Copper Super-Dosing Improves Performance of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens through Modulation of Expression of Proinflammatory Cytokine Genes

Continuous exposure to high ambient temperatures brings about a number of oxidative damages in chickens. Copper (Cu), an active component of a number of antioxidative defence components, should arrest these changes to take place although that may not be possible under the standard dosing regimen followed by the industry. To ascertain the optimum dose response that may be beneficial in sustaining the performance of chickens under heat stress (HS), broiler chickens (n = 400) were exposed to high ambient temperature (between 27.2°C and 35.3°C) during 1-35 d. Copper (Cu) as Cu proteinate (Cu-P) at concentrations of 37.5, 75, 112.5, and 150 mg/kg was supplemented to the diet. The negative control (NC) diet did not contain any supplemental Cu. Increasing dietary Cu improved (P < 0.001) body weight, feed intake, and conversion ratio. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol at 21 d (P = 0.009), HDL cholesterol at 35 d (P = 0.008), LDL cholesterol at 21 d (P = 0.015), and triacylglycerol at both 21 d (P = 0.033) and 35 d (P = 0.001) decreased as Cu in the diet increased. As Cu in the diet increased, hemoglobin increased (P = 0.003) at 21 d, and the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio decreased both at 21 d (P = 0.047) and 35 d (P = 0.001). Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities increased when dietary Cu increased to 150 mg/kg (P < 0.01). Liver Cu at 35 d increased linearly with the dose of Cu in the diet (P = 0.0001). Selected bacteria were enumerated in the digesta to ascertain if Cu super-dosing affected their population in any way in the absence of any enteric challenge. Escherichia coli and total Salmonella numbers decreased (P = 0.0001), and total Lactobacillus increased (P = 0.0001) proportionately with dietary Cu. Interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α gene expression increased linearly (P = 0.0001) as Cu in the diet increased though the response plateaued at 112.5 mg/kg. It was concluded from the present experiment that during conditions of impending HS, dietary supplementation of 112.5 to 150 mg Cu/kg diet as Cu-P may be a novel strategy to alleviate the negative effects of HS without involving any apparent risk of Cu toxicity.

Psychopharmacological studies on Tragia involucrata root extract

The methanol fraction of the root extract of Tragia involucrata was investigated for psychopharmacological activity in rodents. It produced an alteration of behavioural pattern and a reduction in spontaneous motility. A significant potentiation of pentobarbitone-induced sleep, a decrease of body temperature, suppression of the aggressive behaviour pattern and of the conditioned avoidance response (CAR) were observed with the fraction. These suggest that the methanol fraction of the T. involucrata root extract possesses significant central nervous system depressant action.

Antioxidant activity of the methanol fraction of Pluchea indica root extract

Studies were carried out to evaluate the influence of the methanol fraction of Pluchea indica Less root extract (PIRE), the dual inhibitors (BW 755C and phenidone) and vitamin on both in vivo and in vitro free radical-scavenging activities, CCl(4)-induced lipid peroxidation and the metabolism of arachidonic acid by lipoxygenase. PIRE produced significant antiinflammatory activity against glucose oxidase-induced paw oedema (in vivo), inhibited hydroxyl radical and superoxide generation, lysis of erythrocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide, CCl(4)-induced lipid peroxidation and also dioxygenase activity of lipoxygenase (both in the presence and absence of hydrogen peroxide). Significantly higher free radical-scavenging activity was observed with BW 755C and phenidone compared with PIRE. However, both BW 755C and phenidone stimulated hydroxyl radical generation compared with the observed inhibitory effects of PIRE and vitamin E.

Studies on psychopharmacological activity of Andrographis paniculata extract

Psychopharmacological studies were conducted on an extract of Andrographis paniculata herbs. The extract exhibited a significant alteration in behaviour pattern and a reduction in spontaneous motility. The extract also produced a prolongation of the pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time and lowered the body temperature in different experimental animal models.

Preliminary studies on the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of the methanolic fraction of the root extract of Tragia involucrata Linn

Tragia involucrata has been widely used in the traditional medicinal system for the treatment of a variety of diseases. The effect of methanolic extract of T. involucrata was studied in different experimental animal models and it was revealed that the extract possesses significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity.

Coherent stochastic resonance in the case of two absorbing boundaries

The coherent stochastic resonance is observed and studied with a multistep periodic signal in a continuous medium having two absorbing boundaries. The general features of this process are exhibited. The universal features at the resonance point are demonstrated. The kinetic behaviors around the resonance point are also presented.