Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Neotectonic appraisal of Ramganga River basin, Eastern Kumaun, Himalaya, India
Get PDFThe Ramganga River flows from north to south and drains the northeastern (Lesser Himalaya) of the Himalaya. It transects with numerous active faults, thrusts, and litho-tectonic units before the confluence with the Saryu River at Rameshwar.The present study aimed to determine the virtue of geomorphic indices in appraising the status of neotectonic activity in the Ramganga River Valley, Eastern Kumaun, Himalaya. The watersheds and drainage network were extracted using the Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) DEM at 50000 and 100 Pixels threshold, derived18 sub-watersheds and detailed drainage network. Further, this study deciphered the relative neo-tectonic activity of the Ramganga river using the Index of Relative Active Tectonics (IRAT) based on various geomorphic indices Bifurcation Ratio (Br), channel sinuosity (Cs), Asymmetry Factor (Af), Hypsometric Integral (HI), Basin Elongation Ratio (Re), Drainage Density (Dd), Drainage Texture (Dt), and Stream Length Gradient (SL). These indices were classified into high, moderate and low to provide a rank to sub-basin for deriving the IRAT. The northeastern bank of Ramganga River shows high neo-tectonic activity, viz., stream length gradient (500- 1688), channel sinuosity (1.41- 1.48), and valley floor width to height ratio (0.11- 0.34) than southwestern parts.
Phenotypic and genotypic detection of biofilm genes for Proteus, Morganella, Providencia (PMP) bacterial group isolated from clinical samples of some hospitals in Mosul/Iraq
Get PDFThe three genera Proteus spp., Morganella spp., Providencia spp. (PMP) is a group of bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family that is predominantly implicated in nosocomial infections within hospital environments. The research aimed to ascertain the frequency of PMP in various clinical samples from some hospitals by isolation and confirming the identification of bacteria from biofilms using Viteck-2 and phenotypic and genotypic determinants of biofilm genes. Out of 380 isolates from different clinical sources that were identified phenotypically (microscopic examination, culture, and biochemical tests) confirmed identification of bacteria from biofilms using Viteck-2 and genotypic determinants of biofilm genes DNA were extracted from twenty identified strains, the PCR products derived were utilized for sequencing. The Congo Red Agar and Microplate methods employed encompassed qualitative and quantitative approaches to analyze the formation of biofilms. In this approach, bacteria that develop black colonies were assessed as positive for biofilm formation.Proteus mirabilis showed strong producers (19.8%), Providencia stuartii (100%), and Morganella morganii produced pink colonies. The strains were assessed as non-producers and analyzed quantitatively using the microplate technique. which shows strong biofilm production in most PMP groups. Genetic detection of biofilm genes showed that the mrpA gene was identified in P. mirabilis strains utilizing the PCR technique as positive for all strains at (100%) but M. morganii at (25%), positive amplification for all strains (100%) for the rsm gene in P. mirabilis strains. P. stuartii gave positive detection for the fim A gene by utilizing the PCR technique as (100%). All genes were involved in biofilm formation.
Evaluation of the effect of the pesticides glyphosate and chlorpyrifos on the activity of some neuronal enzymes using milk and turmeric in laboratory albino Wistar rats
Get PDFChlorpyrifos and glyphosate are the most commonly used pesticides that have harmful effects on oxidative stress and neuroenzyme disorders. The current research aims to evaluate the effect of pesticides on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in laboratory rats to study the protective effect of turmeric and milk against the effects of the used pesticides. The study was conducted inthe General Laboratory of Pharmaceuticals of the Pharmaceutical Industries Company in Samarra from the beginning of January to the end of February 2023, using 45 albino wistar rats aged 3-4 months and weighing 160-200 grams. The Groups were divided into nine Groups, each containing 5 animals: the control Group, the Groups exposed to pesticides, and the Groups treated with turmeric and milk. The results showed a significant increase (P≤0.05) in MDA( 3.819 ±0.831 ), AChE (116.897 ±13.42) and a significant decrease in GSH (1.293 ±0.197) in the Groups exposed to pesticides compared to the control Group. Treatment with milk and turmeric led to a significant decrease (P≤0.05)in the concentrations of MDA and AChE in the treated groups compared to the Groups exposed to pesticides only. While treatment with milk and turmeric led to a significant increase (P≤0.05) in GSH in the Groups exposed to chlorpyrifos and treated, and no significant difference was shown in the Groups exposed to glyphosate and treated compared to the Group exposed to glyphosate only. We conclude that turmeric and milk have a therapeutic effect in removing the harmful effects on the nervous system and reducing oxidative stress.
