Background and Aim: Papaya peel (PP) is an agro-industrial by-product containing nutrients and bioactive compounds with potential for use as an alternative ruminant feed ingredient. However, information on the effects of graded dietary PP inclusion on rumen fermentation, methane production, and nutrient degradability remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of dietary PP inclusion on in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics, methane production, and degradability using sheep rumen fluid. Materials and Methods: A completely randomized design comprising four dietary treatments with eight incubation units per treatment was used. PP was included at 0% (PP-0), 10% (PP-10), 20% (PP-20), or 40% (PP-40). Rumen fluid was collected from five Garut-cross male lambs (37.03 ± 1.05 kg), pooled, and mixed with McDougall buffer. Experimental diets were incubated for 48 h. Total gas and methane production, rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), volatile fatty acids, in vitro dry matter (DM) degradability, and in vitro organic matter degradability were determined. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s test when treatment effects were significant. Results: PP inclusion significantly increased gas production at 12, 18, and 24 h (p ≤ 0.006), with the highest 24-h value observed in PP-20 (32.5 mL) compared with PP-0 (25.0 mL). NH₃-N increased from 3.88 mM in PP-0 to 8.65 mM in PP-40 (p < 0.001). Total volatile fatty acid concentration was highest in PP-20 (29.4 mM) compared with PP-0 (18.0 mM; p = 0.010), while acetate increased significantly (p = 0.031). PP inclusion did not significantly affect 48-h gas production, methane production, rumen pH, DM or organic matter degradability, propionate, butyrate, or valerate concentrations (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Dietary PP, particularly at 20% inclusion, enhanced selected in vitro rumen fermentation responses without adversely affecting rumen pH or degradability; however, it did not significantly reduce methane production. Because the experiment used a single pooled rumen fluid inoculum batch, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary. Further in vivo studies are required to determine effects on nutrient utilization, animal performance, and methane emissions.
Background and Aim: Improving embryonic survival and hatchability is essential for increasing the productivity of indigenous chicken breeds. L-arginine is a functional amino acid involved in nitric oxide synthesis, angiogenesis, protein metabolism, and immune regulation, and researchers have investigated it as a nutritional intervention to improve embryonic development and post-hatch performance. However, information regarding the combined effects of maternal dietary and in ovo L-arginine supplementation in indigenous chickens remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of dietary and in ovo L-arginine supplementation on embryonic development, hatchability, embryonic mortality, growth performance, intestinal morphology, and muscle histomorphology in Alope Unhas 1 chickens. Materials and Methods: A total of 108 Alope Unhas 1 breeder chickens (90 hens and 18 roosters) were allocated to four treatments in a completely randomized design with three replicate pens per treatment. A total of 120 fertile eggs (30 per treatment, with 10 eggs per replicate) were allocated for hatchability and embryonic mortality assessments. The treatments consisted of a basal diet without L-arginine supplementation or in ovo injection (T0); a basal diet with in ovo injection of 2% L-arginine (T1); a basal diet supplemented with 0.25% L-arginine (T2); and combined dietary supplementation and in ovo injection (T3). The in ovo injection was administered on day 18 of incubation using 0.5 mL of 2% L-arginine solution delivered into the amniotic cavity through the air cell. Embryonic development, hatchability, embryonic mortality, post-hatch growth performance, intestinal morphology, and muscle histomorphology were evaluated. The replicate pen was considered the experimental unit for statistical analysis. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Duncan's multiple range test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Maternal dietary and in ovo L-arginine supplementation did not significantly affect embryonic development, hatchability, hatch weight, post-hatch growth performance, intestinal morphology, or muscle histomorphology (p > 0.05). However, late embryonic mortality differed significantly among treatments (p = 0.024). The dietary L-arginine supplementation group (T2) exhibited the lowest late embryonic mortality (0.00 ± 0.00%), compared with the untreated control group (T0; 7.49 ± 1.45%) and the combined dietary and in ovo supplementation group (T3; 15.61 ± 9.27%). Late embryonic mortality was significantly lower in T2 than in T3, whereas the difference between T2 and T0 was not statistically significant. Although hatchability was numerically highest in T2 (83.89 ± 21.10%), no significant differences were observed among treatments (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that maternal dietary L-arginine supplementation may influence late embryonic survival, whereas combining dietary and in ovo supplementation did not provide additional benefits under the experimental conditions. Conclusion: Maternal dietary L-arginine supplementation may improve late embryonic survival in Alope Unhas 1 chickens without significantly affecting post-hatch growth, intestinal morphology, or muscle histomorphology. In contrast, combining dietary and in ovo L-arginine supplementation did not confer additional biological advantages and may adversely affect late embryonic survival. These findings provide useful baseline evidence for optimizing L-arginine supplementation strategies in indigenous chicken breeding programs and warrant further dose-response, mechanistic, and long-term studies to establish effective supplementation protocols.
