International Journal of Scientific Research in Biological Sciences
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Vitamin C and Nonylphenol Alters Some Apoptotic Gene Expression Levels In Rats
Get PDFAlkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) are ubiquitous enviromental pollutants and have been shown to mimic 17?-estradiol. Nonylphenol (NP) is a biodegradation product of APEs. NP is the most abundant in the environment and the most resistant against biodegration among other APEs dervivatives. In this study, against the effects of apoptosis induced by NP, potential preventive effects of vitamin C for gene expression levels was investigated in Rattus norvegius’s. NP was administered in the amounts of 0.1, 10, 1000 µg/ml alone and in combination with 100 µg/ml vitamin C to the 5 male and 5 female Rattus norvegius. To determine the level of changes in the gene expression levels in brain and liver tissues at real-time PCR. Results indicated that NP caused a significant increase in the expression caspase-3 and bcl-XL gene while it caused a significant decrease in the expression of bcl-2 and p53 genes in a dose dependent manner. In conclusion, while NP induced the expression of apoptotic gene, it inhibited anti-apoptotic genes and vitamin C had been shown to accelarate the NP-induced effects in both cases.
 
Feeding of Trigla cuculus on the coast of Lattakia, Syria
Get PDFThe study included 124 Trigla cuculus fish caught from Syrian marine waters from two sites, Burj Islam and Al Raml Al Janoubi, during the period between 16/6/2017 and 22/5/2018 using the bottom shelf. The research used the mathematical treatments used globally to study the food of fish, and the results showed that the fish species Trigla cuculus is a predatory fish, and it feeds on deciduous crustaceans, fish, mollusks, and gastropods. Through research, the cancer Ethusa mascarone was identified in the stomach of a fish, and it was recorded for the first time in Syria.
 
Physicochemical and Thermal Properties of Locally Produced Oil Palm from Unwana Palm Plantation in Afikpo North Local Government of Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Get PDFUnwana as one of the semi-urban communities in Ebonyi State, Nigeria is blessed with resources one of which is a palm plantation. This plantation is a major source of red palm oil consumed by both the community and its environs. This oil is consumed in its raw form without further refinement. Therefore, the need to assess the quality of the unrefined palm oil produced from the palm plantation cannot be overemphasized hence this research. The research is geared towards ascertaining whether the locally produced palm oil produced meet the required global standard for crude palm oil. The characteristic of the locally produced palm oil was investigated for its physical, chemical and thermal properties. The physical properties evaluated included Specific gravity, Viscosity and Refractive index of the oil; Chemical properties are the moisture content, FFA, Total Carotenoids, Total Polar compound, Saponification Value, Iodine value, Peroxide value and Ester value while for thermal properties, the melting, smoking, flash and fire points of the oil were evaluated. From the result of the analysis, the three properties considered fell within the recommended value for nutritional limit by SON, FAO and WHO. This shows that the locally produced red palm oil from Unwana plantation is healthy and fit for consumption.
 
Food Safety and Quality Evaluation of Street Vended Meat Pies Sold in Lafia Metropolis, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Get PDFGastroenteritis coupled with the under reporting of food-borne disease outbreaks is a major challenge to health care in Nigeria. This study was carried out to critically appraise the food safety and quality of street vended meat pies sold in Lafia Metropolis – Nigeria. Thirty-five meat pie samples were obtained from street vendors randomly in five different locations within Lafia metropolis. The samples were subjected to chemical (proximate composition, fat quality indices, and acid values), microbiological (total plate, coliform, and fungal counts under ambient storage for three days and microbial enumeration and isolation), and sensory qualities assessment. Statistical analysis was done using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results showed all the meat pies to be rich in protein, ash, carbohydrate, energy, and crude fibre. The storage quality indices such as total titrable acidity, PH, free fatty acid, peroxide value, were within permitted standards with the exception of water activity. The microbial count for fresh meat pies was within the recommended threshold limit and was fit for human consumption within two days of storage after which it became potentially hazardous and a threat to public health. The microbial isolates were distributed among five genera of bacteria and two genera of fungi of Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. The sensory scores showed no significant difference among the various samples. Conclusively, all the meat pies samples were high in nutritional content and safe for consumption within two days of production under non-refrigerated storage conditions.
 
