Succinic acid and its salts (succinates) positively affect the oxygenation of the internal environment, stabilize the structure and functional activity of mitochondria, and normalize the ion metabolism in the cell. Separate clinical studies and experimental surveys confirmed that having low toxicity succinic acid has well-manifested antioxidant, immunostimulating, adaptogenic properties. In this study, we determined the influence of succinic acid on the organism of laboratory animals against the backround of high-fat diet: the changes in body weight, indices of the mass of the internal organs, blood parameters and the changes in the intestinal microbiota were determined. For the experiment, we formed three experimental and three control groups of male white mice. The animals of the control group received 0.5% solution of succinic acid instead of water. In the experiment, we determined that succinic acid has no effect on the intensity of growth of weight of young mice against the background of excessive fat in their diet. Excessive consumption of fat by male mice leads to mainly disorders in the functioning of the liver, excretory and the immune systems. High-fat diet of mice is accompanied by impaired hepatic function, manifested in sharp hypoproteinemia due to globulins, increase in the activity of hepatic enzymes against the background of reduced activity of alkaline phosphatase, increase in the level of bilirubin, and decrease in glucose. Excess of fat in the diet leads to malfunctioning of the excretory system, manifested in the reduced index of kidneys’ weight, high content of creatinine and reduced level of urea in the blood. Addition of succinic acid has a positive effect on the functional condition of the liver and the kidneys, especially noticeable during long-term intake. High-fat diet causes disorders in the functioning of the organs of blood circulation and immune protection, accompanied by decrease in the relative mass of the thymus and spleen, low content of hemoglobin and the number of erythrocytes, but has no significant effect on the content of other cellular elements in the blood. By the middle of the experiment, succinic acid had exacerbated these processes compared to the control, but by the end of the experiment, by contrast, these processes were alleviated. Addition of the succinic acid to high-fat diet contributed to the change in the quantitative composition of the main representatives of the obligatory microbiota (Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp. and typical Escherichia coli) in the laboratory animals. Such changes in the intestinal microbiota may lead to such consequences as reproduction of the facultative microflora, and, thus, development of various diseases.

Pharmacological effects of the medicinal plant Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. 1868 (Araliaceae) are related to presence of over 150 secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, sterols, polysaccharides, terpenoid saponins and terpenoid acids, though the main biologically active substances of A. elata are saponins and flavonoids. Some clinical tests and experimental studies have proved the influence of A. elata on the organism through increase in physical work capacity, exerting an anti-stress effect against a broad range of harmful factors, including stress from cold, immobilization, ultraviolet radiation and low pressure. The literature also reports the anti-ulcer, anti-secretory, antifungal, anti-tumour, and antimicrobial activity of preparations from this plant. In our laboratory experiment, we determined that ethanolic tincture of A. elata has no effect on the intensity of growth of body weight of young rats against the background of excessive content of fat in their diet. Excessive fat-feeding of male rats leads mostly to disorders in the functioning of the liver and development of steatosis. This was accompanied by reduction in relative mass of the liver, increase in activity of hepatic enzymes, dysproteinemia, increase in the level of bilirubin and decrease in the level of urea. Additional use of 0.1% ethanol led to impaired functioning of the kidneys, reduction of their relative mass, signs of dehydration, increase in the level of creatinine and total calcium in the blood. Use of ethanolic tincture of A. elata mitigates negative excess of fat, is accompanied by normalization of indices of mass of the organs, less notable dysproteinemia, impairment in the level of creatinine, glucose, urea, cholesterol, bilirubin and total calcium. Ethanolic tincture of A. elata has a low immunosuppressive action, against the background of a high fat diet it leads to increase in the amount of typical Escherichia сoli, decrease in Еnterococcus spp. and Enterobacter spp., significant decrease and in high concentrations (0.1% ethanolic tincture of A. elata) elimination of bacteria of Clostridium and Klebsiella genera, and also various yeast fungi in the intestine. In the examined male rats, against the background of excess of fat in the diet, no serious changes in the composition of the normal gut microbiota (Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., Proteus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Candida spp.) was observed, nor were any lactose-negative enterobacteria (Citrobacter genus) found. Perspectives of further research include determining histological, histochemical and immune-histological changes in the organs of laboratory animals under the effect of ethanolic tincture of A. elata following excessive accumulation of fat.

