Withania somnifera inhibits photorefractoriness which triggers neuronal apoptosis in both pre-optic and paraventricular hypothalamic area of Coturnix coturnix japonica: involvement of oxidative stress induced p53 dependent Caspase-3 mediated low immunoreactivity of estrogen receptor alpha

Role of Synbiotics (Prebiotics and Probiotics) as Dietary Supplements in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Induced Health Complications

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder whose prevalence has become a worrying condition in recent decades. Chronic diabetes can result in serious health conditions such as impaired kidney function, stroke, blindness, and myocardial infarction. Despite a variety of currently available treatments, cases of diabetes and its complications are on the rise. This review article provides a comprehensive account of the ameliorative effect of prebiotics and probiotics individually or in combination i.e. synbiotics on health complications induced by Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Recent advances in the field underscore encouraging outcomes suggesting the consumption of synbiotics leads to favorable changes in the gut microbiota. These changes result in the production of bioactive metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (crucial for lowering blood sugar levels), reducing inflammation, preventing insulin resistance, and encouraging the release of glucagon-like peptide-1 in the host. Notably, novel strategies supplementing synbiotics to support gut microbiota are gaining attraction as pivotal interventions in mitigating T2DM-induced health complications. Thus, by nurturing a symbiotic relationship between prebiotics and probiotics i.e. synbiotics, these interventions hold promise in reshaping the microbial landscape of the gut thereby offering a multifaceted approach to managing T2DM and its associated morbidities. Supporting the potential of synbiotics underscores a paradigm shift toward holistic and targeted interventions in diabetes management, offering prospects for improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for affected individuals. Nevertheless, more research needs to be done to better understand the single and multispecies pre/pro and synbiotics in the prevention and management of T2DM-induced health complications.

Ashwagandha Diminishes Hippocampal Apoptosis Induced by Microwave Radiation by Acetylcholinesterase Dependent Neuro-Inflammatory Pathway in Male Coturnix coturnix Japonica

Microwave radiation (MWR) has been linked to neurodegeneration by inducing oxidative stress in the hippocampus of brain responsible for learning and memory. Ashwagandha (ASW), a medicinal plant is known to prevent neurodegeneration and promote neuronal health. This study investigated the effects of MWR and ASW on oxidative stress and cholinergic imbalance in the hippocampus of adult male Japanese quail. One control group received no treatment, the second group quails were exposed to MWR at 2 h/day for 30 days, third was administered with ASW root extract orally 100 mg/day/kg body weight and the fourth was exposed to MWR and also treated with ASW. The results showed that MWR increased serum corticosterone levels, disrupted cholinergic balance and induced neuro-inflammation. This neuro-inflammation further led to oxidative stress, as evidenced by decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and GSH. MWR also caused a significant decline in the nissil substances in the hippocampus region of brain indicating neurodegeneration through oxidative stress mediated hippocampal apoptosis. ASW, on the other hand, was able to effectively enhance the cholinergic balance and subsequently lower inflammation in hippocampus neurons. This suggests that ASW can protect against the neurodegenerative effects of MWR. ASW also reduced excessive ROS production by increasing the activity of ROS-scavenging enzymes. Additionally, ASW prevented neurodegeneration through decreased expression of caspase-3 and caspase-7 in hippocampus, thus promoting neuronal health. In conclusion, this study showed that MWR induces apoptosis and oxidative stress in the brain, while ASW reduces excessive ROS production, prevents neurodegeneration and promotes neuronal health.

Impact of Dietary Probiotics on the Immune and Reproductive Physiology of Pubertal Male Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Administered at the Onset of Pre-Puberty

Fertility in males is dependent on the proper production of sperms involving the synchronization of numerous factors like oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, and hormonal regulation. Inflammation associated with oxidative stress is also known to impair sperm function. Nutritional factors like probiotics and prebiotics have the potential benefits to modulate these factors which may enhance male fertility. In the present study, immature male Japanese quail at the beginning of 3rd week were administered with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L), Bifidobacterium longum (B), and mannan-oligosaccharides (M) through dietary supplementation in individual groups as well as in combinations like LB and MLB. Markers of oxidative stress including SOD and catalase were examined by native PAGE; inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1β, IL-10, and NFκB), apoptotic markers (caspase 3 and caspase 7), steroidal hormones, and their receptors estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) were assessed in testis. The study reveals that dietary supplementation of 1% L, B, and M in combination significantly and positively increases the overall growth of immature male quail specifically testicular weight and gonadosomatic index (GSI). Furthermore, significant improvement in testicular cell size; increased steroidal hormones like testosterone, FSH, and LH levels; increase in SOD, catalase enzymes; decrease in apoptotic factors Caspase 3, Caspase 7 and immune system strength observed indicated by a decrease in expression of IL-1β, NFκB; and increase of IL-10 in testis when LBM was used in combination. These variations are attributed to the increase in testicular estrogen receptors alpha and beta, facilitated by the neuroendocrine gonadal axis, ultimately leading to improved male fertility. It can be concluded that the dietary supplementation in combination with L, B, and M enhances male fertility in immature quail by increased expression of estrogen receptors via gut microbiota modulation. It also sheds light on the potential use of these nutritional factors in avian species as therapeutic interventions to overcome low fertility problems in quail thereby benefitting the poultry industry.

Withaferin-A attenuates diabetes mellitus induced male reproductive dysfunction mediated by ERα in brain and testes of Swiss albino mice

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease, characterized by persistent hyperglycemia resulting from diminished insulin secretion or insulin resistance. The present study evaluated the ameliorative effects of Withaferin-A (WA) on DM-induced reproductive dysfunction in mice. For the same, mice were intraperitoneally injected with Streptozotocin (STZ), (40 mg/kg/day) for 5 consecutive days to induce DM. Mice were then treated with WA (8 mg/kg/day) in normal and diabetic conditions (STZ + WA). Next, blood glucose levels, oral glucose tolerance, intraperitoneal insulin tolerance, oxidative stress and reproductive parameters were estimated. For reproductive performance, immunofluorescent localization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH-I) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in the preoptic area and paraventricular nucleus region of hypothalamus and ERα in testes was performed. STZ-induced diabetes triggered reproductive dysfunctions as mediated by low GnRH-I and ERα in the brain and ERα in the testes along with declined testosterone and estradiol levels. Treatment with WA significantly reduced the blood glucose levels and enhanced glucose clearance accompanied by reduced oxidative stress in the brain, pancreas and testes as indicated by the low levels of H2O2 and MDA in diabetic mice treated with WA (STZ + WA). This study reports, for the first time, that WA can efficiently ameliorate DM-induced reproductive dysfunctions by enhancing endogenous testosterone, estrogen and increased GnRH-I and ERα in the brain and ERα in the testes of DM-induced male mice.