NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: IJEB Vol.47(09) [September 2009]

Ascorbate defense system and response of steroid producing glands under reserpine treatment in albino rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Title: Ascorbate defense system and response of steroid producing glands under reserpine treatment in albino rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Authors: Mehta, Priyanka; Singh, Kunwar Bahadur

Abstract: Reserpine functions as an anti-stress agent providing relaxation to animals under stressful conditions. An attempt was made to find out functions of reserpine in unstressed albino rats and its role in steroidogenesis. The effects of the drug (25 and 35µg, im daily for 3-5 days) were observed by recording the changes in body weights, concentration of ascorbate (liver and adrenals) and cholesterol (liver, adrenal and testes) of the animals. A dose of 25 µg reserpine 3-5 days was ineffective as there were no significant changes after the treatment. On the other hand 35 µg reserpine was found to be effective because there was significant increase in body weights, levels of ascorbate and cholesterol in respective tissues after 3-5 days administration. Therefore it is clear that in unstressed animals reserpine is stimulatory for liver but inhibitory for adrenal and testes under high doses.

Page(s): 770-772

Laboratory scale bioremediation of diesel hydrocarbon in soil by indigenous bacterial consortium

Title: Laboratory scale bioremediation of diesel hydrocarbon in soil by indigenous bacterial consortium

Authors: Sharma, Anjana; Rehman, Meenal Budholia

Abstract: In vitro experiment was performed by taking petrol pump soils and diesel in flasks with the micronutrients and macronutrients supplements. Cemented bioreactors having sterilized soil and diesel was used for in vivo analysis of diesel hydrocarbon degradation. There were two sets of experiments, first having three bioreactors (1) inoculated by Kl. pneumoniae subsp. aerogenes with soil and diesel; (2) with addition of NH₄NO₃; and (3) served as control. In second set, one bioreactor was inoculated by bacterial consortium containing Moraxella saccharolytica, Alteromonas putrefaciens, Kl. pneumoniae subsp. aerogenes and Pseudomonas fragi along with soil and diesel. The remaining two bioreactors (having NH₄NO₃ and control) were similar to the first set. The experiments were incubated for 30 days. Ability of bacterial inoculum to degrade diesel was analyzed through GC-MS. Smaller chain compounds were obtained after experimental period of 30 days. Rate of diesel degradation was better with the present bacterial consortium than individual bacteria. Present bacterial consortium can be a better choice for faster and complete remediation of contaminated hydrocarbon soils.

Page(s): 766-769

Isolation of hydrocarbon degrading bacteria from soils contaminated with crude oil spills

Title: Isolation of hydrocarbon degrading bacteria from soils contaminated with crude oil spills

Authors: Mittal, Anupama; Singh, Padma

Abstract: A feasibility study was conducted to evaluate the capability of bacterial strains to degrade crude oil under in vitro conditions. Pseudomonas strain PS-I could degrade alkanes (70.69%) and aromatics (45.37%). Alkanes and aromatic fractions separated by column chromatography were analyzed by gas chromatography. In case of Pseudomonas strain PS-I, nC₁₇/Pr, nC₁₈/Ph ratios decreased from 2.5100 to 0.1232 and from 7.2886 to 0.3853, respectively. It was concluded that out of the isolated strains, Pseudomonas strain PS-I, PS-II and PS-III were comparatively better and potent hydrocarbon degraders. Pseudomonas strain PS-I was almost comparable with standard strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in crude oil biodegradation potency.

Page(s): 760-765

Effect of dietary Spirulina on reduction of copper toxicity and improvement of growth, blood parameters and phosphatases activities in carp, Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton, 1822)

Title: Effect of dietary Spirulina on reduction of copper toxicity and improvement of growth, blood parameters and phosphatases activities in carp, Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton, 1822)

Authors: James, R; Sampath, K; Nagarajan, R; Vellaisamy, P; Manikandan, M Maripandi

Abstract: The effect of Spirulina supplementation on reduction of copper toxicity based on food utilization, phosphatases activities and selected haematological parameters was studied in a freshwater cultivable fish C. mrigala. Metal concentration in medium, body tissues and fecal matter was also analysed. Sublethal exposure of C. mrigala fed Spirulina – free diet significantly reduced the consumption and growth rates, phosphatases activities and haematological parameters. However, the above parameters enhanced in the copper exposed fish fed with Spirulina supplemented diets. A significant positive correlation was obtained for the relationship between supplementation of dietary Spirulina and copper defecation through feces. Among the doses of Spirulina supplementation, 6% addition has been considered optimum for C. mrigala since this dose produces maximum elimination of copper from the body and feces and better improvement on growth, phosphatases activities and haematological parameters.

Page(s): 754-759