95 research outputs found
Preliminary investigation on antioxidant, antibacterial and antiproliferative activities on Pleurotus eryngii var. thapsiae, as potencial source of bioactive compounds
No full textSince ancient times mushrooms have been appreciated as food, and in more recent years their medicinal
properties have been increasingly exploited. Apart from their use as simple foods, mushrooms are being
explored as functional ingredients in the development of novel foods, mushroom-based products, and food
supplements. Several studies on medicinal mushrooms have highlighted their wide pharmacological
activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. These
pharmacological effects can be attributed to the rich bioactive metabolites composition found in fungi,
primarily in the mycelium and sporophores.
The most studied molecules are phenolic compounds, proteins, fatty acids, terpenes, terpenoids, steroids,
and vitamins. Several reports have also been conducted on polysaccharides, which are the structural
components of the mushroom cell wall and exhibited a strong biological activity. Heteroglycans,
peptidoglycans, and polysaccharide-protein complexes are polysaccharides that contribute to functional
properties that mushroom are known to have, but the most abundant and well-known compounds are alfa- and
beta-glucans.
Pleurotus (Fr.) P. Kumm. is one of the most widely taxonomic group and include different cultivated and
economically important mushrooms. These mushrooms are widely used in human nutrition all over the
world and are also recognized as medicinal mushrooms. The genus includes facultative saprotrophs or
biotrophs which grow in association with plants of the Apiaceae family, the P. eryngii species complex is
undoubtedly noteworthy.
In this study, we focused on the use of P. eryngii var. thapsiae Venturella, Zervakis & Saitta, whose
basidiomes grow in association with Thapsia garganica L. and have been currently reported so far only in
Sicily (Italy). The basidiomes growing on two different substrates were used, the first based on wheat straw
and the second based on a mixture of wheat straw and Aegilops spp., a common wheat weed. Aqueous
crude extracts produced by two different techniques, conventional low-temperature, and ultrasound-assisted
extraction, were used. These extracts were tested by radical scavenging activity (DPPH), thiobarbituric acid
reactive substances (TBARS) formation inhibition, oxidative haemolysis inhibition assay (OxHLIA),
antimicrobial (food and clinical bacteria and fungi) and antiproliferative assays on different human tumor
cell lines. Preliminary results showed interesting antimicrobial activities against several Gram-positive and
Gram-negative bacteria, including multi-resistant strains, as well as antifungal activities against Aspergillus
brasiliensis. Regarding antiproliferative potential, very interesting results were observed against gastric
(AGS), colorectal (CaCo-2), breast (MCF7), and liver (NCI-H460) cancer cell lines. Further evaluation of
the biological activities and chemical characterization of polysaccharides within the extracts is in progress
Gluten-free vegan functional cookies: an “inclusive” food not only for celiac consumers
No full textCeliac disease, an autoimmune disorder and inflammatory condition induced by gluten, impacts both adults and children. The reported global prevalence of celiac disease stands at approximately 1%, and this figure continues to rise steadily over time. [1]. The condition is treated by eliminating gluten-containing foods from the diet, leading to a significant increase in the demand for gluten-free products [2]. Consequently, many companies want to expand and create new products to meet this demand [3]. The food industry has been incorporating natural components into traditional products to improve and prevent diet-related diseases [4]. There has been a growing interest in adding mushroom powders and extracts because their content of bioactive molecules can enhance nutritional characteristics by providing a unique flavour and aroma [5,6]. Fortifying cereal-based foods with fungal mycelia or sporophores enhances the availability of vitamins, minerals, fibre, beta-glucans, and antioxidants
in baked goods [7]. Among cultivated edible mushrooms, Pleurotus eryngii (DC.) Quél. is globally recognised for its consumption and as a natural reservoir of bioactive compounds, encompassing carbohydrates, peptides, and dietary fibre [8]. In developed economies, plant-based diets have gained considerable popularity, particularly veganism. This shift is due to concerns about animal welfare, personal health, distaste for meat, and ethical and environmental considerations [9]. The global vegan food market has been estimated at 64 billion by 2032 [10]. The increase in sales of Plant-based products is due not only to the increased number of vegans but also to media coverage that emphasises the ethical and health principles of this lifestyle [11]. This survey aimed to develop a gluten-free cookie using plant and mushroom-based ingredients, specifically incorporating P. eryngii powder (PeP) to replace 10% or 20% of the cornmeal. The recipe includes corn flour and starch, vegetable fat, and sugar. Technological analyses were conducted on the raw material, dough, and cookies to determine their proximate composition following AOAC procedures. Sugar composition was analysed by HPLC system coupled to a refraction index (RI) detector. Ergosterol content was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
coupled with an ultraviolet (UV) detector. Antioxidant activities were evaluated
through in vitro assays for the ability to inhibit DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)
radicals scavenging and by the evaluation of the Reducing Power (RP). Volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) were evaluated employing solid-phase microextraction
(SPME) in headspace mode, combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
(GC-MS). A sensory evaluation was also conducted.
Results showed that cookies with PeP exhibited higher ergosterol and trehalose
contents and superior antioxidant activity than control cookies. The fibre content
increased, meeting the health claim "high fiber" in PeP-containing trials [12]. Adding
PEP resulted in a change in the chemical-physical characteristics and VOCs. Notably,
the color variation of the cookies, from yellow ochre to light brown, was more
pronounced with increasing PeP. In conclusion, the sensory evaluation indicated a
preference for the test cookies over the control, confirming the suitability of the
product to expand the range of vegan and gluten-free functional foods containing
mushrooms
Response to the letter: "Some remarks about the LeishVet directions for the treatment of canine leishmaniosis"
No full textEffect of pimobendan or benazepril hydrochloride on survival times in dogs with congestive heart failure caused by naturally occurring myxomatous mitral valve disease: The QUEST study
No full textBackground: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in geriatric dogs despite conventional therapy
Does the current regulation of assisted reproductive techniques in the UK safeguard animal welfare?
