1.5% BW on 0 d, and daily delivery was increased until cattle reached their intake plateau at which point a slick bunk management system was employed. At initial processing, all steers received respiratory and clostridial vaccines and were fitted with wireless rumination tags to track daily rumination throughout the 42-d study. Fecal consistency (FCS) and clinical depression scores (CD) were collected starting 24 h after diet initiation, and subsequent collections occurred at 24 h intervals until 168 h. Fecal consistency was recorded on 20 random pen surface fecal samples and CD was recorded for individual steer. Categorical distributions for FCS and CD were analyzed with the Fisher’s Exact Test. Rumination data was analyzed as a linear mixed model with fixed effects of treatment, days on feed (DOF), and their interaction with a random effect of block and DOF as a repeated measure. For all analyses, P ≤ 0.05 was declared significant and 0.05 > P ≤ 0.10 was considered a tendency. No difference (P ≥ 0.49) was observed for CD at all time points. Additionally, no difference (P ≥ 0.12) was observed for FCS at 24, 48, 72, 120, 144, and 168 h. Fecal consistency tended (P = 0.10) to differ at 96 h, with CON exhibiting a 67% decrease in FCS 1 and 2. No significant (P ≥ 0.78) treatment × DOF interaction was noted for daily minutes ruminating. A significant (P < 0.01) DOF effect was realized for daily minutes ruminating. Minutes ruminating differed (P < 0.01) between treatments, with CON steers ruminating 6% more minutes daily than LP steers. Oral administration of ME had minimal effects on FCS and CD and decreased daily rumination time in feedlot steers during finishing diet realimentation.

310 Evaluation of Orally Administered Megasphaera Elsdenii in Preconditioned Calves Abruptly Transitioned from a Receiving Diet with 4% Dietary Starch to a Growing Diet with 37% Dietary Starch

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of orally administered Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125 (ME) in preconditioned calves abruptly transitioned from a receiving diet with 4% dietary starch [dry matter (DM) basis] to a growing diet with 37% dietary starch (DM basis). Preconditioned steers [n = 192; initial shrunk body weight (SBW) = 309 kg ± 20.6 kg] were assigned to microbial supplement treatment in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were CON: no ME; and LP: orally administered 20 mL of microbial supplement (2 × 1010 colony forming units ME/mL) immediately before diet change. Steers were abruptly changed from a receiving diet based upon soybean hulls and wheatlage with 4% dietary starch (DM basis) to a growing diet based upon high-moisture ear corn, dry-rolled corn, and wheatlage with 37% dietary starch (DM basis). Diets were switched on an equal DM basis to achieve abrupt change and steers were fed treatment diet for 49 d until study completion. Prior to study initiation, steers (n = 72; n = 3/pen) were fitted with wireless rumination tags to track daily activity and rumination time. Growth performance data and efficiency of dietary net energy utilization were analyzed with pen as the experimental unit, fixed effect of treatment, and random effect of block (location in the feedlot). Activity and rumination data were analyzed in a repeated measures analysis of covariance with individual animal as experimental unit, fixed effects of treatment, week, and their interaction, block (location in feedlot) as a random effect, and baseline activity and rumination as a covariate in the model. If no interaction was observed, main effect means of treatment and week were evaluated independently. For all statistical analysis, P ≤ 0.05 was declared significant and P ≤ 0.10 was declared a tendency. No difference (P ≥ 0.20) was observed between treatments for final SBW, average daily gain, dry matter intake, feed efficiency, calculated net energy (NE) for maintenance and gain or observed-to-expected ratio of NE for maintenance and gain. Additionally, no treatment × day differences (P ≥ 0.27) were observed for activity or rumination measures. Treatment effects (P < 0.01) were observed for both activity and rumination where LP steers had a 2% increase and 2% decrease in minutes per day active and ruminating respectively. Additionally, a positive linear effect (P < 0.01) of week was observed for minutes ruminating and quadratic effects (P < 0.01) of week were observed for minutes active and ruminating. Oral administration of ME had no effects on growth performance or efficiency of dietary net energy utilization in steers transitioned from a receiving diet containing 4% starch (DM basis) to a growing diet containing 37% starch (DM basis).

