eChapters

Nervous system Disorders in Domestic Animals
Nervous system disorders in domestic animals encompass a range of conditions that affect the brain, peripheral nerves, and spinal cord. These disorders can result in a variety of clinical signs, depending on the area of the nervous system involved. Infectious disorders like rabies, canine distemper, toxoplasmosis, listeriosis. Congenital and developmental disorders like hydrocephalus, cerebellar hypoplasia and chiari-like malformation can cause these disorders. Traumatic and degenerative disorders like Intervertebral Disc Disease. Degenerative myelopathy, metabolic and toxic disorders like hepatic encephalopathy, hypocalcemia, lead poisoning, organophosphate toxicity, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders like meningitis and meningoencephalitis may also lead to nervous system disorders. Some tumours associated with nervous system like meningiomas and peripheral nerve sheathtumours also cause nervous system disorders.  

Introduction
Diabetes mellitus is a disease the related to metabolism of the body and malfunctioning of pancreas. Pancreas having alpha and beta cells where alpha cells produce enzymes needed for the digestion and beta cells mainly produce insulin. One important component that regulates blood glucose (sugar) levels and how it is delivered to the body’s cells is Insulin. The body’s cells run out of their primary energy source when insulin levels are low. Insulin voices the body’s cells to engross glucose from the bloodstream. Without an satisfactory amount of insulin glucose cannot invade the cells and so it accrues in the blood, triggering hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). In retort to this ostensible starvation, the body starts flouting down supplies of protein & fat for energy, producing weight loss contempt a ravening appetite. The body efforts to remove the extra glucose by micturating. To avoid thirst, the dog drinks more and more water. Type I increased diabetes mellitus outcomes from completeobliterat ion of the insulin-creating beta cells. In dogs, this is the most prevalent kind of diabetes. As the name implies, insulin injections are necessary to balance blood sugar in dogs with this kind of diabetes.

Medicinal Plants for Arsenic Toxicity
Name of the Condition- Nephrotoxicity
About the condition/Definition- Intoxication of arsenic (arsenite or arsenate) result in renal impairment which is marked by a significant increase in the levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid and decline in levels of plasma protein profile especially albumin level in body.
Etiology- Nephrotoxicity results from arsenic damages mitochondria, which results in the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a decline in ATP, and a suppression of respiratory activities along with dramatic alterations in the incidence of cellular growth. There is acute inflammation and the development of tubular necrosis, which lowers the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
Symptoms- Phosphaturia (Fanconi syndrome), aminoaciduria, proteinuria and glycosuria along with progressive drop of renal function.
Pathogenesis- Arsenic produces renal damage by reducing mitochondrial complex function and elevating cellular ROS levels which directly damages renal cells. Membrane lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation by ROS, which results in complete loss of membrane potential and mitochondrial swelling.
General treatment- Acute arsenic intoxication can be counter by using chelating agents like DMSA, DMPS and BAL, fluid therapy, forced dieresis & dialysis.

Introduction
The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of diseases is a practice that spans centuries. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using herbal remedies for treating fungal infections in livestock and animals. Fungal infections, caused by pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus, Candida, Dermatophytes, and Mucor, can lead to significant health issues in animals, affecting both domestic and wild species. These infections often manifest as skin diseases, respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal problems, and systemic infections, and can even lead to death if left untreated. While antifungal drugs are commonly used to manage these infections, concerns about drug resistance, toxicity, and sustainability have encouraged the exploration of alternative therapeutic options, particularly herbal medicine.
This chapter explores the potential of medicinal plants used as antifungal agents in livestock and animals, highlighting their efficacy, safety, and practical applications.

Our digestive structure is not only just a food handle centre. It’s a foundation of fitness, moving everything from our immunity to mental well-being. A fit gut aids in the digesting and assimilation of nutrients supports a healthy and strong immunity, and helps in the effective elimination of waste. Asserting good gut fitness is critical because it can influence our whole body’s health, prevent chronic afflictions, and develop value of growth. Plants have been second-hand for curative purposes for thousands of years, and many up-todate cures are still coming from plant compounds. In this chapter, we will
study some commonly used medicinal plants used to treat common digestive system diseases, along with associated ethnomedicinal details.
1. Diarrohea
About the condition/Definition- Loose, watery and possibly more-frequent passage of stool is called diarrohea. Feeling of urgent need of frequent bowel movement in a day.
Etiology- A few causes include infections, diseases, and food intolerances. Rotavirus, norovirus, viral gastroenteritis; salmonella, E. coli; giardiasis, amoebiasis and food intolerance are few important causes of diarrohea.
Symptoms- The symptoms include a strong desire to have bowel movement and frequent loose, watery feces. Occasionally linked to cramps, bloating, thirst, nausea, and abdominal pain