No full textReproductive medicine is one of the fastest developing fields of veterinary medicine. Regulation of veterinary-assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) is currently divided between the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (1986), the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966), and the Animal Welfare Act (2006). None of those pieces of legislation was purpose designed to protect the welfare of animals undergoing ARTs, either directly or by determining which veterinary ART procedures may or may not be performed. Consequently, due to the lack of reference to such procedures, the welfare protection aims of the legislation are sometimes ambiguous. It is therefore difficult to ascertain whether the aims of the legislation are being fulfilled but, in the opinion of this author, the legislation is anyway inadequate in scope, most particularly because it fails to provide a reporting function. It is unclear whether all or any veterinary ART procedures being undertaken on post-natal animals are associated with suffering. Some ARTs may cause discomfort, stress or pain: study or review of the welfare effects of these would be valuable. Any future review of the legislation regulating veterinary ARTs, be that an overall review or a review of one of the relevant statutes (for example the VSA), should take into account the interface between research and clinical medicine; the potentially welfare-compromising gaps between the Acts, the need to introduce reporting functions in order to build an evidence base, and the issue of veterinary specialisation and whether specialised techniques should be carried out only by those with specialist post-graduate qualifications
Animals, Ethics and Us
No full textEveryone has a view about animal ethics. Each of us, for example, has an opinion about whether we should eat meat; whether animals should be used for scientific research, or whether the use of animals in sport is acceptable. But very few of us stop to wonder about the basis of our views, or to rationalise them. In this book, Madeleine Campbell aims to enable us to do so, by addressing a series of questions such as ‘When does animal use become abuse?’, ‘Why do we treat some animals differently from others?’, ‘Are there some things which we should never do to animals?’ and ‘Just because we can, should we?’. Drawing on her experience as a Veterinarian; a European Diplomate in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law; a researcher and teacher, and a member of various industry ethical review bodies and of welfare and ethics committees for membership organisations and government, the author takes ethical argument beyond academia and applies it to the question which currently dominates societal debate about human – animal interactions: what (if anything) is a reasonable use of an animal?Animals, Ethics, and Us offers a stripped back, balanced and moderate perspective, based on logical argument, philosophical principles and sound science. It is a thought-provoking read aimed at a broad readership including informed owners and animal enthusiasts, as well as useful a primer for students of animal ethics, welfare and veterinary medicine
Directions for the diagnosis, clinical staging, treatment and prevention of canine leishmaniosis
No full textEstimation of Rift Valley fever virus spillover to humans during the Mayotte 2018-2019 epidemic.
No full textRift Valley fever (RVF) is an emerging, zoonotic, arboviral hemorrhagic fever threatening livestock and humans mainly in Africa. RVF is of global concern, having expanded its geographical range over the last decades. The impact of control measures on epidemic dynamics using empirical data has not been assessed. Here, we fitted a mathematical model to seroprevalence livestock and human RVF case data from the 2018-2019 epidemic in Mayotte to estimate viral transmission among livestock, and spillover from livestock to humans through both direct contact and vector-mediated routes. Model simulations were used to assess the impact of vaccination on reducing the epidemic size. The rate of spillover by direct contact was about twice as high as vector transmission. Assuming 30% of the population were farmers, each transmission route contributed to 45% and 55% of the number of human infections, respectively. Reactive vaccination immunizing 20% of the livestock population reduced the number of human cases by 30%. Vaccinating 1 mo later required using 50% more vaccine doses for a similar reduction. Vaccinating only farmers required 10 times as more vaccine doses for a similar reduction in human cases. Finally, with 52.0% (95% credible interval [CrI] [42.9-59.4]) of livestock immune at the end of the epidemic wave, viral reemergence in the next rainy season (2019-2020) is unlikely. Coordinated human and animal health surveillance, and timely livestock vaccination appear to be key to controlling RVF in this setting. We furthermore demonstrate the value of a One Health quantitative approach to surveillance and control of zoonotic infectious diseases. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2020 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.
International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force consensus report on epilepsy definition, classification and terminology in companion animals
No full textDogs with epilepsy are among the commonest neurological patients in veterinary practice and therefore have historically attracted much attention with regard to definitions, clinical approach and management. A number of classification proposals for canine epilepsy have been published during the years reflecting always in parts the current proposals coming from the human epilepsy organisation the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). It has however not been possible to gain agreed consensus, “a common language”, for the classification and terminology used between veterinary and human neurologists and neuroscientists, practitioners, neuropharmacologists and neuropathologists. This has led to an unfortunate situation where different veterinary publications and textbook chapters on epilepsy merely reflect individual author preferences with respect to terminology, which can be confusing to the readers and influence the definition and diagnosis of epilepsy in first line practice and research studies.In this document the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force (IVETF) discusses current understanding of canine epilepsy and presents our 2015 proposal for terminology and classification of epilepsy and epileptic seizures. We propose a classification system which reflects new thoughts from the human ILAE but also roots in former well accepted terminology. We think that this classification system can be used by all stakeholders
- …
