Evaluation of dietary chitosan effects on growth performance,immunity, body composition and histopathology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as well as the resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae infection

The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary chitosan supplementation on growth performance, body composition, immune response and histopathology of Nile tilapia, and also the in vitro antibacterial activity of chitosan against Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae). About 180 fish (average body weight 39.3 ± 0.3 g) were randomly divided into three groups according to chitosan supplementation: control group (basal diet without chitosan), Ch3 group (3 g chitosan/kg diet) and Ch5 group (5 g chitosan/kg diet). Growth performance parameters and body proximate composition were measured before infection but biochemical parameters and lysozyme and antibacterial activities before and after experimental infection. Results of the present investigation showed dietary chitosan (5 g chitosan/kg diet) significantly (p < .05) improved growth performance parameters, body composition (dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash, and carbohydrate) and serum biochemistry (total protein, albumin, globulin, with no effect on AST, ALT, urea and creatinine) before infection in Ch5 group than the control. After infection, liver enzymes (serum AST and ALT) were maintained lower in fish fed Ch3 or Ch5 than the control. Serum lysozyme and bactericidal activities significantly increased (p < .05) in chitosan groups before and after the challenge. The mortality rate was markedly reduced in the Ch3 group and prohibited in the Ch5 group after the experimental infection. In conclusion, feeding 3 or 5 g chitosan/kg diet increased the growth rate and improved FCR of Nile tilapia. In addition, it reduced mortality by its antibacterial and immunostimulant effects.     

An Anti-Inflammatory 2,4-Cyclized-3,4-Secospongian Diterpenoid and Furanoterpene-Related Metabolites of a Marine Sponge Spongia sp. from the Red Sea

Chemical investigation of a Red Sea Spongia sp. led to the isolation of four new compounds, i.e., 17-dehydroxysponalactone (1), a carboxylic acid, spongiafuranic acid A (2), one hydroxamic acid, spongiafuranohydroxamic acid A (3), and a furanyl trinorsesterpenoid 16-epi-irciformonin G (4), along with three known metabolites (−)-sponalisolide B (5), 18-nor- 3,17-dihydroxy-spongia-3,13(16),14-trien-2-one (6), and cholesta-7-ene-3β,5α-diol-6-one (7). The biosynthetic pathway for the molecular skeleton of 1 and related compounds was postulated for the first time. Anti-inflammatory activity of these metabolites to inhibit superoxide anion generation and elastase release in N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLF/CB)-induced human neutrophil cells and cytotoxicity of these compounds toward three cancer cell lines and one human dermal fibroblast cell line were assayed. Compound 1 was found to significantly reduce the superoxide anion generation and elastase release at a concentration of 10 μM, and compound 5 was also found to display strong inhibitory activity against superoxide anion generation at the same concentration. Due to the noncytotoxic activity and the potent inhibitory effect toward the superoxide anion generation and elastase release, 1 and 5 can be considered to be promising anti-inflammatory agents.     

Antioxidative effects of the acetone fraction and vanillic acid from Chenopodium murale on tomato plants

From the active acetone fraction of Chenopodium murale , vanillic acid was isolated and identified, based on ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectral analyses. Free phenolic compounds inside the active acetone were qualified and quantified by using high performance liquid chromatography analysis, which revealed the presence of seven compounds with an abundance of vanillic and p -hydroxybenzoic acids. The allelopathic potential of the acetone fraction and vanillic acid was evaluated through laboratory bioassays against tomato plants. Our results showed that the allelopathic potential induced by low concentrations of the acetone fraction and vanillic acid stimulated the germination and growth of tomato and had stimulating effects on the activity of some antioxidant enzymes. We observed an enhancement in the activity of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and polyphenol oxidase, as well as the content of soluble protein and phenolic glycoside. Meanwhile, the levels of free phenolic compounds, H₂O₂, and lipid peroxidation decreased. The highest stimulations were recorded at 50 p.p.m. of acetone fraction and 0.5 p.p.m. of vanillic acid. In contrast, the highest concentrations exerted negative effects on all the measured parameters to record the maximum value of inhibition at 400 p.p.m. of acetone fraction and 4 p.p.m. of vanillic acid. These results proved the antioxidative effects of active acetone and vanillic acid at low concentrations and their potent use as a stimulator for tomato germination and growth.