Mechanisms of the hypoglycaemic and immunopotentiating effects of Nigella sativa L. oil in streptozotocin-induced diabetic hamsters

The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the hypoglycaemic effect of N. sativa oil (Nigella sativa oil) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic hamsters, in terms of hepatic glucose production, and to investigate the possible immunopotentiating effect of N. sativa oil on peritoneal macrophages. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg body weight of STZ. Treatment with N. sativa oil commenced 6 weeks after induction of diabetes at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight by gastric gavage. Isolated hepatocytes were collected using collagenase to determine liver glucose production. Phagocytic activity was evaluated by injection of fluorescent latex (2 microm diameter) intraperitoneally, followed 24 h later by collection of peritoneal macrophages. N. sativa oil reduced blood glucose from 391+/-3.0 mg/dl before treatment to 325+/-4.7, 246+/-5.9, 208+/-2.5 and 179+/-3.1 mg/dl after the first, second, third and fourth weeks of treatment, respectively. Hepatic glucose production from gluconeogenic precursors (alanine, glycerol and lactate) was significantly lower in treated hamsters. Treatment with N. sativa oil significantly increased the phagocytic activity and phagocytic index of peritoneal macrophages and lymphocyte count in peripheral blood compared with untreated diabetic hamsters. Our data indicate that the hypoglycaemic effect of N. sativa oil is due to, at least in part, a decrease in hepatic gluconeogenesis, and that the immunopotentiating effect of N. sativa oil is mediated through stimulation of macrophage phagocytic activity either directly or via activation of lymphocytes.     

Effect of Nigella sativa on glucose concentration, lipid peroxidation, anti-oxidant defence system and liver damage in experimentally-induced diabetic rabbits

This study was carried out to investigate whether Nigella sativa could decrease the lipid peroxidation, increase the anti-oxidant defence system and also prevent the lipid-peroxidation-induced liver damage in experimentally induced diabetic rabbits. Fifteen New Zealand male rabbits were divided into three experimental groups: control, diabetic and diabetic and N. sativa-treated. The diabetes mellitus (DMI) was induced in the rabbits using 150 mg/kg of 10% alloxan. The diabetic + N. sativa-treated group was given extract of N. sativa seeds orally every day for 2 months after induction of DM. At the end of the 2-month experiment, blood samples were collected to measure malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), ceruloplasmin and glucose concentration, and livers were harvested for histopathological analysis. Treatment with N. sativa decreased the elevated glucose and MDA concentrations, increased the lowered GSH and ceruloplasmin concentrations, and prevented lipid-peroxidation-induced liver damage in diabetic rabbits. It was concluded that N. sativa might be used in diabetic patients to prevent lipid peroxidation, increase anti-oxidant defence system activity and also prevent liver damage.     

Response of broiler chicks to dietary Rhazya stricta and Nigella sativa

1. Rhazya stricta leaves and Nigella sativa seeds were fed to 7-d-old Hibro broiler chicks at 20 and 100 g/kg of the diet for 7 weeks. Although 20 and 100 g/kg N. sativa seed diets did not adversely affect growth, a decrease in body weight and feed efficiency and hepatonephropathy were observed in the chicks fed on the 100 g/kg R. stricta diet. 2. These changes, associated with macrocytic hypochromic anaemia, were correlated with alterations in serum aspartate transaminase' (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities and concentrations of total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, calcium and other serum constituents. 3. The effect of 20 g/kg R. stricta diet on chicks was not associated with development of biliary hyperplasia or catarrhal enteritis after 7 weeks of treatment.     

