Baicalin is one of the most abundant flavonoids found in the dried roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SBG) belonging to the genus Scutellaria. While baicalin is demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects, its low hydrophilicity and lipophilicity limit the bioavailability and pharmacological functions. Therefore, an in-depth study of baicalin’s bioavailability and pharmacokinetics contributes to laying the theoretical foundation for applied research in disease treatment. In this view, the physicochemical properties and anti-inflammatory activity of baicalin are summarized in terms of bioavailability, drug interaction, and inflammatory conditions.

Desertification and degradation of pastures has occurred over the last 50 years on the western grasslands of China due to human factors including overgrazing, unsuccessful reclamation of land, loss of soil through inappropriate cultivation, mining, population growth, and natural factors including drought. This has led to a decrease in herbage mass and a reduction in carrying capacity, leading to a reduction in the sustainability of livestock systems. One of the effects of desertification and degradation has been an increase in the area of poisonous plants over this period and these plants now cover 20.5 m ha and are now a contributing factor and symptom of the degeneration of the grasslands. The main poisonous plants that threaten livestock production are locoweeds (Oxytropis and Astragalus species), Stellera chamaejasme, Achnaterum inebrian, Cynanchum komarovii and Aconitum carmichaeli. Based on an analysis of previous and current data, this review describes the distribution of these poisonous plants and their impact on livestock production and assesses the state of poisonous plants in the western grasslands are having on the sustainability of livestock production, and addresses the issues of integrated control measures and the development of appropriate livestock management systems that could be implemented.

During peripartum period, dairy cows are highly susceptible to energy metabolism disorders such as fatty liver and ketosis. Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), known as hepatokines, play important roles in lipid metabolism. The purposes of our study were to evaluate variations of serum ANGPTL4 and FGF21 concentrations in periparturient dairy cows and changes in these serum analyte concentrations of energy-related metabolic disorders in early lactation dairy cows. This study was divided into two experiments. Experiment I: Blood parameters were measured in healthy periparturient Holstein cows from 4 wk antepartum to 4 wk postpartum (n = 219). In this experiment, weekly blood samples were obtained from 4 wk before the expected calving date through 4 wk after calving. Experiment II: Blood parameters were measured in healthy cows (n = 30) and cows with clinical ketosis (n = 29) and fatty liver (n = 25) within the first 4 wk of lactation. In the present study, all blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein in the early morning before feeding. Serum ANGPTL4 and FGF21 concentrations peaked at parturition, and declined rapidly over the following 2 wk Serum ANGPTL4 and FGF21 concentrations were positively correlated with serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration (r = 0.856, P = 003; r = 0.848, P = 0.004, respectively). Cows with clinical ketosis and fatty liver had significantly higher serum ANGPTL4 and FGF21 concentrations than healthy cows (P < 0.01). Serum ANGPTL4 and FGF21 concentrations were elevated during peripartum period, suggesting that energy balance changes that were associated with parturition contributed significantly to these effects. Although FGF21 and ANGPTL4 could play important roles in the adaptation of energy metabolism, they may be involved in the pathological processes of energy metabolism disorders of dairy cows in the peripartum period.

The aldehyde group of gossypol induces mitochondrial apoptosis via ROS-SIRT1-p53-PUMA pathway in male germline stem cell The aldehyde group of gossypol induces mitochondrial apoptosis via ROS-SIRT1-p53-PUMA pathway in male germline stem cell