Ercan Keskin

Effects of Zinc Supplementation to Ration on Some Hematological Parameters in Broiler Chicks

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of zinc supplementation on some hematological parameters. Sixty newborn male broiler chicks were utilized in the study. Zinc (Zn) was added into drinking water at levels of 0, 125, 500, and 1000 mg/kg.In the study, there was no significant difference between control and Zn-supplemented groups in erythrocyte count, hemoglobin amount, hematocrit levels, total leukocyte count, and differential leukocyte % levels, but the α-naphthyl acetate esterase ANAE(+) lymphocyte rate significantly (p<0.05) increased in the 125-ppm Zn-supplemented group compared with the control group. In conclusion, the data obtained may be beneficial in demonstrating the effects of zinc on, at least, these parameters.

Effects of Aflatoxin on Some Haematological Parameters and Protective Effectiveness of Esterified Glucomannan in Merino Rams

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the toxic effects of aflatoxin on some hematological parameters and to determine the preventive effectiveness of added glucomannan. In the study, 32 Merino rams were used, and the rams were separated equally to four groups as control (C), glucomannan (G), glucomannan + aflatoxin (AG), and aflatoxin (A). Erythrocyte, leukocyte count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels were decreased in A group compared with the other groups, and there was a reduction in similar parameters in AG group compared to control values. On the other hand, these parameters were tended to increase in AG group compared to A group values. Aflatoxicosis caused the lymphocytopenia and monocytopenia but increased percentage of neutrophil counts. In conclusion, the results determined in the study might be important to demonstrate the effects of aflatoxicosis and glucomannan on some haematological parameters before the clinical symptoms appear.

Effects of Ginseng and Echinacea on Cytokine mRNA Expression in Rats

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of ginseng and echinacea on the mRNA expression of IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 in healthy rats. Six-week-old male Fischer 344 rats (n = 48) were used. The animals were divided into three equal groups, as follows: control (C); ginseng (G); echinacea (E). While the C group was fed a standard rat diet (Purina) ad libitum for a period of 40 days, the G and E groups animals received the same diet containing 0.5 g/kg of Panax ginseng root powder and 0.75 g/kg of Echinacea purpurea root powder, respectively. Blood samples were obtained from 8 rats in each group after 20 and 40 days of treatment, and the mRNA expression of IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 was determined. After 20 days of treatment, the expression of IL-10 mRNA in the G group was different from the C group (P < 0.05); however, after 40 days of treatment, there was no difference between the groups. There was no difference after 20 and 40 days of treatment between the groups with respect to the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA. After 20 days of treatment, the expression of TNF-α mRNA in the E group was higher (P < 0.05) than the C group. After 40 days of treatment, the expression of TNF-α mRNA was similar in all of the groups. Based on the current study, the increase in expression of IL-10 mRNA in the G group and the increase in expression of TNF-α mRNA in the E group support the use of these plants for purposes of modulating the immune system. However, a more detailed study regarding the effects of ginseng and echinacea on these cytokines and other cytokines is needed.

THE EFFECTS OF AFLATOXIN AND GLUCOMANNAN ON SOME ANTIOXIDANTS AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN RABBITS

In this study the effects of aflatoxin added to the feed and the effects of glucomannan supplemented in order to prevent aflatoxin absorbtion on some biochemical parameters and antioxidants were studied in 40 New Zeland rabbits. The rabbits were randomly alloted to the following groups: control (C), glucomannan (G), glucomannan + aflatoxin (AG) and aflatoxin (A). At the end of the ten weeks trial MDA levels increased, GSH and SOD levels were decreased (p<0.05) in group A compared with control group levels. Cholesterol, glucose, albumin and total protein levels also decreased, AST and ALT levels were increased in group A compared with the control group. In the group G the former parameters were not affected by glucomannan application alone. On the other hand in the AG group MDA, GSH, SOD, cholesterol, glucose, albumin and total protein levels were higher, while AST and ALT levels were lower compared with the control levels, although these differences were not significant. In conclusion, the results determined in the study might be important to demonstrate the effects of aflatoxicosis on some biochemical and antioxidant parameters.

Concentrations of sulfadoxine and trimethoprim in plasma, lymph fluids and some tissues 24 h after intramuscular administration to angora goats

This study was carried out to determine the concentrations of sulfadoxine and trimethoprim in plasma, lymph, and some tissues in goats after administration of a single recommended therapeutic dose. Five healthy, adult Angora goats were used. The drug combination, containing 200 mg sulfadoxine and 40 mg trimethoprim per millilitre, was given as a single IM injection at the recommended dose level, 15 mg/kg body weight for sulfadoxine and 3 mg/kg body weight for trimethoprim. The goats were slaughtered 24 hours after drug administration and samples were taken from liver, bone marrow, pelvic limb muscles, hepatic, thoracic duct, and the pelvic limb lymph fluids for analysis of drug concentrations by HPLC. The concentrations of trimethoprim in bone marrow, liver, pelvic limb muscles, hepatic lymph, the pelvic limb lymph, and thoracic duct lymph were found to be 6, 5, 4, 2, 5 and 15 times higher than those of plasma, respectively. Although the sulfadoxine concentrations in bone marrow, pelvic limb muscles, and liver were 2, 3 and 2 times higher than the plasma concentrations, respectively, the sulfadoxine concentrations in hepatic lymph, the pelvic limb lymph, and thoracic duct lymph were lower than those of plasma. The results show that the trimethoprim concentrations in lymph fluids were quite similar to those in tissues. However, the sulfadoxine concentrations in lymph fluids were different in each tissue.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Ginseng in Rats Fed Cholesterol Rich Diet