黑种草子提取物对小鼠酒精性肝损伤的修复作用及机制研究

【目的】验证黑种草子提取物对小鼠酒精性肝损伤的修复作用并探究其机制,为其临床开发研究提供理论依据。【方法】将56只3周龄昆明小鼠随机均分为7组：空白对照组,模型组,黑种草子提取物高、中、低剂量组,黑种草子粉剂组及水飞蓟宾阳性对照组,每组8只。除空白对照组外,其余各组均以10 mL/kg 60%酒精灌胃,每天1次,连续15 d。第16天,黑种草子提取物高、中、低剂量组分别给予8、4、2 mL/kg黑种草子提取物,每天1次,连续10 d后处死小鼠。计算各组小鼠肝脏指数;检测血清中谷丙转氨酶（alanine aminotransferase,ALT）、谷草转氨酶（aspartate aminotransferase,AST）、过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）、超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（glutathione peroxidase,GSH-Px）活力;制备肝脏石蜡切片观察其病理变化;Western blotting检测NOD样受体热蛋白结构域相关蛋白3（NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3,NLRP3）、含半胱氨酸的天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶1（cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1,Caspase-1）和白细胞介素1β（interleukin-1β,IL-1β）的蛋白表达水平。【结果】与空白对照组相比,模型组小鼠肝脏指数显著上升（P<0.05）,肝细胞出现明显颗粒变性,水泡变性,核溶解,界限区分不清,肝索消失;血清ALT、AST活力显著上升（P<0.05）,SOD、CAT、GSH-Px活力显著下降（P<0.05）,说明肝损伤模型建立成功,且肝脏组织中NLRP3、Caspase-1和IL-1β蛋白表达水平显著升高（P<0.05）。与模型组相比,黑种草子提取物各剂量组血清ALT、AST活力均呈下降趋势,SOD、CAT、GSH-Px活力均呈上升趋势,其中高剂量组上述各指标均呈显著差异（P<0.05）,肝脏组织结构明显改善,NLRP3、Caspase-1和IL-1β蛋白表达水平均显著下降（P<0.05）。【结论】高剂量（8 mL/kg）黑种草子提取物可显著提高肝损伤小鼠的抗氧化水平,且可以通过抑制NLRP3炎性小体的表达而减少IL-1β的合成,从而改善肝脏功能和修复受损的肝脏组织结构。     

Nigella sativa (black cumin seed) as a biological detoxifier in diet contaminated with aflatoxin B1

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) is a common feed contaminant that adversely affects bird performance and product quality. A total of 600 7‐day‐old quail chicks were randomly allotted to eight experimental groups in a completely randomized design with five replicate pens and 15 quails per pen. Experimental treatments including two levels of AFB₁ (0 and 2.5 mg/kg) and 4 levels of Nigella sativa (NS) (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of diet) were offered from 7 to 35 days of age to quail chicks. Although feeding of AFB₁ impaired gain (G) and feed conversion ratio, dietary NS increased G (p < 0.05). Relative weight of bursa of Fabricius increased with incremental levels of NS (p < 0.05). AFB₁ decreased the size of heart, but incremental levels of NS increased the relative weight of heart (p < 0.05). The liver hypertrophy was observed in birds receiving AFB₁ (p < 0.05). The birds in AFB₁ group had smaller testes than other groups (p < 0.05). Hematocrit value in birds fed AFB₁ was lower than that in other groups (p < 0.05) and incremental levels of NS increased blood hematocrit (p < 0.05). Amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) in meat samples of the birds fed AFB₁ was higher than those did not receive toxin but incremental levels of NS decreased the MDA concentration in affected birds (p < 0.05). AFB₁ suppressed the humoral immunity of the birds while NS augmented the antibody titres against sheep red blood cell and Newcastle disease virus antigens (p < 0.05). AFB₁ decreased lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and spore‐forming bacteria (SFB) but increased Escherichia coli (E. coli; p < 0.05). However, NS increased LAB and SFB but decreased the E. coli populations (p < 0.05). This study revealed that NS as a biological detoxifier could relatively attenuate the negative effects of AFB₁ in quails.     

Effect of different levels of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) on performance,intestinal Escherichia coli colonization and jejunal morphology in laying hens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa L.) on performance, intestinal Escherichia coli count and morphology of jejunal epithelial cells in laying hens. A total of 100 Leghorn laying hens (Hy‐Line W‐36) of 49 weeks old were randomly distributed among five cage replicates of five birds each. Experimental diets consisted of different levels (0%, 1%, 2% and 3% of diet) of dietary black cumin inclusion. The experimental period lasted for a total of 10 weeks, and egg quality indexes and laying hens' performance were measured as two 35‐day trial periods. At the final day, two hens per replicate were slaughtered to investigate the influence of dietary treatments on intestinal E. coli colonization and morphology of jejunal cells. Although dietary black cumin in all supplementation levels decreased (p < 0.05) the enumeration of ileal E. coli, the morphological and histological alterations in small intestine such as enhancement of villus height to crypt depth ratio, increased goblet cell numbers and proliferation of lamina propria lymphatic follicles were observed after dietary supplementation with at least 2% black cumin. Dietary treatments decreased (p < 0.05) the concentration of serum cholesterol and triglycerides and increased (p < 0.05) serum HDL concentration and relative weight of pancreas; however, the egg yolk cholesterol was not influenced by dietary treatments. In addition, dietary supplementation with black cumin improved (p < 0.05) eggshell quality and Haugh unit. The best feed conversion ratio was obtained when diets were supplemented with 2% black cumin. This improvement was due to the increase (p < 0.05) in egg mass and contemporaneous decrease (p < 0.01) in feed consumption. The present results indicated that regardless of supplementation level, dietary inclusion of black cumin decreased E. coli enumeration in ileal digesta and improved serum lipid profile and eggshell quality, whereas the best intestinal health indices and haying hens' performance were obtained by at least 2% black cumin seeds.     

