Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are metalloenzymes that play a major role in antioxidant defense against oxidative stress in the body. SOD supplementation may therefore trigger the endogenous ...antioxidant machinery for the neutralization of free-radical excess and be used in a variety of pathological settings. This paper aimed to provide an extensive review of the possible uses of SODs in a range of pathological settings, as well as describe the current pitfalls and the delivery strategies that are in development to solve bioavailability issues. We carried out a PubMed query, using the keywords "SOD", "SOD mimetics", "SOD supplementation", which included papers published in the English language, between 2012 and 2020, on the potential therapeutic applications of SODs, including detoxification strategies. As highlighted in this paper, it can be argued that the generic antioxidant effects of SODs are beneficial under all tested conditions, from ocular and cardiovascular diseases to neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic diseases, including diabetes and its complications and obesity. However, it must be underlined that clinical evidence for its efficacy is limited and consequently, this efficacy is currently far from being demonstrated.
There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that cannabinoids are beneficial for a range of clinical conditions, including pain, inflammation, epilepsy, sleep disorders, the symptoms of multiple ...sclerosis, anorexia, schizophrenia and other conditions. The transformation of cannabinoids from herbal preparations into highly regulated prescription drugs is therefore progressing rapidly. The development of such drugs requires well-controlled clinical trials to be carried out in order to objectively establish therapeutic efficacy, dose ranges and safety. The low oral bioavailability of cannabinoids has led to feasible methods of administration, such as the transdermal route, intranasal administration and transmucosal adsorption, being proposed. The highly lipophilic nature of cannabinoids means that they are seen as suitable candidates for advanced nanosized drug delivery systems, which can be applied via a range of routes. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery strategies have flourished in several therapeutic fields in recent years and numerous drugs have reached the market. This review explores the most recent developments, from preclinical to advanced clinical trials, in the cannabinoid delivery field, and focuses particularly on pain and inflammation treatment. Likely future directions are also considered and reported.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a vast array of molecules produced by virtually all living organisms as natural barriers against infection. Among AMP sources, an interesting class regards the ...food-derived bioactive agents. The whey protein lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding glycoprotein that plays a significant role in the innate immune system, and is considered as an important host defense molecule. In search for novel antimicrobial agents, Lf offers a new source with potential pharmaceutical applications. The Lf-derived peptides Lf(1-11), lactoferricin (Lfcin) and lactoferrampin exhibit interesting and more potent antimicrobial actions than intact protein. Particularly, Lfcin has demonstrated strong antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiparasitic activity with promising applications both in human and veterinary diseases (from ocular infections to osteo-articular, gastrointestinal and dermatological diseases).
This study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial performed to investigate the effects of a dietary supplement containing a mixture of Boswellia serrata Roxb., chlorophyll, green ...tea extract, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, and further in the manuscript: non-hydrolised type II collagen in dogs with osteoarthritis (OA). A total of 40 dogs were enrolled in the study, they were randomly divided in control (CTR) and treatment (TRT) groups. The TRT group received the dietary supplement for 60 days. The CTR group received a placebo for the same number of days. All the subjects had veterinary evaluations during the trial and owners were requested to fill in questionnaires on chronic pain using the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index. The product was easy to administer and no side effects were reported. Combining results from veterinarian and owner evaluations, the tested product proved to be significantly beneficial in alleviating pain and in reducing the clinical signs in dogs with OA.
The overproduction of free radicals can cause oxidative-stress damage to a range of biomolecules, and thus potentially contribute to several pathologies, from neurodegenerative disorders to ...cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Endogenous antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), play an important role in diminishing oxidative stress. SOD supplementation could therefore be an effective preventive strategy to reduce the risk of free-radical overproduction. However, the efficacy of SOD administration is hampered by its rapid clearance. Several different approaches to improve the bioavailability of SOD have been explored in recent decades. This review intends to describe the rationale that underlie the various approaches and chemical strategies that have led to the most recent advances in SOD delivery. This critical description includes SOD conjugates, SOD loaded into particulate carriers (micelles, liposomes, nanoparticles, microparticles) and the most promising and suitable formulations for oral delivery, with a particular emphasis on reports of preclinical/clinical results. Likely future directions are also considered and reported.
•Role of oxidative stress in causing a range of disorders•Therapeutic potential of the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase•Detailed description of different approaches to improve the therapeutic potency of superoxide dismutase.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a supplement containing Cannabis sativa oil and other plant derivatives (Boswellia serrata Roxb. and Zingiber officinale phytosomized ...extracts) combined with physiotherapy treatments in dogs with osteoarthritis. We evaluated the response of serum inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers to the treatment. We found a significant reduction in the levels of serum markers reflecting the strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the supplement under study.HIGHLIGHTSDiet supplements are a valid alternative therapy in dogs with osteoarthritis.Evidence of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of a supplement containing Cannabis sativa oil and other plant derivatives (Boswellia serrata Roxb. and Zingiber officinale).
