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Ellagic acid (EA), derived from fruit ellagitannins, is known to be antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic in various animal tumor models. In this study, EA at a dose of 4 g/kg diet inhibited multiplicity of tumors induced by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in A/J mice by 54%. This inhibition was dose related between 0.06 and 4.0 g/kg diet. In contrast, two related compounds, esculin and esculetin, had no effect on lung tumorigenesis. The biodistribution of EA was studied as a function of dose and time after gavage of EA. The levels of EA in the lung were directly proportional to the dose of EA between 0.2 and 2.0 mmol. The maximum level of EA, corresponding to 21.3 nmol/g, was observed 30 minutes after gavage with 2.0 mmol of EA/kg body wt, which corresponds to only 70 ppm of the administered dose. The levels in liver tissues were 10-fold lower and reached a maximum 30 minutes after gavage. At this interval, the blood level of EA was 1 nmol/ml. The inclusion of EA in cyclodextrin doubles the level of EA in lung tissues. These results demonstrate that EA localizes preferentially in lung tissues and confirm that EA administered orally can inhibit lung tumorigenesis.

Ellagic acid (EA) is generated by hydrolysis of ellagitannins present in fruit berries and edible nuts and grapes. Large doses of EA prevent lung tumorigenesis induced by the tobacco carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in A/J mice. In this study, we document the efficacies of the EA structural analogue (3,4,7,8-tetrahydroxy-6H-benzo[b,d]pyran-6-one) (analogue 1) to inhibit specific P450 activities, pulmonary metabolism of NNK in A/J mice, and NNK-induced mutations in Salmonella typhimurium. Mouse lung microsomes metabolized benzyloxyresorufin, a marker of cytochrome P450 2B1 activity, more extensively than methoxyresorufin or ethoxyresorufin. The EA analogue was more effective than EA in inhibiting dealkylation of the three alkoxyresorufins, suggesting that it is a nonspecific inhibitor of P450s. Mouse lung microsomes hydroxylate testosterone in the 7alpha and 6beta positions, suggesting contributions of P450 2A1 and P450 3A2 isozymes, respectively. Inhibition of both pathways was more effective with the EA analogue than with EA. Mouse lung explants metabolized NNK by alpha-carbon hydroxylation (activation) and pyridine N-oxidation (deactivation). Both pathways were inhibited when 100 microM EA was added to the culture medium. The EA analogue was a better inhibitor of the activation of NNK to electrophilic species than EA. Mouse lung microsomes activate NNK to intermediates mutagenic to S. typhimurium. Inhibition of NNK mutagenicity by EA or the EA analogue was 20 or 65%, respectively. The distribution of the EA analogue in lung and liver was determined following gavage with 1.7 mmol of the EA analogue. In the lung, a maximal level of EA analogue corresponding to 105 nmol was observed 30 min after administration of the analogue. The level in liver tissues was 4-fold lower than in the lung. Results of this study demonstrate that the EA analogue is more effective than EA in inhibiting the pulmonary activation of NNK and suggest that the EA analogue could be effective in preventing lung tumorigenesis.

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BackgroundThree equine influenza viruses, A/equine/Nador/1/1997(H3N8), A/equine/Essaouira/2/2004(H3N8), and A/equine/Essaouira/3/2004(H3N8), were isolated from different Equidae during local respiratory disease outbreaks in Morocco in 1997 and 2004. Their non-structural (NS) genes were amplified and sequenced.ResultsThe results show high homology of NS nucleotide sequences of A/equine/Nador/1/1997 with European strains (i.e., A/equine/newmarket/2/93 and A/equine/Grobois/1/1998) and clustered into the European lineage. However, NS gene of A/equine/Essaouira/2/2004(H3N8) and A/equine/Essaouira/3/2004(H3N8) strains indicated high homology with equine influenza strains that had circulated before 1990 (A/equine/Fontainbleu/1/1979(H3N8), which belonged to a pre-divergent phase Amino acid sequence comparison of the NS1 protein with reference strain A/equine/Miami/1963(H3N8) shows that the A/equine/Nador/1/1997(H3N8) strain has 12 substitutions at the residues D/24/N, R/44/K, S/48/I, R/67/Q, A/86/V, E/139/K, A/112/T, E/186/K, L/185/F, A/223/E, S/213/T and S/228/P. In both A/equine/Essaouira/2/2004(H3N8) and A/equine/Essaouira/3/2004(H3N8) strains, the NS1 sequences present one common mutation at the residue: S/228/P.ConclusionIt seems that all of these substitutions are not produced at the key residues of the RNA-binding domain (RBD) and the effector domain (ED). Consequently, we can suppose that they will not affect the potency of inhibition of cellular defences, and the virulence of the Moroccan equine strains will be maintained.

