Journal of Coastal Life Medicine

417-421

Authors: Edore Edwin Ito

Objective: To perform a survey of parasites of two fish species [Tilapia zillii (T. zillii) and Clarias gariepinus (C. gariepinus)] to assess the prevalence and composition of parasites in Ase River catchment, Delta State, Nigeria. Methods: Fish samples were collected from three sampling stations and examined for ectoand endoparasite. Of 180 specimens examined, 60 were from each station comprising 30 C. gariepinus and 30 T. zillii. Results: Station 1 had the highest percentage abundance followed by stations 3 and 2, each with a value of 40.86%, 33.33% and 25.81%, respectively. Ninety (90) specimens composed of 47 males (26.11%) and 43 females (23.89%) were infected. Of these, 21 (23.33%) were male in T. zillii while 25 (27.78%) were female. Male C. gariepinus were more infected than the female with a prevalence of 28.88% and 20.00%, respectively. A total of 8 parasites belonging to 4 taxonomic groups were identified. They include the protozoa represented by Trichodina acuta 29 (31.18%), Epistylis spp. 11 (11.83%), Chilodonella spp. 8 (8.60%), and Ichthyophthirius multifiliis 2 (2.15%); Nematode: Camallanus polypteri 38 (40.86%) and Procamallanus spiralis 2 (2.15%); Trematode: Euclinostomum heterostomum 1 (1.07%) and lastly the acanthocepalan represented by Acanthogyrus tilapiae 2 (2.15%). Total prevalence of infection was 50.0% for both species, with an overall prevalence of 51.11% (46) in T. zillii and 48.89% (44) in C. gariepinus. ANOVA showed that there was a statistical significant difference (P < 0.05) in the infection in the three stations. However student t-test showed no significant difference between sexes of both species. Conclusions: The prevalence of parasites recovered from the two fish species in this study is high. It is therefore recommended that the riparian communities along the river course should desist from activities likely to increase parasite load with restriction of cattle alongside egrets which are the definitive host of Euclinostomum heterostomum.

427-432

Authors: Ravi Cyril, Revathi Lakshmanan, Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro bioactivity and phytochemical analysis of two marine macro-algae viz., Sargassum wightii (S. wightii) and Gracilaria verrucosa (G. verrucosa). Methods: The marine macro-algae were collected from Gulf of Mannar (latitude 8 °55'–9 °15' N and longitude 78 °–79 °16' E), India. The collected marine macro-algae were shade dried, powdered and extracted in Soxhlet apparatus with acetone, methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether separately. Antimicrobial assay was performed against nine bacterial pathogens (isolated from infected ornamental fish) and two fungal strains. The extracts were further tested for anti-hemolytic activity following standard protocol. The methanol extracts were also tested for its anti-cancer property against human AGS cell line. Results: High antibacterial activity was displayed by the petroleum ether extract of G. verrucosa against Micrococcus sp. [(31.5 ± 6.5) mm]. Maximum [(21.5 ± 1.0) mm] anti-fungal activity was exerted by the methanol extracts of S. wightii and G. verrucosa against Candida sp. Acetone extract of G. verrucosa produced better anti-hemolytic activity (96.47% ± 0.31%) than other tested extracts. Methanol extract of both seaweeds failed to produce any anti-cancer activity against human AGS cell line. Quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed elevated levels of alkaloids (56 mg/g), saponins (44.5 mg/g), flavonoids (500 mg/g) and phenols (220 mg/g) in G. verrucosa when compared to S. wightii. Conclusions: The tested macro-algae are good source of bioactive compounds, and G. verrucosa displayed better activity than S. wightii and could be explored further.

441-446

Authors: Nagarjuna Reddy Desam, Abdul Jabbar Al-Rajab, Mukul Sharma, Mary Moses Mylabathula, Ramachandra Reddy Gowkanapalli, Albratty Mohammed

Objective: To investigate the chemical composition, in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity of Mentha longifolia L. essential oils using aqueous extract. Methods: Mentha longifolia L. essential oils were extracted using hydrodistillation with Clevenger apparatus for 3 h and the yield of the essential oil was calculated. Essential oils were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed with gas chromatography and gas chromatographymass spectrometer. For these essential oils, antibacterial and antifungal activity against human pathogens were evaluated. Results: Nineteen chemical constituents representing 99.72% of the essential oil were found, comprising menthone (39.55%), isopulegone (30.49%), eucalyptol (10.38%), and α-terpineol (3.15%); these were major components, and others were minor components. The essential oil showed strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus [(35.24 ± 0.13) mm], Enterococcus faecalis [(32.12 ± 0.12) mm] and Bacillus cereus [(30.06 ± 0.04) mm], as well as antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus [(38.02 ± 0.06) mm], Alternaria alternaria [(35.26 ± 0.12) mm], and Penicillum spp [(34.14 ± 0.02) mm]. Conclusions: It seems that the essential oils derived from the Mentha longifolia L. species could be used as a natural source of antimicrobial agents.

451-454

Authors: Abdullah Al Mahmud#, Sujan Banik*#, Sayema Arefin, Mohammed Shamim Hasan, Robel Chandra Singha

Objective: To investigate anxiolytic and hypoglycemic activity of Ixora cuneifolia (Family: Rubiaceae) in an experimental animal model. Methods: Anxiolytic test was performed by elevated plus maze (EPM) and hole-board method. Hypoglycemic activity was measured in glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice by glucose tolerance test. Results: The methanol extract of Ixora cuneifolia exhibited dose-dependent and statistically significant (P < 0.05) anxiolytic activity at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. Reduction of glucose level was observed with the highest dose 400 mg/kg of the extract in glucose tolerance test. Conclusions: The better anxiolytic and hypoglycemic activities in the present study could be due to the presence of different chemical constituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, saponin, phenols and tannins in this methanolic extract.