Journal of Coastal Life Medicine

421-425

Authors: Hasna Kadri, Sondes Marouani, Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai, Abderrahmen Bouaïn, Eric Morize

Objective: To investigate the length distribution, sex ratio, length-weight relationship, age and growth of Rostroraja alba in the Gulf of Gabes. Methods: This study estimated age and growth of the white skate, Rostroraja alba by counting vertebral band pairs from 112 specimens taken by commercial fisheries during 2006-2009 from the Gulf of Gabes (Southern Tunisia, Central Mediterranean Sea). Results: This is the first and only known information in regards to the age and growth of this species in Tunisia. Vertebra diameter was strongly correlated with total length and age, which were expressed by linear or cubic regression equations. The oldest female in this study was 35 years and 160 cm, whereas the oldest male was 32 years and 150 cm. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were TL∞=(202.26±3.40) cm, K=(0.040±0.038)/year and t0=(1.84±0.01) 10-1/year for females and TL ∞=(198.60±3.61) cm, K=(0.060±0.076)/year and t0=(1.28±0.04)/year for males. Conclusions: This study would be an effective tool for fishery biologists, managers and conservationists to initiate management strategies and regulations for the sustainable conservation of the remaining stocks of this species in the Gulf of Gabes (Southern Tunisia) ecosystem.

431-437

Authors: Said Mohamed Daboor, Amany Mohamed Haroon, Neven Abd Elfatah Esmael, Slah Ibrahem Hanona

Objective: To find the best actinomycete that has potential application value in the heavy metal remediation due to its special morphological and physiological metabolism. Methods: In some areas of River Nile, Egypt, a total of 67 actinomycete isolates (17 isolates from surface water and 50 from sediment) were identified. In addition, the studied area was characterized by a large amount of submerged macrophyte species Ceratophyllum demersum, one free floating species Eichhornia crassipes and two emergent species Polygonum tomentosum and Saccharum spontaneum with the highest biomass production values. Many methods are used in this research like qualitative evaluation of heavy metals, minimum inhibitory concentration of heavy metal determination, metal binding assay, heavy metal assessment, etc. Results: Many actinomycetes isolates were isolated from River Nile, Egypt, the absorbent efficiency of one isolate Streptomyces chromofuscus K1 01 showed the most efficient metal binding activity. The adsorption process of Zn2+, Pb2+ and Fe2+ single or mixture metal ions was investigated, where the order of adsorption potential ( Zn2+>Pb2+>Fe2+ ) was observed in single metal reaction. The adsorption in mixed metal reactions was the same order as in single-metal ion with a significant decrease in Fe2+ and Pb2+ adsorption. Conclusions: In conclusion the metal adsorption reactions were very fast, pH dependent and culture age-independent, suggestive of a physicochemical reaction between cell wall components and heavy metal ions. The absorbent removal efficiency was determined as a function of ion concentration, pH and temperature.

442-446

Authors: Hacer Saglam, Ertug D üzgünes

Objective: To determine length-weight relationships, growth type and feeding behavior of the benthic predator Rapa whelk at the coast of Camburnu, south-eastern Black Sea. Methods: Rapa whelk was monthly collected by dredge sampling on the south-eastern Black Sea at 20 m depth. The relationships between morphometric parameters of Rapa whelk were described by linear and exponential models. The allometric growth of each variable relative to shell length (SL) was calculated from the function Y=aSLb or logY=loga+blogSL. The functional regression b values were tested by t-test at the 0.05 significance level if it was significantly different from isometric growth. The total time spent on feeding either on mussel tissue or live mussels was recorded for each individual under controlled conditions in laboratory. Results: The length-weight relationships showed positive allometric growth and no inter-sex variability. Body size in the male population was significantly higher than in the individuals of the female. All characters in males and females showed a trend towards allometry rather than isometry. While the total time spent feeding increased with increasing prey size the total time that Rapana venosa spent feeding decreased with increasing Rapa whelk size. The total average feeding time needed by Rapa whelks was 160 min. But they took 310 min on live mussels in 27-28 °C in the laboratory conditions. Conclusions: Length and weight relationships, growth type, total time spent feeding of this species were explained in details for this region. It would be useful to sustainable management in the south-eastern Black Sea of Turkey. The results about the feeding behaviour of this species will contribute to the understanding of the role of this species within the ecosystem.

