Ahmed M. Abdel-Salam

| β -lactoglobulin (β -LG) and Leptin (LEP) genes are described as the functional genes for milk yield and milk composition. This study aims to identify different genotypes of β -LG and LEP genes associated with milk composition in Zaraiby and Damascus goats. 80 samples of blood and milk were collected from farm animals in Sakha, Egypt. The potential of hydrogen (pH), fat, protein, lactose, and solid not fat (SNF) were determined by biochemical methods in all milk samples. Different genotypes of β -LG and LEP genes were detected by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP-PCR), and then validated by sequence analysis. The results of SSCP-PCR showed a monomorphic pattern for the β -LG gene and a polymorphic pattern for the LEP gene. The sequence analysis showed that the β -LG gene has one genotype without any single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) while the LEP gene has two genotypes (CC and CT) with one SNP at position 194 C>T. The statistical analysis of milk and genotypes data showed that the β -LG gene has not any effect in the measurement of milk composition in Zaraiby and Damascus goats, while the CT genotype of the LEP gene causes an insignificant reduction in protein percentage and insignificant increase in fat percentage in Damascus goat. In conclusion, the fat percent of Damascus goat milk is affected by the T allele of the Leptin gene. Therefore, the T allele may help improve milk fat content through breeding programs.

Introduction: Duqqa is a condiment, consisting of black pepper, cumin, sesame, coriander and high amount of salt. Reducing salt and adding other beneficial items to traditional duqqa can make it suitable dietary supplement for diabetes management. The current study aimed to assess the effect of a modified duqqa on diabetes and its complications in diabetic rats. Methods: The modified duqqa was formulated by mixing grounded fermented wheat, sesame, coriander, cumin, chicory leaves, cinnamon, turmeric and date seeds powder and studied in diabetic rats which were developed by streptozotocin-nicotinamide injection. Thirty-two rats were divided into four groups (n = 8) including non-diabetic, diabetic control and the other two groups fed on balanced diet supplemented with either 10 or 20% of duqqa prior the induction of diabetes (for one week) to the end of the experiment (8 weeks). Results: The dietary supplementation with 10 and 20% of the formulated duqqa prior the induction of diabetes did not delay the onset of diabetes in rats but produced reduction (32.56% and 50.47%, respectively) in the glucose levels of diabetic rats. Also, diabetic rats fed on the formulated duqqa showed insulin concentrations higher than that of diabetic control rats. Feeding diabetic rats on the formulated duqqa reversed the elevation of kidney lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide, limited the disturbance in the lipid profile as well as liver and kidney functions and elevated both serum and femur magnesium concentrations. Conclusion: The results indicated the hypoglycemic effect of the formulated duqqa and its efficiency in delaying diabetes complications.

Antidiabetic and Immunoprophylactic Effects of Camel Milk Filtrate and Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) Juice Against Alloxan-induced Oxidative Stress and Diabetes in Rats

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different microencapsulation materials on the stability of probiotic bacterium (Lactobacillus plantarum DSM 20174). Microencapsulation methods with alginates were carried out using sodium chloride, canola oil, olive oil, and chitosan. The recorded data showed that the encapsulated probiotic bacterium was more stable compared with free cells. Olive oil capsules recorded the highest stability at pH 2 after incubation period of 24 h with stability up to 0.00004%. Olive oil and chitosan capsules showed stability with high concentration of bile salts (0.5%) with stability percent of 82 and 65% respectively, after 2 h of incubation. Sodium chloride and chitosan capsules gave the best stability percent of 0.026 and 0.00005%, respectively, at heat treatment up to 65°C for 30 min. Storage treatment at 4°C for 17 days reduced the stability of all capsule types, whereas sodium chloride and chitosan capsule showed stability percent up to 59 and 56%, respectively. Key words: Microencapsulation, Lactobacillus plantarum, olive oil and alginate.

This study aimed at investigating the ameliorative effects of probiotic and/or dandelion aqueous extract to reducing the risk of arsenic (As) intoxication on male rats. Fifty rats were randomly allotted into five groups, group 1(C-) given regular diet and water daily for 56 days, group 2 (C+) given sodium arsenate in drinking water, group 3 (PRO) given sodium arsenate in addition to probiotic, group 4 (PRE) given dandelion aqueous extract plus sodium arsenate (prebiotic) and group 5 (SYN) given sodium arsenate plus probiotic/dandelion extract (synbiotic). At the experiment conclusion rats were sacrificed and blood and testes were collected and taken for analysis and histopathological study, respectively. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST), Alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) activities and creatinine, triglycerides (TG) and testosterone(T) concentration were determined and testes histopathology was studied. Creatinine, AST and TG were lower (P