Antibacterial Mode of Action of β-Amyrin Promotes Apoptosis-Like Death in Escherichia coli by Producing Reactive Oxygen Species

Antibiotics and Opportunities of Their Alternatives in Pig Production: Mechanisms Through Modulating Intestinal Microbiota on Intestinal Health and Growth

Antibiotics at subtherapeutic levels have been used in pig diets as antimicrobial growth promoters. However, concerns about antibiotic resistance have increased the demand for alternatives to these antimicrobial growth promoters. This review paper explores the mechanisms through which antimicrobial growth promoters and their alternatives exert their antimicrobial effects. Additionally, this systemic review also covers how modulation of intestinal microbiota by antimicrobial growth promoters or their alternatives affects intestinal health and, subsequently, growth of pigs. The mechanisms and effects of antimicrobial growth promoters and their alternatives on intestinal microbiota, intestinal health, and growth are diverse and inconsistent. Therefore, pig producers should carefully assess which alternative is the most effective for optimizing both profitability and the health status of pigs in their production system.

Investigation of the nutritional and functional roles of a microencapsulated blend of botanicals on intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs challenged with F18+Escherichia coli

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of a microencapsulated blend of botanicals (MBB) on the intestinal health and growth performance of nursery pigs challenged with F18+E. coli. Sixty-four nursery pigs (6.8 ± 0.3 kg) were assigned to 4 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design, with initial body weight and sex as blocks, and fed for 28 d in 3 phases. Treatments were a basal diet fed to pigs without F18+E. coli challenge (NC) and 3 levels of MBB (0.0%, 0.1%, and 0.2%) in pigs challenged with F18+E. coli. On day 7 of the study, pigs in the challenged group were orally inoculated with F18+E. coli (1.5 × 1010 CFU). On days 7 and 21 post-challenge, pigs were euthanized to collect jejunal tissues and mucosa. Compared to the NC, 0.0% MBB increased (P < 0.05) relative abundance (RA) of Staphylococcus saprophyticus and reduced (P < 0.05) Streptococcus parasuis at days 7 and 21 post-challenge, respectively. Increasing levels of MBB decreased (linear: P < 0.05) RA of S. saprophyticus on day 7 post-challenge. Compared to the NC, 0.0% MBB increased (P < 0.05) jejunal NOD2 and IL-6 expression and decreased (P < 0.05) ZO-1 on day 7 post-challenge. Compared to the NC, 0.0% MBB decreased (P < 0.05) jejunal IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and increased (P < 0.05) IgG on day 21 post-challenge. Increasing levels of MBB increased OCLN (linear: P < 0.05) and ZO-1 (linear and quadratic: P < 0.05) on day 7 post-challenge and decreased toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4; linear and quadratic: P < 0.05). Compared to the NC, 0.0% MBB decreased (P < 0.05) Ki-67+ on day 7 post-challenge. Increasing levels of MBB increased (linear: P < 0.05) Ki-67+ on day 7 post-challenge and villus height (VH):CD on d 21 post-challenge. In the overall period, compared to the NC, 0.0% MBB decreased (P < 0.05) average daily gain. Increasing daily MBB intake linearly increased OCLN on day 7 and VH:CD on day 21, and reduced TLR4 and IL-8 on day 21 post-challenge, but exhibiting quadratic effects (P < 0.05) on ZO-1 (optimal at 0.12% of MBB), IgG (optimal at 0.14% of MBB), and G:F during days 7 to 20 and days 7 to 28 (optimal at 0.22% and 0.10% of MBB, respectively). In conclusion, F18+E. coli challenge negatively modulated the jejunal mucosal microbiota and reduced intestinal morphology and growth of nursery pigs. Supplementation of MBB at 0.10% to 0.14% provided optimal mitigation of the impacts of F18+E. coli challenge on humoral immunity, intestinal integrity, jejunal morphology, and feed efficiency of pigs.

Dietary anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial medicinal plants and its compounds in bovine mastitis associated impact on human life

Bovine mastitis (BM) is the most common bacterial mediated inflammatory disease in the dairy cattle that causes huge economic loss to the dairy industry due to decreased milk quality and quantity. Milk is the essential food in the human diet, and rich in crucial nutrients that helps in lowering the risk of diseases like hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. The main causative agents of the disease include various gram negative, and positive bacteria, along with other risk factors such as udder shape, age, genetic, and environmental factors also contributes much for the disease. Currently, antibiotics, immunotherapy, probiotics, dry cow, and lactation therapy are commonly recommended for BM. However, these treatments can only decrease the rise of new cases but can't eliminate the causative agents, and they also exhibit several limitations. Hence, there is an urgent need of a potential source that can generate a typical and ideal treatment to overcome the limitations and eliminate the pathogens. Among the various sources, medicinal plants and its derived products always play a significant role in drug discovery against several diseases. In addition, they are also known for its low toxicity and minimum resistance features. Therefore, plants and its compounds that possess anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties can serve better in bovine mastitis. In addition, the plants that are serving as a food source and possessing pharmacological properties can act even better in bovine mastitis. Hence, in this evidence-based study, we particularly review the dietary medicinal plants and derived products that are proven for anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects. Moreover, the role of each dietary plant and its compounds along with possible role in the management of bovine mastitis are delineated. In this way, this article serves as a standalone source for the researchers working in this area to help in the management of BM.

