Journal of Coastal Life Medicine

253-258

Authors: Harry Hariharan, Victor Amadi

The objective of this article is to present an overview on bacterial pathogens associated with shellfish in Grenada and other countries including the authors’ experience. Although there have been considerable published work on vibrios, there is a lack of information on Salmonella serovars associated with various shellfish. In Grenada, for instance the blue land crabs collected from their habitats were found to harbor several Salmonella serovars. Also, it is notable that only minimal research has been done on shellfish such as conchs and whelks, which are common in the Caribbean and West Indies. Information on anaerobic bacteria, particularly, non-spore forming bacteria associated with shellfish, in general, is also scanty. This review re-examines this globally important topic based on the recent findings as well as past observations. Strategies for reduction of bacteria in oysters are briefly mentioned because of the fact that oysters are consumed commonly without complete cooking.

263-267

Authors: Vladimir Ivanovich Martemyanov

Objective: To study the dynamics of H2O, Na, K, Ca and Mg content in the oocytes of bream, Abramis brama observed in prespawning period on breeding ground and in reply to catching, transportation and subsequent remaining of spawners in a cage. Methods: For research on the dynamics of H2O and cations content in the oocytes of bream females, Abramis brama in the course of eggs transition from maturity Stage IV to Stage V, fishes were caught from breeding ground in the coastal zone of the Volga Reach of the Rybinsk reservoir at the Vereteya Station. For studying the influence of stress, the bream (76 individuals) were caught from breeding ground by hauling the seine during 15 min. Capture, sorting and transportation for 3 h to the ponds were the stress factors. Samples of oocytes from 6–8 fishes were taken immediately after capturing, then two more were taken during transportation. Later fishes were removed from the cage in certain time intervals. Concentration of Na and K in the dissolved samples of oocytes was measured by the spectrometer (Flapho-4, Carl Zeiss, Iena, Germany) and content of Ca and Mg was measured by atomic-absorption spectrometer-1 (the same producer). Results: In natural conditions before spawning in the course of maturation of oocytes from maturity Stage IV to V, H2O content in the ovicells of bream has increased by 3.3% and concentration of Na, K, Ca and Mg has decreased by 24.9%, 38.1%, 56.2% and 65.7%, accordingly. Stress caused by capturing, transportation and the subsequent remaining of bream spawners in a cage did not change parameters of water-salt exchange of the oocytes. Conclusions: In natural conditions before spawning, the maturation of oocytes of bream from maturity Stage IV to V take place. Stress caused by capturing, transportation and the subsequent remaining of bream spawners in a cage prevents the transition of eggs from maturity Stage IV to V. It is suggested that in order to develop optimal technique stimulating oocytes maturation and the process of ovulation in industrial conditions, study of these reactions of spawners of one or another species in natural environment is preferentially conducted. Conditions of incubation and combination of hormonal preparations selected on the basis of these data should invoke similar effects as the ones spawners experience in natural habitat.

273-276

Authors: Devaraj Isaac Dhinakaran, Aaron Premnath Lipton

Objective: To study the pharmacological properties of Sigmadocia pumila (S. pumila), a marine sponge, through in-vivo analysis. Methods: The anti-inflammatory activity was determined by the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema method. The analgesic activity was analyzed by tail immersion method. Antipyretic activity was done by using Brewer’s yeast induced hyperpyrexia method. Results: The anti-inflammatory activity using methanol extracts in S. pumila at the concentrations of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, (p.o.) on rats showed significant decrease in the paw thickness at the 5th h of administration. It was denoted that the S. pumila exerted more analgesic activity. As for the antipyretic activity during the 2nd and 3rd h, the 3rd and 4th group of rats showed the reduction in temperature in S. pumila at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg dosages. Conclusions: The present study concludes that the marine sponge S. pumila acts as a vital role in exhibiting pharmaceutical activities. It could be used to produce novel drugs.

284-289

Authors: Megha Barot, Nirmal Kumar J.I., Rita N. Kumar

Objective: To evaluate bioactive compounds responsible for antifungal activity from seaweeds of Okha coast, Western India. Methods: Each species were extracted with different solvents with increasing polarity: hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol using Soxhlet apparatus. The antifungal activity was determined by agar diffusion plate method by using fluconazole, ketoconazole and amphotericin B as standards. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis was done for identification of bioactive compounds present in crude extract. Results: The gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis of all the extracts revealed the presence of steroids, fatty acids and esters compounds. Among the three species, the maximum crude extract yield (53.46%) and the largest inhibition zone (36 mm) were recorded in methanol extract of Ulva lactuca, whereas the minimum crude extract yield and inhibition zone were recorded in chloroform extract of the same species as 0.5% and 10 mm, respectively. Methanol and ethyl acetate extract showed the maximum antifungal activity and the major important compounds like steroids, fatty acids and esters were detected with higher amount in all the extracts. Conclusions: The present study revealed that the different seaweed extracts showed moderate to significant antifungal activity against the strains tested as compared with the standard fungicides, and polar solvents methanol and ethyl acetate were comparatively efficient for extraction of different metabolites that are responsible for antifungal activity.

295-298

Authors: Ramasamy Thangaraj, Saha Subhasish, Dharumadurai Dhanasekaran, Nooruddin Thajuddin

Objective: To reveal the screening of metal tolerance and dye-decolorizing of Nocardiopsis sp. Methods: NiSO4 and Congo red dye were used for evaluating the metal tolerance and dyedecolorizing of the randomly selected actinobacterial isolates. Results: Nocardiopsis sp. SD8 showed a better efficiency in Ni(II) tolerance, though a longer lag phase was observed for this microorganism grown for 7 days in integrated mismatch negativity. Interestingly, we also found that Nocardiopsis sp. SD8 had dye-decolorizing, hemolytic, lipase and protease activity. Conclusions: The present results revealed the bioremediation of metal resistant and diverse properties of Nocardiopsis sp. SD8 and further investigations are needed to extract and identify the potent molecule.

