Effect of Fortified Feed with Phyto-Extract on the First Physical Barrier (Mucus) of Labeo rohita

The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of two different fortified feeds with different concentrations of two important medicinal plants (Withania coagulans and Zingiber officinale) on the mucosal immunity of Labeo rohita. After a dietary intervention, mucus was tested against five pathogenic bacteria (in-vitro), while experimental fish were tested against the ectoparasite (Lernaea) (in-vivo). Our results revealed that all fish groups fed with different concentrations (1, 1.5, and 2%) of Z. officinale had low molecular weight proteins and did not develop any significant signs of parasitic infection, with low mortality rate; whereas the groups that were fed with W. coagulans (particularly with 1% and 2%), including a control group, developed rapid signs of infection with high mortality rate. The highest hemagglutination titer value was recorded for the fish fed with 1% and 1.5% of Z. officinale. The lowest value was found for the fish fed with 2% of W. coagulans. The mucus of all fish of fortified groups was active and inhibited the growth of tested bacterial pathogens as compared to the control group. Further, Z. officinale groups showed greater efficacy against bacteria as compared to the W. coagulans groups. In conclusion, Z. officinale can be considered as a potential and functional ingredient in aquaculture feed. Furthermore, future studies should be conducted to investigate more details on the subject.

Assessment of Immunostimulatory Characteristics of Achyranthes aspera Seeds and Leaves Supplemented Diets in Labeo rohita Fingerlings

The effect of dietary supplementation of leaves and seeds of Achyranthes aspera on rohu, Labeo rohita fingerlings was evaluated. Three experimental diets containing 0.25 (D1) and 0.5% (D2) leaves and 0.5% (D3) seeds of A. aspera and control diet (D4) without plant ingredients were formulated. After 45 days of feeding, rohu were immunized with 20% chicken RBC. Tissue and blood samples were collected on days7, 14 and 21 after immunization. Dietary supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased the average weight and specific growth rate of rohu. Serum lysozyme, myeloperoxidase, hemagglutination titer and nitric oxide synthase activities were significantly (P<0.05) higher in D3 compared to others. This group was followed by D2 and D1. Significantly (P<0.05) lower lipid and protein oxidations were found in D3 compared to others. This group was followed by D2 and D1. In hepatopancreas, lysozyme C, lysozyme G, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expressions were up-regulated while interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression was downregulated. In anterior kidney, lysozyme C, lysozyme G and IL-10 expressions were upregulated while TNF-α and IL-1β expressions were down-regulated. The dietary inclusion of leaves and seeds of A. aspera enhanced the growth, improved immune system and reduced oxidative stress of rohu.

ASSESSMENT OF IMMUNOMODULATORY POTENTIAL OF AN AYURVEDIC FORMULATION, NIROCIL SYRUP IN WISTAR RATS

Objective: This study aims to assess the immunomodulatory potential of an Ayurvedic formulation, Nirocil syrup, in Wistar rats. Methods: The experiments were conducted on Wistar rats with prior approval from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Nirocil syrup was administered for 6 weeks to experimental animals. Parameters such as hemagglutination titer, histopathology of immunological organs, complete blood count, differential leukocyte count, and immunological paw edema were recorded and compared with controlled (untreated) and becozinc treated groups. Results: Nirocil treated group significantly enhanced the antibody titer in comparison to the control group. The results are supported by the increase in blood lymphocyte count and antigenic stimulation in immunological organs (spleen). Nirocil syrup enhanced antibody formation and suppressed the immunological edema in experimental animals. Conclusions: The study concludes that the Ayurvedic formulation Nirocil syrup has immunopotentiating activity.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Tigecycline in Balb/C Mice