Potential of nanoemulsion of spiramycin in alleviating histological and embryonic changes in Swiss albino mice infected with congenital toxoplasmosis
Get PDFCongenital toxoplasmosis can lead to harm to tissues and necessitate suitable treatments for better outcomes in affected cases.The present research assesses the effectiveness of spiramycin nanoemulsion combined with oil in lessening liver alterations in Toxoplasma gondii infected Swiss albino mice offspring.The findings indicate encouraging progress in maintaining liver tissue health and minimizing damage. Pregnant mice were divided into four groups (n=8 each): a control receiving distilled water, a group infected with T. gondii (5×10⁵ tachyzoites via intraperitoneal injection on day 7 of pregnancy), a group treated with nanoemulsion from day 7 to day 18, and an infected group treated with nanoemulsion from day 7 to day 8. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the nanoemulsion\u27s activity and stability. Garlic oil demonstrated the highest spiramycin solubility (31.47 mg/mL), making it a suitable carrier for the nanoemulsion formulation. Histopathological examination of fetal liver tissue revealed that untreated infected mice showed significant necrosis and vacuolar degeneration in liver cells. the group treated with spiramycin nanoemulsion exhibited marked improvement, with liver tissues appearing nearly normal and minimal inflammatory cell infiltration. The group treated with nanoemulsion without infection displayed liver histology comparable to the control group. This study concludes that spiramycin nanoemulsion, especially using garlic oil, effectively combats T. gondii and mitigates liver damage in fetal mice. The oral administration of the nanoemulsion offers a practical, non-invasive approach, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for managing congenital toxoplasmosis. These findings emphasize the potential of spiramycin nanoemulsion as a novel intervention for reducing the histopathological impact of T. gondii during pregnancy.
Effect of genotypes and artificial shading during flowering stage on the productivity patterns of Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) under Mediterranean conditions
Get PDFIn agroforestry systems, higher-positioned crops frequently tend to impose shade stress on lower-positioned ones, with consequent negative repercussions on the agronomic characteristics of the latter. The present study was conducted under field conditions over two cropping seasons 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, to evaluate the mechanisms of physiological (e.g., stomatal conductance and water relative content) and biochemical (e.g., proline and chlorophyll content) variations, as well as grain yield and its components of different Faba bean varieties subjected to shade stress. Six varieties of Vicia faba L. (Aguadulce, Hiba, Zina, Alfia17, Defes, and Extra hative) were subjected to three levels of artificial shade stress S1 (0%), S2 (50%), and S3 (90%) during the flowering stage. The results showed that variety, shade treatment, and year significantly affected above-ground biomass and yield attributes. Substantial reductions in grain yield of 31.17% and 53.34% were observed under S2 and S3, respectively, compared with S1, demonstrating the adverse impact of shading on this parameter. Significant differences between the studied varieties were noticed. Among the varieties tested, Hiba and Zina showed the highest grain yield under shade stress conditions. Shading decreased stomatal conductance for all varieties tested, influencing proline synthesis in response to this abiotic stress. The results suggest that incorporating high-performance varieties Hiba and Zina into agroforestry systems can provide significant added value to local farmers since they are the most tolerant to shade stress, which can improve the performance of the tree-plant association in terms of yield and productivity.
