A comparative study on antioxidative e#ects of vitamin E, amla-electrolyte (Electrolyte mix of Emblica o$cinalis) and mint (Mentha longifolia) supplementation in broilers was conducted during the summer months of May-July with temperature-humidity index ranging from 1-to 2*. Day old broiler chicks (nῌ1/) were randomly divided into five groups. Control group was given basal diet and treatment groups were supplemented with either Vitamin E (,** mg/kg feed), dried mint leaves (+* g/kg and -* g/kg feed) or amla-electrolyte mix (+ g/kg feed) from day + to seven weeks of age. Control group atrd and / th week showed high concentration of lipid peroxidation and low activity of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in erythrocytes, heart, liver and brain cortex. Antioxidants supplemented groups showed significantly reduced level of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes both atrd and / th week and in tissues. The GSH, catalase, SOD and glutathione reductase activities were elevated in erythrocytes whereas GSH and SOD activities were depressed in treated birds. It can be concluded from the results that oxidative stress in broilers during summer could be ameliorated using herbal antioxidants.

Heat and humidity stress is a constant challenge to buffalo rearing under tropical climatic conditions. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) constitute a ubiquitous class of highly conserved proteins that contribute to cell survival during different conditions of stress. The present study was carried out in Tarai buffaloes to study the expression of HSP70 in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells during different seasons and establish it as a marker of heat and humidity stress in buffaloes. Blood samples were collected from each healthy, non-lactating and non-pregnant buffalo above 2 years of age, once in the month of January (temperature-humidity index (THI) < 72) and in the month of May (THI > 72). Blood samples were also collected during October (THI = 72) to be used as calibrator/control. Real-time PCR was used to profile the HSP70 gene expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The relative expression values of HSP70 in Tarai buffalo was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) during summer season (2.37 ± 0.12) as compared to winter season (0.29 ± 0.04). The expression positively correlated with changes in physiological parameters like respiration rate (RR), pulse rate (PR) and rectal temperature (RT). In conclusion, it can be said that RR and HSP70 may act as characteristic physiological and cellular markers of heat and humidity stress in buffaloes.

BackgroundRoots of Withania somnifera (WS) are a celebrated medicinal ingredient in Ayurvedic and many other indigenous systems of medicine. The present study investigates the effect of the phytochemical composition of the extracts on their antioxidant and reducing activities.MethodsWS roots were extracted with water, acetone, aqueous methanol (1:1), and methanol:chloroform:water (1:1:1) to obtain aqueous, acetone, hydro-methanolic, and methanol–chloroform–water extracts. Thereafter, phytochemical constitution and antioxidant and reducing activities of the extracts were compared using different qualitative and quantitative tests.ResultsMaximum extraction recovery was obtained with 50% aqueous methanol whereas extraction with acetone yielded the poorest recovery. Methanol–chloroform–water extract had the highest content of phytochemical constituents, except tannins, and also exhibited the highest antioxidant and reducing activities.ConclusionPhytochemical composition and antioxidant and reducing activities of the extracts were positively associated with the use of organic solvents during the extraction process. Alkaloids and flavonoids were the most important contributors in the antioxidant and reducing activities of the extracts.

Cell-bound phytase of Pichia anomala was produced in glucose-beef extract medium in shake flasks and in a laboratory fermenter at 25°C for 24 h at 250 rev/min. In the fermenter the biomass production increased and the fermentation time was reduced from 24 to 16 h. Two-week-old broiler chicks were fed with the biomass-supplemented feed [at 100 g/7.5 kg; 50-phytase units/bird/day]. The overall weight gain in the biomass-fed chicks was higher (90.2%) than that of the control group (77.7%). The biomass incorporation in the feed of broiler chicks also resulted in a better phosphorus retention (29% in the control, and 73.68% in the biomass-fed) in the body, consequently an improved growth. There was a decrease in the excretion of phosphorus in the faeces of the chicks fed with phytase-supplemented diet (188.9 mg/g dry matter) as compared to the chicks fed on unsupplemented broiler finisher ration (509.4 mg/g dry matter). This eliminated the need to supplement phosphorus in their diet and also reduced phosphorus pollution. The feed conversion ratio was also lowered for chicks, which were biomass-fed as compared to the control.