Soha A. Hassan

Objective: Dose-response curves were performed to explore the effect of eucalyptus essential oil nanoemulsion (EEONE) on the growth rate, feed efficiency, and health status of growing rabbits facing heat stress.Methods: Sixty growing rabbits (6 weeks old), were randomly divided into four homogeneous groups, receiving diets supplements with 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg EEONE/kg diet (EEONE0, EEONE100, EEONE200, and EEONE400, respectively).Results: Significant improvements were observed in growth performance, feed utilization, and physiological responses in the EEONE-treated groups compared to the control (p<0.05). Regression analysis revealed quadratic increases in red blood corpuscles and quadratic decreases in white blood cell counts in response to EEONE treatment, with optimal concentrations showed at 325 and 300 mg EEONE, respectively. Hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, blood protein and glucose levels linearly increased, while liver enzymes decreased significantly due to the EEONE treatment. The aberrant changes observed in liver tissues due to heat stress were effectively reversed, leading to a restoration of hepatic morphology closely resembling normal conditions, by co-administration of EEONE. Serum urea and creatinine concentrations decreased quadratically in the EEONE-treated groups, minimizing at 300 mg EEONE. Quadratic regression analysis indicated that the optimal doses were 300 mg EEONE for glutathione peroxidase and protein carbonyl, and 350 mg EEONE for total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde. Cellular and humoral immunity as well as pro inflammatory cytokinase significantly improved by the dietary treatment.Conclusion: Supplementing the diet with EEONE at levels of 300–400 mg can effectively improve growth metrics and health status of fattened rabbits.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of pomegranate oil nanoemulsion (PO-NE) supplementation in semen extender on semen quality, redox status and apoptotic genes of cryopreserved bovine semen.Methods: Seven proven fertility Holstein Friesian bulls (4 to 6 years) were involved, and the semen samples were collected using the artificial vagina method. Semen was pooled and cryopreserved in tris extender containing PO-NE at 0 (PO-NE0), 1 (PO-NE1), 2 (PO-NE 2) and 4 μg/mL (PO-NE4), respectively.Results: Incorporating 2 or 4 μg/mL PO-NE into freezing media significantly increased sperm progressive motility, viability, membrane integrity, and kinematic parameters. Furthermore, the aforementioned two treated concentrations demonstrated superior antioxidative activities (total antioxidant capacity and super oxide dismutase) and higher nitric oxide levels compared to the control group (p<0.05). The levels of hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and Nuclear Factor-Kappa B were notably lower in the PO-NE4 treated group compared to the control group. The addition of 2 or 4 μg/mL of PO-NE to the freezing media significantly downregulated pro-apoptotic genes (caspase 3, Bax), while significantly induced the expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2. The addition of PO-NE preserved plasma membrane and acrosome integrity and maintained the ultrastructure of sperm, contrasting with PO-NE0, which exhibited the most damage.Conclusion: Supplementing the bovine freezing extender with 2 or 4 μg/mL of PO-NE enhanced post-thawed sperm characteristics by reducing oxidative stress, improving antioxidant indices and apoptotic genes expression, and preserving the ultrastructure integrity of frozen-thawed cattle sperm.

When used in excess, the analgesic paracetamol can cause hepatic centrilobular necrosis, which can be fatal. The goal of this study was to see if strawberry extract could protect rats' livers from paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. Strawberry (75 and 150 mg/kg bw) and vit C (1 g /kg bw) were given orally, daily for 15 days demonstrated a significant reduction in the effects of caused changes in plasma cholesterol, triacylglycerol, phospholipids and vit C, TBARS, GSH, TNF-α, IL-4 and NO, AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, SOD, GPx and GSH levels. Furthermore, strawberry extract significantly inhibits hepatocyte B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) but significantly induces p53, NF-KB and Trx1 gene expression compared to paracetamol- treated rats. Histological examination showed that significant normalization has been observed in strawberry extract treated rats. Conclusions Strawberry extract shows considerable hepatoprotective benefits in the case of paracetamol-induced liver damage, confirming it's essential use as a treatment for liver damage.

This study evaluated the efficacy of Turraea fischeri leaf extract for maintaining the viability of cryopreserved goat sperm. Ejaculated semen was collected from 5 mature Baladi bucks (50–60 kg, 2–4 years of age) and those samples with mass motility ≥ 70% and sperm concentration ≥ 2.5 × 10⁹/mL were selected, pooled, and divided into 4 aliquots. Each aliquot was diluted in Tris-citric-soybean lecithin extender containing a different concentration of T. fischeri leaf extract (0, 125, 250, or 375 µg/mL). Treated semen samples were cooled to 5 °C, transferred to 0.25-mL French straws, and stored in liquid nitrogen (LN₂) at −196 °C. After thawing, membrane integrity was examined by transmission electron microscopy, apoptotic activity by Annexin/propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry, and both enzyme activities and antioxidant capacity by spectroscopic assays. The leaf extract at 375 µg/mL significantly improved semen quality as indicated by enhanced total antioxidant capacity, reduced H₂O₂ concentration, a greater proportion of structurally intact motile sperm, and concomitant reductions in apoptosis and necrosis. The extract also significantly increased the proportion of sperm with a contiguous plasma membrane and intact acrosome (p < 0.05). Furthermore, LC-MS revealed numerous secondary metabolites in the extract that may contribute to sperm cryopreservation.

Albizia harveyi is a tropical deciduous tree, found across South and Eastern Africa and widely used in traditional medicine. The leaf extract ameliorated the damaging effects of the frozen-thawing process in cryopreserved bull semen. In a dose-dependent pattern, sperm motility, viability, and membrane integrity were improved compared to the untreated control. Furthermore, the extract increased the percentage of viable sperm cells and reduced the percentages of early apoptotic and apoptotic sperm cells as well as the damage in sperm ultra-structure. These activities are in agreement with the robust antioxidant properties in vitro and in the seminal fluid as observed in the total antioxidant capacity and the lipid peroxidation parameter malondialdehyde. LC-MS yielded 35 compounds. The extract was dominated by quercetin-O-galloyl-hexoside and quercetin-O-pentoside, along with other flavonoid glycosides. The polyphenols are probably responsible for the observed activities. In conclusion, the current findings show that A. harveyi leaves are rich in bioactive polyphenols with functional properties, validating its traditional use.