Journal of Coastal Life Medicine

337-340

Authors: Seyed Ali Johari, Mohammad Reza Kalbassi

Objective: To investigate the possible effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on some blood and plasma indices of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Methods: Hence, fish were exposed for 21 days to sub-lethal concentrations of colloidal AgNPs and blood parameters including erythrocyte size and hematocrit, plasma parameters including cholinesterase, cortisol, sodium, chloride, and potassium, and also silver concentration in plasma were measured following the 11th and 21st days of exposure. Results: According to the results of present study, higher concentrations of AgNPs had more significant effects on plasma biochemistry and hematology of trout. The greatest impacts were decline of chloride ions and increase of cortisol and cholinesterase. Also fish exposed to AgNPs significantly increased silver concentration in the plasma. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to identify appropriate blood biomarkers following fish exposed to nanomaterials, especially AgNPs.

345-352

Authors: Graça Costa, Sónia Soares, Fernando Carvalho, João Bela

Objective: To study the digenean parasites of the prosobranch gastropods, Littorina littorea (L. littorea) and Gibbula umbilicalis (G. umbilicalis) from rocky shores of the Northern Atlantic coast of Portugal. Methods: A total of 413 L. littorea and 2603 G. umbilicalis were collected from rocky shores,at Aveiro estuary, Aguda Beach, and Foz Beach at Porto (Northern Atlantic coast of Portugal)from January to July 2014 and February 2014 to January 2015, respectively. Gonads and digestive glands of the gastropods were examined under light microscopy for the presence of digeneans. Infected gonads of L. littorea were prepared for histological observation, whereas digeneans found in G. umbilicalis were studied and identified with the aid of light and scanning electron microscopy. Results: Two species of digeneans were found infecting the digestive gland and gonads of G. umbilicalis, namely, Cainocreadium labracis and Lecithochirium furcolabiatum with a combined prevalence of 3%. Histological observations of gonads of L. littorea revealed the infection with digeneans, with considerable replacement of gonadal tissues. These digeneans were not identified to species level. The prevalence of digeneans in this snail host was 0.7%. Conclusions: The present study adds G. umbilicalis as another first intermediate host for Cainocreadium labracis and extends its geographical range to the Portuguese Atlantic coast. Cercariae of Lecithochirium furcolabiatum were previously reported from G. umbilicalis. A literature review of digeneans occurring in the gastropod genera Gibbula and Littorina is given.

358-363

Authors: Sabri Bilgin, Necla Yılmaz

Objective: To determine growth and reproduction biology of Philocheras trispinosus (P. trispinosus) with abundance of other caridean shrimps caught by beam trawl in the Southern Black Sea. Methods: Samplings were carried out monthly with a beam trawl of 2 m length and 15 mm cod-end mesh size between December 2012 and November 2013. All individuals were sampled between 1 and 40+ m water depth from 146 hauls. Results: A total of 550 P. trispinosus, 618 Palaemon adspersus, 12 Palaemon serratus, 11 Philocheras fasciatus and 10 Crangon crangon were sampled during the study period. The crangonid shrimps started appearing during the winter and spring and the number of individuals increased to reach their highest value in mid-winter and mid-spring. The seasonal von Bertalanffy growth parameters for P. trispinosus were estimated as L∞ = 29.3 mm total length, K = 0.860/year, t0 = –0.900 year, C = 0.180, and ts = 0.010. The start of the slow growth period was at the beginning of July (WP = 0.510). Ovigerous females appeared in the sampling area between January and April. Size at sexual maturity was estimated as 25.69 mm total length. Conclusions: The results supported the distribution and abundance of caridean shrimp species from the study area and the population dynamics of the most abundant shrimp species, P. trispinosus. The current study can be answered as baseline data prior to management strategies to ensure sustainable conservation of the shrimp species.

368-373

Authors: Shakeel Ahmed Adhoni , Shivasharana Chandrabanda Thimmappa, Basappa Basawanneppa Kaliwal

Objective: To determine the presence of bioactive molecules and to check their antimicrobial activity from green algae Chlorella vulgaris (AS-3) (C. vulgaris) isolated from Unkal Lake in Dharwad District, Karnataka, India. Methods: Based on the polarity, benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, hexane, methanol, petroleum ether and distilled water were the solvents used for the preparation of algal extracts using Soxhlet apparatus, which were further subjected to phytochemical analysis and screening of antimicrobial activity. Human pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Paratyphi B, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aerobacter aerogenes, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger were used for antimicrobial assay. Standard methods were followed for qualitative estimation of phytochemicals. Results: Phytochemical determination of bioactive molecules showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, carotenoids, phenols, lignins, saponins, sterols, tannins, reducing sugars, volatile oil, fats, amino acids and carbohydrates. In vitro analysis of organic solvent extracts of C. vulgaris, a green microalgae, showed an activity by suppressing the proliferation of bacterial, fungal and human pathogens. Four extracts (chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane and methanol) showed effective inhibitory activity against the tested pathogens. Depending on the percentage of bioactive molecules present in each of the organic extracts, different extracts showed different inhibition zone diameters against the pathogens. Among the eight organic extracts used for the study, excellent inhibitory effects were shown by chloroform and methanol extracts. Conclusions: The present study indicates that green algae C. vulgaris is rich in natural compounds which are highly important in pharmacology and nutraceuticals. Although the presence of bioactive molecules is very less in the algae, excellent effect on the microbial pathogens was observed.

