Antihyperglycemic activity of Caralluma attenuata

Extracts of Caralluma attenuata are screened for their antihyperglycemic activity. Ethanol, chloroform and butanol extracts were tested on glucose loaded and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. In both tests, the butanol extract, at the oral dose of 250 mg/kg, has shown statistically significant and considerable antihyperglycemic activity.     

Genetic diversity analysis of severely infesting invasive thrips,Thrips parvispinus (Karny) in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) in India

Phytoparasitica - Thrips are economically important pests of crops and vectors of viral diseases worldwide. Invasion and outbreak of thrips have recently caused havoc in agricultural and...     

Weed control in wheat with pyroxasulfone and its combinations with other herbicides

Field and pot investigations were conducted to determine the effectiveness of pyroxasulfone alone and its combinations with other herbicides against diverse weed flora of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) including multiple herbicide-resistant (MHR) littleseed canarygrass (Phalaris minor Retz.). Applications of pyroxasulfone 100–127.5 g/ha as pre-emergence (PE) or early post-emergence (EPOE) @ 63.75 g/ha at 21–23 days after sowing (1 day before irrigation) were highly effective for control of grass weeds namely P. minor and wild oat (Avena ludoviciana Dur.). It was poor for control of broad-leaved weeds (Medicago denticulata Willd. and Rumex dentatus L.). However, pyroxasulfone in tank-mix combination with metsulfuron 4 g/ha, triasulfuron 20 g/ha, and pyroxsulam 18 g/ha effectively controlled (96.5%–99.8%) the diverse weed flora and improved the wheat grain yield (69.5%–285.9%) over untreated weedy control. Also, the pre-mix of pyroxasulfone + pendimethalin applied as PE was superior to either of these applied alone for weed control and grain yield. Pyroxasulfone 100–127.5 g/ha had yield gain of 119.6%–125.4% and 10.1%–26% over untreated control and pendimethalin 800–1250 g/ha, respectively. In pot studies, straw burnt ash drastically reduced the pyroxasulfone efficacy against P. minor and A. ludoviciana. Pyroxasulfone was also effective in pot studies for control of MHR P. minor having resistance against acetyl-coA carboxylase (ACCase), acetolactate synthase (ALS), and photosynthesis at the photosystem-II site-A (PS-II) inhibitor herbicides (clodinafop, sulfosulfuron, and isoproturon, respectively). The studies indicate that pyroxasulfone as PE or EPOE can be an alternative grass weed control herbicide in wheat in particular for the control of MHR P. minor.     

Haematological and biochemical responses of freshwater teleost fish Cyprinus carpio (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes) during acute and chronic sublethal exposure to lindane

The impact of acute and sublethal toxicity of a synthetic organochlorine pesticide lindane on some haematological and biochemical parameters of a freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio was estimated. The median lethal concentration of lindane for 24 h was 0.38 ppm. During acute treatment (24 h), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct) and erythrocyte (RBC) values were decreased, whereas leucocyte (WBC) count increased in the pesticide treated fish. The hematological indices like mean cellular volume (MCV), mean cellular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cellular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were decreased when compared to control group. Biochemical profiles like plasma glucose and protein levels were increased in lindane exposed fish showing a percent increase of 50.36 and 3.98 at the end of 24 h treatment. However, glycogen content in liver and muscle were decreased showing a percent decrease of 21.70 and 1.74. In sublethal treatment (1/10th of LC50 24 h value, 0.038 ppm), RBC count was decreased whereas WBC count increased in the pesticide treated fish throughout the study period (25 days). Hb and Hct values were decreased up to 10th day and after that recovered showing a significant increase in the rest of the study period. Similarly, a biphasic response was observed in the value of MCV, MCH and MCHC. Plasma glucose level was significantly increased while plasma protein level decreased throughout the study period. Further, glycogen level in muscle and liver were showed a mixed trend. In the present study, the pesticide lindane caused alterations on haematological and biochemical parameters of C. carpio and these alterations can be used as non specific biomarkers in pesticide contaminated aquatic ecosystem.     