The Papaya-Based Poly-Herbal Extract Eases Thrombocytopenia and Pyrexia in Rats

The beneficial role of papaya leaf juice against dengue infection is gaining popularity. However, most of these studies involve the fresh juice, decoction, or solvent extraction methods with limitations in terms of formulation development and retention of natural phytochemical balance. Hence, this study aimed at investigating the platelet-increasing and anti-pyretic effect of its powdered extracts with favorable attributes for developing finished pharmaceuticals. The former activity was performed on papaya leaves powder extract (PE) used to prepare the product, i.e., Re-Plat. However, both activities were assessed on the multi-ingredients extract (ME; composition was PE plus decoction of Achillea millefolium , Zingiber officinale , Phyllanthus niruri and Piper nigrum ) used in the poly herbal formulation i.e. Re-Plat Plus. Briefly, the Carboplatin (50 mg/kg) was used to develop a rat model of thrombocytopenia, which is followed by the administration of PE and ME (150, 300, and 450 mg/kg). After five days, the blood was collected to measure platelet levels using a hematology analyzer. In case of anti-pyretic activity, the yeast-induced pyrexia model was used to induce pyrexia followed by administration of ME (150, 300, and 450 mg/kg). The rectal temperature was noted for 5 h. Our data showed that, at the tested doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg, both PE and ME caused significant increase in the platelet count compared to the control group. In case of anti-pyretic activity, in similarity with standard drug (paracetamol), the PE (300 and 450 mg/kg) did not allow time-dependent increase in the temperature. Hence, it can be deduced that the active extracts of the poly-herbal formulation (Re-Plat Plus) are endowed with the platelet increase and anti-pyretic potentials; the attributed clinically useful in the management of dengue fever. Keywords: papaya, dengue, platelets, pyrexia, thrombocytopenia. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.50.3.13

Myrtle (Myrtus communis) leaf extract suppresses hepatotoxicity induced by monosodium glutamate and acrylamide through obstructing apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, and cell cycle arrest.

A large number of plant extracts have demonstrated to provide health benefits and mitigate several disease conditions. However, at the molecular and cellular levels, few studies have been conducted. The present work was designed to study the effect of Myrtus communis leaf extract (ME) (300mg/kg bw) against hepatotoxicity induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG) (100mg/kg bw), and acrylamide (ACR) (20mg/kg bw) in male rats and determining its molecular and cellular mechanisms. The data showed that the treatment with MSG and/or ACR induced significant changes in numerous biomarkers (Bcl-2 and the programmed cell death protein-1) related to liver damage, as recorded by genotoxicity, apoptosis, and histopathological changes. On the other side, the oral administration of ME (300mg/kg bw) improved the hepatic conditions as confirmed by the improvement in cell viability, programmed cell death, and histopathological alterations. It can be concluded that the consumption of ME might be useful for minimizing the occurred hepatotoxicity through up-regulation of the key apoptotic regulators as well as the improvement of DNA content and cell cycle restoration. Graphical abstract.

Hepatoprotective Effects ofMorchella esculentaagainst Alcohol-Induced Acute Liver Injury in the C57BL/6 Mouse Related to Nrf-2 and NF-κB Signaling

