Objective: This study was conducted to assess the effect of dietary Moringa oleifera leaf (MOL) feed supplementation on serum biochemical parameters of broilers challenged with very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV). Materials and methods: Two hundred and forty day-old Ross 308 hybrid broiler chicks were randomly assigned into four groups (A, B, C and D) of 60 chicks each and raised in deep litter housing. Broiler starter (BS) and broiler finisher (BF) mash were formulated each with 5% MOL included as part of the feed ingredient for broilers in groups A and B while BS and BF for broilers in groups C and D were formulated without MOL. Broilers in groups A, B and C were challenged intraocularly at 35 days of age with with 0.05 mL of a live vvIBDV, while those in group D served as control. Blood was collected from 10 broilers in each group via the wing vein at 35, 38 and 42 days of age to determine their serum biochemical profile.Results: The level of melondialdehyde (MDA) was observed to significantly decrease in groups A and C. There was a significant decrease in the level of AST in group A, B, C and D. The values of ALT significantly decreased in group A, B, C and D. Conclusion: Supplementing broilers feed with MOL neither protect the liver from damage nor prevent lipid peroxidation. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2018; 5(2.000): 155-165]

Tribulus terrestris (Tt) is a herb distributed worldwide due to its beneficial claims on many diseases. This study aimed to study the role of Tt against Cadmium (Cd)-induced toxicity on thyroid gland of adult male albino rats. Twenty-four rats were subdivided into four groups; (Control group) without any treatment, (Tt + Cd group) with a daily oral dose of Tt (5 mg/ kg b. wt.) for eight weeks, from the beginning of the ninth week, they injected i.p. with 2 mg/kg of CdCl4 for 8 days, (Cd group) injected i.p. with 2 mg/kg of CdCl4 for 8 days, (Cd + Tt group) injected i.p. with 2 mg/kg of CdCl4 for eight days, from the ninth day they were given a daily oral dose of Tt (5 mg/ kg b. wt.) for eight weeks. Results revealed that levels of T4 and TAC decreased while levels of TSH and MDA increased in Cd group resulted in follicular cells degeneration, increasing the amount of collagen fibers, and increased positive immunoreactivity of PCNA. Administration of Tt before Cd injection increased levels of T4 and TAC while decreased levels of TSH and MDA. administration of Tt after Cd injection didn't affect T4, TSH, MDA and TAC levels. The pre-treatment with Tt protects the thyroid tissue from those destructive changes by Cd while the post-treatment did not treat them.  In conclusion, Tribulus terrestris is highly effective in shielding the thyroid gland from further damaging effects of Cd -induced oxidative stress when utilized as prophylactic antioxidant rather than treatment therapy.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with a combination of vitamins A, E, and C and volatile oils (Superimmune®) on milk production, somatic cell count (SCC), and antioxidant parameters in dairy cows. For this purpose, 30 lactating Holstein cows were used at an early stage of lactation. The cows were randomly allocated to five groups (six each). The first group was supplemented daily with 20 ml of Superimmune® (200,000 IU vit. A, 100mg vit E and 20mg vit. C, Eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, and peppermint oil). The second group was supplemented with 200,000 IU vit. A: third group with 100 mg vit. E), and the fourth group (20 mg vit. C. The fifth group was maintained without treatment (control). Milk production, somatic cell counts, and antioxidant parameters were measured before treatment and at one- and two-months post-treatment. Cows that received Superimmune® showed a significant decrease in somatic cell count compared with the other groups at one-month post-treatment (p<0.05) and onward. There was also a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (p<0.01), glutathione reductase (GR) (p<0.05), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) (p<0.01) in cows that received a combination compared to the other groups). However, there was a significant decrease in the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p<0.01). Milk production showed a non-significant increase in cows receiving a combination of vitamins compared to the other groups. The results of the present study indicate that a combination of vitamins and volatile oils may have a better effect on somatic cell counts and milk antioxidant parameters in dairy cows than supplementation with a single vitamin.

This study investigated the protective effects of ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), an extracellular calcium chelator, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which chelates calcium and most metal ions, against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute hepatotoxicity in mice. Mice were treated with EGTA or EDTA at a dose of 20 (low) or 100 mg/kg (high) subcutaneously 1 h before CCl₄ administration. The mice were fasted and sacrificed 18 h after CCl₄ treatment.