Bio-potency of serine proteinase inhibitors from Acacia senegal seeds on digestive proteinases, larval growth and development of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

Proteinase inhibitors (AsPIs) with high activity against serine proteinases were purified from seeds of the tree legume, Acacia senegal by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column and evaluated against Helicoverpa armigera larvae by in vitro and in vivo methods. The molecular weight of AsPIs was found to be approximately 19.58 ± 1.00 and 21.23 ± 1.00 kDa for PI and 18.16 ± 1.00 kDa for PII on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The AsPIs (5 μg/ml) inhibited approximately 70% of midgut trypsin and 61% of elastase-like chymotrypsin. In vitro studies showed that AsPIs have remarkable inhibitory activity towards total gut proteolytic enzymes followed by trypsin and chymotrypsin. The IC₅₀ of AsPIs for midgut trypsin was 0.1 μg/ml and for chymotrypsin was 2.0 μg/ml. The inhibition of gut proteinase enzymes was of the non-competitive type. In larval feeding studies, AsPIs were found to retard growth and development of H. armigera and also affects the fecundity of the pest. The results advocate the use of AsPIs in transgenic technology to develop plant resistance to H. armigera.     

Biochar and crop residue application to soil: effect on soil biochemical properties,nutrient availability and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In the recent past, biochar and crop residues have attracted lots of attention as a viable strategy for maintaining soil health. This paper evaluates the comparative effect of two different doses (equivalent to 2 and 5 t C ha^?1) of each of pine needle and Lantana biochar (PBC and LBC), wheat residue and lentil residue (WR and LR) on soil biological properties, nutrient availability and yield of rice and wheat in pot culture. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) revealed higher C content of biochar than crop residues. Evaluation of biochemical quality reflected high recalcitrance indices of C and N for both PBC and LBC. Application of LBC and PBC increased the wheat grain yield significantly by 6.2%–24.2% over control. Both PBC and LBC significantly increased N and P uptakes in grain over the control and crop residues. Both biochars recorded a significant decrease of 33.9 and 71,7% in β-glucosidase activity in comparison to control at termination of study. PBC and LBC also resulted in more soil available N, P and K in soil at different intervals. The geometric mean of enzyme activities (GMea) reflected improved soil quality by PBC and LR and reduction by LBC application.     

Identification of a Mycoplasma ovis-like organism in a herd of farmed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in rural Indiana

Mycoplasma ovis is a hemoplasma parasite of sheep, goats, and reindeer; however, natural hemoplasma infection in white-tailed deer has not previously been reported. Subsequent to finding many coccoid, bacillary, and ring-shaped organisms, consistent with hemotropic mycoplasmas, on RBCs from a 72-day-old female white-tailed fawn, we sought to (1) identify the putative hemoplasma observed in blood from the fawn, (2) evaluate others in the herd for hemoplasma infection, and (3) identify clinicopathologic characteristics of hemoplasma-infected white-tailed deer. EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood was collected from the fawn and 8 apparently healthy does in the same herd. CBCs were performed on 7 nonclotted samples from the fawn and 6 does. DNA was extracted from all samples, followed by PCR amplification of bacterial (16S rDNA) and protozoal (18S rDNA) genes. The nearly complete 16S rDNA product from the fawn's sample was directly sequenced and compared with known sequences in the GenBank database. Samples from the fawn and 7 of 8 does were PCR-positive using hemoplasma-specific and M ovis-specific protocols. The fawn was PCR-negative for Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp. The 16S rDNA sequence from the fawn (GenBank accession number, FJ824847) was most closely related to M ovis (AF338268), having 98.5% sequence identity. The fawn had a mild nonregenerative anemia, a neutrophilic left-shift with toxic change, aspiration bronchopneumonia, and gastrointestinal disease. Hematologic values, including blood film evaluation, in infected does were unremarkable. The M ovis-like organism may have acted as either an opportunistic or primary pathogen in the fawn. The high occurrence of subclinical infections in the does suggests that white-tailed deer may act as wildlife reservoirs for M ovis.     

