Diabetes poses an utmost threat to human health; significant progress in the discovery of antidiabetic drugs has been made, but their side effects cannot be ignored. As a plant-based alternative, this study explored the pharmacological potential of Elaeocarpus angustifolius Blume (Rudraksha), emphasizing its antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, supported by in silico analysis. Phytochemical screening of the methanol bark extract confirmed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, terpenoids, tannins, and phenols. The extract exhibited high total phenolic and flavonoid contents (182.73 ± 0.001 mg GAE/g and 48.78 ± 0.06 mg QE/g, respectively). The LC-MS analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction identified thirteen phytoconstituents, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins. The ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 1.47 ± 0.37 µg/mL), outperforming quercetin (IC₅₀ = 4.87 ± 0.16 µg/mL). Enzyme inhibition assays revealed methanol extract has strong α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 0.79 ± 0.13 µg/mL) and α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 3.48 ± 0.00 µg/mL) inhibitory effects, comparable to acarbose (IC₅₀ = 13.51 ± 0.22 µg/mL and IC₅₀ = 25.30 ± 0.85 µg/mL), respectively. In a 28-day in vivo study, oral administration of the methanol bark extract significantly (p < 0.01) reduced fasting serum glucose levels and improved lipid profiles, with decreases in triglycerides (5%) and total cholesterol (2%), and an increase in HDL (5%) compared with baseline. The extract-treated group also showed higher hepatic glycogen content (14.06 ± 0.002 mg/mL) than the Gliclazide-treated group (12.82 ± 0.002 mg/mL). In silico molecular docking identified Corilagin exhibiting the highest binding affinity (-10.3 kcal/mol), stable interaction (RMSD = 1.469 ± 0.133 Å), and favorable binding free energy (ΔGBFE = -27.48 ± 3.15) with α-amylase, suggesting that it may act as a competitive inhibitor of an enzyme's active site. Overall, these findings highlight that E. angustifolius bark significantly inhibits glucose absorption and improves dyslipidemia to some extent, while in silico analysis suggests that Corilagin has potential as an inhibitory activity against type-2 diabetes.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary sorbitol and/or L-carnitine as feed additives on rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, and productivity of lactating Zaraibi goats. Twenty goats (average body weight 40.86 ± 0.99 kg), similar in age, parity, and kidding rate, were randomly assigned to four experimental groups. The experimental period extended from 21 days pre-partum to 90 days of the suckling period. All groups received the basal diet; G1 served as the control, G2 received sorbitol (5 g/head/day), G3 received L-carnitine (30 mg/head/day), and G4 received a combination of both additives. The results indicated that G4 exhibited the highest dry matter intake. Rumen ammonia-N significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased in the treated groups. A slight non-significant decrease in TVFAs was observed in the treated groups, except G2 which showed a slight non-significant increase in TVFAs and acetic acid, while such increase was significant (P ≤ 0.05) in propionic acid. Total milk yield was the highest in G4 with improved feed conversion efficiency. Blood analysis of G4 showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) increased glucose with decreased non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Blood urea-N, total cholesterol, triglycerides and liver enzymes (AST/ALT) were decreased, while total protein and thyroid hormones (T3/T4) were increased. The combination of sorbitol and L-carnitine synergistically improved energy metabolism, milk production, offspring growth and economic efficiency. Therefore, the study recommends the use of sorbitol with L-carnitine as an effective nutritional strategy for improving dairy goat productivity and profitability.

