International Journal of Scientific Research in Biological Sciences
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Assessment of Cocoon and Egg Productivity in Selected Strains of Eri Silkworm through Consumption and Utilization Indices
Get PDFSilkworm nutrition deals with the substances required for growth and production of proteinaceous silk fiber. The quantum of food consumption, utilization and conversion efficiency into body mater for production of silk mainly governed by the type of host/variety on which silkworm feeds and also strain/breed of silkworm. In the current investigation, selected eri silkworm (Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval) strains (Blue-Plain, Blue-Zebra, Blue Greenish-Plain, White-Plain, White-Zebra, Yellow-Plain, Yellow-Spotted and Yellow-Zebra) were reared using Local Pink castor leaf to assess the efficiency of ingestion, digestion and conversion of food for production of unit quantity of cocoon, shell and eggs. The study revealed that, among the eri silkworm strains White-Plain larvae exhibit significantly least ingesta and digesta to produce a gram of cocoon and shell and it was more with White-Zebra both on fresh and dry weight basis, respectively. The efficiency of conversion of ingested food and digested food into cocoon and shell both on fresh and dry weight basis was significantly better with White-Plain, least values were found with Blue-Plain and Yellow-Spotted for ingested food and digested food, respectively. In respect of leaf-egg ratio, White-Plain strain stood best over other strains with least being in Yellow-Zebra strain. The study inferred that, White-Plain strain of eri silkworm performed better by recording higher efficiency in consumption and utilization of food for eri cocoon and egg production.
 
Competitive and Economically Feasible Cell Wall Disruption Techniques for Algal Biofuel Extraction
Get PDFIn the present scenario of fuel and energy crises, attempts for bridging the gap between demand and supply remained ineffective. The environmental damage caused by the existing fossil fuel facing price hike day by day, simultaneously the fossil fuel reservoirs are also exhausting and hence, these alarming energy crises are need to be addressed immediately. Today, the scientific community is running behind the renewable alternative fuel sources, and biofuel is one such alternative. The limitations of first and second generation biofuel have created the way for third generation biofuel technology. Microalgae are the major sources of the third generation biofuel. In order to achieve the high lipid content, we need to modify the pretreatment methods for disrupting the cell wall of microalgae. The classical method of lipid extractions from plants and crops can be followed for third generation biofuel production with trivial modifications in operating conditions. Several cell disruption techniques are known since past, but economically feasible, energy efficient and easily manageable methods are yet to identify, optimize and appraise. In the current review article, we have made an attempt to convey the algal cell wall components which are broadly used in the research and industrial area and focused on the key techniques involved in algal cell disruption.
 
Antifungal activity of Streptomyces longisporoflavus isolated from Lonar Lake against Alternaria solani
Get PDFActinomycetes were isolated from water samples of Lonar Lake, Buldhana district of Maharashtra, India and screened for their antifungal activity by agar well diffusion method against phyto-pathogenic fungus Alternaria solani. The strain LL-5 showing highest antifungal activity was identified as Streptomyces longisporoflavus on the basis of microscopic and biochemical characteristics. The antifungal metabolite production using S. longisporoflavus was optimized based on optimal incubation period, temperature, initial pH of medium and supplementation of carbon and nitrogen sources. The study revealed that incubation period of 8 days, 30ᴼC, pH 10.0, starch (1%) as carbon source and peptone (0.5%) as nitrogen source are favorable parameters for maximum production of antifungal metabolite by S. longisporoflavus. These results clearly elucidates that S. longisporoflavus isolated from Lonar Lake water sample could be a good source of antifungal metabolite that can be used for management of diseases caused by Alternaria solani.
 
Optimization and Characterization of Xylanase from An Indigenous Strain of Aureobasidium Pullulans
Get PDFXylanases are versatile hydrolytic enzymes in nature, due to its degradatory properties and ability to degrade hemicelluloses efficiently. Xylanases and associated debranching enzymes produced by a variety of microorganisms including bacteria, actinomycetes, yeast and fungi bring hydrolysis of hemicelluloses. Among microorganisms, filamentous fungi are the predominant source organism for xylanases. Xylanases have fortified awesome interest because of their potential application in a many industries. Throughout the years, the quantity of conceivable uses of xylanases in the paper and pulp industry has expanded relentlessly, and a few applications have been popularized. In present investigation an indigenous species of Aureobasidium pullulans was evaluated for xylanse producing efficiency and various parameters affecting the production was standardized employing one-factor at a time approach. This resulted in significant enhancement of enzyme activity from 8.7 U/ml to 27.75 U/ml. The enzyme optima for pH and temperature were found to be 6 and 55 °C respectively.
 
Synthesis and Characterization of 2-Chloro-6-fluorobenzylalcohol using Electrochemical Approach
Get PDFElectrochemical Synthesis and characterization of 2-Chloro-6-fluorobenzylalcohol is investigated. The electrochemical behavior and electrochemical reduction of 2-Chloro-6-flourobenzaldehydeis has been carried out using cyclic voltammetry having glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and constant current electrolysis respectively. Reduction reaction peaks at various scan rate and pH has been reported. In kinetic parameters study, the process has been found to be diffusion controlled. The synthesized 2-Chloro-6-fluorobenzylalcohol has been characterized using IR, 1HNMR and Mass spectral analysis.
 