Glyphosate is the main component of many broadly used herbicides due to its safety for humans and animals. It is known that the remains of glyphosate are present in allowable doses in fodders and food products, and, consumrd in low doses, it is found in insignificant amounts in milk, eggs and even in the internal organs (liver, kidneys) of animals. For determining combined impact of glyphosate and the commonest food additives on the composition of microbiota of animals, four groups of laboratory male rats were formed, which during 42 days consumed pure water without any restrictions; 1% aqueous solution of glyphosate; 1% solution of glyphosate in combination with 1% solution of sodium benzoate; 1% solution of glyphosate with 1% solution of saccharin. After killing the animals, 1 g of feces were collected and by serial dilutions with 10–1 to 10–9 sterile physiologic solution, a microbiological analysis was undertaken. Out of each dilution an inoculation of the studied material to the elective growth media was performed, by 0.1 cm3, then the material was incubated in a thermostat (24–72 hours, temperature 37 °С), the results were recorded after 24–72 h. The microorganisms were identified by studying morphological parameters, tinctorial, cultural and enzymic properties. Results are provided in CFU/g (colony-forming unit per gramm) of feces. The impact of glyphosate and glyphosate with food additives led to no changes in the number of Escherichia coli and emergence of this species of microorganism with changed enzymic activity. Also no changes occurred in the number of microorganisms of Bifidobactrium and Lactobacillus spp. Addition of glyphosate, and also glyphosate in combination with saccharin to the diet contributes to broader reproduction of microorganisms of Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas genera. Mixtures of glyphosate and food additives allow conditionally pathogenic yeast-like Candida fungi (Candida glabrata and C. albicans) to spread more widely in the intestine. Significant fluctuations in the number of Enterococcus spp. bacteria genus were observed: by 80 times within range of each of the three experimental groups of rats with addition of herbicide with benzoate and saccharin to the diet.

The article presents the results of investigations concerning the cleavage of avirulent cells from the virulent epizootic strain Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) during the 20 month storage at low positive temperatures (2-3°C). It was preceded by a 116-fold reinoculation of the suspension of the virulent culture into a dense nutrient medium. Mycobacteria of the detected colonies have acquired new features and properties. It was noted that in the second and subsequent generations, mycobacteria appeared in the form of non-acid resistant grains and short rod-shaped bacteria and L-forms of the protoplastic (spheroplastic) type. The change in morphology was accompanied by the emergence in mycobacteria of the ability to be grown on chemically simple nutrient media. Different morphological forms of mycobacteria were found in the elective dense nutrient medium at 3°C and 37°C cultivation: at 3°C irrespective of the initial morphological forms, non-acid-resistant short rod-shaped bacteria and grains were generated in dynamics; at 37°C-L-shaped protoplastic (spheroplastic) type and elementary small bodies. The appearance of the latter in culture has changed the nature of its growth. It is shown that qualitative processes of morphological forms of the biological cycle of mycobacteria occur on the background of quantitative changes in the chemical composition, in particular lipids. The content of total lipids decreased, at the stability of the quality of the fractions of total lipids. Differences in the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids in pathogenic and non-pathogenic mycobacteria have been established. Long-chain acids with a content of 26-27 carbon atoms, regardless of the temperature of cultivation, disappeared in the dissociative forms. The biological cycle of the development of dissociative M. bovis at different temperatures of cultivation with properties distinct from the parent strain, characterizes the wider possibilities of the investigated microorganism as it is known today.

Aralia tincture (Aralia elata) is a well-known adaptogen, so most of its effects that influence the body are associated with the general properties of this plant's preparations. They are metabolic regulators that increase the body's ability to adapt to various environmental stressors and prevent occurring damage. The purpose of this work is to determine the effect of various doses of A. elata roots alcohol tincture on the liver morphofunctional state of laboratory rats that are receiving a diet with excess fat. From 28 young laboratory rats that consumed an excess fat diet for 35 days, four groups were formed. Animals of the first group (control) received pure water without restriction; the second group – 0.1 % ethanol, and the third and fourth – received 0.1 % and 0.01 % alcohol tincture of Aralia (A. elata), respectively. After the experiment's completion, the absolute and relative mass and liver histostructure of animals were determined, and biochemical blood tests were performed to determine the main indicators of this organ's functional activity. In rats that were kept on the excess fat diet, the replacement of water with 0.1 % ethanol solution and 0.01 % alcohol tincture of aralia caused a decrease in the relative mass of the liver, and 0.1 % aralia alcohol tincture – caused a significant increase. It has been demonstrated that 0.1 % ethanol causes a significant increase in the total protein level in the blood. An analysis of the blood enzyme activity has shown that ethanol consumption reduced the activity of AST and ALT from the value of the control group, and the Aralia alcohol tincture returned these indicators to the level of the control group. The liver histostructure of rats in the control group was characterized by the appearance of signs of fatty degeneration along the periphery of the hepatic lobules, with the consumption of 0.1 % ethanol in addition to the excess fat diet, the accumulation of fat droplets was detected in both perilobular (around lobules) zone and in the center of the lobule itself near the central vein. In hepatocytes located along the periphery of the lobules, mainly large fat drops have accumulated, and in the center – small ones. The use of Aralia alcohol tinctures improved the liver parenchyma's morphological state. Fatty degeneration of hepatocytes was less pronounced. Fat inclusions in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes were small, diffusely located in the cytoplasm, and did not show cell destruction.