305-309

Authors: Lamia Sakka Rouis-Soussi, Asma El Ayeb, Saoussen Ben Salem, Hichem Ben Jannet, Fethia Harzallah-Skhiri

Objective: To assess the antioxidant activity of aerial parts of Allium roseum var. grandiflorum subvar. typicum Regel. (A. roseum var. grandiflorum subvar. typicum Regel.) for the first time, as well as to isolate the main bioactive compounds. Methods: The chloroformic extract of Allium roseum (A. roseum) and their fractions obtained by subjection to a chromatographic study were tested for their antioxidant activities by using 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays. An activity-guided purification was conducted to isolate five compounds in pure form where their structures were identified by means of nuclear magnetic resonance analyses, including 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. Results: The evaluation of the antioxidant activity of chloroformic extract and their fractions from A. roseum var. grandiflorum subvar. typicum Regel. showed interesting results. The active chloroformic extract afforded five isolated compounds where their structures were identified as β-sitosterol (1), chrysoeriol (2), luteolin (3), apigenin (4), and β-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucoside (5). All the compounds were isolated for the first time from the A. roseum var. grandiflorum subvar. typicum Regel. The three flavonoids (2–4) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 62.28, 21.26 and 513.42 μg/mL, respectively (2, 2-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl assay) and 218.00, 73.50 and 877.66 μg/mL, respectively [2,2′-azinobis- (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay]. An important value of trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (2.10 mmol/L) was reported for luteolin (3). Conclusions: These results may suggest that the A. roseum var. grandiflorum subvar. typicum Regel. have great potential as a source of a natural preservative ingredient in beneficial for natural health products.

315-319

Authors: Aziza Salim Al-Brashdi, Hebbatallah Al-Ariymi, Maha Al Hashmi, Shah Alam Khan

Objective: To quantify total phenols, flavonoids and to investigate the in vitro antioxidant power of Haplophyllum tuberculatum (H. tuberculatum) leaves extracts of varying polarities. Methods: The authenticated sample of H. tuberculatum (50 g) leaves was dried under shade, powdered and extracted exhaustively with ethanol by cold percolation method. The alcoholic extract was further partitioned into petroleum ether, acetone, chloroform and methanol to obtain the fractions of varying polarities which were subjected to qualitative phytochemical testing. Total phenolics and flavonoids content in the acetone, chloroform and methanol extracts were quantified by using standard colorimetric methods. Petroleum ether extract was omitted because it did not show the presence of either tannins or flavonoids. In vitro antioxidant activity and total antioxidant capacity were determined by using 1,1 diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and phosphomolybdenum reagent. Ascorbic acid was used as a reference antioxidant for comparison purpose. Results: Qualitative phytochemical results of leaves extracts confirmed the presence of major secondary plant metabolites. The extraction of phenolic compounds varied considerably according to the polarity of solvent. The most polar fractions i.e. methanol were observed to have the highest phenolic content (561.22 mg/g of gallic acid equivalent) and flavonoids (165.54 mg/g of quercetin equivalent). Although the free radical scavenging activity of leaves fractions was noted to be slightly lower than the reference compound, a direct relationship was observed between phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity. On the other hand, leaves fractions exhibited significant total antioxidant capacity as ascorbic acid equivalent. Conclusions: The aerial part of H. tuberculatum is rich in phenolic compounds which might play a vital role in the discovery of natural antioxidants.

324-326

Authors: Salama Abo-elyazed Ouf, Tarek Abd-elgawaad Moussa, Alshimaa Saber Mohamed Abd-Elmegeed, Samar Mohamed Rajaee Eltahlawy

Objective: To study the occurrence and prevalence of dermatomycosis in special patient populations suffering from diabetes, cancer and heart diseases. Methods: A total of 640 patients suffering from diabetes, 280 patients suffering from cancer and 210 patients suffering from heart diseases from Cairo City were evaluated for dermatophytosis at the dermatology clinics of four different hospitals from January 2005 to December 2006. Results: It is estimated that diabetic patients are more likely to develop a fungal infection. The presence of diabetes is a risk factor for tinea pedis and tinea corporis. Tinea cruris and tinea unguium were not common among diabetics, while tinea capitis and tinea versicolor were completely missed. Tinea capitis is not uncommon among cancer patients and tinea pedis comes next. Conclusions: The present investigation shows that diabetes remains to be a risk factor for dermatophytosis and cancer comes next due to the use of radioactive irradiation.

331-333

Authors: Davood Azadi, Abass Daei Naser, Hasan Shojaei

Objective: To present the findings of a study on isolation of four unrelated environmental strains of Mycobacterium setense (M. setense) from hospital environment and help to assess the natural habitat and the mode of transmission in man. Methods: The water samples were collected from hospital departments and cultured on Löwenstein-Jensen and Sauton's media. The isolates, i.e., AW3-2, AW5, AW11 and AW18 were subjected to identification by conventional and molecular tests including sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA. Results: The water isolates revealed the phenotypic and molecular features which were consistent with M. setense including a genus specific amplicon of the hsp65 gene and 99.6% similarities with those of M. setense CIP: 109395T 16S rRNA gene sequences. Conclusions: The current report will contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis and path of transmission of this opportunistic pathogen to human.

335-336

Authors: Mohamed Mostafa Shokry*

A 3-year-old Arabian filly with a history of abnormal scapular mobility of the left foreleg following an accident during training. Unilateral partial rupture of serratus ventralis was diagnosed after ultrasonographic examination of the affected leg in comparison with the other sound leg.