Icariin: a Potential Compound for the Recovery of Tibial Dyschondroplasia Affected Chicken Via Up-Regulating BMP-2 Expression

Background

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a skeletal disease of fast growing chicken and other avian species. It is characterized by an avascular and non-mineralized growth plate, which leads to a deformed tibial bone and lameness. Unfortunately, this disease is not only responsible for causing huge economic losses but also raises animal welfare concerns. Icariin is a flavonoid, which is isolated from Epimedium pubescens herb, and it has been used to cure different diseases including bone fractures and osteoporosis.

Results

We designed this experiment to use icariin for the treatment of TD affect chickens; for this purpose, a total of 180 chicks were equally divided into three groups: control, TD and icariin. All the three groups were offered ad libitum same normal standard diet with an addition of thiram (50 mg/kg) from 3rd day to 7th day in TD and icariin group in order to induce TD in chickens. After the induction of TD, the chickens in icariin groups were fed standard diet with an addition of icariin at the rate of 10 mg/kg in drinking water to check the therapeutic effect of this flavonoid on TD. Our results showed that the icariin helped in restoring the TD lesion into a normal structure with significantly (P?<?0.05) up-regulating the bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) expression in the tibial growth plates (GP).

Conclusions

Icariin increased the vascular area in the growth plate and decreased the average TD score. In conclusion, this study shows that icariin is a potential compound for the recovery of TD affected chickens via up-regulating the BMP-2 expression without posing a threat of ingestion of toxic veterinary drug residues to human beings upon the consumption of treated chickens.

     

Prevalence of exposure of heavy metals and their impact on health consequences

Even in the current era of growing technology, the concentration of heavy metals present in drinking water is still not within the recommended limits as set by the regulatory authorities in different countries of the world. Drinking water contaminated with heavy metals namely; arsenic, cadmium, nickel, mercury, chromium, zinc, and lead is becoming a major health concern for public and health care professionals. Occupational exposure to heavy metals is known to occur by the utilization of these metals in various industrial processes and/or contents including color pigments and alloys. However, the predominant source resulting in measurable human exposure to heavy metals is the consumption of contaminated drinking water and the resulting health issues may include cardiovascular disorders, neuronal damage, renal injuries, and risk of cancer and diabetes. The general mechanism involved in heavy metal‐induced toxicity is recognized to be the production of reactive oxygen species resulting oxidative damage and health related adverse effects. Thus utilization of heavy metal‐contaminated water is resulting in high morbidity and mortality rates all over the world. Thereby, feeling the need to raise the concerns about contribution of different heavy metals in various health related issues, this article has discussed the global contamination of drinking water with heavy metals to assess the health hazards associated with consumption of heavy metal‐contaminated water. A relationship between exposure limits and ultimate responses produced as well as the major organs affected have been reviewed. Acute and chronic poisoning symptoms and mechanisms responsible for such toxicities have also been discussed.     

Earliness index deters <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pectinophora gossypiella</Emphasis> incidence on advanced cultivars of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bt</Emphasis> cotton

Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) is recognized as an important pest of cotton and can damage flowers and bolls of both Bt and non-Bt cultivars. Cry-1Ac in Bt cultivars is considered very effective in controlling lepidopterous larvae; therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate the impact of Cry1-Ac and the earliness index on the natural incidence of P. gossypiella at the Cotton Research Institute, Faisalabad. During 2015–2016, ten cultivars were used to determine the incidence of pink bollworm infestation. The experiment was repeated for 2 years. During the next year, Cry1-Ac and earliness traits of selected cultivars were also observed to determine their impact on pink bollworm. Correlation coefficient results regarding days to first flower (r value = 0.66) as well as the earliness index (r value = ? 0.62) exhibited a strong association with pink bollworm, but Cry1-Ac had a weak association (r value = ? 0.058) with pink bollworm. The coefficient of determination (R ²) explained that variability of pink bollworm due to Cry1-Ac, the earliness index, and days to first flower was 18.0, 38.5, and 43.5%, respectively. Principal component analysis results showed that the first two PCs expressed 87% of the total variability. Clusters made on the basis of the studied parameters revealed that clusters 2 and 3 comprised the cotton cultivars possessing earliness traits compared with cluster 1. Therefore, it can be concluded that the earliness index in cotton is an important component for the sustainable management of pink bollworm infestation, the need for which is endless to evade the pink bollworm problem in the era of climate change.     

