Search Results (2)

Gynosaponin is known to modulate rumen methanogenesis and microbial fermentation characteristics in ruminants. The current experiment aimed to determine the time-dependent effects of intraruminal polymeric media-coated gynosaponin (PMCG) supplementation on the methanogenesis, rumen fermentation properties and microbial abundance in Xinjiang goats. Eight goats were used in a 2 × 2 crossover arrangement with a PMCG group (8 g/kg DMI) and a control group (0 g/kg DMI). The experiment was divided into four phases, each lasted 21 d. Ruminal contents were obtained for analysis of rumen fermentation properties and microbial abundance. Protozoa numbers were counted by microscope and the abundance of methanogens, rumen fungi and cellulolytic bacteria were quantified by real-time PCR. The results indicated that PMCG significantly reduced methane production (p < 0.05) during the first two phases but this increased to baseline again during the last two phases. Meanwhile, the concentration of acetate decreased remarkably, which resulted in a significant reduction in the acetate to propionate ratio and total VFA concentration (p < 0.05). However, other rumen properties and dry matter intake were not affected (p > 0.05). During the first and second phases, the protozoa numbers and gene copies of methanogens, total bacteria and F. succinogens relative to the 16 s rDNA were all slightly decreased, but the statistical results were not significant. However, the ruminal supplementation of PMCG had little effect on other tested microbes. Accordingly, it was concluded that the addition of PMCG had an inhibitory effect on methane production probably due to a decline in methanogen numbers. Full article

6-Hydroxydopamine administration for 28 days (8 μg/2 μL) reduced the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunopositive neurons to 40.2% in the substantia nigra compared to the intact contralateral side. Dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid and norepinephrine levels were reduced to 19.1%, 52.3%, 47.1% and 67.4% in the striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats compared to the control group, respectively. However, an oral administration of herbal ethanol extracts from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP-EX) (10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) starting on day 3 post-lesion for 28 days markedly ameliorated the reduction of TH-immunopositive neurons induced by 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat brain from 40.2% to 67.4% and 75.8% in the substantia nigra. GP-EX administration (10 and 30 mg/kg) also recovered the levels of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid and norepinephrine in post-lesion striatum to 64.1% and 65.0%, 77.9% and 89.7%, 82.6% and 90.2%, and 88.1% and 89.2% of the control group. GP-EX at the given doses did not produce any sign of toxicity such as weight loss, diarrhea and vomiting in rats during the 28 day treatment period and four gypenoside derivatives, gynosaponin TN-1, gynosaponin TN-2, gypenoside XLV and gypenoside LXXIV were identified from GP-EX. These results suggest that GP-EX might be helpful in the prevention of Parkinson’s disease. Full article