Biological Effects of a Phytoderivate Mix in Endurance Horses

Oxidative stress, and subsequent production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as a consequence of exercise (both endurance and acute aerobic bouts) has been well documented in the horse [1]. In addition, oxidative stress and inflammation are interdependent pathophysiological processes in which one induces the other creating a vicious circle [2]. Curcuma longa (with its polyphenol curcumin), Verbascum Thapsus (containing verbascoside) and Boswellia serrata (with its boswellic acids that are pentacyclic terpenoids), due to their antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory actitities, (have been chosen for the formulation of a complementary feed (CF) intended for sport horses (Dolhorse NBF Lanes srl, Milan, Italy) [3-5]. In the present study, the CF ability to modulate the expression of some genes involved in theanti-oxidant and inflammatory responses (SOD, IL-1, IL-6, TRL4, IKBKB in blood monocytes, by RT-PCR) and the serum protein (by using two-dimensional electrophoresis and Samespots software) has been evaluated in endurance horses. Six animals (Authorization n° 238/2021-Ministry of Health. prot. E81AC.14) were daily supplemented with a placebo (n.3; CTR) or CF (n.3; TREAT), and blood samples were collected at day zero (T0, immediately before the start of the trial) and after 10 days of the daily supplementation (T1) and used for the afore mentioned assays. Results showed that CF supplementation was able to modulate gene expression of SOD and IL-1 which were up- and downregulated, respectively, in TREAT group. Twenty-two protein spots were found differentially expressed at T1 in TREAT with respect to CTR groups. Protein spots identification suggested an increase of immunoglobulin chains, transthyretin, and apolipoproteins after CF supplementation. The present results suggest that phytopharmacotherapies may represent a valid aid to traditional therapies in sport horses that are inevitably subject to inflammatory processes and oxidative stress by virtue of their activities.