Antibacterial and free radical scavenging activity of the seeds of Agrimonia eupatoria

n-Hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the seeds of Agrimonia eupatoria have been assessed for antibacterial and free radical scavenging activity.     

A Catabolic Activity of Sphingomonas wittichii RW1 in the Biotransformation of Carbazole

The well-known bacterium Sphingomonas wittichii RW1 catabolically degrades dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran, as well as their chlorinated derivatives. The catabolic degradation of dioxin is initiated by a ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase. The biotransformation of carbazole by S. wittichii RW1 was determined in the present study. Dioxin dioxygenase from the dibenzofuran induced RW1 strain was thought to be unable to attack carbazole, which includes a heterocyclic aromatic dibenzopyrrole system. However, our results showed that carbazole was transformed to anthranilic acid and catechol. The color of the culture suspension changed upon addition of carbazole due to formation of a nitrogen-containing metabolite. Relevant metabolic intermediates were identified by gas chromatographic mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry with comparison to the corresponding authentic compounds. The dioxygenase of the dibenzofuran induced RW1 attacked at the angular position adjacent to the nitrogen atom to give a dihydroxylated metabolic intermediate. Contrary to predictions made in previous reports, S. wittichii RW1 displayed positive catabolic activity toward carbazole.     

Duck virus enteritis (duck plague) – a comprehensive update

Duck virus enteritis (DVE), also called duck plague, is one of the major contagious and fatal diseases of ducks, geese and swan. It is caused by duck enteritis virus (DEV)/Anatid herpesvirus-1 of the genus Mardivirus, family Herpesviridae, and subfamily Alpha-herpesvirinae. Of note, DVE has worldwide distribution, wherein migratory waterfowl plays a crucial role in its transmission within and between continents. Furthermore, horizontal and/ or vertical transmission plays a significant role in disease spread through oral-fecal discharges. Either of sexes from varying age groups of ducks is vulnerable to DVE. The disease is characterized by sudden death, vascular damage and subsequent internal hemorrhage, lesions in lymphoid organs, digestive mucosal eruptions, severe diarrhea and degenerative lesions in parenchymatous organs. Huge economic losses are connected with acute nature of the disease, increased morbidity and mortality (5%–100%), condemnations of carcasses, decreased egg production and hatchability. Although clinical manifestations and histopathology can provide preliminary diagnosis, the confirmatory diagnosis involves virus isolation and detection using serological and molecular tests. For prophylaxis, both live-attenuated and killed vaccines are being used in broiler and breeder ducks above 2 weeks of age. Since DEV is capable of becoming latent as well as shed intermittently, recombinant subunit and DNA vaccines either alone or in combination (polyvalent) are being targeted for its benign prevention. This review describes DEV, epidemiology, transmission, the disease (DVE), pathogenesis, and advances in diagnosis, vaccination and antiviral agents/therapies along with appropriate prevention and control strategies.     

Optimizing diets to decrease environmental impact of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production

Aquaculture is one of the most thriving animal production sectors, and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) farming represents 8% of total finfish culture. However, the industry sustainability depends on the development of cost‐effective and environmental friendly feeds. This study aimed to reduce dietary protein levels in diets for juvenile tilapia and to minimize diet environmental impact while maximizing biological efficiency. A growth trial was performed using five isoenergetic plant protein‐based diets with decreasing levels of crude protein: 360, 340, 320, 300 and 280 g/kg diet (D360, D340, D320, D300 and D280, respectively). Dietary protein utilization was assessed by metabolic trials using a radiolabelled amino acid mixture. Tilapia in all treatments showed similar growth performance and feed intake. Feed conversion ratio was significantly higher in fish fed the D280 than the D360 diet, while no differences were found for other treatments. Protein retention was significantly higher in tilapia fed the D300 than the D360 diet. Amino acid catabolism increased in fish fed the D360 diet, though without significant differences in muscle amino acid retention. This study demonstrates that dietary protein levels can be reduced to 300 g/kg diet without hindering tilapia growth and feed conversion ratio, while reducing environmental nitrogen losses.     

