NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Community: Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (IJEB)

Sub-acute toxicity of cultured mycelia of Himalayan entomogenous fungus Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. in rats

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Sub-acute toxicity of cultured mycelia of Himalayan entomogenous fungus Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. in rats

Authors: Meena, Harsahay; Singh, Kshetra Pal; Negi, Prem Sing; Ahmed, Zakwan

Abstract: Oral administration of laboratory cultured mycelia powder of C. sinensis did not show any sign of toxicity as no significant change was observed in organ weight and serological parameters in rats. However, there was a significant increase in food intake, body weight gain and hematological parameters like WBC, RBC, Hb and lymphocytes in treated groups. Histopathology of vital organs also supported the non toxic effect of C. sinensis. The results conclude that laboratory cultured mycelia powder of C. sinensis is safe and non toxic up to 2g/ kg body weight dose.

Page(s): 381-387

Purification of heparin binding oviduct specific proteins and its effect on in vitro embryo development in cattle

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Purification of heparin binding oviduct specific proteins and its effect on in vitro embryo development in cattle

Authors: Sharma, Aditya K; Mohapatra, Sushil K; Mohanty, A K; Das, S K

Abstract: The objective of this study was to see the effect of purified heparin binding oviduct specific proteins (OSP) as media supplement on in vitro embryo developmental competence in cattle. The oviduct specific proteins were isolated from abattoir cattle oviducts and precipitated, dialyzed and at the end purified by high performance liquid chromatography system. The SDS-PAGE profile of eluted heparin binding protein (HBP) fraction showed bands between ~66 - ~97 kDa, while heparin unbinding protein (HUBP) fraction showed two bands at ~66 kDa and in total protein (TP) bands were ~60 - ~95 kDa. Collected all three OSP fractions were used as a media supplement in three different concentrations (0, 5 and 20 µg/mL) for in vitro maturation of immature oocytes, in vitro fertilization and culture of presumptive embryos at 38.5 ºC in 5% CO₂incubator with maximum humidity. The highest cleavage rate (73.40±2.36%) was observed at 5 µg/mL concentration level and lowest cleavage rate (27.63±1.89%) was obtained in 20 μg/mL total protein (TP) fraction. The highest blastocyst formation (26.47±1.47%) also occurred in 5 µg/mL concentration of total protein (TP) fraction and the lowest blastocyst rate (3.60±1.80%) was achieved at 20 µg/mL HBP fraction. The highest cleavage rate in the control group was 60.45±2.66%in TP fraction and blastocyst formationwas 11.66±2.54%in HUBP fraction which was not significantly differ from HBP fraction. These results indicate that at 5 µg/mL oftotal OSP fraction (TP) and HBP used as media supplement increased the cleavage rate significantly as compared to HUBP fraction, and total OSP fraction (TP) increased blastocyst formation significantly (P<0.05) as compared to HBP & HUBP fraction.

Page(s): 347-351

Microalgae mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Microalgae mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria

Authors: Sudha, S S; Rajamanickam, Karthic; Rengaramanujam, J

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles is known to have antimicrobial affects. Cyanobacteria isolates from muthupet mangrove includes Aphanothece sp, Oscillatoria sp, Microcoleus sp, Aphanocapsa sp, Phormidium sp, Lyngbya sp, Gleocapsa sp, Synechococcus sp, Spirulina sp with were set in compliance with their cellular mechanism of nano silver creation, and were investigated by UV-VIS spectrophotometer, Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Silver nanoparticles were spherical shaped well distributed without aggregation in solution with an average size of about 40- 80 nm. Synthesised nano silver had antibacterial production on various organisms that provoked various diseases in humans. The cellular metabolites of Microcoleus sp. only created nano silver and it enhanced the antibacterial activity against test pathogenic bacteria from MTCC (Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholera, Streptococcus sp., Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli.) The antimicrobial assay was performed using 0.001 M concentration of nano silver in well diffusion method with positive control of appropriate standard antibiotic discs Cephotaxime, Ampicillin, Tetracyclin, Cephalexin etc. Synthesised silver nanoparticles acted as an effective antimicrobial agent and proved as an alternative for the development of new antimicrobial agents to combat the problem of resistance.

Page(s): 393-399

Effect of UV-C on thylakoid arrangement, pigment content and nitrogenase activity in the cyanobacterium Microchaete sp.

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Effect of UV-C on thylakoid arrangement, pigment content and nitrogenase activity in the cyanobacterium Microchaete sp.

Authors: Sahu, J K; Šimek, M

Abstract: The effect of UV-C radiation on thylakoid arrangement, chlorophyll-a and carotenoid content and nitrogenase activity of the cyanobacterium Microchaete sp. was studied. Chlorophyll-a and carotenoid content increased gradually up to 48 h of UV-C exposure but declined with longer exposures. Nitrogenase activity decreased moderately with 6 to 12 h exposure and decreased substantially afterwards. When cells exposed to UV-C for 12 to 24 h, grown under fluorescent light for 144 h, nitrogenase activity increased to levels greater than in the control cells. The exposure of UV-C treated cells to fluorescent light, however, did not result in recovery of pigment content. In Microchaete sp. cells treated with UV-C for 144 h, thylakoid membranes became dense, were aggregated into bundles, and were surrounded by spaces devoid of cytoplasm.

Page(s): 388-392