377-379

Authors: Safila Naveed, Humera Ishaq , Sheeba Urooj

Objective: To investgate the forced degradation study for the determination of degradation of the drug substance. Methods: Paracetamol was exposed to different conditions according to International Conference on Harmonization guideline. The amount of degradation product can be calculated with the help of UV spectrophotometer. The official test limits according to British Pharmacopoeia/United States Pharmacopoeia should not less than and should not more than lapelled amount. Forced degradation of drug substance was exposed to acidic and basic medium of panadol. Forced degradation of drug substance of panadol, disprol and calpol were also observed negligible difference in availability on exposure to UV and heat. This method can be used successfully for studying the stress degradation factors. Because this method is less time consuming and simple and cost effective also. Results: The brands i.e. calpol, panadol and disprol, when they come in contact with different degradation parameters (before, acid, base, heat and UV treatments) according to statistical analysis, the result showed significant values (P < 0.05) which indicated that there was no degradation in any of the brand. Conclusions: The result indicated there is no degradation found in these brands.

386-389

Authors: Amin Ullah, Said Hassan, Muhammad Imran Khan, Muhammad Rizwan, Zafar Ullah, Mukaram Shah

Objective: To analyze the methanol extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum (T. foenumgraecum) for antioxidant, phytotoxic and cytotoxic activity. Methods: The powder of T. foenum-graecum was extracted in diluted methanol with the help of random shaking method. All extracts of the plant were measured for cytotoxic activity (beside brine shrimp and antioxidant activity vs. 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical). Results: Various concentrations of methanolic extract of T. foenum-graecum were observed as 36.16% to 54.12% with rising concentrations of 50 to 1000 μg/mL. Significantly phytotoxic activity (100 and 1000 μg/mL) reduced the growth of roots (radicals) and shoots (hypocotyls) of rice when compared to control after 3 and 7 days’ treatment. At a concentration of 10 μg/ mL, the survival rate of cytotoxic activity of brine shrimp was maximum and at a concentration of 250 μg/mL, the death rate of brine shrimp was maximum. Conclusions: T. foenum-graecum has potential activity against free radical mediated sickness and thus it is possible to treat cancer.

395-402

Authors: Philip Ilani, Nicholas Ajodo, Folashade Adewusi, Samirat Yakubu, Victor Yakubu Cosmos, Ache Eunice, Atonila Kayode Ezekiel, Oshiedu Sarah, Emmanuel Amlabu

Objective: To develop a characteristic fingerprint of the different chemical compounds of plant by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis and assess the effect of the crude extract on histological changes induced in Naja nigricollis (N. nigricollis) envenomed albino rats. Methods: The coarsely powdered Waltheria indica (W. indica) whole plant material was extracted using 70% methanol. GC-MS analysis was carried out using a Shimadzu GC-MS QP 2010 plus system of gas chromatography interfaced to a mass spectrometer. The identification of components was based on National Institute of Standard and Technology-08 and Willey-8 libraries. Hydrogen-NMR spectra of the extracts was performed using Bruker Biospin Avance 400-MHz NMR spectrophotometer with a 5 mm broad inverse probe head, equipped with shielded z-gradient accessories and C-13 NMR hetero-nuclear single quantum correction was carried out using the Brucker’s standard pulse library. The efficacy of the crude extract of W. indica whole plant was tested and the lesions induced in the liver, brain and kidney of albino rats challenged with N. nigricollis were analyzed by light microscopy. Results: The identification of the bioactive compounds from W. indica by GC-MS analysis revealed 41 peaks. A total of 38 compounds were identified with majority having important pharmacological activities that included anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant antiinflammatory, anti-allergenic, anti-ageing, anti-arthritic, larvicidal, anti-convulsant and herbicidal activities. C-13 and hydrogen-NMR analysis of W. indica elucidated key bioactive compounds in the whole plant that were consistent with the classes of bioactive compounds detected by GC-MS analysis. The efficacy of the crude extract of W. indica whole plant in ameliorating histopathological lesions induced in the liver, brain and kidney of albino rats challenged with N. nigricollis venom revealed the abrogation of tissue degeneration when compared with the experimental control group. Conclusions: The present study identified an array of bioactive compounds present in W. indica and reported their ethno-botanical uses in the treatment of a wide range of medical exigencies and showed scientific evidence of the detoxification of N. nigricollis venom by W. indica.

406-415

Authors: Saboon, Yamin Bibi, Muhammad Arshad, Sidra Sabir, Muhammad Shoaib Amjad, Ejaz Ahmed, Sunbal Khalil Chaudhari

Polygonatum verticillatum (Linn.) All. syn. Convallaria verticillata Linn. is a valuable medicinal plant, distributed in the temperate Himalaya at the elevations 2400 to 2800 m. It is a perennial rhizomatous herb and contains various pharmacologically important secondary metabolites among which the most important are α-bulnesene, linalyl acetate, eicosadienoic, pentacosane, piperitone, docasane, diosgenin, santonin and calarene. It also possesses antimalarial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, lipoxygenase, urease inhibition, diuretic, tracheorelaxant, antidiarrheal, antispasmodic, antinociceptive, antifungal, antibacterial and bronchodilator activities. The plant also got importance in traditional systems of medicine due to its broad therapeutic potential especially of its rhizome. But in the past few years, over exploitation of plant parts caused the decline in the frequency of this species due to which it became threatened, endangered and vulnerable in different parts of the world. So efforts are being made in certain regions of the world for both ex-situ and in-situ conservation. This paper briefly reviewed the botanical, traditional, phytochemical, pharmacological and conservation related aspects of this plant.

420

Authors: Beuy Joob, Viroj Wiwanitkit

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