453-457

Authors: Thangapandi Veni, Thambusamy Pushpanathan

Objective: To evaluate leaves extract of Azima tetracantha and Gmelina asiatica for lethality to brine shrimp larvae (Artemia salina and Artemia fransiscana). Methods: The plant materials were extracted based on polarity gradients of petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and methanol. The extracts were investigated for their cytotoxic potential. Results: In the brine shrimp lethality assay of all extracts, exception of acetone, ethanol and petroleum ether extracts Gmelina asiatica displayed 100% mortality at 1 000 μg/mL by Artemia salina and Artemia fransiscana. Chloroform extract was the most potent and presented the highest percentage of mortality with the lowest LC50 values by both assay too. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest the presence of photochemical possessing cytotoxic agents.

465-470

Authors: Pamhidzai Dzomba, Cexton Musekiwa

Objective: To investigate antioxidant and anti-obesity activity of flavonoids extracted by solvent cold percolation and preparative thin liquid chromatography from Dioscorea steriscus tubers. Methods: 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antiradical activity was employed to investigate antioxidant activity while chromogenic method was used to determine alpha amylase inhibition activity and spectrophotometric methods using triolein as a substrate was used to investigate lipase activity. Results: Thin liquid chromatography profiling revealed eight different flavonoid types. Ethyl acetate extract yielded two types, Rf values 0.38 and 0.40; chloroform extract also yielded two types Rf values 0.06 and 0.51, while ethanol extract yielded four types with Rf values 0.16, 0.33, 0.65 and 0.96. All the extracted flavonoids exhibited antioxidant activity with ethanol extracts exhibiting the greatest antiradical activity. The order of enzyme inhibition capacity was ethyl acetate

478-483

Authors: Krimat Soumia, Dob Tahar, Lamari Lynda, Boumeridja Saida, Chelghoum Chabane, Metidji Hafidha

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract extracts of selected Algerian medicinal plants. Methods: Antioxidant activity of extracts was evaluated in terms of radical scavenging potential (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and β-carotene bleaching assay. Total phenolic contents and flavonoid contents were also measured. Antimicrobial activity of these plants was examined against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Results: The values of IC 50 ranged from 4.30 μg/mL to 486.6 μg/mL for the DPPH method, while total antioxidant activity using β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assay ranged from 17.03% to 86.13%. It was found that Pistacia lentiscus showed the highest antioxidant capacities using DPPH assay (IC50=4.30 μg/mL), while Populus trimula, Origanum glandulosum, Centaurea calcitrapa, Sysimbrium officinalis and Rhamnus alaternus showed the highest percent of total antioxidant activity in β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assay. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents ranged from 3.96 to 259.65 mg GAE/g extract and from 1.13 to 26.84 mg QE/g extract, respectively. The most interesting antimicrobial activity was obtained from Sysimbrium officinalis, Rhamnus alaternus, Origanum glandulosum, Cupressus sempervirens, Pinus halipensis and Centaurea calcitrapa. Conclusions: The results indicated that the plants tested may be potential sources for isolation of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds.

490-495

Authors: Zeinab Gholami, Mohammad Taghi Rahimi, Roghayeh Zarei, Eshrat Beigom Kia, Iraj Mobedi, Sajad Vatandoost

Objective: To determine the infection of Aphanius dispar (A. dispar) by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (I. multifiliis) in Iran. Methods: A total of 97 (22 males and 75 females) individuals were collected using dip net from Mehran River, Hormuzgan Province, South of Iran in January 2008. Total length, standard length and weight of the collected specimens were measured to using vernier caliper. Whole body of fish was examined macroscopically for the presence of any blister. For the detection of Ichthyophthirius, the mucus was scraped gently from skin onto a micro slide and stained by Azocarmine. Prevalence, intensity and abundance of parasite were analyzed. Results: In this study 50 (51.55%) specimens including 12 males and 38 females were found infected with I. multifiliis which is an obligate protozoan parasite of freshwater fishes with a direct life cycle and it causes weight loss and mortality in fishes. The infection is known as ichthyophthiriasis or white spot disease, one of the most serious diseases in freshwater fishes. Prevalence, intensity and abundance of parasite in female and male fishes were 50.67%, 29.26, 14.83 and 54.55%, 18 and 9.82, respectively. No sex preference and predilection of body site as microhabitats for this parasite in A. dispar, as well as in three length groups of fish standard length ranging 18-23 mm, 23-28 mm and 28-34 mm. However, prevalence and abundance are significantly increased in larger fish than smaller one. Conclusions: This is the first report of I. multifiliis (Fouquet, 1876) from A. dispar in Iran and this fish is considered as a new host for the parasite.

500

Authors: Sora Yasri, Viroj Wiwanitkit

No