This study investigated the efficacy of dietary supplementation with Spirulina platensis powder (SP), both individually and in combination with mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), on the growth performance, serum metabolites, and gut health of broiler chickens exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). A total of 450 male broiler chickens (ROSS 308) were randomly allocated into one of six treatment groups with fifteen broilers per each. Experimental groups were: negative control (NC, no additives), positive control (PC, exposure to AFB1 without additives), PC + toxin binder (TB, 0.5 g/kg), PC + SP (3 g/kg), PC + MOS (2 g/kg), and PC + (SP + MOS). The experimental period lasted for 42 days. The SP + MOS combination improved feed conversion ratio compared to the PC and TB groups (p < 0.05). In serum metabolites, the positive control (PC) group exhibited significantly decreased glucose and increased triglyceride concentrations compared with the other dietary treatments (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the liver enzymes activity including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were influenced by the treatments (p < 0.05). A significant increase in Lactobacillus counts was observed in the MOS and SP+MOS groups (p < 0.05). Also, dietary supplementation with SP+MOS improved villus surface area in broilers (p < 0.05). In conclusion, addition of SP and MOS, particularly in combination, can mitigate the adverse effects of aflatoxin B1 in broiler chickens.

In recent years, the incidence of ischemic stroke among young adults has increased significantly. Identifying risk factors associated with ischemic stroke in this demographic is crucial for effective prevention. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of the serum apolipoprotein B (ApoB)/apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) ratio with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) in young patients with ischemic stroke. We collected data from patients with ischemic stroke aged 18 to 45 years. ICAS was assessed using computed tomography angiography (CTA), and serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, ApoA-I, and ApoB were measured. The ApoB/ApoA-I ratio was subsequently calculated. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between the ICAS group and the non-ICASs group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify independent risk factors for ICAS in young ischemic stroke patients. A total of 161 young ischemic stroke patients were included, with 89 in the ICAS group and 72 in the non-ICAS group. In a univariate analysis, patients with ICAS had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, smoking, and hyperlipidemia, as well as higher levels of ApoB and a higher ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, but lower levels of HDL-C and ApoA-I compared to those without ICAS. After adjustment for age, sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and HDL-C, multivariable analyses indicated that ICAS had a dose-response relationship with apoB/apoAI ratio quartiles: the second quartile, OR, 3.051 (95% CI, 1.185 to 7.855); the third quartile, 3.516 (1.504 to 8.219); and the fourth quartile, 4.743 (2.109 to 10.667), when referenced to the first quartile. Our study showed that a higher apoB/apoAI ratio is independently associated with ICAS in young stroke patients, after careful exclusion of alternative arteriopathies and adjustment for confounders. However, findings should be confirmed with vessel wall imaging in future studies.

Obesity is a complex disorder affecting metabolism and immunity, with gut microbiota and vitamin D metabolism playing key roles. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation and probiotics on the vitamin D receptor (VDR) levels and the gut microbiota of rats given a high-fat diet as an experimental model of obesity. In this study, experimental obese rat models were used to assess the impact of vitamin D and probiotic supplements on lipid profiles, inflammation, obesity, diabetes, VDR, and gut microbiota. 24 Wistar rats (4-6 weeks) were divided into four groups: control, high-fat diet, high-fat diet with probiotic supplementation (HFD + P), and high-fat diet with probiotic and vitamin D supplementation (HFD + P + VD). Blood and fecal samples were collected from rats for analysis. Changes in BMI values, initial and final weights, and weight changes across all groups were found (p = 0.018, p = 0.006, p = 0.023). HFD + P and HFD + P + VD showed lower levels of insulin, CRP, triglycerides, IL-6, HOMA-IR, and leptin. Supplementing probiotics and vitamin D reduced the phylum Bacteroidetes while increasing the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. The findings suggest that probiotics combined with vitamin D supplementation may be a promising approach for supporting the management of obesity-related metabolic disorders and microbiota. Furthermore, probiotics may enhance vitamin D's effectiveness by inducing VDR expression.