Cold-Active Pectinases and their Commercial Applications: A Review
Get PDFPectinases is a group of enzymes that catalyze hydrolysis of complex pectic polysaccharides of plant tissues into simpler form, for example, galacturonic acid. They are one of the enzymes that enjoy highest market place. Food industries at large depend on this group of enzymes. Functionally, these biocatalysts are being utilized widely in different industrial procedures like liquefaction, clarification, and extraction of fruit juice in food industries including in wine making. Their importance also lies in the fact that as enzyme they participate in the process that is less aggressive and less energy demanding vis-à-vis synthetic process. Enzyme mediated processing is thus said to be eco-friendly one. Pectinases utilized currently in the food industries are mostly derived from mesophilic or thermophilic microorganisms. But, some trends towards obtaining these enzymes from cold-adapted microorganisms is also being felt. The reason for this is the recognition of the fact that cold processing saves the nutritious quality and aromatic profile of the product. Cold-adapted microorganisms producing psychrophillic pectinases which work at low to freezing temperatures are known. Cold-active pectinases apart from being suitable for food industries for the reasons mentioned above, they are also considered to be a better alternative for various other applications like bio-refinery of pectic substances, bioremediation etc. This review describes information available on the cold-active pectinolytic enzymes, their substrates and industrial applicability of these enzymes in varied sectors.
 
Gentamicin Induced Hepatotoxicity: An approach of Hepatoprotecion by Garlic
Get PDFGentamicin hepatotoxicity is a major clinical drawback. This investigation was performed to scrutinize the effect of garlic extract as a herbal antidote on liver toxicity after treatment with gentamicin in male albino rats. Gentamicin is a widely used anti-infective broad-spectrum antibiotic of aminoglycoside family. Side effects of gentamicin medication occur due to free radical formation. Garlic, the bulb of Allium sativum, is universally used as a spice and also known for its medicinal and antioxidant properties. Forty adult male albino rats, Rattus norvegicus were randomly classified into four groups of ten each. Group 1 received 0.9% normal saline orally per day and served as control while group 2 received gentamicin intramuscularly per day, however group 3 received both gentamicin intramuscularly per day and garlic extract orally per day, while group 4 received only garlic extract orally per day for 30 and 60 days respectively. Gentamicin caused various structural and functional changes in hepatic cell, increased glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and decreased total protein and creatinine level. Co-administration of garlic extract to rats ameliorates the gentamicin toxicity at some extent in hepatic cells as shown in the results of biochemical, enzymological and histopathological studies. Garlic extract was effective in recovering the level of hepatic enzymes, biochemical markers and histological alterations; hence, it may be concluded that garlic reduces the gentamicin hepatotoxicity in rats.
 
A review of potential candidate genes polymorphism responsible for schiz-ophrenia risk
Get PDFSchizophrenia (SCZ) is a strong heritable disorder that involves multiple gene combination, each conferring a little increase in the burden to the disease. Due to the complexity of disease, it is difficult to find susceptible genes and promising biomarker. The true etiology of SCZ is still not fully understood, however, recent studies on SCZ molecular genetics, with a focus on candidate genes approach affirms and predicate association with SCZ. Some investigators have reported the involvement of environment factors in the formation and progression of the Schizophrenia. Literature has been surveyed that reports association between genetic variation and SCZ also between genetic polymorphisms and clinical outcomes. The present study focuses on human populations to review SNPs of various genes which show best association with the disease. We have identified 60 published case control studies that have studied association of various SNPs in different population.
 
Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activity in Roots of Hygrophila schulli (Buch.-Ham.) M.R.Almeida & S.M. Almeida
Get PDFNowadays herbal medicines form an important part of health care system, due to lots of side effects and complications in the modern medicine. The novel compounds synthesized in plants as secondary metabolites are the potential source of therapeutical uses. Plants produced significant amount of novel compounds to prevent the oxidative stress related diseases and can be used as antioxidant. One such attempt had been made in the present study in investigating the roots of Hygrophila schulli member of acanthaceae family for an antioxidant activity. The roots of H.schulli were extracted using petroleum ether as a solvent. Various assays such as DPPH (1,1-diphenyl 2-picryihydrazyl) free radical, ABTS radical cation, Phosphomolybdeunm reduction assay and ferric reducing power activity were checked for the antioxidant ability and free radical scavenging activity. In all these assays the root extract of H.schulli showed maximum reducing activity of free radical scavenging activity. The IC 50 value of the root extract in each assay was compared with the standard value of ascorbic acid and found Hygrophila schulli has a strong antioxidant and free Radical Scavenging Activity.
 
Feeding pattern of an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) in periphyton based monoculture and polyculture earthen pond
Get PDFFood selection of Labeo rohita were studied in periphyton based monoculture and polyculture environment. Electivity Index was used to determine the diet selection under two different culture environments. The fish fed a range of diet. Feed study revealed that fingerlings and adults of rohu differ significantly in selection of food items. More particularly algal groups were taken predominantly during all the growth stages, however, the fish strongly rejected most of the large zooplankton and zooperiphyton during the later months. This investigation found that rohu feed on phytoplankton throughout the life even in the early stage of life. But at early stage it prefers to consume zooplankton in higher quantity and phytoplankton in less quantity, even some blue green algae is preferred throughout the ontogeny of the fish. The study revealed planktivorous nature of feeding of rohu mostly on algal food organisms from both periphytic and planktonic origin and suggests that rohu extends its feeding niche to periphyton along with plankton in substrate based system.