The aim of this study was to investigate the response of broilers fed on test diets containing non-antibiotic growth promoters; Probiotic (BioPlus 2B), Prebiotic (TechnoMos), Synbiotic, and medicinal herbs (Mixture of Origanum majorana, Foeniculum vulgare, and Carum carvi in ratio 1: 1: 1), each within two dietary protein levels (normal and low), on these broiler performance. The study was carried out at the Poultry Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture; Alexandria University, Egypt. The experimental period lasted for 42 days. A total number of 500 days from Cobb broiler chicks, with similar average live body weight, were randomly distributed into 10 treatments. Each treatment comprised of 5 replicates of 10 chicks each. Ten experimental diets were formulated to be approximately isocaloric and cover all nutrients required for broiler throughout two stages of growth periods, starter diets (1-21) and finisher diets (22-42) days of age. Ten experimental diets were consisting of two levels of crude protein (recommended or low (85% of recommended)) and five feed-additive programmes (control, probiotic, prebiotic, synbiotic and medicinal plants). In general, feeding broiler lower crude protein levels (-10% of NRC) resulted in poorer growth performance, which was partially compensated with the non-antibiotic additives. Among the additives, synbiotic had positively significant effects on FCR, BW.

Natural abundance and host plant preference of the endoparasitoids O. pallipes was studied in Ojelat region. Four host plants were studied [tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) pepper (Capsicum annuum) eggplant (Solanum melongena) and kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)] The parasitoids showed high populations in April and May that kept the populations of the serpentine leafminer L. trifolii at low densities till the end of the season on all studied host plants. O. pallipes recorded two peaks of abundance on the four studied host plants recording (19, and 24 individuals/ 50 infested leaflets) on tomatoes, (18, and 16 individuals/ 50 infested leaflets) on pepper, (26 and 20 individuals/ 50 infested leaflets) on eggplant and (32, 26 individuals/ 50 infested leaflets) on kidney bean during the season of the study. O. pallipes showed a relatively low preference towards kidney bean and eggplant compared with pepper and tomatoes.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Increased fructose consumption correlateswith rising prevalence of variousmetabolic disorders, some of which

were linked to oxidative stress. The relationship between fructose consumption and oxidative stress is complex and effects of

a fructose-rich diet on the young population have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether

high-fructose diet applied in the period from weaning to adulthood induces oxidative stress in the liver, thus contributing to

induction or aggravation of metabolic disturbances in later adulthood. To that end we examined the effects of high-fructose

diet on expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes, markers of lipid peroxidation and protein damage in the liver as the

main fructose metabolizing tissue.

RESULTS: High-fructose diet increased only SOD2 (mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase) activity, with no effect on

other antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation or accumulation of damaged proteins in the liver.

CONCLUSION: The results show that fructose-induced metabolic disturbances could not be attributed to oxidative stress, at

least not at young age. The absence of oxidative stress in the liver observed herein implies that young organisms are capable of

maintaining redox homeostasis when challenged by fructose-derived energy overload.

Increased fructose consumption is correlated with the rising prevalence of obesity, metabolic

syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. It is believed that reactive oxygen species contribute to the

development and progression of metabolic disturbances, especially those associated with

insulin resistance. Dietary fructose produces both pro-oxidative and antioxidative effects,

depending upon the experimental conditions, dosage, duration of treatment, and

pathophysiological milieu. The effects of fructose overconsumption on young populations,

which have an increased risk of developing metabolic disorders in adulthood, have not been

fully elucidated.Wehavepreviously shownthat rats subjected toa long-termfructose-enriched

diet immediately after weaning display impaired hepatic insulin sensitivity. In this study, we

tested the hypothesis that long-term fructose consumption induces alterations in the redox

setting of the liver. Starting fromthe 21st day after birth,maleWistar ratsweremaintained for 9

weeks on a standard diet (control) or a fructose-enriched diet that consisted of standard food

and 10%fructose solution instead of drinkingwater. The expression and activity of antioxidant

enzymes aswell as lipid peroxidation and protein damagemarkersweremeasured. The results

showed that a fructose-enriched diet led to an increased expression of mitochondrial

manganese superoxide dismutase but did not affect antioxidant enzymes activity, lipid

peroxidation, thiol content, and the level of protein oxidation. Therefore, our results suggest

that the decrease in hepatic insulin sensitivity that was previously observed in rats that were

kept on the same diet regimemight be attributed to molecular mechanisms other than redox

disbalance. A possible fructose-related micronutrient deficiency should be examined.

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