Background: Ginseng species having been used in various traditional herbal therapies for many years in worldwide. In recent years, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia and obesity have become serious health problems. These are considered risk factor for metabolic and organic diseases such as atherosclerosis, fatty liver, diabetes. Therefore, prevention and treatment of these disorders are significant for ensuring comfortable and healthy life. It has been also stated that ginseng saponin suppressed liver enzyme increments caused by feeding with high cholesterol or fatty diet. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of ginseng on liver enzymes of rats fed cholesterol-rich diet. Materials, Methods & Results: In this study, 24 healthy adult male Wistar Albino rats were equally divided into three groups as control group (K), cholesterol group (C), and cholesterol + ginseng group (CG). The K group had ad libitum access to a standard rat diet for 40 days. The C and CG groups had ad libitum access to the same diet containing 5% cholesterol powder and 5% cholesterol + 1 g/kg Panax ginseng root powder, respectively, for 40 days. On the 40 th day of the study, blood samples were taken from 8 animals in each group. At the end of the study, plasma samples were analyzed for aspartase transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Differences among the groups were determined by Duncan’s multiple range test. In this study, the results showed that AST, ALT, GGT levels in cholesterol group significantly increased compared to control group but these parameters in cholesterol + ginseng group significantly decreased with ginseng administration compared to cholesterol group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups with regard to ALP level. Discussion: AST, ALT, GGT and ALP are considered to be the markers of organ disfunction, indicator of cellular damage, cell leakage and the loss of cell membrane integritiy in the liver, kidney, heart and other organs. It was investigated effect of ginseng on some hepatic enzymes in rats fed a high cholesterol diet. In this study, feeding with the diet for 40 days resulted in elevation AST, ALT, GGT compared control levels (P < 0.05). In some studies, using high cholesterol diet caused hepatic injury in animal and human models. The harmful effects of high cholesterol on liver have been attributed to hepatic fibrosis, lipid peroxidation, increased endogenous oxidative stress, inducing cellular damage and engendering hyperlipidemia. Increases in ALT, AST, GGT levels are thought to be due to oxidative stress related to hyperlipidemia in present study. In this study, treated with red Korean ginseng extract significantly prevented the elevations in AST, ALT, GGT levels (P < 0.05). The use of ginseng as an unconventional health treatment is gaining remarkable popularity among the people. It has been known that ginseng have assorted beneficial pharmacological effects and hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, antioxidative and immunostimulator effects have been stated among its pharmacological properties. These beneficial effects of ginseng on liver enzymes attributed to its active components known as ginsenosides. In the light of the findings, Panax ginseng root powder may be useful for hepatic damage and fibrosis associated with high cholesterol diet.

The effects of coenzyme Q10 on inflammation markers in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Background: Coenzyme Q10 is a well-known cofactor in the mitochondrial electron transport chain required for ATP production. Coenzyme Q10 is recognized as an intracellular antioxidant that protects cell membrane phospholipids, mitochondrial membrane protein, and plasma low-density lipoprotein against oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Diabetes and its complications have been related to increased levels of free radicals and systemic proinflammatory cytokines and to an abnormal lipid profile. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on some cytokine levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials, Methods & Results: In this study, 38 healthy, adult male rats were used. The rats were divided into 5 groups. All animals were housed in separated cages during the four weeks. The animals in group 1 was fed standard rat pellets for 4 weeks. It was administered at 0.3 mL corn oil intraperitoneally daily for four weeks in group 2 animals. The animals in group 3 was injected intraperitoneally with 10 mg/kg CoQ10 daily for 4 weeks. Group 4 was made diabetic by subcutaneous injections of streptozotocin at dose of 40 mg/kg in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 4.5) single daily dose for two days and group 5 was made diabetic by subcutaneous injections of streptozotocin at dose of 40 mg/kg in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 4.5) single daily dose for two days and then was injected intraperitoneally with 10 mg/kg CoQ10 daily for 4 weeks. During the experiment, three animals from group 4 and one animals from group 5 were died due to streptozotocin-induced hypoglycemia. At the end of the study, blood samples were taken from all animals. In these blood samples, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α plasma levels were determined with ELISA using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent method via commercial kits. In this study, IL-4 level as an anti-inflammatory cytokine significantly decreased (P < 0.05) with diabetes induction compared to control group level. IL-10 level in diabetic group was statistically different (P < 0.05) from control group level. CoQ10 application to diabetic animals improved the falling in IL-10 level of diabetic group (P < 0.05). IL-6 and TNF-α levels in diabetic group significantly increased (P < 0.05) in parallel with each other compared to control group levels. The same parameters were reduced (P < 0.05) by CoQ10 application in diabetic animals. Discussion: In this study, the occurred changes in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines with experimentally induced diabetes are expected results and these results are consistent with some studies related diabetes. These results may be considered to hazardous effects and inflammation caused by diabetes on liver, pancreas and other tissues. CoQ10 suppressed the increments in plasma pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, whereas it restored the reducing in anti-inflammatory cytokine levels arising due to diabetes. The obtained results from this study after CoQ10 application supported similar studies used CoQ10 application against deleterious effects of diabetes in animals and humans. Therefore, it is possible to say that CoQ10 may play important role in regulation of imbalance between inflammation markers in diabetes conditions and further studies are needed to clear the beneficial effects of CoQ10 treatment on the other inflammation markers in diabetes status.