The aim of our case-control study is to evaluate the effects of a diet integrated with the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (CECT 4529) on the nutritional status and faecal consistency of ...healthy dogs belonging to the English Cocker Spaniel (ECS) and Labrador Retriever (LR) breeds. A total of 30 dogs were enrolled in this study, and they were randomly assigned to a Control (CTR, n = 14) and a Treated group (LACTO, n = 16). The trial consisted in a 7-days adaptation period where all the animals received the same commercial food, followed by a 35-days of data collection period where the LACTO group received the food supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL. We evaluated Body weight (BW), Body Condition Score (BCS) and Skinfold thickness, Faecal Score (FS) and Faecal Moisture (FM). All dogs in the LACTO group maintained an ideal BCS score during the whole experimental period compared to the CTR group. A significant decrease in skin thickness was found throughout the trial in the LACTO group. A significant improvement of the FM was recorded in the LACTO compared to the CTR group in the overall period for both dog breeds, and the FS significantly decreased in the LACTO group. Our results showed good maintenance of the nutritional conditions in dogs that are prone to overweight and a significant improvement of faecal parameters, meaning that even in healthy dogs with no gastrointestinal disorder the addition of this supplement to the diet helps to maintain the optimal balance of their intestinal microbiota.
HIGHLIGHTS
Probiotics help to maintain and promote the optimal gastro-intestinal health and well-being.
Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (CECT 4529) improve faecal parameters and nutritional status of dogs.
Gorgonzola is an Italian “erborinato” blue cheese from cow’s milk, bearing blue-green “parsley-like” spots due to the spread of Penicillium roqueforti mycelium. Due to its pH, water activity, and ...high nutrient content, as well as the environmental conditions required for its maturation, Gorgonzola constitutes an optimal ecological niche supporting the growth of both yeasts and filamentous fungi. Therefore, exploring the abundant mycobiota present in this peculiar habitat is of great interest regarding the search for new probiotic strains. The present investigation aimed to characterize the Gorgonzola mycobiota using both phenotypic (macroscopic and microscopic morphological analyses) and genotypic (DNA barcoding) analyses to find possible putative probiotic strains to be used in veterinary medicine in feed supplements. Among the different isolated filamentous fungi (Mucor and Penicillium) and yeasts (Yarrowia, Debaryomyces, Saccharomyces, and Sporobolomyces), we selected a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii. We tested its adaptation to thermal stress and its stability in feed matrices. The overall results highlight that the selected strain is stable for three months and can be considered as a possible candidate for use as a probiotic in veterinary feed supplements.
Chronic intestinal disorders (CID) are characterized by persistent, or recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) signs present for at least three weeks. In human medicine, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a ...group of chronic GI diseases and includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). On the other hand, the general term chronic enteropathies (CE) is preferred in veterinary medicine. Different therapeutic approaches to these diseases are used in both humans and pets. This review is focused on the use of traditional therapies and nutraceuticals with specific antioxidant properties, for the treatment of CID in humans and animal patients. There is strong evidence of the antioxidant properties of the nutraceuticals included in this review, but few studies report their use for treating CID in humans and none in animals. Despite this fact, the majority of the nutraceuticals described in the present article could be considered as promising alternatives for the regular treatment of CID in human and veterinary medicine.
The use of probiotics, prebiotics and antioxidants could be found beneficial for dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of our case-control study is to evaluate the synergistic effect of a ...diet integrated with a supplement containing probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus), prebiotics (fructoligosaccharides) and antioxidants (Olea Europaea extract) on the nutritional status and on serum and urinary parameters of dogs with CKD. A total of 30 dogs classified with IRIS CKD stage 3 were enrolled and randomly assigned to a control (CG, n = 15) and a treated (TG n = 15) group. The trial consisted in a 7-days adaptation period, followed by 90 days where animals in the TR group received the supplement, while in the CG group the placebo. No significant changes in body weight and body condition score were recorded. We recorded a significant improvement of the protein plasmatic level and a decrease in blood phosphorus, systolic pressure, BUN, proteinuria and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio throughout the trial in the TG compared to the CG group. Furthermore, the parameters related to inflammation and oxidative stress (C-reactive protein and Reactive Oxygen Metabolite- derived compound, respectively) were lower in the TG than in the CG group throughout the study. Our results showed that the supplement allows to maintain the correct nutritional status and to improve blood and kidney parameters in dogs with advance stage of CKD. This supplement could be considered as a new nutritional approach for treating this condition.HIGHLIGHTSDiet supplemented with prebiotics, probiotics and antioxidants is safe for dogs with CKD.The synergic effect of prebiotics, probiotics and antioxidants included in the supplement under study shows the maintenance of a good nutritional status and the improvement of blood and urinary parameters in dogs with CKD.
PDF
