Botanicals Reduce Circulating Concentrations of Cholesterol and Triglycerides and Work Synergistically With Arachidonic Acid to Reduce Inflammatory Cytokines in Cats

Abstract

Forty Eight cats were used to measure the effects of feeding a traditional adult cat food supplemented with either arachidonic acid (ARA), a botanical mix (botanicals) or both on circulating biochemical parameters and inflammatory cytokines. The cats were healthy adults (mean age, 3.0; range, 1.3-6.4 years). The adult cats were fed one of four foods (n = 12 per group) for 84 days (dietary changes reported as fed): a traditional adult cat food (control, 0.05% ARA no added botanicals), or control food supplemented with arachidonic acid from chicken liver (0.13% ARA when supplemented), control food supplemented with botanicals (green tea 0.5%, fenugreek 0.05%, and tulsi 0.003%), and control plus ARA (0.13% as fed) with botanicals (green tea 0.5%, fenugreek 0.05%, and tulsi 0.003%). Response variables were compared between treatments: initially, and at 84 days (end of study). The measurements were standard complete blood counts and chemistries as well as circulating cytokines. Botanical inclusion reduced (P < 0.05) circulating cholesterol and triglycerides while arachidonic acid increased (P < 0.05) their concentrations. The pro-inflammatory cytokines MCP-1, TNFα, SDF-1, Flt3L, IL-8, IL-12p40, IL-13, and IL-18 were all reduced (P < 0.05) in cats after consuming the ARA + botanicals food for 84 days with little change after consuming the other foods. Therefore, this combination of ARA and botanicals may be of value in reducing inflammation.

Keywords: arachidonic acid; botanicals; cat; cholesterol; cytokines; triglycerides.

Figure 1

Dietary influence^e on circulating cytokine concentration (LSMeans with SE bars). ^eTreatments are as follows: Cont, a traditional adult cat food (control, 0.05% ARA no added botanicals); Cont+Bot, control food supplemented with with botanicals (green tea 0.5%, fenugreek 0.05%, and tulsi 0.003%); High ARA Control food supplemented with arachidonic acid from chicken liver (0.13% ARA as fed); High ARA+Bot, control food plus ARA (0.13% as fed) with botanicals (green tea 0.5%, fenugreek 0.05%, and tulsi 0.003%). *Means are reduced from initial values. Flt-3L, Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand; IL-8, Interleukin 8; IL-12 p40, Interleukin 12 subunit p40; IL-13, Interleukin 13; IL-18, Interleukin 18; MCP-1, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1; RANTES, Regulated on Activation, Normal T Expressed and Secreted; SCF, Stem Cell Factor; SDF, Stromal Derived Factor; TNFα, Tissue Necrosis Factor α.