BACKGROUND: The Béni Guil sheep is the main ovine breed that dominates livestock farming in the semi-arid region of eastern Morocco. No previous data is available on the quality of Béni Guil PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) lamb meat raised on the natural pasture of this area. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide the physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of Béni Guil PGI lamb meat. METHODS: Béni Guil PGI lamb meat was analysed for its quality parameters, fatty acid composition and amino acid profile. RESULTS: Results show that the Béni Guil PGI lamb meat has a significant juiciness (high water holding capacity), a marked tenderness (low collagen content) and a bright red colour. Longissimus lumborum muscle from Béni Guil PGI lambs contains 25.72% dry matter, including 19.43% protein, 5.14% fat, and 0.94% minerals. Gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection, for fatty acid analysis, revealed 49.45% saturated fatty acids (SFA), 38.48% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and 12.4% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The UFA:SFA and n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios were 1.04 and 3.78, respectively, and were comparable to those recommended for a balanced diet. The amino acid analysis, allowed the identification of eight essential amino acids. The chemical index and the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score values were 132 and 124, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the Beni Guil PGI meat has nutritional values in accordance with the nutritional recommendations and specific to the feeding system based mainly on grazing.

Twenty Beni-Guil-PGI female lambs were used to study the effects of rearing season on meat quality characteristics, fatty acids profile, and lipid content. The animals were reared according to the pastoral-transhumant system in the eastern region of Morocco. The treatments consisted of 10 female lambs reared in summer-autumn (SA) and slaughtered at winter season and 10 female lambs reared in winter-spring (WS) and slaughtered at spring season. After the slaughter, the longissimus lumborum was collected for each animal for meat quality analysis. Compared to lambs reared in SA, the meat from the WS group showed higher ( p < 0.01 ) pH, chroma, and lightness values (5.79 vs. 5.72, 23.97 vs. 18.46, and 47.03 vs. 41.04, respectively). On the other hand, the meat from WS presented higher ( p < 0.05 ) intramuscular fat content (5.14 % vs. 3.82%, respectively). However, the intramuscular fat of the lambs reared in SA was characterized by greater ( p < 0.01 ) PUFA percentage (16.82% vs. 12.40%, respectively), thrombogenic ( p < 0.001 ) and atherogenic index ( p < 0.001 ), and PUFA/SFA ratio ( p < 0.01 ; 0.42 vs. 0.25, respectively). Nevertheless, those reared in WS season have a higher ( p < 0.001 ) PUFA n − 3 (2.58% vs. 1.14%, respectively) content, and therefore favorable ( p < 0.001 ) n − 6/n − 3 ratio (3.78 vs. 12.98, respectively).

The present study aims to evaluate the antibacterial properties of natural products according to a pharmacodynamic approach in order to propose them as alternatives to synthetic products. Two essential oils (Cinnamomum cassia and Origanum compactum) were the subject of the chemical and biological study. First, we evaluated the sensitivity of the strains of avian Salmonella to the main antibiotics used and then to the chromatographic analysis of the composition of the two essential oils (EO); finally, we proceeded to the in vitro evaluation of the antibacterial activities of these EO (alone and in combination with antibiotics). The results obtained showed that carvacrol (35.2%), followed by γ-terpinene (20.1%), was the main constituent of the essential oil of O. compactum while cinnamaldehyde (69.1%) represents the major component of the essential oil of C. cassia. The antibioresistance profile of the Salmonella tested showed resistance to ampicillin (35%) and oxytetracycline (41.3%). Active products extracted from the essential oils studied showed antibacterial activity against Salmonella strains. C. cassia products were shown to be more active for Salmonella enteritidis (average inhibition diameter: 16.3 mm) and for Salmonella gallinarum (average inhibition diameter: 27.7 mm). The best synergistic activity with antibiotics has been obtained with the essential oil of C. cassia and its active product cinnamaldehyde. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cinnamaldehyde is the lowest (0.05%). The results prove the presence of an antibacterial activity and a synergistic effect of two essential oils studied with the main antibiotics.