Background: Acute pancreatitis is a significant global disease. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and potential protective effects of Equisetum arvense L. (horsetail) ethanol extract and Olea europaea L. (olive leaves) aqueous extract against metronidazole (MTZ)-induced pancreatic damage in rats. Materials and Methods: Rats were randomly divided into six groups: Group I (control) received saline; Group II (Metronidazole) received only MTZ (400 mg/kg). Group III (Equisetum arvense group) received E. arvense 100 mg/kg. Group IV (Olea europaea) received 400 mg/kg of O. europaea. Group V (MTZ + E. arvense) received both MTZ (400 mg/kg) and E. arvense (100 mg/kg). Group VI (MTZ + O. europaea) received MTZ (400 mg/kg) and O. europaea (400 mg/kg). All treatments were delivered daily via the oral route. After 60 days, serum amylase, lipase, protease, and glucose levels, oxidative parameters “malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), mRNA relative expression of pancreatic Pik3ca (phosphatidylinosi-tol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha), AKT (AKT Serine/Threonine Kinase 1), Nrf-2 (Nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 2), TNFα (tumor necrosis factor alpha), and IL-1β (interleukin-1 beta genes, an apoptotic marker “caspase-3,” and histopathological changes were estimated. Results: HPLC analysis revealed that horsetail extract contained caffeic acid, catechin, rutin, and kaempferol, while olive leaf extract was dominated by oleuropein. MTZ administration significantly elevated serum levels of pancreatic enzymes (lipase, amylase, and protease) and glucose and increased oxidative stress markers, such as MDA, while reducing catalase (CAT) activity. Co-treatment with MTZ and horsetail, or MTZ and olive extracts, mitigated these effects, especially horsetail, which restored CAT levels and reduced MDA concentrations. qPCR analysis showed MTZ upregulated inflammatory genes (TNFα, IL-1β) and downregulated antioxidant and survival-related genes (Pik3ca, AKT, Nrf-2). Horsetail co-treatment significantly reversed these gene expression patterns. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed MTZ-induced pancreatic tissue degeneration and increased cleaved caspase-3 expression, both of which were notably alleviated by horsetail extract. Conclusions: These findings highlight the superior protective efficacy of Equisetum arvense over Olea europaea in ameliorating MTZ-induced pancreatic toxicity, potentially through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.

Background: Aloe vera gel is rich in polysaccharides (acemannan), phenolic compounds, vitamins, and minerals, while Pomegranate peel ( Punica granatum L.) is a valuable source of punicalagin, polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This study examined the impact of these bioactive-rich supplements on growth performance, metabolic activity, digestive enzyme function, antioxidant status, levels of nucleic acids and proteins, as well as gastrointestinal histomorphometry in growing rabbits. Materials and methods: Thirty male New Zealand White rabbits (56 ± 3 days) at the start of the trial, corresponding to the early post-weaning/growing phase in New Zealand White rabbits. Rabbits were randomly divided into three groups ( n = 10) and treated for 14 weeks. The control group (C) received a basal diet; the pomegranate group (P) received the basal diet supplemented with 4.5% pomegranate peel; and the Aloe vera group (A) received the basal diet with drinking water containing Aloe vera gel (500 mg/L). Results: Both supplemented groups exhibited significantly higher body weight and improved metabolic indices, including elevated blood glucose, total protein and lipid profile, compared with the control group ( p < 0.05). Activities of amylase, lipase, and protease increased significantly, with stronger stimulation observed in the pomegranate group. Antioxidant assays revealed higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and catalase (CAT) activity, accompanied by reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in both supplemented groups ( p < 0.05). DNA and total protein concentrations were also elevated, particularly in the pomegranate group. Histomorphometric analysis of the duodenum showed significant improvements in villus height, crypt depth, and glandular area ( p < 0.05). Aloe vera supplementation exerted greater effects on villus and crypt architecture, whereas pomegranate peel predominantly enhanced glandular development. Molecular docking simulations revealed that acemannan and punicalagin possess high binding affinities for pro-apoptotic and antioxidant targets. Specifically, acemannan exhibited markedly lower binding energies than punicalagin for both BAX (−10.627 vs. –7.540 kcal/mol) and SOD (−10.544 vs. –7.663 kcal/mol). These results suggest that acemannan may exert superior bioactivity by effectively modulating BAX-mediated apoptosis and augmenting SOD-driven antioxidant defense through stable protein-ligand complexation. Discussion: In conclusion, dietary supplementation with pomegranate peel or Aloe vera significantly improved growth performance, optimized metabolic activity, and enhanced intestinal morphology in growing rabbits. Each supplement provided unique physiological benefits, supported by molecular docking evidence linking their bioactive compounds to antioxidant and cytoprotective mechanisms.