Assessment of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-NPs) Induced Hepatotoxicity and Ameliorative Effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cinnamomum cassia</Emphasis> in Sprague-Dawley Rats

This study assessed the protective effects of Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) bark extract in rats exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles or titanium dioxide bulk salt. For in vivo evaluation of the ameliorative role of the cinnamon extract, the experimental groups were orally administered with the cinnamon extract at different dose levels (50 or 100 or 150 mg/kg bodyweight) along with the subcutaneous injections of 150 mg/kg bodyweight titanium dioxide nanoparticles or titanium dioxide bulk salt. The extract showed significant ameliorative role on the antioxidant system in response to elevated levels of titanium dioxide nanoparticles or titanium dioxide bulk salt-induced oxidative stress. It aided in the recovery of the antioxidant system as well as protective role in histological damages and some haematological parameters in the rat liver treated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles or titanium dioxide bulk salt.     

Nano Copper Induces Apoptosis in PK-15 Cells via a Mitochondria-Mediated Pathway

Nano-sized copper particles are widely used in various chemical, physical, and biological fields. However, earlier studies have shown that nano copper particles (40–100 μg/mL) can induce cell toxicity and apoptosis. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the role of nano copper in mitochondrion-mediated apoptosis in PK-15 cells. The cells were treated with different doses of nano copper (20, 40, 60, and 80 μg/mL) to determine the effects of apoptosis using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) fluorescence staining and a flow cytometry assay. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the PK-15 cells were examined using commercially available kits. Moreover, the mRNA levels of the Bax, Bid, Caspase-3, and CYCS genes were assessed by real-time PCR. The results revealed that nano copper exposure induced apoptosis and changed the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, nano copper significantly altered the levels of the Bax, Bid, Caspase-3, and CYCS genes at a concentration of 40 μg/mL. To summarize, nano copper significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the level of SOD and increased the level of MDA in PK-15 cells. Altogether, these results suggest that nano copper can play an important role in inducing the apoptotic pathway in PK-15 cells, which may be the mechanism by which nano copper induces nephrotoxicity.     

Sequence Analysis and Comparative Bioinformatics Study of Camelysin Gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">calY</Emphasis>) Isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis>

Bacillus strains have been widely used for the production of fibrinolytic enzymes having role in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. Purification and overproduction of such enzymes has increased their usage in medical fields including metalloproteinases with the ability to degrade extracellular matrix (ECM). Camelysin, a neutral metalloproteinase has been isolated from different species of bacteria like Bacillus cereus, Bacillus anthracis, and Bacillus thuringiensis with fibrinolytic, collagenolytic and actin degradation activity. This project successfully demonstrated the presence of 734-bp coding DNA sequence (CDS) encoding a 20.72331 kDa camelysin gene in local strain of Bacillus thuringiensis containing a signal peptide with cleavage site between residues 19 and 20. The sequence was submitted to GenBank (KT023597) and the sequence showed high homology with the camelysin protein of closely related Bacillus species. The alignment of related proteins through ClustalW displayed difference of four amino acids (“Q” replaced by “P” at position 169 and at position 182–184, “NQE” replaced by “HLK”) in the isolated protein. Comparison including structural and functional analysis of camelysin sequences isolated from different Bacillus species was carried out using different bioinformatics tools and software. The information would help in better understanding the properties of camelysin protein and its role in pathogenicity and clinical treatments.     

Natural fermentation of plant tissues as environmental remediation materials to improve soil and enhance plant resistance to cadmium stress

Cadmium (Cd) pollution poses a serious threat to various ecosystems, and phytoremediation is an alternate method for developing the soil health. To better utilize phytoremediation for Cd-contaminated soil remediation, the ginkgo leaves, pine needles, and Eucommia bark were mixed and naturally fermented to obtain Ginkgo biloba–Pinus massoniana–Eucommia ulmoides (GPE) Jiaosu and Jiaosu residue, whose effects on Broussonetia papyrifera planted in Cd-contaminated soil were evaluated. The results showed that the contents of the protein, phenolic, vitamin E, and alcohol of GPE Jiaosu were 4400 ± 0.46, 0.22 ± 0.01, 0.88 ± 0.24, and 4.63 ± 0.25 μL/mL, accordingly, with fine antioxidant activity. The soil pH, electrical conductivity content, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and Cd concentration were all significantly (p < 0.05) modified. The chlorophyll content of B. papyrifera was increased by using Jiaosu residue in 12 hours, while the promotion effect of Jiaosu appeared in the later stage (60 days). The Cd tolerance physiological indexes such as malondialdehyde content and antioxidant enzymes' activity were all regulated. Applying the Jiaosu residue, the Cd in stems was decreased by 72.61% under 1000 mg/kg Cd treatment. These results suggested that GPE Jiaosu and Jiaosu residue can improve the properties of Cd-contaminated soil, promote the Cd tolerance of B. papyrifera, and affect the Cd migration. The current study provides a new bioremediation method using the Jiaosu and Jiaosu residue as Cd environmental remediation materials in a recyclable pathway, which is a circular and healthy development concept that integrates economic, ecological, and social significance.