The role of antioxidant vitamins (C and E), selenium and Nigella sativa in the prevention of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in rabbits: new hopes

This experiment was carried out to investigate the role of antioxidants such as vitamin C and E, selenium and Nigella sativa (NS) on the prevention of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rabbits. It was found that superoxide dismutase (SOD) values in all of the treated groups were significantly lower than those of the control at 12th week of experiment (p < 0.05), while at 6th week and 12th week of experiment glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) values in the vitamin C treated group were significantly different from the control (p < 0.05). Histopathologically, hepatocellular necrosis, degeneration and advanced fibrosis were found in the control group. Lesions were minor and only confined to midzonal regions without centrilobular necrosis and fibrosis in the NS treated animals (group B). The lesions observed in the vitamin C treated animals (group C) were similar to that of the control group. Parenchymal changes with fibrosis were less in selenium and vitamin E treated animals (group D) than in those of the control group, but more obvious than in NS group. Histopathological findings demonstrate that NS might, at least partly, be successful in the prevention of liver fibrosis in rabbits. Vitamin E plus selenium had little therapeutic effect and vitamin C seemed to be ineffective, as far as the results of this study are concerned.     

Carcass characteristics,chemical and fatty acid composition and oxidative stability of meat from broiler chickens fed black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds

A study was conducted to investigate the dietary supplementation of black cumin seeds (BCS) on carcass characteristics, chemical and fatty acid (FA) composition and antioxidant properties of thigh and breast meat of broiler chickens at 42 days of age. Three hundred sixty 1‐day‐old broiler chickens were allocated to five dietary treatment groups (each group containing eight replicate pens with each pen containing nine broiler chickens): basal diet (control; CON), CON + 0.05 g/kg of bacitracin methylene disalicylate (AB), CON + 5 g/kg of BCS (low dose of BCS), CON + 10 g/kg of BCS (medium dose of BCS) and CON + 20 g/kg of BCS (high dose of BCS). Weight (g) of slaughtered birds (p = .03), hot carcass (p = .007), breast (p = .03), thigh (p < .001), wing (p = .06), neck (p = .01), liver (p = .09), abdominal fat (p = .01) and total edible parts (p = .01) increased or tended to increase due to BCS supplementation compared with the CON. The concentrations of dry matter, crude protein and ether extract in chicken thigh and breast meat increased (p = .038 to <.001) with increasing doses of BCS in diets. The ferric reducing antioxidant activity in blood and meat increased linearly with increasing doses of BCS in the diets. However, peroxide values in meat were not affected by BCS and AB on both days 1 and 7 of storage at 4°C. Supplementation of BCS increased the concentrations of C14:1, C18:3n‐6, C20:1, C20:2 FA and PUFA linearly (p < .05) and tended to increase (p = .098) the concentration of C18:2cis linearly. However, the concentrations of C16:0 and C16:1 FA decreased linearly with increasing doses of BCS in the diets. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of BCS at 20 g/kg diet may improve slaughter body weight, beneficial FA concentrations and antioxidant properties of broiler chicken meat.     

Effects of Nigella sativa L. and Urtica dioica L. on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and some liver enzymes in CCl4-treated rats

This study was designed to investigate the effects Nigella sativa L. (NS) and Urtica dioica L. (UD) on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and some liver enzymes in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-treated rats. A total of 60 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were utilized in this study. The rats were randomly allotted into one of four experimental groups: A (CCl4-only treated), B (CCl4 + UD treated), C (CCl4 + NS treated) and D (CCl4 + UD + NS treated), each containing 15 animals. All groups received CCl4 [0.8 ml/kg of body weight, subcutaneously, twice a week for 90 days starting day 1]. In addition, B, C and D groups also received daily intraperitoneal injections of 0.2 ml/kg NS or/and 2 ml/kg UD oils for 45 days starting day 46. Group A, on the other hand, received only 2 ml/kg normal saline solution for 45 days starting day 46. Blood samples for the biochemical analysis were taken by cardiac puncture from five randomly chosen rats in each treatment group at beginning, at 45th and at 90th day of the experiment. The CCl4 treatment for 45 days increased the lipid peroxidation and liver enzymes, and also decreased the antioxidant enzyme levels. NS or UD treatments (alone or combination) for 45 days starting day 46 decreased the elevated lipid peroxidation and liver enzyme levels and also increased the reduced antioxidant enzyme levels. Live weights of the rats decreased in group A, and increased in groups B, C and D. It is concluded that NS and UD decrease the lipid peroxidation and liver enzymes, and increase the antioxidant defence system activity in the CCl4-treated rats.     