Ganoderma lucidum is an edible and medicinal fungus. Triterpenoids, particularly ganoderic acids, represent the principal bioactive constituents in Ganoderma lucidum. Bacteria-enzyme synergistic fermentation broth of Ganoderma lucidum (FBG) was optimized as a potential alternative to traditional water-extracted Ganoderma lucidum (WEG). The optimized parameters with Lactobacillus rhamnosus fermentation exhibited the highest content of ganoderic acid F (GAF). Administration of FBG led to a pronounced decline in lipid deposition and contents of intracellular total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malonic dialdehyde (MDA). The FBG treatment also markedly increased the activities of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The results of network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking suggested that GAF exhibits a robust interaction with the core targets sodium leak channel, nonselective (NALCN) and eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 2 (EEF1A2). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results demonstrated that GAF could effectively reduce lipid accumulation while upregulating EEF1A2, phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) protein expression. Collectively, these findings indicate that GAF alleviates free fatty acid (FFA)-induced hepatic lipid accumulation through activation of the EEF1A2/p-AMPK/PPAR-α signaling pathway, suggesting a potential mechanism involving AMPK-related pathways.

Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the effects of coffee husk (CH) on lipid profile and plasma glucose levels in rats over an 8-week period. Eighteen male Albino rats were divided into three groups: a control group received a standard diet, a high-fat diet (HFD) group received a standard diet containing 20% palm olein oil, and a CH group received a standard diet containing 20% palm olein oil and 7% CH. Different types of white adipose tissues were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results demonstrated that the control group presented the lowest levels of total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and plasma glucose. The HFD group showed significantly increased levels of all parameters compared to both control and CH groups (p < 0.05). The CH group recorded moderate levels for all measured indicators, which may reflect the positive effect of the husks on blood lipids. Moreover, the size of adipose tissue cells was smaller in the CH group compared to the HFD group. HPLC results illustrated that CH contains 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, rosmarinic acid, quercetin, caffeic acid, catechin hydrate, and gallic acid (254.2, 5.415, 4.471, 3.381, 2.865, and 2.823 ppm, respectively). The positive effect of CH could be attributed to the presence of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and rosmarinic acid. In conclusion, coffee husk could potentially be used as a supplement to lower plasma lipid levels. Further research should be conducted to examine the coffee husks' impact on chronic diseases.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Chaihu-Shugan-San (CSS) on egg production, egg quality, ovarian development, serum lipid levels, liver function, and hepatic lipid metabolism in laying hens. A total of 480 67-week-old laying hens (Jinghong No. 1) were randomly assigned to four groups. Each group comprised eight replicates of 15 hens. A basal diet was fed to the control group (CON), and a basal diet supplemented with 0.5% (CSS1), 1.5% (CSS2), or 2.5% CSS (CSS3) was fed to the other groups, respectively. The trial lasted 8 weeks. The results showed a significant increase in the egg-laying rate of the CSS2 group by 6.80% than the CON group (p < 0.05). Haugh unit was 9.34%, 10.45%, and 7.97% higher in the CSS1, CSS2, and CSS3 groups than in the CON group (p < 0.05). Eggshell thickness of the CSS2 group was found to be 38.68% greater than the CON group (p < 0.05). The oviduct index was enhanced by 31.53%, 19.70%, and 26.89% in the CSS1, CSS2, and CSS3, respectively (p < 0.05). The hens in the CSS2 and CSS3 groups displayed a greater number of SYF, at 71.73% and 52.43% (p < 0.05). The serum triglyceride (TG) levels demonstrated a significant increase in the CSS2 group, with 40.15% (p < 0.05). The identification of 1,826 and 1,828 lipid compounds in the CON and CSS groups, respectively, was indicated by lipidomics analysis. 175 differential lipids (SDLs) were upregulated and 60 SDLs were downregulated significantly. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) topological analysis indicated that SDLs in the liver were primarily enriched in the metabolism of glycerophospholipid, glycerolipid, and glycine, serine, and threonine. In conclusion, dietary CSS supplementation improves egg-laying rate and egg quality during the late-laying period, while reducing liver fat accumulation. Dietary level of 1.5% is recommend. The reason may be due to its effects on hepatic lipid profile and metabolism, especially through glycerophospholipid and glyceride metabolism pathways.