Effects of the dietary supplementation of Codonopsis lanceolata root on triglyceride and cholesterol levels in the serum, liver, breast muscle and bile in male Cobb×Cobb chicks were investigated. The chicks (15-42 days old) were fed diets supplemented with 0, 0.25 and 0.5% Codonopsis lanceolata root. No differences were observed in body weight, feed conversion ratio, gall bladder weight or abdominal fat deposition among the control group and the two treatment groups. Liver weights were higher in chicks fed a 0.5% Codonopsis lanceolata diet than in those fed the control diet (p<0.05). However, serum levels of both glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were not different among the three groups. Broiler chicks fed either 0.25% or 0.5% dietary Codonopsis lanceolata root showed decreased serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol compared to the control group (p<0.05). Supplementation with either 0.25% or 0.5% dietary Codonopsis lanceolata root decreased the triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in liver and breast muscle compared to the control group (p<0.05). Biliary cholesterol increased by 15% in chicks fed 0.5% dietary Codonopsis lanceolata root, suggesting that the biliary excretion of cholesterol had been elevated by dietary Codonopsis lanceolata root (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results indicate that dietary Codonopsis lanceolata root can decrease triglyceride and cholesterol levels in the serum, liver and breast muscle of broilers.

This study evaluated the effects of carnosine supplementation on carnosine concentration in muscles and blood biochemical indices of rats. Thirty-two eight-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into a control group (CON) as well as three carnosine-treated groups. The carnosine-treated groups included groups fed diets composed of 0.01% carnosine (LC), 0.1% carnosine (MC), and 1.0% carnosine (HC). Body weight gain, food intake, feed efficacy rate, protein efficacy rate, and organ weights were not significantly different among the groups. In all groups, the mean carnosine levels in gastrocnemius muscles were higher than the mean carnosine levels in soleus muscles. Carnosine concentrations in soleus muscles and gastrocnemius muscles were significantly higher in the HC group compared to all other groups (p<0.05). Serum triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol concentrations in all of the carnosine-supplemented groups were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<0.05), while HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). Aspartate aminotransferase levels in rats supplemented with carnosine were significantly higher than those of the control group. In conclusion, diets supplemented with high levels of carnosine can increase carnosine concentrations in skeletal muscles, which might contribute to increased exercise capacity. Furthermore, these findings suggest that high levels of dietary carnosine improve the lipid profile of rats by lowering blood LDL-cholesterol and increasing HDL-cholesterol levels.

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-The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of multivitamin on macrophage activity in Raw 264.7 cell and repeated oral dose toxicity in Sprague-Dawely rat of multivitamin. Raw 264.7 cells were treated with 50 and 100 µg/mL multivitamin for 24 h. To measure the activity of macrophages, NO and TNF-α assays were performed in Raw 264.7 cells. Treatment with 50 and 100 µg/mL multivitamin for 24 h significantly increased production of NO and TNF-α compared with control groups, indicating activation of macrophages. The female rats were treated with multivitamin of control group, low group (0.24 g/kg), medium group (1 g/kg) and high group (2 g/kg) intragastrically for 4 weeks, respectively. We examined the body weight, the feed intake, the clinical signs and serum biochemical analysis. We also observed the histopathological changes of liver, ovary, brain, adrenal gland, spleen, kidney, heart and lung in rats. No significant differences in body weights, feed intake, biochemical analysis and histopathological observations between control and multivitamin treatment group were found. In conclusion, multivitamin is physiologically safe and improve macrophage activity.