This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of Morchella esculenta fruit body (ME) and the underlying mechanisms in mice with alcohol-induced acute liver injury. Systematic analysis revealed that ME contained 21 types of fatty acid, 17 types of amino acid, and 12 types of mineral. Subsequently, a mouse model of acute alcohol-induced liver injury was established by oral administration of alcohol for 14 days. Fourteen-day administration of ME prevented alcohol-induced increases in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels and reduced the activity of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in blood serum and liver tissue. ME appears to regulate lipid metabolism by suppressing triglycerides, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein in the liver. ME inhibited the production of inflammatory factors including chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL 40), interleukin-7 (IL-7), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) in blood serum and/or liver tissue. ME treatment relieved the alcohol-induced imbalance in prooxidative and antioxidative signaling via nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), as indicated by upregulation of superoxide dismutase-1, superoxide dismutase-2, catalase, heme oxygenase-1, and heme oxygenase-2 expression and downregulation of kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap-1) in the liver. Moreover, ME reduced the levels of phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa-B kinase α/β, inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B α and nuclear factor kappa-B p65 (NF-κB p65) in the liver. The hepatoprotective effects of ME against alcohol-induced acute liver injury were thus confirmed. The mechanism of action may be related to modulation of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways, partially via regulation of Nrf-2 and NF-κB signaling.

Bidirectional effects of methanol extract of Wei-Chang-An pill on gastrointestinal transit and the spasmolytic activity on isolated rat jejunum

Ethnopharmacological relevanceWei-Chang-An pill (WCA pill), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for treating various gastrointestinal diseases for several decades. Despite the popular medicinal use of WCA pill, less data was available to its activity and mechanism in gastrointestinal disorders. To examine the effects of the methanol extract of WCA pill (ME) on gastrointestinal tract so as to assess some of the possible mechanisms involved in the clinical treatment. Materials and methodsME was studied on gastrointestinal transit in vivo including gastric emptying and small intestinal motility in normal and neostigmine-induced mice, as well as on the isolated tissue preparations of rat jejunum in vitro. ResultsIn vivo, the gastric emptying decreased and intestinal transit increased after administration of ME in normal mice. However, administration of ME accelerated the intestinal transit ranging from 0.01 to 0.8mg/mL and reduced it at the concentration of 1.6 and 3.2mg/mL, while the gastric emptying was inhibited throughout the concentrations in neostigmine-induced mice. in vitro, ME caused inhibitory effect on the spontaneous contraction of rat-isolated jejunum in dose-dependent manner ranging from 0.01 to 6mg/mL and also relaxed the acetylcholine chloride (Ach, 10−6M)-induced and K+ (60mM)-induced contractions. ME shifted the Ca2+ concentration–response curves to right, similar to that caused by verapamil (0.025mM). ConclusionsThese results indicated that ME might play a bidirectional role in gastrointestinal transit modulation and the effects on isolated tissue are probably mediated through calcium influx and muscarinic receptors, which provides pharmacological basis for the clinical use of WCA pill in gastrointestinal tract disorders.

Potentiation of [Met5]enkephalin-induced antinociception by mixture of three peptidase inhibitors in rat

Previous in vitro studies have shown that degradation of opioid peptides during incubation with cerebral membrane preparations is almost completely prevented by a mixture of three peptidase inhibitors (PIs), namely, amastatin, captopril, and phosphoramidon. In the present in vivo study, we evaluate the effects of intrathecal administration of these PIs on antinociception by [Met(5)]enkephalin (ME) or PIs themselves. Drugs were administered into the thoracolumbar level of the spinal cord in the intrathecal space in rat. Induction of antinociception was measured by the tail immersion assay, with 55°C as the nociceptive stimulus. Effects of PIs on antinociception were evaluated by dose-response study (ME, 1-20nmol; PIs, 1-20nmol each), by comparison of differences among two combinations of PIs (amastatin and captopril; captopril and phosphoramidon; amastatin and phosphoramidon) and three PIs (amastatin, captopril, and phosphoramidon), and by using opioid receptor selective antagonists. Intrathecal administration of ME with these three PIs or PIs alone significantly and dose dependently increased antinociception in a μ- and δ-opioid receptor antagonist-reversible manner; moreover, the degree of antinociception with a combination of any two of these was less than that with all three, indicating that any residual single peptidase could inactivate significant amounts of ME. The present data, together with those of earlier studies, clearly demonstrate that amastatin-, captopril-, and phosphoramidon-sensitive enzymes play an important role in inactivation of opioid peptides at the spinal level.