Introduction:The phenomenon of reproduction is an important aspect, which needs special attention in livestock farming to achieve optimum productivity and increase the economic status of the farmers. Variousgynaecological problems like anestrus, repeat breeding, endometritis,  retention of placenta, etc reduce thereproductive performance in farm animals. Besides indirect reducing the milk yield, it also creates financial burden on the farmers due to high cost of therapeutic drugs prescribed for their treatment. The use of various hormonal preparations and antibiotics has been critical in treating these disorders inthe farm animals. However, herbal treatments render a holistic approach to manage the reproductive problems with minimalcost and no side effects.
1. Name of the condition: Anestrous
About the condition/definition: Anestrus is a reproductive cycle dysfunction in which an animal does not display the obvious symptoms of estrus. It is one of the major limiting factor in achieving better reproductive
performance in farm animals.
Etiology and pathogenesis: Expression of estrus is controlled by secretion of reproductive hormones. Any disturbance in their secretion due to the effect of either ofSeason, stress, uterine diseases, poor management techniques, inadequate nourishment, etc., delays the process.The animals with smooth non-functional ovary are said to true anestrous, whereas absence of estrus due to retained CL on ovary due to uterine pathology are false anestrous.

The kidney plays a role in controlling the volume of different bodily fluids, fluid osmolality, acid-base balance, toxin elimination, and different electrolyte concentrations. The glomerulus filters one-fifth of the volume of blood that enters the kidneys. Among the compounds that are reabsorbed include amino acids, salt, bicarbonate, glucose, and solute-free water. Among the chemicals that are released are ammonium, potassium, hydrogen, and uric acid. The kidneys maintain homeostasis, eliminate metabolic waste products like uric acid, urea, creatinine and ammonia, regulate extracellular fluid volume, blood pressure (via the rennin-angiotensin system) and controlling systemic pH (via regulation of H+ and HCO3- concentration).
Among various kidney diseases, especially chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a slow loss of kidney function in which, kidney dysfunction is present for more than three months. There are six progressive stages of CKD i.e. stages 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4 and 5. The stages are based on the results of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) test (1). In stage 1 there is mild kidney damage, while in stage 5 kidneys lost their working capacity. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide health issue that is becoming more prevalent in both developed and developing nations. It typically affects adults. .

Respiratory tract disorders in domestic animals
The respiratory system is vital for efficient oxygen exchange, metabolic function, and overall health. Respiratory tract disorders in livestock speciesare among the most significant health challenges, leading to  economic losses in terms of reduced productivity, treatment costs, and mortality. Thesedisorders can affect the upper respiratory tract (URT), lower respiratory tract  (LRT), or both. Overview of common respiratory diseases in livestock, their aetiology, clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies are summarized as follows: -
1. Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRDC)
? Species affected: Cattle
? Etiology: Multifactorial; involves viruses (Bovine herpesvirus-1, Bovine respiratory syncytial virus, Parainfluenza-3, Bovine viral diarrhea virus), bacteria (Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma bovis), and environmental stressors

Introduction
Serving as the primary biological barrier, the skin aids in immunological responses and provides protection against environmental pollutants and microorganisms, dehydration, and mechanical harm. The skin’s epidermis is made up of stratified and multilayered epithelial cells that, via a strictly controlled balance between terminal differentiation and cell proliferation, undergo lifelong self-renewal. One of the main causes of a wide range of skin conditions is the upset of this equilibrium.
Mycoses in humans and animals are prevalent worldwide. These diseases can arise as a result of a number of physiological and environmental factors, such as the effectiveness of the immune system of the recipient and the amount of fungi in the environment. Companion animal dermatoses rank among the most common reasons for clinic visits in day-to-day veterinary practice.