微量元素对预混料中烟酰胺稳定性的影响

通过采用均匀试验设计,在近似于生产的高温贮藏条件(37℃)下,以4%的仔猪预混料为对象,研究不同水平组合的甲酸亚铁、碱式碳酸锌、碱式碳酸铜、硫酸锰对烟酰胺稳定性的影响,并在试验中增设2个对照组(硫酸盐对照组和不添加铁、铜、锰、锌对照组)。贮藏试验期60天。试验结果表明:预混料中添加微量元素导致了烟酰胺的额外损失,随微量元素添加量的增加,烟酰胺的损失率也显著增加(P<0.05)。在贮藏15天和30天烟酰胺损失率分别比硫酸盐组降低了36.16%、11.21%。碱式碳酸盐不同组合对烟酰胺的最大损失率为7.33%。甲酸亚铁、碱式碳酸铜、碱式碳酸锌、硫酸锰与烟酰胺的损失率无显著相关性(P>0.05)。烟酰胺损失率随时间延长显著增加(P<0.05)。烟酰胺的损失率在贮藏前30天占全期损失的74.85%。     

氟苯尼考粉中非法添加烟酰胺和氨茶碱的HPLC-PDA检测方法的建立

为检测氟苯尼考粉中非法添加的烟酰胺和氨茶碱,以十八烷基键合硅胶为填充剂,0．1％甲酸溶液（三乙胺调节pH值至3．0）-甲醇为流动相,建立了HPLC-PDA检测方法,并采用峰纯度检查和光谱相似度检查辅助对照品比对方法,对非法添加药物进行确证。在此液相色谱条件下,烟酰胺、氨茶碱与其他物质峰分离良好。按外标法以峰面积计算,烟酰胺和氨茶碱的平均回收率分别为99．8％和99．6％．RSD分别为0．1％和0．3％。结果表明,该检测方法准确、可靠,可用于同时测定氟苯尼考粉中非法添加的烟酰胺和氨茶碱。     

紫花苜蓿播种密度对草产量及其他生物学性状的影响

针对甘肃河西地区紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa）种植中播种密度过大导致出苗率低、保苗困难等问题,本研究探索紫花苜蓿在河西地区的适宜播种密度。结果表明,在河西地区紫花苜蓿的适宜播种密度为600万粒/hm2,在此密度下草产量和单位面积蛋白质产量最高,分别为24 776.66 kg/hm2和4 924.5 kg/hm2;随着播种密度的增加,紫花苜蓿呈现出返青提前而开花推迟,同期株高增加,耐旱能力下降,干物质含量降低的趋势。     

Comparative effects of using black seed (Nigella sativa), cumin seed (Cuminum cyminum), probiotic or prebiotic on growth performance,blood haematology and serum biochemistry of broiler chicks

A 42‐day trial was conducted to compare the effects of the following seven experimental diets, which varied in black seed, cumin seed, probiotic or prebiotic concentrations, on the broiler chicks: control (no additives), diet BS₁ (4 g/kg black seed), diet BS₂ (8 g/kg black seed), diet CS₁ (4 g/kg cumin seed), diet CS₂ (8 g/kg cumin seed), diet Pro (1 g/kg probiotic Primalac^®) and diet Pre (2 g/kg prebiotic Fermacto^®). A total of 420 1‐day‐old male broiler chicks, initially weighing an average of 43 g, were distributed into 28 floor pens at a stocking density of 15 birds per pen. At 28 day of age, the body weight in the birds fed diets BS₂, CS₂ and Pro was significantly higher than in the control group, but final body weight was not affected. Additionally, the birds fed diets BS₂, Pro and Pre exhibited better feed conversion ratio than control birds from 0 to 42 day of age. Diets BS₂, CS₂ and Pro also statistically increased the relative weight of thymus and bursa of Fabricius, whereas only diet Pro decreased the abdominal fat percentage compared with control diet. Regarding the haematological parameters, feeding diet BS₂ yielded a significant increase in red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit percentage compared with control diet. Serum total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the birds fed diets BS₂, Pro and Pre were also significantly lower than in the birds fed the control diet. Without exception, no diets affected feed intake, internal organs weights, carcass characteristics, antibody titres against Newcastle and influenza viruses and leucocyte subsets. In general, current study showed promising results regarding the use of spice additives as growth and health promoters, especially at higher levels of their incorporation in the diets, which were comparable to the probiotic‐ or prebiotic‐containing diets.     

