Livestock production raises significant environmental concerns, necessitating the development of sustainable feeding strategies based on non-conventional forages, such as locally available vegetation. This study evaluated the effects of a pelleted concentrate containing 10% Acacia farnesiana leaves as a dietary supplement on in vitro ruminal fermentation. Four experimental diets were formulated with increasing levels of the concentrate (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%). Analyses were performed in triplicate and included chemical composition, in vitro gas and methane production, fermentation kinetics, ammonia nitrogen concentration (N–NH₃), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and metabolizable energy (ME) estimation. The results revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in most gas production kinetic parameters, overall fermentation patterns, or metabolizable energy. In contrast, a significant increase (p < 0.05) in secondary metabolite concentrations was detected. While methane production remained unaltered (p > 0.05), a significant linear reduction was observed for IVDMD, the lag phase (L), and N–NH₃ concentration (p = 0.0064, p = 0.0036, and p < 0.0001, respectively). These findings suggest that A. farnesiana can be incorporated into ruminant concentrates without increasing methane emissions. However, in vivo trials and mechanistic studies are required to validate and further elucidate these results.

Background/Objectives: Plants and fruits of Physalis philadelphica Lam. Solanacea are commonly used in traditional medicine to improve some illnesses such as diabetes, in North and Central American countries. The aim was to evaluate the effects of aqueous maceration (He-M) and ultrasound-assisted (He-US) extracts of P. philadelphica husk on hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and oxidative stress in obese rats. Methods: The effects of husk extracts on carbohydrate and lipid absorption were evaluated using oral starch and lipid tolerance tests in healthy male Wistar rats. Obesity was then induced using a high-fructose and saturated fat diet, followed by 16 weeks of extract administration. Results: He-US significantly reduced the postprandial glycemic spike, while both extracts lowered serum triglyceride levels (~50%) following lipid loading, compared with the negative control. In obese rats, both extracts reduced body weight gain (~10%) and lowered fasting glucose levels (22% for He-M and 15% for He-US), compared with the obese control. He-US also reduced insulin levels (~32%), insulin resistance (~53%), and free fatty acids (~52%), while He-M improved hepatic steatosis and reduced liver triglycerides (~26%). Both extracts reduced hepatic nitrite levels, although only He-M significantly decreased lipid peroxidation (~32%). Additionally, both treatments enhanced hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity. Conclusions: Husk extracts exerted beneficial effects on hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and oxidative stress markers in obese rats.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of green tomato calyxes’ extracts (PiCe) on glucose metabolic disorders, oxidative stress, and inflammation in diet-induced obese rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to receive: 1) infusion, 2) ultrasound-assisted (US), 3) maceration, or distilled water for the control group (n=8). The fasting glucose decreased in all treated groups (infusion 13%, US 15%, and maceration 22%). After oral glucose tolerance test, the US (17%) and maceration (7%) reduced glucose levels. Only the US group lowered insulin levels and insulin resistance (~33%). All treated groups decreased the nitric oxide end products. The infusion group significantly decreased malondialdehyde concentration in the liver (30%) and AT (38%), whereas the maceration group only showed a significant reduction in the liver (32%). PiCe groups increased catalase activity: infusion in liver and kidney (~1.7- and ~3.8-fold), US in serum, liver, and kidney (~1.2, ~1.9-, and ~3.3-fold respectively), and maceration in serum and kidney (~1.1- and ~3.0-fold). Regarding superoxide dismutase activities, the infusion group showed an increase in liver, kidney, and heart (~2.9- and ~2.6-, and ~3.8-fold respectively), whereas the US group in AT, serum, liver, and kidney (~2.7, and ~3.3-fold), and maceration in liver, kidney, and heart (~1.6- and ~1.7-, and ~3.8-fold respectively). In the liver, all treated groups significantly decreased transcription factor kappa β (6-fold), whereas the groups treated with US and maceration reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (6-fold). Our results show that PiCe improves glucose metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation in diet-induced obese rats.