Tumour in Domestic Animals
Tumours in domestic animals, much like in humans, can occur in various tissues and organs. These can range from benign growths (non-cancerous) to malignant tumors or cancerous. Their causes, types, diagnosis, and treatments depend on the animal species, breed, age, and environmental factors. Common tumours in dogs are mammary tumours, skin tumours, lymphoma, osteosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma. In cats lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma, mammary tumors and fibrosarcomas are reported. In cattle, squamous cell carcinoma, lymphosarcoma and papilloma are common. In horses, sarcoids, melanomas and squamous cell carcinoma are common. In small ruminants (sheep and goats) lymphoma and skin tumours are reported. In pigs, lymphoma and melanomas are commonly reported. Diagnosis of cancers are done by physical examination, cytology, biopsy, imaging: X-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI and blood Tests.

Wound in Domestic Animals
A wound is defined as a break in the continuity of the skin, mucous membrane, or tissue surface that can result from physical, chemical, or biological agents. India has a diverse variety of livestock breeds, extensive countryside with vast grazing lands, and widespread use of livestock. The significant population of stray animals, including dogs, cats, and cattle, as well as the increase in pet ownership, make wounds in animals a commonly encountered condition. Wounds in animals can be a frustrating issue for both pets and productive animals, and this can also be a challenge for their owners. For instance, bleeding at the wound site from sudden cuts and bites can cause panic and distress among animal owners. Wounds can become complicated, as animals may lick, scratch, or otherwise irritate them, leading to infections, especially when they are soiled. Additionally, fly infestation and maggots, common in various temperate regions of India, further complicate the wound healing process. An unattended wound can quickly escalate to a severe microbial infection, which may lead to septicemia, maggot infestation, and can even become fatal for the animal. The cost of treating wounds in production animals, including expenses for antibiotics, can impose an economic burden on farmers. Common causes of wounds in domestic animals include penetrating injuries from horns, stamping injuries caused by mothers or other adult animals in tightly packed barns, tightened nose ropes, barbed wire injuries at the brisket region (in horses and cattle), and wet sores on the inner surfaces of the shoulder and groin in cattle due to friction and lack of air and sunlight exposure.

ABSTRACT

Traditionally, the rural communities of Trivandrum have been preserving small tracts of virgin forests or small groves since time immemorial due to strong religious beliefs anointed with the groves. These forest patches are biodiversity rich communities and a large number of medicinal plants of the region are confined to these groves only. The indigenous people use the plants for medicinal as well as religious purposes. Over the years, such forests have been attributed as a treasure trove of threatened species and dispensary of medicinal plants. During the investigation, 132 medicinal plants belonging to 63 families and 119 genera were recorded from 25 miniature sacred forests of Trivandrum district. This study was based on medicinal plants used in traditional health care by local and indigenous people. About 80% local people use different parts of plants for various ailments. The present finding revealed that most of the plants are used for skin diseases, cold, cough and fever, etc. Leaves are predominantly used than the other plant parts. Important families within the groves were Apocynaceae, Papilionaceae, Urticaceae, Combretaceae and Euphorbiaceae. Presence of a large number of monospecific families indicates immediate need of a conservation measure to secure sustainable utilization of medicinal plants of sacred groves of Trivandrum district.

1. Introduction

Plants are reliable sources for the treatment of diseases in different parts of the world (Eisenberb et al., 1993; Cowan, 1999; Hostettmann et al., 2000) and they have been unique sources of medicines and constituted the most common use of biodiversity (Hamilton, 2004; Hiremath and Taranath, 2010). Their use contributes significantly to primary healthcare delivery (Holetz et al., 2002) as they are regarded as invaluable sources of pharmaceutical products (Olalde, 2005).

Traditional medicine, with medicinal plants as their most important component, are sold in market places or prescribed by traditional healers in their homes (Von Maydell, 1996). As a result of this strong dependence on plants as medicines, many ethnopharmacological studies have been conducted to determine their safety, efficiency and discovery of new active principles from them. Only, 1,100 plants have so far been thoroughly examined for their medicinal practices in the world (Dobson, 1995).

Herbal medicine have been in use since time immemorial and are still the mainstay mainly in the developing countries because of their better cultural acceptability, better compatibility with the human body and lesser side effects (Kamraj, 2000).