Response of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) to increasing levels of dietary lysine in zero fish meal diets

To investigate the response of gibel carp to dietary lysine levels in zero fish meal (FM) diets, 8 experimental diets were designed. Among them, diet 1 and diet 2 with 150 g/kg FM, methionine, lysine and threonine were supplemented in diet 2. Diet 3 was without FM but matched the amino acid profile of diet 2 except for lysine. Diets 4–8 were based on diet 3, with graded levels of lysine. After 8‐week feeding trail, final body weight, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed intake were significantly improved by diets 1–2 and 6–8 compared with diet 3. Plasma glucose, triglyceride, immunoglobulin G and aspartate aminotransferase levels in diets 4–8 were higher than those in diet 1. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of protein, energy, methionine, lysine, valine, histidine and phenylalanine in diet 1 were significantly lower than those in diet 6. The highest ADC of isoleucine was found in diet 3. TOR, IGF‐1, JAK3, STAT4, STAT6 and PepT2 mRNA levels were significantly increased with increasing dietary lysine up to a certain level in zero FM diet and lower than diets 1–2. Based on WG and FCR, the optimal lysine requirement of juvenile gibel carp was determined to be 24.4 g/kg and 24.2 g/kg (65.9 g/kg and 65.4 g/kg of dietary protein) in zero FM diet, respectively, using quadratic regression analysis.     

Comparative studies on biological activities of Prunus padus and P. spinosa

Comparative studies on the antibacterial and free radical scavenging activities of the n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the seeds of Prunus padus and P. spinosa have been carried out. General toxicity of these extracts has also been determined.     

Characterization and analysis of ligno-cellulosic seed fiber from Pergularia Daemia plant for textile applications

A hitherto uninvestigated ligno-cellulosic seed fiber from the plant Pergularia Daemia has been chosen for the current study to unravel its physical properties, and potentialities in textile applications. The raw, NaOH treated, and wax removed fibers were tested for their morphological and structural features by X-ray diffraction, SEM, FT-IR spectra, and thermal analysis by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The raw fibers have low cellulose content and less crystalline compared to cotton and are having hollow, smooth surface, and less density. The brittle nature and low elongation at break of virgin fiber makes it difficult for the spinning. It becomes spinnable after NaOH treatment due to the increased elongation at break by partial removal of lignin.     

Increasing growth and feed efficiency of Juvenile Walleye,Sander vitreus (Mitchill, 1818), through novel,subsatiation, restrict/feed cycles from late summer into fall

The role of restricted feeding on the growth and feed efficiency (FE) of juvenile walleye, Sander vitreus, was investigated through two experiments. In the summer/fall experiment, 7.44‐g walleye were fed on one of the three schedules for 84 days: control (daily satiation feeding at 6% BW day^?1), D2 (2 days of feed deprivation, then fed at 12% BW day^?1 for 7 days, repeated throughout the study) and SS80 (subsatiation feeding involving 2 weeks of maintenance ration, then fed at 80% of the control group's feeding level). Juvenile walleye growth rates were significantly higher in the SS80 than in the control group, however, their growth rates in the D2 group were no different than in the control. Mean FE of the SS80 group (0.49), significantly exceeded those of the control (0.36) and D2 (0.28) groups. In contrast with the summer/fall experiment, no differences in growth rate were detected among the control, SS80 and D2 groups in the subsequent 84‐d spring experiment, where the juvenile walleye (97.45 g) were substantially larger, and their mean FE values were generally lower, with less distinction observed among the groups. Our findings indicate potential to increase growth and FE of juvenile walleye in advance of fall, by applying restrict‐feed schedules.     

Bioactivity of gentiopicroside from the aerial parts of Centaurium erythraea

Gentiopicroside (1), a secoiridoid glycoside isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Centaurium erythraea, has been assessed for antibacterial and free radical scavenging activities. General toxicity of 1 has also been determined by brine shrimp lethality bioassay.