Asghar Ali Kamboh

Chlorogenic acid (CGA): A pharmacological review and call for further research

Phenolic acids have recently gained substantial attention due to their various practical, biological and pharmacological effects. Chlorogenic Acid (CGA, 3-CQA) is a most abundant isomer among caffeoylquinic acid isomers (3-, 4-, and 5-CQA), that currently known as 5-CQA as per guidelines of IUPAC. It is one of the most available acids among phenolic acid compounds which can be naturally found in green coffee extracts and tea. CGA is an important and biologically active dietary polyphenol, playing several important and therapeutic roles such as antioxidant activity, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, neuroprotective, anti-obesity, antiviral, anti-microbial, anti-hypertension, free radicals scavenger and a central nervous system (CNS) stimulator. In addition, it has been found that CGA could modulate lipid metabolism and glucose in both genetically and healthy metabolic related disorders. It is speculated that CGA can perform crucial roles in lipid and glucose metabolism regulation and thus help to treat many disorders such as hepatic steatosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity as well. Furthermore, this phenolic acid (CGA) causes hepatoprotective effects by protecting animals from chemical or lipopolysaccharide-induced injuries. The hypocholesterolemic influence of CGA can result from the altered metabolism of nutrients, including amino acids, glucose and fatty acids (FA). The purpose of this review was to broaden the scope of knowledge of researchers to conduct more studies on this subject to both unveil and optimize its biological and pharmacological effects. As a result, CGA may be practically used as a natural safeguard food additive to replace the synthetic antibiotics and thereby reduce the medicinal cost.

Gum Arabic extracts protect against hepatic oxidative stress in alloxan induced diabetes in rats

Gum Arabic (GA) from Acacia seyal and Acacia senegal is a branched-chain polysaccharide which has strong antioxidant properties, and has been used to reduce the experimental toxicity. Yet, the effects of GA on oxidative stress in type I diabetic rats have not been reported. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of GA on oxidative stress in Alloxan induced diabetes in rats. The rats were divided into 3 groups (n=20 of each): control group, diabetic group injected with allaoxan, and diabetic group given 15% GA in drinking water for 8 weeks. Oxidative damage to liver tissue was evaluated by measurement of key hepatic enzymes, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and expression of oxidative stress genes. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly (P<0.05) increased in GA group compared to diabetic and control groups. Treatment of GA decreased liver malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased glutathione (GSH). In addition, GA was significantly (P<0.05) reduced the activities of key liver enzymes, including alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). SOD, GPx and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) mRNA were significantly increased in GA group compared to control and diabetic groups. Liver of all diabetic rats showed marked degeneration whereas slight degeneration was observed in GA treated rats compared to control. The results suggest that GA may protect liver by modulating the expression of oxidative stress genes, and thus can improve antioxidant status.

Aflatoxin B1 Induced Systemic Toxicity in Poultry and Rescue Effects of Selenium and Zinc.

Among many challenges, exposure to aflatoxins, particularly aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), is one of the major concerns in poultry industry. AFB1 intoxication results in decreased meat/egg production, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, disturbance in gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and reproduction, immune suppression, and increased disease susceptibility. Selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), in dietary supplementation, offer easy, cost-effective, and efficient ways to neutralize the toxic effect of AFB1. In the current review, we discussed the impact of AFB1 on poultry industry, its biotransformation, and organ-specific noxious effects, along with the action mechanism of AFB1-induced toxicity. Moreover, we explained the biological and detoxifying roles of Se and Zn in avian species as well as the protection mechanism of these two trace elements. Ultimately, we discussed the use of Se and Zn supplementation against AFB1-induced toxicity in poultry birds.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from Liver of Commercial Broilers and Backyard Chickens

SUMMARY In commercial farming, frequent use of antimicrobial agents probably results in the occurrence of resistance in bacterial flora present in the gastrointestinal tract. Backyard/free range chicken farming is known as a typical example of backyard farming. This kind of poultry farming differs in many ways from commercial poultry farming, e.g., in feeding regimes, antibiotic use, and access to outdoor areas. This survey investigated if these differences affect the antimicrobial resistance patterns of enteric bacteria isolated from liver samples of commercial broilers and backyard chickens. For this purpose, enteric bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from livers of commercial broiler and backyard chickens in Pakistan and were screened for their antimicrobial resistance. Antibiogram results revealed that the number of multidrug‐resistant Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Klebsiella were higher in commercial broilers as compared to backyard chickens. The isolates from commercial broilers showed a higher percentage resistance as compared to backyard chickens for nine antibiotics (viz., ampicillin, doxycycline, amoxicillin, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, norfloxacin, flumequine, ciprofloxacin, and augmentin). Whereas for 2 antibiotics, chloramphenicol and oxytetracycline, the extent of resistance in backyard chicken isolates was significantly higher than those from commercial broilers. The results indicate that in Pakistan backyard farming may contribute less to antimicrobial resistance.

