This study evaluated the effects of olive leaf extract (OLE) on growth, intestinal health, and resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenge in juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. To a basal diet containing 12% fishmeal, OLE was added at 0%, 0.10%, 0.20%, 0.40%, and 0.80%, forming diets with equal nitrogen and lipid contents. The diets were divided into five groups and named OLE0 (control group), OLE1, OLE2, OLE4, and OLE8. The findings revealed that relative to OLE0, the weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) increased in the OLE1 group, whereas the feed conversion ratio (FCR) declined (p < 0.05). The crude protein (CP) content for whole shrimp in the OLE8 group was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and the crude lipid (CL) content in the OLE1, OLE2 and OLE8 groups significantly decreased compared with OLE0 (p < 0.05). In serum indices, the OLE8 group had notably higher total protein (TP) content than the control (p < 0.05). Compared with the OLE0 group, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in the OLE1 and OLE2 groups were increased, whereas low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the OLE4 and OLE8 groups were significantly decreased compared with the control (p < 0.05). Hepatopancreatic malondialdehyde (MDA) in all experimental groups was significantly decreased compared with the control (p < 0.05). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in all experimental groups increased (p < 0.05) and was the largest in the OLE1 group. The OLE1, OLE2 and OLE4 groups had significantly increased glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity (p < 0.05). Catalase (CAT) activity in the OLE1 group was significantly higher than the control (p < 0.05). The toll, lzm, imd, cru a and propo mRNA expression levels in the hepatopancreas were significantly upregulated in each experimental group (p < 0.05). Intestinal microbial analysis indicated that the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was elevated in the OLE4 and OLE8 groups, accompanied by a reduction in Vibrio proportion (p < 0.05). Post-challenge assays demonstrated that the OLE4 and OLE8 groups achieved remarkably higher cumulative survival rates than OLE0 (p < 0.05). In summary, OLE in a low-fishmeal diet can promote growth performance, intestinal health and disease resistance for shrimp. According to the broken-line regression model of WGR against OLE dosage, 0.08% was the optimal dietary OLE inclusion level of the OLE additive in juvenile L. vannamei.

Probiotics are promising alternatives to antibiotics in calf rearing, but effects of Lactobacillus species combined with Bacillus subtilis on preweaning development remain unclear. Two probiotic consortia-L. plantarum + B. subtilis (TG1) vs. L. acidophilus + B. subtilis (TG2)-were compared in Holstein calves. Forty-eight newborn calves (initial BW 37.0 ± 2.7 kg) were randomly assigned to control (CG) or probiotic groups (TG1, TG2) from day 3 for 60 days. Growth, fecal scores, serum biochemistry, antioxidant/immune indices, rumen fermentation, 16S rRNA, and untargeted metabolomics were measured. Compared with CG, TG1 increased final body weight (p = 0.002) and average daily gain (ADG, p = 0.002), whereas TG2 did not differ from CG in either parameter. Both TG1 and TG2 decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR, p < 0.001), with TG1 showing a lower value than TG2. At day 60, TG1 had greater body oblique length than TG2 (p = 0.030), whereas neither TG1 nor TG2 differed from CG. Serum analysis: TG1 decreased ALT (p = 0.039) and increased CAT (p = 0.024) and HDL-C (p = 0.047) compared with CG, while TG2 did not differ from CG in these parameters. Both TG1 and TG2 decreased CRE compared with CG (p < 0.001). TG2 increased GSH-Px compared with CG and TG1 (p = 0.044), whereas TG1 did not differ from CG. Rumen fermentation: both TG1 and TG2 increased BCP compared with CG (p = 0.009); TG1 elevated isobutyrate compared with CG (p = 0.030), whereas TG2 did not differ from CG; TG2 reduced NH3-N compared with CG (p = 0.026), whereas TG1 did not differ from CG. No α/β-diversity differences were observed, but taxa were modulated: TG1 enriched Actinobacteria and Olsenella; TG2 enriched Bacteroidetes, Prevotella, and Ruminococcus. Metabolomics: TG1 upregulated steroid hormone and phenylalanine metabolism; TG2 enhanced unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. Correlation networks linked Ruminococcus and UCG-005 to antioxidant status and VFA profiles. These findings indicate that different probiotic consortia are associated with distinct physiological outcomes in preweaning calves, supporting consortium selection for targeted feeding.

The global rise in obesity and associated metabolic disorders has fueled the demand for safe, multi-target therapeutics derived from natural sources. In this study, an artificial neural network combined with a genetic algorithm (ANN-GA), was employed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction of loquat leaf extract (LLE). The optimal parameters-0.6% Tween 80, 328 W ultrasonic power, and 49 °C-enhanced extraction efficiency while minimizing energy consumption and surfactant use. In vitro, LLE exhibited potent dose-dependent inhibition of α-glucosidase (IC50 = 3.75 μg/mL, 21.6-fold stronger than acarbose) and pancreatic lipase (IC50 = 78.3 μg/mL), indicating strong inhibitory activity against these digestive enzymes. In high-fat diet-induced obese mice, LLE supplementation dose-dependently reduced body weight gain, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and fasting blood glucose while elevating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). In addition, LLE ameliorated liver injury (decreased ALT/AST) and oxidative stress (lowered MDA, increased SOD). These findings highlight LLE as a promising multi-target natural product for managing obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Cadmium (Cd) is a pervasive environmental contaminant that damages tissues and disrupts gut microbiota. This study evaluated cyanidin-3-glucoside-4-vinylphenol (C3G_VP), a novel class of anthocyanin derivative synthesized via Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermentation, and its chemical structure was identified by NMR spectroscopy. In Cd-exposed mice, C3G_VP significantly ameliorated dyslipidemia by reducing hepatic TC (-85.5%), TG (-80.6%), and LDL-C (-35.8%) levels while increasing HDL-C (+50.7%) levels and decreasing hepatic lipid droplet accumulation. Mechanistically, C3G_VP administration may activate the FXR-FGF axis and regulate hepatic FXR and Cyp7a1 protein expression, leading to reduced hepatic bile acid (BA) accumulation and enhanced fecal BA excretion. Furthermore, C3G_VP administration inhibited proinflammatory cytokine mRNA expression (hepatic TNF and IL6, and colonic TNF and IL1β). Importantly, C3G_VP administration increased beneficial bacteria (Adlercreutzia, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium), which were positively associated with short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Overall, C3G_VP shows potential as a stable anthocyanin pigment against Cd-induced lipid metabolic disorders.