NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: IJEB Vol.49(05) [May 2011]

Gas-chromatography and electroantennogram analysis of saturated hydrocarbons of cruciferous host plants and host larval body extracts of Plutella xylostella for behavioural manipulation of Cotesia plutellae

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Gas-chromatography and electroantennogram analysis of saturated hydrocarbons of cruciferous host plants and host larval body extracts of Plutella xylostella for behavioural manipulation of Cotesia plutellae

Authors: Seenivasagan, T; Paul, A V Navarajan

Abstract: Saturated hydrocarbons (SHC) of five cruciferous host plants viz., cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, knol khol and Brussels sprout and the larvae of diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella reared on these host plants were identified through gas-chromatography. The hydrocarbon profile of host plants and larval body extract of DBM reared on respective host plants revealed a wide variation in quantity as well as quality. Long chain hydrocarbons C₂₆-C₃₀ were detected in all the extracts. In electroantennogram (EAG) studies, SHCs at 10^-3g dose elicited differential EAG response in the antennal receptors of gravid Cotesia plutellae females. Tricosane (C₂₃) and hexacosane (C₂₆) elicited 10-fold increased EAG response compared to control stimulus. Long chain hydrocarbons C₂₇, C₂₈ and C₂₉ elicited, 6-7 fold increased responses. The sensitivity of antenna was 4-5 folds for C₂₅, C₁₄, C₂₄, C₁₅ and C₃₀, while the short chain hydrocarbons elicited 2-3 fold increased EAG responses. Dual choice flight orientation experiments in a wind tunnel revealed that the gravid C. plutellae females preferred the odour of C₁₆, C₂₆, C₂₉, C_15,C₂₁, C₂₃, C₃₀, C₂₇, C₂₄ and C₂₂ as 60-70% females oriented and landed on SHC treated substrate compared to control odour, while the odour of eicosane (C₂₀), pentacosane (C₂₅) and octacosane (C₂₈) were not preferred by the females.

Page(s): 375-386

Antimicrobial activity of protease inhibitor from leaves of Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt.

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Antimicrobial activity of protease inhibitor from leaves of Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt.

Authors: Satheesh, L Shilpa; Murugan, K

Abstract: Antimicrobial activity of protease inhibitor isolated from Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt. has been reported. A 14.3 kDa protease inhibitor (PI) was isolated and purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation (20-85% saturation), sephadex G-75, DEAE sepharose column and trypsin-sepharose affinity chromatography from the leaves of C. grandis. The purity was checked by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. PI exhibited marked growth inhibitory effects on colon cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. PI was thermostable and showed antimicrobial activity without hemolytic activity. PI strongly inhibited pathogenic microbial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Eschershia coli, Bacillus subtilis and pathogenic fungus Candida albicans, Mucor indicus, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus and Cryptococcus neoformans. Examination by bright field microscopy showed inhibition of mycelial growth and sporulation. Morphologically, PI treated fungus showed a significant shrinkage of hyphal tips. Reduced PI completely lost its activity indicating that disulfide bridge is essential for its protease inhibitory and antifungal activity. Results reported in this study suggested that PI may be an excellent candidate for development of novel oral or other anti-infective agents.

Page(s): 366-374

Absence of kin discrimination in cannibalistic Anuran tadpoles of the frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin)

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Absence of kin discrimination in cannibalistic Anuran tadpoles of the frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin)

Authors: Rajput, Amrapali P; Shanbhag, Bhagyashri A; Saidapur, Srinivas K

Abstract: Kin discrimination was tested in the cannibalistic H. tigerinus tadpoles to know whether cannibalism is selectively directed towards non-kin members or it is indiscriminate. The association choice tests were conducted using satiated as well as starved subjects with the assumption that they will associate near non-sibs rather than near sibs with the intention of preferentially cannibalizing them. However, test tadpoles, fed or starved showed a random association choice with sibs and non-sibs, as in the end-bias stimulus blank tests. Therefore it is suggested that cannibalistic H. tigerinus tadpoles do not discriminate sibs from non-sibs and cannibalize on both rather indiscriminately.

Page(s): 362-365

Effect of low-level laser therapy on experimental wounds of hard palate mucosa in mice

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Effect of low-level laser therapy on experimental wounds of hard palate mucosa in mice

Authors: Fahimipour, Farahnaz; Nouruzian, Mohsen; Anvari, Morteza; Tafti, Mahmood Akhavan; Yazdi, Mehdimalek; Khosravi, Mahsa; Dehghannayeri, Zahra; Sabounchi, Shabnam S; Bayat, Mohammad

Abstract: Under general anesthesia and sterile conditions, incision wound was induced in the hard palate mucosa of adult male mice. The wounds of groups 1 and 2 were irradiated daily with He-Ne laser at 3 and 7.5 J/cm² for 120 and 300 s, respectively, while the incision wound of group 3 not exposed served as controls. On day 3 of injury, the laser-treated wounds contained significantly lower neutrophils than the wounds in the control group. By day 7 after injury, the laser-treated wounds contained significantly more fibroblasts and at the same time contained significantly fewer macrophages. In conclusion, an acceleration of the wound healing process of experimental wounds in the hard palate mucosa of mice at low-level laser therapy with a He-Ne laser at energy densities of 3 and 7.5 J/cm² was observed.

Page(s): 357-361