Formulated hydroxy fatty acids from fruit pomaces reduce apple scab development caused by Venturia inaequalis through a dual mode of action

The outermost hydrophobic layer of plants, i.e. the cuticle, is mainly composed of cutin, a polyester of hydroxy fatty acids with reported eliciting and/or antimicrobial activities for some of them. By-products of the fruit processing industry (fruit pomaces), often strongly enriched in cuticular material, are therefore a potential source of bioactive compounds for crop protection against pathogen attack. We investigated the utilization of tomato and apple pomaces in the development of a cutin-based biocontrol solution against apple scab, a major apple disease caused by Venturia inaequalis. Several cutin monomer extracts obtained through different strategies of depolymerization and purification were first compared for their ability to induce a targeted set of defense genes in apple seedlings after foliar application. After a step of formulation, some extracts were chosen for further investigation in planta and in vitro. Our results show that formulated cutin monomers could trigger a significant transcriptome reprogramming in apple plants and exhibit an antifungal effect on V. inaequalis. Cutin monomers-treated apple seedlings were significantly protected against infection by the apple scab agent. Altogether, our findings suggest that water-dispersed cutin monomers extracted from pomaces are potential new bio-based solutions for the control of apple scab.

Extracts from the Leaf of Couroupita guianensis (Aubl.): Phytochemical, Toxicological Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities against Oral Microorganisms

The study of phytotherapy in dentistry holds great relevance because of the scarcity of research conducted on the treatment of oral pathologies, specifically, caries and periodontal disease. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the chemical composition of extracts from Couroupita guianensis Aubl. leaves, evaluate their toxicity, and assess their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans. Three extracts were prepared using assisted ultrasound and the Soxhlet apparatus, namely, Crude Ultrasound Extract (CUE), Crude Soxhlet Extract (CSE), and the Ethanol Soxhlet Extract (ESE). Flavonoids, tannins, and saponins were detected in the chemical analysis, while LC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of caffeic acid, sinapic acid, rutin, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and apigenin in all extracts. GC-MS analysis identified stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in the CUE and CSE. The ESE showed higher antioxidant activity (2.98 ± 0.96 and 4.93 ± 0.90) determined by the DPPH• and ABTS•⁺ methods, respectively. In the toxicity evaluation, the CUE at 50 μg/mL and the ESE at 50 μg/mL stimulated the growth of Allium cepa roots, while all extracts inhibited root growth at 750 μg/mL. None of the extracts exhibited toxicity against Artemia salina. Antibacterial activity was observed in all extracts, particularly against the microorganisms S. aureus and S. mutans. However, no antifungal activity against C. albicans was detected. These results suggest that extracts of C. guianensis have therapeutic potential for controlling microorganisms in the oral microbiota.

Valorization of Bioactive Compounds from By-Products of Matricaria recutita White Ray Florets

In this research, we have reported the valorization possibilities of Matricaria recutita white ray florets using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO₂. Experiments were conducted at temperatures of 35-55 °C and separation pressures of 5-9 MPa to evaluate their impact on the chemical composition and biological activity of the extracts. The total obtained extraction yields varied from 9.76 to 18.21 g 100 g^-1 DW input. The greatest extraction yield obtained was at 9 MPa separation pressure and 55 °C in the separation tank. In all obtained extracts, the contents of total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and sugars were determined. The influence of the supercritical CO₂ extraction conditions on the extract antioxidant capacity was evaluated using the quenching activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The chemical composition of the extracts was identified using both gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods, whereas analyses of major and minor elements as well as heavy metals by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometer were provided. Moreover, extracts were compared with respect to their antimicrobial activity, as well as the cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of the extracts. The results revealed a considerable diversity in the phytochemical classes among all extracts investigated in the present study and showed that the Matricaria recutita white ray floret by-product possesses cytotoxic and proliferation-reducing activity in immortalized cell lines, as well as antimicrobial activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper presenting such comprehensive data on the chemical profile, antioxidant properties, and biological properties of SFE derived from Matricaria recutita white ray florets. For the first time, these effects have been studied in processing by-products, and the results generated in this study provide valuable preconditions for further studies in specific test systems to fully elucidate the mechanisms of action and potential applications, such as potential use in cosmetic formulations.