Effect of Bisphenol-A on the Bioconversion of Tea Waste into Vermicompost by Eudrilus Eugeniae (Kinberg, 1867) at Different Intervals
Get PDFVermicompost has been appropriate alternative for the best hygienic and cost effective disposal of wastes. Since the vermitechnology is considered as one of the best methods, the largely available tea waste was taken to the present work to study the efficiency the Eudrilus eugeniae in the management of such waste by converting it into vermicompost. The efficiency of the conversion of Tea waste into compost in the form minerals N, P, K and Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu by Eudrilus eugeniae has been analyzed on 15th and 30th days. Physical characteristic were also analyzed simultaneously to understand the efficiency of earthworm in maintaining the physical status of the soil. Macro and micro nutrients were increased significantly on 15th and 30th days. FTIR spectrum was recorded for the control and experimental compost. The variation of spectrum was noted. The Spectrum of experimental consisted of nitrogen rich peak. The control system has no N-H stretching peak whereas tea waste spectra has N-H stretching peak. The peak at Bisphenol-A leads to large number of hydrogen group i.e., the mixture has more moisture than the control system. The tea waste has flavonoids which also exhibit the OH group at the same system. To understand the anatomy, histology of the different parts of the earthworm was studied. Histology of the tested anterior region of Earthworm reveals that the cuticle is not much damaged. The dorsal and ventral blood vessel ruined largely. The control animal of clitellar region showed intact structure of internal organs. The coelom and Blood vessels are well marked. In the experimental animal, the clitellar region showed slight modification of the anatomy. The pigment cells are prominent in the waste treatment with Bisphenol-A. In some places, the circular muscles are disorganized. In middle region, the cuticle and the epidermis are intact. The study reveals the impact of the Bisphenol on the conversion of tea waste into compost.
 
Murine Monoclonal Antibodies against the Antimicrobial Peptide Oreoch-2 from Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Get PDFClassic hybridoma technology has developed monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against a wide variety of antigens with several applications in biotechnology. In this work, murine mAb secreting hybridomas were generated for specific recognition of antimicrobial peptide Oreoch-2, isolated from tilapia and with demonstrated antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. BALB/c mice were immunized with Oreoch-2 conjugated to bovine albumin. Cell fusion was performed between lymphocytes isolated from spleen of mouse with highest antibody serum titers and P3/x63.Ag8.653 myeloma cells. Three hybridomas with stable secretion of anti-P22 mAb were obtained, which did not show cross-reactivity with Oreoch-1 related peptide. The mAbs will be used in the study of the action mechanisms of antimicrobial peptide Oreoch-2 and to establish analytical tools for its detection and quantification in pharmaceutical formulations.
 
Haematological Parameters of Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Subjected to High Stocking Density
Get PDFThis study evaluated high stocking density and its effect on haematological parameters of 296 day-old apparently healthy Japanese quails for a period of eight weeks. They were divided into four stocking densities of 252.20 cm2/bird (11birds); 173.43 cm2/bird (16 birds), 132.10 cm2/bird (21birds), and 106.73 cm2/bird (26 birds) that represented Treatments I-IV respectively. The treatments were replicated four times adopting a completely randomized (CRD) design. Blood samples were drawn through their jugular veins into Ethylene di-amine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) and plain bottles for haematology and serum biochemistry respectively. Analyses of the blood samples were done using standard laboratory protocols. The haematological and serum biochemistry results differed significantly (p < 0.05) among the treatments. The haemogram revealed a corresponding (p < 0.05) rise in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) as the stocking density increased while haemoglobin, red blood corpuscles (RBC), packed cell volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) decreased (p < 0.05) correspondingly The leuckogram showed a significant increase in the lymphocytes while heterophils decreased significantly relative to the stocking density. The minimum and maximum osmotic fragility for quails in this study was estabilished at 0.30 % and 0.10 % saline concentration respectively. Serum proteins, cholesterol, glucose, urea and alanine amino transferase were not affected by high stocking density but the treatment effects lowered the triglyceride component and concomitantly increased the high density lipoprotein components of the total cholesterol. Conclusively, most of the haematological parameters including the osmotic fragility of RBCs were negatively affected by high stocking density of 106.73 cm2/bird (TIV). Therefore, the stock densities of 173.43 cm2/bird (TII) and 132.10 cm2/bird (TIII) could be used for profitable quail production where there are constraints on land for this rapidly expanding backyard poultry venture.
 