Collection trips were organized in a planned manner so as to cover every locality in all three seasons. Rural and remote areas which were thus far practically unexplored were surveyed more intensively. Frequency of collection trips was twice a week during first year; once a fortnight in third and once a month in the last and forth years. During the field work, observations on the habit and habitat; flower colour; fragrance; fruiting, colour of the bark and blaze in case of trees and shrubs; dominance and sociability of the collected plants were entered into rough field book. In the mean time information regarding medicinal or other uses, if any, were gathered from local inhabitants, vaidyas and haquims. Plants of small size were uprooted carefully and pressed as such. In case of larger plants, care was taken so that specimens should have flowers, fruits, leaves and stems of young and old stages. At least four specimens, for making herbarium sheets, were pressed at spot after tagging; and a tagged bundle of a few plants was taken in a polythene bag for study in laboratory.

All separation procedures depend mainly on some physical characteristics of the compounds. It is relatively easy to separate compounds that have significantly different physical characteristics by simple techniques such as solvent extraction. If the various compounds are similar to each other in their molecular size, any slight difference in any one of their physical properties is exploited to achieve separation. 

Extraction is a process whereby the desired constituents of a plant are removed using a solvent. The primary ways for extraction of organic molecules of interest to biologists and medical investigators involve breaking open the cells. Cell rupturing is carried out in a variety of ways. The method used depends on the type of tissue used. For plant cells grown in cell suspension culture or for plant callus tissue, a French press or a sonicator can be used to break open the cell.

After isolation and purification of the compound, it has to be identified. It is necessary to find out the class of the compound first and then to find out the specific compound within the class. The class of compound is usually determined from the colour tests, solubility, Rf properties and UV spectral characteristics of the compound. Further identification within the class depends on measuring physical properties and spectral measurements and then comparing these data with those in the literature.

In the area of pharmaceutical discovery, screening methods continue to play a major role in drug discovery. The screening process is simply testing molecular entities (compounds/natural products) for activity to advance those that exhibit the desired activity. This process has evolved over time in both the testing methods and in the degree of testing. Originally, the screening was done entirely by dosing animals and studying their responses. Then came test tube experiments and now, testing is conducted either with cell lines or with purified proteins in miniaturized test tubes called microplate wells. Screening by microplate has allowed the degree of testing to increase from a very small selected set of compounds to libraries, which contain thousands of test substances. Technological improvements in many areas of science and information technology have led to the evolution of screening methods from time consuming, animal dosing studies to high throughput screening (HTS) methods that have the potential to generate very large datasets of information in a very short time. Today, developments in bioinformatics have opened up the possibility of virtual (in silico) screens for targets where there is sufficient knowledge of the target or of its ligand. High throughput screening has become a pivotal part of drug discovery for identifying potential lead molecules for specific disease targets. The success of screening is measured by several factors including the throughput and costs of the assays, but ultimately by how many of the HTS hits progress forward through the drug discovery pipeline. Miniaturization of assays by conversion from 96- to 384- to 1536- wells to well-less platforms, such as microarrays and the utilization of automated equipments are methodologies implemented to increase the throughput and reduce the cost of the screen.

Introduction

A toxin (Greek: ôïîéêüí, toxikon, lit. (poison) for use on arrows) is a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms that is active at very low concentrations. Toxins can be small molecules, peptides, or proteins and are capable of causing disease on contact or absorption with body tissues by interacting with biological macromolecules such as enzymes or cellular receptors. Toxins vary greatly in their severity, ranging from usually minor and acute (as in a bee sting) to almost immediately deadly (as in botulinum toxin)

Genotoxicity potential of any environmental pollutants can be investigated using the micronucleus (MN) test. It is among the most sensitive DNA damage indicators and it has been applied to several organisms and tissues for evaluation of environmental contaminants (Lemos et al., 2011). Micronuclei (MN) assay is more rapid and simpler than chromosomal analysis (Gandhi et al., 2003). Compared to the chromosome aberrations, the final result is relatively easily scored and thus requires less time to make an assessment of the clastogenicity of a chemical (Garriott et al. 2002). An in vitro MN assay can detect the clastogens and aneugens as well as mitotic delay, apoptosis, chromosome breakage, chromosome loss and non-disjunction (Corvi et al., 2008). Although, micronuclei constitute well-characterized biomarkers of chromosomal damage (Salazar et al. 2009) but in vitro MN test does not provide information on the origin of micronuclei (Corvi et al., 2008).

Experimental Procedure

Micronuclei assay is carried out in PMNC and splenocytes as per method of Hayashi et al. (1983).