Antinociceptive activity and chemical composition of Wei–Chang–An–Wan extracts

Context: Currently, famous traditional Chinese medicine formulas have undergone re-evaluation and development in China. Wei–Chang–An–Wan (WCAW) as one of them has been used for treating various gastrointestinal diseases for several decades. The secondary development of WCAW is in progress so as to interpret the effective material basis or find new pharmacological activity.Objective: To evaluate the antinociceptive effect of methanol extract of WCAW (ME) as well as four fractions (P.E., EtOAc, n-BuOH, H2O) and obtain information on the correlation between the contents of the fractions and antinociceptive effect.Materials and methods: ME was divided into four parts extracted by petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated by three models of acetic acid–induced writhing, formalin and hot-plate test in mice after repetitive administration of ME at 200, 400 or 800 mg/kg, P.E. 132 mg/kg, EtOAc 106 mg/kg, n-BuOH 176 mg/kg and H2O 176 mg/kg for six days. The chemical compounds were analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS.Results: ME at 800 mg/kg inhibited acid-induced writhing by 84.69%, and reduced the licking time of second phase in formalin test by 53.23%. The inhibition rates in acid-induced writhing of P.E., EtOAc, n-BuOH and H2O were 27.79, 33.85, 38.97 and 37.69%, respectively, and in formalin test about 50%. They had no effect on the hot-plate test. HPLC-ESI-MS analysis showed that 68 chemical compounds were detected and 41 compounds were identified from ME.Discussion and conclusion: The results obtained herein indicate that WCAW possesses the antinociceptive activity that provides a new aspect in clinical application.

Mecobalamin Promotes Mouse Sperm Maturation/Mecobalamin verbessert die Reifung von Mäusespermatozoen

The effect of Mecobalamin (alpha-(5,6-dimethyl benzimidazolyl)-Co-methyl-cobamide: Me-B 12) on sperm production in the oligozoospermic mice experimentally induced by the treatment with adriamycin (0.3 mg/kg, three times a week for 5 weeks) was evaluated quantitatively by means of equilibrium sedimentation in Percoll. After centrifugation, the distribution profile of the sperm showed two peaks, i.e. the first peak near the bottom consisting of mature sperm with good motility and the second peak containing immature and/or immotile sperm. By oral administration of Me B 12 (1.0 mg/kg/day) to the oligozoospermic mice for 10 weeks, the sperm count, sperm motility, motile sperm count, diameter of seminiferous tubules and the percentage of good motile sperm with higher apparent density were increased as compared with those of the control. These results suggest that Me-B 12 enhanced the testicular function, resulting in an increased output of mature sperm.

The metabolism of synthetic estrogens in non-users and users of oral contraceptives

Using both pulse injections and constant infusions of 3H-mestranol ( 3H-ME) (1) and 3H-ethinyl estradiol ( 3H-EE) we have studied the metabolism of these compounds in non-users and users of oral contraceptives. Following pulse injection of 3H-ME the disappearance of radioactivity could be described as a function which was the sum of two exponentials. Studied by both types of administration there was no difference in the metabolism of 3H-ME in the two groups; the overall mean ± SE metabolic clearance rate (MCR) was 690 ± 45 1/day/m 2, the mean ratio of the concentrations of radioactivity as EE following administration of ME (CR BB M, E) was 0. 23 ± 0. 02 and the mean [ρ] BB M, E (fraction of administered ME measured in blood as EE) was 0. 19 (95% confidence limits = 0.15 – 0. 23). Following pulse injection of 3H-EE the disappearance of radioactivity was best described as a function which is the sum of three exponentials. Results from both types of administration revealed no difference in the metabolism of 3H-EE between non-users. The overall mean ± SE MCR EE was 630 ± 30 I/day/m 2. The MCR EE is significantly (0. 02 > P > 0. 01) less than the mean MCR for estradiol reported previously, in both non-users and users of oral contraceptives. The use of oral contraceptives containing estrogens and progestins does not appear to influence the metabolism of the estrogen used. Approximately 20% of mestranol is converted to and appears in the blood as ethinyl estradiol.