Tigecycline is a glycylcycline antibiotic approved by the FDA for the treatment of complicated infections. Despite its effectiveness, the FDA announced a warning of increasing mortality associated with its use. There is, however, no clear explanation for this side effect. Previous reports found a possible effect of tigecycline on leukocyte proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine release. We t herefore i nvestigated the effect of tigecycline on the immune components and response in Balb/c mice in vivo and in vitro. It was found that tigecycline enhanced lymphocyte proliferation and significantly increased cellular infiltration within the footpad, as based on DTH testing, but reduced the hemagglutination titer. In splenocyte cultures, tigecycline suppressed splenocyte proliferation with IC50 3-5 mmol L-1, significantly increased IL-2 secretion and reduced IL-17 secretion in a dose dependent mode. In conclusion, tigecycline is safe at therapeutic and sub-therapeutic doses, but it could still have an immunomodulatory effect at higher doses. Use of higher doses of tigecycline requires further investigation.

Evaluation of immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine in BALB/c mice

Modulation of the immune system has recently been shown to be involved in the pharmacological effects of old antiepileptic drugs and in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Therefore, the most recent guidelines for immunotoxicological evaluation of drugs were consulted to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine, a newer antiepileptic drug, in BALB/c mice. These included the in vivo effects of lamotrigine on delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antigens, hemagglutination titer assays and hematological changes. In vitro effects of lamotrigine on ConA-induced splenocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion were assessed. The results showed that lamotrigine treatment significantly increased the DTH response to SRBC in the mouse model of this study. This was accompanied by a significant increase in relative monocyte and neutrophil counts and in spleen cellularity. Lamotrigine significantly inhibited ConA-induced splenocyte proliferation in vitro and it significantly inhibited IL-2 and TNF-α secretion in ConA-stimulated splenocytes. In conclusion, the results demonstrated significant immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine in BALB/c mice. These data could expand the understanding of lamotrigine-induced adverse reactions and its role in modulating the immune system in epilepsy.

Hemagglutination Characterization of Lectins from Four Traditional Chinese Medicines

Hemagglutination titer of crude lectin from four traditional chinese medicine was detected. Lectins from Radix Polygalae and Saxifraga stolonifera agglutinated red blood cells of rabbit, rat and chook potently. Heteropappus hispidus (Thunb.) Less lectin also agglutinated the three kinds of red blood cells, but hemagglutination titer was lower. Hemagglutination effect of Lepisorus waltonii (Ching) Ching lectin only appeared in rat red blood cells.

The effect of Sodium deoxycholate on the production of Newcastle virus inoculated in chorioallantoic membrane

Newcastle Disease is one of the most important disease world wide distributions which invade the flock in different age resulting in large economic losses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of treatment with 4 different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 %) of Sodium deoxycholate (SDC) on the vaccinal virus (La Sota) using inoculation in the fragments of Chorioallantoic membrane. The treatment with each of the above 4 concentrations of SDC resulted in an increase in the Hemagglutination titer (HA) of the virus (28, 29.6, 211.6, 214.6) respectively as compared to the HA titer value for the untreated virus (26.6). No significant differences were noticed among all concentrations with regard to their effect on the HA titer, except the concentrations of 1.0 and 2.0 % where significant differences were recorded (P > 0.05). The results of this study suggest that SDC has an important activity in enhancement of the replication of NDV through increasing the Hemagglutination titer, which has a great importance in vaccine production.

Carbodiimide-mediated conjugation of hippuric acid to concanavalin A: retention of ligand binding and hemagglutinating activities

Conditions for conjugating small molecules with reactive carboxyl groups to concanavalin A (ConA), with retention of biological activity of the lectin, are described. Hippuric acid was conjugated to reactive amino groups on ConA with N-ethyl-N′-(dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide under conditions in which neither inter- nor intra-molecular cross-linking was detectable. These same conditions provided for the loading of variable amounts of hippurate as a function of reaction time; conjugates were synthesized with 9.6 mol hippurate∙mol ConA−1. Conjugation in the presence of 0.1 M phosphate provided a condition for limiting the extent of coupling; only amide linkages were formed. These conjugates retained both the ability to bind ligands and the hemagglutination titer of the native lectin.