Pharmacokinetics of Pefloxacin in Goats after Intravenous or Oral Administration

The plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics of the fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agent pefloxacin, following the administration of a single intravenous (10 mg/kg) or oral (20 mg/kg) dose, were investigated in healthy female goats. The antimicrobial activity in plasma was measured at predetermined times after drug administration by an agar well diffusion microbiological assay, using Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) as the test organism. Concentrations of the drug 0.25 g/ml were maintained in plasma for up to 6 and 10 h after intravenous (IV) or oral administration of pefloxacin, respectively. The concentration–time data for pefloxacin in plasma after IV or oral administration conformed to two- and one-compartment open models, respectively. Plasma pefloxacin concentrations decreased rapidly during the initial phase after IV injection, with a distribution half-life (t _1/2 ) of 0.10±0.01 h. The terminal phase had a half-life (t _1/2 ) of 1.12±0.21 h. The volume of distribution at steady state (V _dss), mean residence time (MRT) and total systemic clearance (Cl_B) of pefloxacin were 1.08±0.09 L/kg, 1.39±0.23 h and 821±88 (ml/h)/kg, respectively. Following oral administration of pefloxacin, the maximum concentration in the plasma (C _max) was 2.22±0.48 g/ml and the interval from administration until maximum concentration (t _max) was 2.3±0.7 h. The absorption half-life (t _{1/2 ka}), mean absorption time (MAT) and elimination half-life of pefloxacin were 0.82±0.40, 4.2±1.0 and 2.91±0.50 h, respectively. The oral bioavailability of pefloxacin was 42%±5.8%. On the basis of the pharmacokinetic data, a dosage regimen of 20 mg/kg, IV at 8 h intervals or orally twice daily, is suggested for treating infections caused by drug-sensitive pathogens in goats.     

Polyclonal antibody‐based farmer‐friendly flow‐through test for the detection of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease in shrimp

Early mortality syndrome (EMS) or acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is currently the most significant disease of shrimp in farms of Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, China and Mexico, and there is a great risk that it may spread to other shrimp farming countries. Although, an array of sophisticated detection tools for AHPND available, there is a need for a sensitive, simple and rapid detection method. In this study, a simple, sensitive, rapid and polyclonal antibody‐based farmer‐friendly flow‐through assay (FTA) test has been developed for the detection of AHPND pathogen. The recombinant Photorhabdus insect‐related (Pir) A toxin‐like protein of AHPND pathogen was used to immunize rabbits at 21‐day interval observed for highest antibody titre after third booster by ELISA. The raised rabbit antiserum was purified by affinity chromatography and characterized by Western blot. The antiserum showed no cross‐reactivity with AHPND‐free Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. anguillarum, White Spot Virus (WSV), Aeromonashydrophila and Aphanomycesinvadans. This polyclonal rabbit antiserum was used to develop a farmer‐friendly FTA test for the detection of AHPND pathogen. This simple FTA testis is more sensitive and could detect PirA^VP toxin up to 0.121 µg/ml, compared with 0.242 µg/ml by immunodot assay. Furthermore, FTA test requires only 8–10 min for completion, compared with 3 hr by immunodot thus found to be more sensitive, specific and cost‐effective. Collectively, sensitive FTA test would help shrimp farmers to take real‐time management decisions, especially emergency harvest and finally be a better hope for the prevention of AHPND.     

Alteration in certain enzymological parameters of an Indian major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala exposed to short- and long-term exposure of clofibric acid and diclofenac

The extensive use of pharmaceuticals in human and veterinary medicine may enter the aquatic environment and pose a serious threat to non-target aquatic organisms like fish. In this study, Indian major carp Cirrhinus mrigala was exposed to different concentrations (1, 10 and 100 μg L^?l) of most commonly used pharmaceutical drugs clofibric acid (CA) and diclofenac (DCF) to evaluate its impacts on certain enzymological parameters during short- and long-term exposures. During short-term (96 h) exposure period, plasma glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity were significantly altered at all concentrations of both the CA- and DCF-treated fish. In long-term exposure (35 days), gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity was found to be significantly increased at all concentration of CA and DCF exposures throughout the study period (except at the end of 7th day in 10 and 100 µg L-1) . However, a biphasic trend was observed in plasma GOT and GPT activity when compared to the control groups. In both short- and long-term exposure, a significant (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) changes were observed in all enzymological parameters of fish C. mrigala exposed to different concentrations of CA and DCF. The alterations of these enzymological parameters can be effectively used as potential biomarkers in monitoring of pharmaceutical toxicity in aquatic environment and organisms.