Surveillance of Milk Adulteration and its Influence on Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Milk in Hyderabad, Pakistan

| Present study was carried out to evaluate the common adultrants practiced in market milk at the vicinity of Hyderabad city. In first experiment, a total of 100 unprocesed milk samples (five from each retailer sale points) were collected and examined during the summer season. Market milk was mainly adulterated with water, formalin, cane sugar (CS), skimmed milk powder (SMP), starch and sodium chloride. The water was common adulterants found to be in all the milk samples (100%), followed by formalin (34%), CS (24%), starch (13%), SMP (08%) and sodium chloride (05%). In second experiment, the recovered adultrants (viz., water, starch, SMP, CS, formalin) was used as treatment to record their effects on the physico-chmical charcateristics of normal milk. Significant influence of extraneous water (10 and 20% ) among the treatment was observed on physico-chemical characteristics of milk. Decrease in specific gravity (1.027±0.0003 and 1.024±0.001 respectively) and increase in freezing point(-0.462±0.01 and -0.399±0.010C, respectively) was recorded against their corresponding controls (1.030±0.001 and -0.525±0.010C, respectively) by the addition of extrenous water in milk. Addition of 10% water did not show any significant influence (p> 0.05) on pH value of milk (6.68±0.03), while 20% water had remarkable effect (p<0.05) on it (6.72±0.02) compared to that of whole milk (6.64±0.02). comparable reduction (p<0.05) in TS (total solid) content (13.34±0.28 and 11.15±0.44%) as compared to control milk (15.54±0.35) was observed. Protein, fat and lactose contents were also influenced (p<0.05) by addition of extraneous water to control milk. Addition of 1 and 2% each of starch, SMP and CS to normal milk did not show (p> 0.05) any significant influence on pH values and fat contents of milk, except addition of 2% CS that affected the pH (p<0.05). These results indicate alarming state of milk adulteration in Hyderabad city. As these adultrants significantlty affected the physico-chemical characteristics of milk like specific gravity, total solids content, protein and lactose content of milk.

Pharmacological values and therapeutic properties of black tea (Camellia sinensis): A comprehensive overview

Medicinal plants are essential parts of traditional medicine due to their phytochemical constituents having pharmacological values and therapeutic applications. Black tea have thousands of various biological compounds such as flavonoids (Thearubigins (TRs) and theaflavins (TFs) and catechins), amino acids (L.theanine), vitamins (A, C, K), phenolic acids (caffeic acid (CA), gallic acid (GA), chlorogenic acids (CGA) and cauramic acid), lipids, proteins, volatile compounds carbohydrates, β-carotene and fluoride that illustrated many promising pharmacological effects regarded as growth promoter, cardioprotector, potent cholesterol-lowering effect, antioxidant and antimicrobial, etc inhuman. Although there is an exponential growth in molecular evidence of cholesterol-lowering and antioxidant effect in human, there is still a lack of information of the pharmacological effects of black tea. To fill this information gap, therefore, this review article underscores broadening the new insight pertaining to black tea that could be used as safe food additive. This article also illuminates the interesting role of black tea as an herbal medicine that is the future demand to get rid of synthetic health promoters in the human health practice. Moreover, this information would be useful in terms of the low-cost practice of natural medicines with no residual effects, and a natural protection of the human being. In addition, further studies at a molecular level are needed to reveal its mechanism of action particularly for the hypocholesterolemic effect of black tea to overcome the heart-related diseases, fewer side effects and being a natural safeguard of human health.

Bacterial Contamination of Raw Meat and Butchers Equipment in Retail Shops in Tando-Allahyar, Pakistan

| The present study was performed to evaluate the aerobic bacterial contamination in meat and butchers’ equipment in retail shops in Tando-Allahyar, Pakistan. A total of 100 samples (40 beef, 40 mutton and 20 butchers’ meat-cutting equipment) were obtained from butcher shops from local vendors of different regions of Tando-Allahyar. The samples were collected randomly in sterile labelled polythene bags or bijoux bottles individually and were transferred to laboratory at 4oC within 3-4 hours of collection. All the samples were subjected to aerobic plate count method that followed by the standard method of isolation and identification. The bacterial load in (g-1) meat samples was recorded higher (p< 0.05) in beef samples (4.1x109) than mutton (3.9x107) and butchers’ meat cutting equipment samples (3.7x106). The bacterial organisms including Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae and Salmonella enteritidis were recorded as individual or mixed contaminants in meat and meat-cutting equipment samples. From the results, it could be concluded that in Tando-Allahyar, meat samples of cattle beef and sheep mutton, as well as butcher’s meat-cutting equipment are highly contaminated. The contamination level of aerobic spoilage bacteria was found higher in cattle beef as compared to sheep mutton.

Occurrence of Anthrax Spores in Small Ruminants Hair/Wool in District Tharparkar, Sindh

| Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) is a spore-forming bacteria that causes anthrax in animals, including small ruminants. The present study, for the first time investigated the B. anthracis spores contamination in small ruminant’s wool/hair in district Tharparkar, Pakistan. Randomly selected sheep and goats (n=40 each) were used for sample collection from different body parts i.e., abdomen, neck + face, fore limbs and hind limbs. Overall results showed that 28% samples were contaminated with anthrax spores. A moderately high (P > 0.05) incidence of anthrax spores was observed in samples collected from abdomen (35%), followed by neck + face (30%), fore limbs (25%) and hind limbs (20%) respectively. Sheep wool (30%) has a higher contamination level (P < 0.05) than goat hair (25%). In sheep, the highest prevalence was observed in 2 years of age group i.e., 4/8 (50%), whereas, 3/8 (37.5%), 3/12 (25%) and 2/12 (16.6%) samples were positive in age groups of 2 1⁄2, 3 and 4 years respectively. However, in goats the prevalence was recorded as 6/12 (50%), 3/12 (25%) and 1/8 (12.5%) in age groups of 2, 2 1⁄2 and 3 years respectively, whereas, anthrax spores were not found in goats of 4 years age-group. These results indicated that wool/hair of small ruminants harbor B. anthracis spores. Moreover, sheep wool harbored relatively higher spore numbers as compared to goat hair.