Metronidazole (MTZ), a widely used antiamoebic and antibacterial drug, has been linked to male reproductive damage. The aim of this study was to investigate Olea europaea L. and Equisetum arvense L. ethanol extracts for the protection against testicular toxicity and male infertility caused by MTZ, and to characterize the underlying mechanisms. Forty-two male rats were divided into six groups. The animals in group 1 served as the controls and received a daily oral dose (1 mL) of the vehicle. The animals in group 2 received metronidazole at doses of 400 mg/kg. Group 3 was treated with E. arvense extract at doses of 100 mg/kg. Group 4 was treated with O. europaea leaf extract at doses of 400 mg/kg. Group 5 was treated with metronidazole and E. arvense extract at doses of 400 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Group 6 was treated with metronidazole with O. europaea leaf extract at doses of 400 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. The rats were given a daily oral dose of different treatments for 60 days, after which the animals were euthanized to study the histopathological and molecular changes in the testis and the sperm count in the epididymis. The testosterone levels, MDA levels, and GSH contents were also assessed in the rats in all groups. The findings revealed that the MTZ treatment caused a substantial increase in MDA levels and upregulated the NBN gene expression relative to the control. Moreover, the MTZ treatment produced significant reductions in the sperm count and viability, testosterone levels, and GSH content, and downregulated the INSL-3, STAR, HSD-3β, and CYP11A1 gene expression compared to the control. The adverse effects in testicular tissue were significantly reduced in rats given the O. europaea leaves and E. arvense treatment. The findings may show that MTZ can enhance testicular toxicity and infertility, but both plant extracts can prevent these harmful consequences.

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is a conventional plasticizer known to induce hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity through oxidative stress and apoptosis. In contrast, curcumin, a polyphenolic compound from Curcuma longa , has significant antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activity; however, its therapeutic efficiency is limited due to poor absorption and low bioavailability. Nanoliposomes can significantly enhance the stability and absorption of curcumin, thereby improving its protective efficacy. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of curcumin-loaded nanoliposomes against DBP-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats. The adult male rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control, CUR-NLs (200 mg/kg/day), DBP (500 mg/kg/day), and DBP + CUR-NLs, for 60 days. DBP administration significantly raised blood levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, uric acid, urea, and malondialdehyde (MDA), while lowering serum protein fractions and catalase (CAT) activity. Gene expression analysis revealed that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 ( Nrf2 ), Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) were downregulated, whereas cytochrome c (CYCS) and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) were upregulated, and caspase-3 immunoreactivity increased. Compared with DBP-treated rats, co-treatment with CUR-NLs significantly restored protein metabolism, decreased lipid peroxidation, increased antioxidant defenses, raised anti-apoptotic markers, and improved histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. These results indicate that CUR-NLs effectively mitigate DBP-induced hepatorenal injury by restoring redox homeostasis and regulating apoptotic signaling pathways, suggesting that CUR-NLs represent a promising nanotechnological strategy for preventing DBP-induced organ toxicity.

Recent studies have revealed that superior feed efficiency in cattle and swine based on residual feed intake (RFI) divergence is associated with unique adaptation in the gut and other major organs. This allows maintaining similar growth performance with lower feed intake in the most-efficient (ME) animals compared with their least-efficient (LE) counterparts. Whether similar adaptations occur in a growing rabbit model is largely unknown. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the difference between ME and LE female rabbits during the pre-mating period. Sixty V-Line primiparous rabbit does (5-6 mo) were used in a 30-day experiment. By the end of the trial, rabbits were retrospectively classified into ME (n=30; RFI coefficient=–7.59±1.68 g dry matter intake [DMI]/d) and LE (n=30; RFI coefficient=8.76±1.68 g DMI/d) groups based on a linear regression model including DMI, average daily gain and metabolic body weight. The ME rabbits decreased daily feed intake (P<0.05), decreased plasma HDL cholesterol (P<0.05) and total lipids in plasma (P<0.05), and decreased the level of fat in the skeletal muscles (P<0.05). Furthermore, the periovarian adipose tissue in ME groups had greater total saturated and lower monounsaturated fatty acids compared to LE does (P<0.05). The ME have lower relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteriaceae, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens in the caecum compared to LE rabbits. That ME group had a greater adipocyte number but a lower adipocyte area in the perirenal adipose tissue. Overall, the data indicate that bacterial abundance of certain microbiota, differences in circulatory lipids and adipose tissues could be components of better feed efficiency in growing female rabbits.