The aim was to evaluate the effect of multiple oral administration of bisphenol A (BPA) for 28 days on seminal characteristic on mammal using Wistar rat as a model. Rats were randomly divided into five different groups having 6 male rats in each group. The doses chosen were 50, 200, and 600 mg/kg body weight for Groups III, IV and V, respectively, based on preliminary dose range finding study and Group II served as vehicle control and Group I was negative control. Reproductive study in the BPA-treated rats on day 28 revealed that there was significant (p≤0.05) reduction in the epididymal sperm count of rats of Group IV and significant (p≤0.01) decrease in Group V. Sperm motility percentage, dead count percentage, head and tail abnormality percentage were found to be significantly (p≤0.01) increased in rats of BPA-treated groups as compared to rats of control groups. Testes showed necrosis of germinal layer and spermatogonial cells in the seminiferous tubules. Hematological examination revealed significant (p≤0.01) decrease in the mean values of total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and there was also significant (p≤0.05) lymphocytopenia in treated animals. It can be concluded from this study that subacute toxicity of BPA caused a reduction in the epididymal sperm count, sperm motility, dead count, head and tail abnormality, as well as hematological indices such as TLC, TEC etc. Hence, it appears that BPA affects the germ cells leading to impairment in the spermatogenesis, and thus having its property as reproductive toxicant and it also suppresses bone marrow functioning, which leads to normocytic hypochromic anemia in rats.

Concern for global health security and the environment due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic residues in meat and other livestock products has led many countries to restrict the use of antibiotics in animal feed. This experiment was performed to assess the impact of dietary supplementation of a probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) and a postbiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood haemato-biochemical profile, gut microflora, gut morphology, and immune response in broilers as an alternative to antimicrobials in poultry production system to minimize the effect on global health security. A total of 324 one-day-old Ven Cobb 400 broiler chicks were randomly divided into three dietary groups, each containing 12 replicated pens, and each replicate contained nine chickens. The dietary groups consisted of (1) a basal diet without any growth promoters (T₁), (2) the basal diet augmented with Bacillus subtilis at 200 g/MT feed (T₂), and (3) the basal diet supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product at 1.25 kg/MT feed (T₃). To calculate body weight gain, all birds and residual feed were weighed on a replicated basis on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42; mortality was recorded daily. At the end of the trial (42 d), two chickens from each replicate were slaughtered for carcass traits, gut microflora, and morphology measurements. Blood samples were collected for the haemato-biochemical profile on 35 d and antibody titer on 28 d and 35 d. Feeding with SCFP (T₃ group) significantly improved average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) of chickens compared to the T₁ (control) and T₂ (probiotic) groups from 1 to 14 days of age. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly improved in SCFP-fed birds (T₃) relative to the control (T₁) over the entire experimental period. Carcass traits and blood haemato-biochemical parameters remained unaffected by any diets. However, cholesterol levels and concentrations of corticosterone were significantly lower in T₃ compared to T₂ and T₁ groups. Total E. coli, Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli, ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and Salmonella counts were significantly lower in T₂ and T₃ groups compared to T₁ group and Salmonella counts were lower in T₃ when compared to T₂. However, there was no significant difference in Lactobacillus count among treatment groups. A significant increase in villi height and villi-height-to-crypt-depth ratio (VH: CD) was observed in both T₃ and T₂ groups. On day 28, the T₃ and T₂ groups exhibited a significant increase in antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus and infectious bursal disease virus. It can be concluded that Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product and Bacillus subtilis probiotic could be viable alternatives to antimicrobials in poultry production considering beneficial impacts in broilers fed an antibiotic-free diet.

Here, we report the therapeutic potential of a natural quinazoline derivative (2-chloro-6-phenyl-8H-quinazolino[4,3-b]quinazolin-8-one) isolated from marine sponge Hyrtios erectus against human breast cancer. The cytotoxicity of the compound was investigated on a human breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7). Antiproliferative activity of the compound was estimated by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. MTT assay showed significant inhibition of MCF-7 cells viability with the IC50 value of 13.04 ± 1.03 µg/mL after 48 h. The compound induced down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein and increase in the pro-apoptotic Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in MCF-7 cells. The compound activated the expression of Caspases-9 and stimulated downstream signal transducer Caspase-7. In addition, Caspase-8 showed remarkable up-regulation in MCF-7 cells treated with the compound. Moreover, the compound was found to promote oxidative stress in MCF-7 cells that led to cell death. In conclusion, the compound could induce apoptosis of breast carcinoma cells via a mechanism that involves ROS production and either extrinsic or intrinsic apoptosis pathways. The systemic toxic potential of the compound was evaluated in an in vivo mouse model, and it was found non-toxic to the major organs.

To overcome the antimicrobial residues in food, benzoic acid (BA) and oregano essential oil (OEO) are used in the broiler chicken industry. Independently, both exerted anticoccidial and antimicrobial actions and improved growth performance in broiler chickens. Their effect may be multiplied when they are used in combination. This present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of dietary BA and OEO alone or in combination as a substitute for a commercial coccidiostatic drug on growth performance and physiological and immunological responses in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria species. A total of 252 unsexed 1-day-old broiler chicks were equally allotted to 36 pens, each pen containing seven chicks. The pens were randomly assigned to six treatments with six pens (replicates) for each treatment (n = 6)—(i) negative control, (ii) positive control, coccidia-challenged and non-treated, (iii) supplemented with salinomycin (an anti-coccidial drug) at 60 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged, (iv) supplemented with BA at 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged, (v) supplemented with OEOat 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged (OEO), and (vi) supplemented with BA at 500 mg/kg of feed and OEO at 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged (B&O). The liver enzymes and thyroxine and creatinine levels were not affected (p > 0.05) both in coccidia-challenged and supplemented chickens. The BA and OEO applied separately or in combination (B&O) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced gut pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella and Escherichia coli) and Eimeria spp., and concurrently enhanced (p > 0.05) the Lactobacillus population with better body weight gain, improved feed utilization, and superior hematological values. It also up-regulated (p > 0.05) the interferon-γ gene expression and down-regulated (p < 0.05) the interleukin-10 and Toll-like receptor-4 gene expression to protect the chickens from inflammatory reactions, which were not demonstrated in salinomycin-treated birds. The B&O supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the immune system by enhancing Eimeria-specific immunoglobulin Y titer and lymphocyte proliferation response. This study suggests that the combined application of OEO and BA can substitute for a commercial anti-coccidial agent (salinomycin) in controlling coccidiosis as well as improving growth performance, gut health, and immune responses in broiler chickens with a means of antimicrobial-resistant free food products.