Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin, which may cause immune response and inflammation of bovine mammary glands. Mastitis impairs animal health and results in economic loss. Curcumin (CUR) is a naturally occurring diketone compound, which has attracted widespread attention as a potential anti-inflammatory antioxidant. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether CUR can reduce the damage of bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) induced by LPS and its underlying molecular mechanism. The MAC-T cell line was treated with different concentrations of LPS and CUR for 24 h. The results showed that CUR rescued the decrease of MAC-T cell viability and cell damage induced by LPS. At the same time, 10 µM CUR and 100 µg/mL LPS were used to treat the cells in the follow-up study. The results showed CUR treatment reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the expression of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-6 and IL-1β) and the rate of apoptosis induced by LPS. These effects were associated with the activation of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway coupled with inactivation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inflammatory and caspase/Bcl2 apoptotic pathways.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a common mycotoxin produced by fungi within the genus Fusarium. However, few studies have examined the direct effects of the toxin on the mammary glands. In the present study, the effects of ZEA treatment on bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) from dairy cows were investigated. The cells were treated with different concentrations of ZEA to evaluate the effect of the toxin on cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations, mitochondrial membrane potential, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and the expression of apoptosis-related genes. The results indicated that different concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, 60, or 100 μM) of ZEA were able to inhibit growth of MAC-T cells. After exposing the MAC-T cells to 30 μM ZEA, compared with the control group, ROS levels increased, mitochondrial membrane potential decreased, and mRNA expression of the ER-specific stress-related genes GRP78, HSP70, ATF6, EIF2A, ASK1, and CHOP was upregulated in the ZEA-treated group. Further, we analyzed the increase in apoptotic rate by flow cytometry. At the mRNA level, compared with the control group, the expression of the apoptosis-promoting gene BAX was increased in the ZEA-treated group, the expression of the inhibitory gene BCL2 decreased, and the expression of the gene CASP3 increased. We observed a significant increase in caspase-3 activity in ZEA-treated MAC-T cells. Furthermore, the apoptotic rate of the cells in the ZEA group treated with 4-phenylbutyric acid (ER stress inhibitor) decreased and the mRNA expression levels of ER stress markers GRP78 and CHOP decreased. Compared with the ZEA treatment group, the mRNA expression level of the apoptosis-related gene BAX was decreased and the expression level of BCL2 was increased in the ZEA + 4-phenylbutyric acid cotreatment group. These findings indicate that ZEA-induced ER stress increases apoptosis in MAC-T cells. The treatment of MAC-T cells with ZEA reduced cell viability, increased ROS content, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, increased ER stress marker expression, and induced apoptosis.

Grape pomace (GP) is an abundant by-product from wine production and is rich in phenolic compounds, unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fibre and beneficial bacteria. In this study, weaned piglets were fed a basic diet supplemented with 5% GP for 4 weeks. Compared with those in the control (CON) group, it was found that the proportion of Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Olsenella umbonata and Selenomonas bovis in the caecum and the villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio (VCR) of the jejunum were both significantly increased in the GP group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, at the mRNA expression level, several proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α) were significantly downregulated (p < 0.05) in piglet caecal tissue, and the short-chain fatty acid receptors (GPR41 and GPR43) were not significantly upregulated. In contrast, the levels of IgG was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the sera of weaned piglets in the GP group. However, no difference in growth performance between the two groups of piglets was detected. These results show that GP had no adverse effects on the growth performance of piglets, but GP can promote the content of some beneficial bacteria in the caecum; this effect is conducive to improving the disease resistance potential of piglets.

Since the discovery of (2α,3β)-2,3-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid, also known as maslinic acid, many studies have examined its biological activity, which has been shown to promote health and resist various diseases. This article focuses on previous research on maslinic acid and mainly reviews its reported effects on cardiovascular diseases, neuroprotection, diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and pathogens. Maslinic acid exerts positive effects on both cell and animal models of disease. Although its mechanism of action has not yet been completely elucidated, maslinic acid is feasible as a nutritional additive and has the potential to be developed as a drug.