The present study examined the effects of dietary supplementation with extracts of pomegranate (Punica granatum) and onion (Allium cepa), either encapsulated in cyclodextrin (POMALCD group) or in an aqueous (POMALAQ group) form, on breast meat, thigh meat, and liver composition, oxidative stability, cellular signaling pathways, and the gene expression of certain hepatic genes. The results showed that breast and thigh meat contained significantly (p < 0.05) higher moisture content in the group with the aqueous extract, compared to the control and POMALCD groups. Moreover, the protein content was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the thigh and liver samples of the treated groups in comparison to the control. The iron-induced challenge deteriorated (p < 0.001) the lipid and protein oxidative status of the control group, whereas both supplemented groups showed considerable tolerance in all tissues. The supplementation of pomegranate and onion extracts mitigated or maintained heat shock protein (HSP) levels and elevated (p < 0.05) the Bcl-2/Bad ratio in thigh and breast meat, whereas mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation was modulated at a lower rate. After normalization to β-actin expression, quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed a significant (p < 0.05) induction in the expression of MTR and MSRB1 genes in the liver of the supplemented groups. No differences were observed for the TAT, SMS, and BHMT genes. In conclusion, dietary mixtures of herbal extracts with pomegranate and onion improved protein and lipid oxidative stability in meat, enhanced the hepatic energy status, and exerted ameliorative effects on stress-related proteins. The encapsulated extract of pomegranate and onion, using cyclodextrin as a carrier, appeared to reduce lipid oxidation to a greater extent than the aqueous extract. In contrast, the aqueous extract exhibited higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values and provided better protection against protein carbonyl formation.

Abstract The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of a microencapsulated oregano feed additive containing oregano essential oil named “VISNAT 1” on growth performance, intestinal and skin histomorphometry, serum biochemical parameters, fillet oxidative status and fatty acids (FA) profile of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) under conventional farming conditions. Also, changes in the expression levels of both insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone 1 (GH-1) genes were assessed. A total of 200 sub-adult trouts (52 g±3.2) were randomly allocated into two different treatments with four replicates each. The control group was fed a basal diet, while oregano group was fed diet supplemented with oregano essential oil at the level of 1.0 kg/t of feed. The results indicate that the phytobiotic product beneficially altered feed, fillet and serum oxidative status and improved performance of trouts. Also, oregano essential oil beneficially affected the histopathology and histomorphometry of intestine and skin. Moreover, oregano oil addition in the rainbow trout diet can initiate mitogenic and anti-apoptotic responses in the liver, which is one of the main actions of IGF-1 receptor promoting body growth and health. As a result, oregano essential oil can be used as a supplement on trouts diet but further investigation upon its action should take place.

Anxiety is a very prevalent mental disorder. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain and many anxiolytic drugs exert their action through interactions with the GABA receptors. In addition to the GABAergic system, serotonergic, dopaminergic, and noradrenergic systems are also implicated in the development of anxiety and stress in various animal models and humans. Furthermore, involvement of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and dysregulation of the immune system may also mediate stress and anxiety in humans and animals. While a number of anxiolytic drugs are available on the market, dietary supplements and herbal extracts are shown to exert equivalent calming effects with minimal to no addictive or adverse side effects. This chapter describes the pharmacological targets involved in the development of stress and anxiety and the role of various nutraceuticals and dietary supplements that have the potential to reduce anxiety and stress.

Curcumin, an active component of the rhizome turmeric, has gained much attention as a plant-based compound with pleiotropic pharmacological properties. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory activities. However, the health-promoting utility of curcumin is constrained due to its hydrophobic nature, water insolubility, poor bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and systemic elimination. Therefore, an innovative stride was taken, and complexes of metals with curcumin have been synthesized. Curcumin usually reacts with metals through the β-diketone moiety to generate metal–curcumin complexes. It is well established that curcumin strongly chelates several metal ions, including boron, cobalt, copper, gallium, gadolinium, gold, lanthanum, manganese, nickel, iron, palladium, platinum, ruthenium, silver, vanadium, and zinc. In this review, the pharmacological, chemopreventive, and therapeutic activities of metal–curcumin complexes are discussed. Metal–curcumin complexes increase the solubility, cellular uptake, and bioavailability and improve the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral effects of curcumin. Metal–curcumin complexes have also demonstrated efficacy against various chronic diseases, including cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. These biological activities of metal–curcumin complexes were associated with the modulation of inflammatory mediators, transcription factors, protein kinases, antiapoptotic proteins, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes. In addition, metal–curcumin complexes have shown usefulness in biological imaging and radioimaging. The future use of metal–curcumin complexes may represent a new approach in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

Aromatic plants are placed in the medicinal plants category and collectively they are known as Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP). These plants provide medicines and help in the preservation of health. The development of the scientific knowledge of these plant species opens new paths for their use in many facets of life (e.g., cosmetics, medicinal products, food and feed additives etc.). According to the World Health Organization 30% of the drugs sold worldwide contain compounds derived from plant materials which include more than 21,000 taxa. These plants are widely distributed globally including South and South East Asia. In India more than 7,500 species are used in ethnomedicines, which is half of country's Indian native plant species. China has around 6,000 species in use that have medicinal properties. In Africa over 5,000 plant species are used for medicinal purpose. In Europe at least 2000 MAP are being used and two-thirds (1200–1300) are native to Europe. Most of these plants are still collected in the wild. These aromatic plants are distributed throughout the whole world and can be classified according to their cultivation into different climatic zones of the world like tropical, equatorial, temperate and cold. The chemical properties/active ingredients of the same species of a plant differ in different climatic zones due to the change in the micro and macro environment of the plant.