Accumulation of Sulphate and Nitrate in IMLI ( Tamarindus indica L.) Tree Bark as Indicator of Atmospheric Pollution at Indore (M.P.) India
Get PDFBio-monitoring of air quality in Indore city was investigated by analyzing the accumulation of sulphate and nitrate in the bark of Tamarindus indica L. by measuring their concentration using a double beam spectrophotometer. The samples were taken from different polluted areas (mixed (MPA), vehicular (VPA), industrial (IPA), and control sites (LPA)) in different seasons. The results of the present study show sulphate and nitrate accumulation more in the rainy season at all pollution areas while maximum sulphate accumulation was found at IPA i.e. 36.9 mg kg -1 whereas it was 27.3 mg kg -1 at MPA for nitrate in the rainy season. The minimum sulphate was 16 mg kg -1 at VPA in the summer season while it was 14.8 mg kg -1 for nitrate at MPA in the winter season. A maximum % increase for sulphate was found at IPA in the summer season i.e. 88.03 % while it was 67.48 % in the rainy season at MPA for nitrate respectively. The research also confirms the suitability of the Tamarindus indica tree as a suitable bio-indicator and will help to reduce the gaseous as well as particulate pollution in the city.
 
Taxonomic study of Tanypodinae (Chironomidae: Diptera) larvae in Balloran River – Lattakia – Syria
Get PDFTanypodinae larvae samples were collected monthly from one fixed site in Balloran river (Lattakia, Syria) for a year, during the period from December 2017 till October 2018. Slides were prepared and morphological characteristics of last-instar larvae (matured) were used to determine the classification of species. As a result, Two species namely (Ablabesmya malloshi; Procladius bellus) were reported in the station.
 
Butterfly Species Diversity and Abundance at Govt. Holkar Science College Campus, Indore
Get PDFA study on butterfly was carried out at Holkar Science College Campus, Indore District, Madhya Pradesh, India, during 2020 to 2021. A total of 51 butterfly species were recorded. Family Nymphalidae (21) dominates in the study area, followed by Pieridae (11), Lycaenidae (11), Papilionidae (05) with minimum members of Hesperiidae (03). Total larval food plants recorded from the campus are 41 belonging to different families. Hygrophylla aericulata were found most importance larval food plants as they supports the five pansies found here. The ratio of food plants and butterflies is near about 1:1. Plants of the Asteraceae family were more used by butterflies as nectar food plants. These findings are important with respect to butterfly diversity and abundance in planning conservation strategies in the area. The very common butterflies are Common jezebel, Common gull, Common emigrant, Mottled emigrant, Common grass yellow, Red Pierrot, Common castor, Chocolate pansy, Pale grass blue, Small grass jewel, Lemon pansy, Great egg fly, Danaid egg fly, Plain tiger and among very rare includes Lesser gul, Baronet, Grey pansy, Spot swordtail, Royal peacock, Commander, and Common wanderer. The study area is rich in butterfly diversity and further research could be conducted to obtained more details and documentation on butterfly diversity and abundance for the conservation and butterfly park.