Acaricidal properties of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel (tea tree oil) against nymphs of Ixodes ricinus

The aim of the study was to examine the acaricidal effect of essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil, TTO) at different doses (4, 6, 8 and 10 microl) and for different exposure times (30, 60, 90 and 120 min) on nymphs of Ixodes ricinus. A dose of 8 microl TTO was lethal for more than 70% of ticks when inhaled and this effect was enhanced when the dose was increased to 10 microl (> 80%). The effect was correlated with the duration of exposure of ticks to TTO, with a significant effect being observed after 90 min exposure. The findings show that TTO has acaricidal properties and could be extremely useful in controlling ticks that are efficient vectors of pathogens.     

Nicotinamide attenuates the decrease of astrocytic phosphoprotein PEA-15 in focal cerebral ischemic injury

Nicotinamide exerts neuroprotective effects against focal cerebral ischemic injury. Phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes 15 (PEA-15) is prominently expressed in astrocytes that exert broad anti-apoptotic functions. This study investigated whether nicotinamide modulates PEA-15 and levels of two phosphorylated PEA-15 (Serine 104 and 116) in an animal model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced injury. Adult male rats were treated with vehicle or nicotinamide (500 mg/kg) 2 hr after the onset of MCAO and cerebral cortices were collected at 24 hr after MCAO. In a proteomic approach, MCAO induced decreases of PEA-15 levels, while nicotinamide treatment attenuated the injury-induced decrease in PEA-15. The results of Western blot analysis suggest that nicotinamide prevented injury-induced reduction in phospho-PEA-15 (Serine 104) and phospho-PEA-15 (Serine 116) levels. The phosphorylation of PEA-15 exerts anti-apoptotic functions, and reduction of PEA-15 phosphorylation leads to apoptotic cell death. These results suggest that nicotinamide exerts a neuroprotective effect by attenuating the injury-induced decreases of PEA-15 and phospho-PEA-15 (Ser 104 and Ser 116) proteins.     

燕麦病害研究进展

病害是燕麦生产的主要限制因素之一,直接影响燕麦的产量和品质,进而影响草地农业生态系统的生产力。本研究通过国内外相关文献的回顾,对燕麦病害的病原学、种带真菌、病害的发生规律、品种抗病性、防治措施等方面的研究进展加以综述,探讨了国内的研究现状与国外存在的差距,展望了我国燕麦病害的研究前景和发展目标。     

甘肃箭筈豌豆种质资源评价

通过对甘肃42份箭筈豌豆（Vicia sativa）种质资源进行研究评价,以期为甘肃绿肥种植筛选优良的箭筈豌豆品种。结果表明,42份箭筈豌豆种质资源各性状指标存在明显差异,其中单株荚数和单株粒数是构成箭筈豌豆产量的主要要素。籽粒产量、鲜草产量、单株粒数和单株荚数4个指标可以反映箭筈豌豆性状的优劣。通过籽粒产量、鲜草产量、单株粒数和单株荚数4项指标进行聚类,可以分为4类,Ⅰ、Ⅱ类相对较好,共有7份材料,籽粒和鲜草产量分别在2 623.26～2 990.25和32 357.70～35 967.38 kghm-2,其中苏箭3号、陇箭1号和333/A属于早熟品种,麦类作物收获后的套复种、玉米(Zea mays)前期间作、马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum)绿肥间作、果树绿肥间作和单种绿肥5种利用模式均适宜;山西春箭碗和MB5/794属于中熟品种,则适宜与马铃薯间作、果树间作和单作;西牧820和波兰箭碗属于晚熟品种,则只适宜与果树间作和单作两种利用方式。     

粘毛鼠尾草种子油脂理化性质和脂肪酸成分

为探究粘毛鼠尾草（Salvia roborowskii）是否具有作为非粮生物柴油能源植物的潜质,本试验采用索氏提取法、气相色谱法测定了生长在川西北高原阿坝州红原县的野生粘毛鼠尾草种子的含油量、油脂理化性质以及脂肪酸含量。结果表明,粘毛鼠尾草种子含油量为43.36%,油脂碘值、皂化值分别为93.31、190.58 mg·g-1;脂肪酸成分以油酸和亚油酸为主,含量分别为49.95%和37.52%;计算得其相应生物柴油的十六烷值和冷滤点分别为53.94和-4.65 ℃。通过与我国生物柴油评价标准对比发现,粘毛鼠尾草在作为非粮生物柴油能源植物方面具有一定的潜在研发价值。