Background and Aim: Quercetin-like compounds (QLCs) derived from Dendrophthoe pentandra growing on Lansium domesticum have potential endothelial-protective and vascular restorative properties, but their therapeutic application may be constrained by limited flavonoid bioavailability. Nanoparticle formulation may improve their delivery and biological activity. This study evaluated the effects of intramuscular nanoparticle-formulated QLCs on clinical and structural recovery following experimentally modified ischemic-limb compression in rabbits and estimated their pharmacokinetic withdrawal period. Materials and Methods: Twenty adult male rabbits were allocated to four groups (n = 5/group). Macro-level tissue compression was induced by external circumferential stainless-steel ligation of the right trochanteric region for 2 weeks. Following ligature removal, the positive control group (Group A) received dexamethasone (2 mg/kg body weight), the negative control group (Group B) received sterile water, and two groups received nanoparticle-formulated QLCs (50 mg/kg body weight) intramuscularly twice daily for 5 days. One QLC-treated group (Group C) was dedicated to pharmacokinetic profiling and withdrawal time estimation using high-performance liquid chromatography, whereas the second QLC-treated group (Group D) was evaluated for post-treatment clinical recovery (lameness, swelling, and nerve reflexes) and vascular histopathology. Group comparisons were performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test (p < 0.05). Results: Nanoparticle-formulated QLCs promoted greater clinical recovery at 5 days post-treatment compared with dexamethasone and sterile water. QLC-treated rabbits exhibited reduced lameness and swelling alongside greater histopathological vessel-lumen patency (p < 0.05). Histopathological observations confirmed better preservation of endothelial architecture and reduced structural luminal collapse in QLC-treated tissues compared to control groups; however, functional restoration of blood flow was not directly quantified. Pharmacokinetic analysis supported an estimated withdrawal interval of approximately 9–10 days. The observed vascular effects were consistent with the proposed endothelial-protective and vasodilatory actions of the QLC formulation. Conclusion: Intramuscular nanoparticle-formulated QLCs from D. pentandra promoted functional and structural microvascular recovery following experimentally induced venous constriction in rabbits and performed favorably relative to dexamethasone in the measured outcomes. The estimated 9–10-day withdrawal interval provides preliminary information relevant to residue management. These findings support further investigation of nanoparticle-formulated QLCs as a plant-derived candidate for veterinary vascular repair; however, larger studies incorporating quantitative vascular perfusion measurements and comprehensive safety assessments are required before clinical application.
Background and Aim: Canine mammary gland tumors (CMTs) are among the most important neoplasms in female dogs and provide a valuable spontaneous model for comparative oncology. Despite advances in surgery and chemotherapy, treatment of advanced and metastatic CMTs remains limited by therapeutic resistance, systemic toxicity, and poor clinical outcomes. Phytochemicals and standardized botanical extracts have therefore attracted interest as multitarget anticancer agents and potential chemosensitizers. This review critically evaluates their molecular mechanisms, therapeutic synergy, safety, and translational potential in CMTs. Peer-reviewed literature published from January 2014 to August 2026 was identified through PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using a systematic search framework. Of 342 records identified, 254 unique records were screened, 36 full-text articles were assessed, and 10 primary experimental studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies evaluated six single-molecule phytochemicals and four standardized botanical extracts across CMT cell lines and preclinical in vivo models. Caspase-dependent apoptosis and modulation of the mitochondrial Bcl-2/Bax axis were the most consistently demonstrated anticancer mechanisms, while phase-specific cell cycle arrest, autophagic flux modulation, and suppression of oncogenic signaling provided additional therapeutic targets. Celastrol showed the greatest in vitro potency, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) below 1.3 μM, whereas esculetin required substantially higher concentrations and had a narrower safety margin. Combination strategies were particularly promising; curcumin with cyclophosphamide produced strong synergistic effects and enabled substantial cytotoxic dose reduction, while resveratrol combined with Viscum album extract demonstrated complementary anticancer activity. Conversely, indole-3-carbinol reduced primary tumor proliferation but paradoxically increased tumor embolization and visceral metastasis in vivo, emphasizing the need for rigorous safety assessment. Clinical translation remains constrained by poor oral bioavailability, rapid metabolism, inadequate canine-specific pharmacokinetic (PK) data, formulation variability, and the absence of prospective trials in dogs with spontaneous CMTs. Future research should prioritize standardized formulations, advanced drug delivery systems, canine PK and safety studies, and biomarker-driven clinical trials to determine whether promising phytochemicals can be translated into safe, effective adjunctive therapies for canine mammary oncology.
Background and Aim: Optimization of sperm capacitation protocols is important for improving assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in goats. Heparin and progesterone are used as capacitating agents in mammalian spermatozoa; however, direct comparisons of their effects on goat sperm functional dynamics during in vitro incubation remain limited. This study aimed to compare heparin and progesterone during in vitro capacitation of goat spermatozoa using conventional functional parameters and sperm quality indexes (SQIs). Materials and Methods: Semen was collected from two Saanen bucks during three independent collection sessions. After individual quality assessment, ejaculates were pooled within each session, generating three independent experimental replicates. Each pool was divided into control (CG), heparin-supplemented (HG; 20 μg/mL), and progesterone-supplemented (PG; 2 μg/mL) groups. Spermatozoa (100 × 10⁶ sperm/mL) were incubated at 37°C under 5% CO₂ for 4 h and evaluated at 0, 1, 2, and 4 h. Progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity, morphology, acrosome integrity, capacitation status, and plasma membrane fluidity were assessed. SQI-1 and SQI-2 were calculated from the evaluated functional variables. Results: Significant treatment × incubation period interactions were detected for the non-capacitated CTC F pattern, membrane hyper-fluidity, and SQI-2. HG produced the most pronounced capacitation-associated changes, including a decrease in the F pattern and increases in capacitated and acrosome-reacted spermatozoa and membrane hyper-fluidity. Direct between-treatment comparisons further showed significantly higher SQI-2 values in HG than in PG at T2 and T4 (adjusted p < 0.05). SQI-2 in HG increased from 5.8 ± 1.79% at 0 h to 29.3 ± 1.02% at 4 h and was overall higher than in CG and PG. SQI-1 did not differ significantly among groups. PG induced more gradual capacitation-associated changes, whereas sperm quality progressively declined in CG during incubation. Conclusion: Heparin induced more pronounced functional changes compatible with sperm capacitation than progesterone under the evaluated in vitro conditions. SQIs provided an integrative assessment of temporal sperm functional dynamics and may complement conventional parameters when optimizing goat sperm capacitation protocols for ARTs.