Antidiabetic activity and kidney protection effect of lemon pepper nano-emulsion in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats
Get PDFSome previous studies have looked for natural products to become supplementary for antidiabetic drugs when the diabetic case rate was high. Lemon pepper has been widely studied for antidiabetic activity. However, none of these studies developed other pharmaceutical forms of lemon pepper fruit. Due to this reason, this study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic activity of lemon pepper fruit in a nano-emulsion form. This study underwent an acute toxicity assay for lemon pepper nano-emulsion. Acute toxicity testing confirmed its safety, and an experimental study was conducted using twenty-five streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats divided into five groups: three treatment groups (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg body weight (BW) and pair of control (0.5% Sodium Carboxy Methyl Cellulose) and standard (100 mg/kg BW metformin) groups. On the other hand, this study also used five non-diabetic rats as a normal group. Five non-diabetic rats served as a normal group. Blood glucose levels were measured every five days, and kidney function tests (KFT) were performed on 15th day. All doses of lemon pepper nano-emulsion significantly reduced blood glucose levels by 71 mg/dL on the 10th day (P-Value < 0.05) and 89 mg/dL on the 15th day (P-Value: 0.001). Creatinine levels did not affect(P: Value: 0.233), but 50 mg/ kg BW of lemon pepper nano-emulsion significantly reduced blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels to 40 mg/dL, with the highest dose (75 mg/kg BW) further lowering BUN to 38 mg/dL (P-Value: 0.001). In conclusion, lemon pepper nano-emulsion effectively decreased blood glucose level and mitigated kidney from hyperglycaemic-induced injury, highlighting the potential of its novel nano-formulation as a therapeutic option for diabetes management.
Avian diversity and habitat assessment of insectivorous bird species in arid agro-ecosystem of Haryana, India
Get PDFAlthough studies have examined avian diversity in agricultural landscapes, the habitat analysis of beneficial bird species in arid agro-ecosystems remains unexplored. The present study aimed to assess the habitat of insectivorous birds within the rice-wheat cropping systems of Ahmadpur (Location I) and Mirpur (Location II) villages in the Sirsa district of Haryana during 2022-2023. The study documented 701 individuals of 63 avian species belonging to 14 orders and 38 families across the selected sites. Six feeding guilds were identified with insectivorous (40%) being dominant. Wheat (Rabi) and rice (Kharif) crop fields supported 50 and 62 avian species, with 6 and 14 being unique to each location. The House Sparrow was the most abundant species, with relative abundances of 23.17% at Location I and 18.06% at Location II. Nesting sites of 6 species at Location I and 9 species at Location II, with thorny trees in agricultural landscapes being the most preferred nesting sites. Cup-shaped nests were built by 44.45% of nesting species. Anthropogenic disturbances, predation and agricultural practices were the major causes of nest abandonment. Rice fields, and associated vegetation were found to provide essential breeding habitats and support for various bird species, particularly those favouring wetland habitats. The conservation and management of these ecosystems are vital for maintaining avian biodiversity and ensuring ecological balance in arid agro-ecosystems.
Assessment of Sorghum bicolor fodder attributes for agroclimatic potential under salt stress
Get PDFSorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is mainly produced as an infallible crop in semi-arid and arid areas. Though the impact of salinity on crop production is extensively documented, very limited studies are available demonstrating the interaction between fodder quality and irradiance use efficiency in sorghum. To study such interactions, the present study aimed to evaluate the resource use efficiency in different sorghum lines for fodder evaluation under a varied salinity regime (60 to 120 mM NaCl), on the 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 kharif seasons. Sorghum grown on June 15, 2018employed higher thermal and heat units than July 2, 2019. Sorghum genotypes\u27 differential quality and yield responses to various temperatures were due to differences in high salinity tolerance during various growth stages. The crop sown on June 15th required the most growing degree days units to reach various phenological stages and physiological maturity. SSG 59-3 maintained higher crude protein, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), crude protein yield, and digestible dry matter at 120 mM NaCl. SSG 593 exhibited maximum green fodder yield (GFY) and dry matter yield (DMY), while PC-5 had the minimum. SSG 59-3 genotype accumulated high radiation use efficiency (281.23 kgha-1 MJ1), heat susceptibility index (0.42%), and yield stability ratio (87.2%) in both control and stressed environments, while PC-5 showed moderate tolerance to temperature stress and thus recorded a lower heat susceptibility index. Since there is no discernible correlation between the agronomic and fodder quality factors, it is possible to breed for desired qualities using independent associations. The results showed that the SSG 59-3 genotype adopted optimum allocation of resources for biomass production, maximized yield potential, and could be utilized in breeding programs as a potential fodder crop in saline regimes.
An overview of the therapeutic potential of understudied lichen species for novel drug discovery
Get PDFDue to the emergence of new diseases, drug discovery is an ever-exciting field of science. Researchers have shifted their focus from chemical-based medicines to drugs of natural origin and their structural synthetic analogues to solve the problem of developing antibiotic resistance and the detrimental impacts of existing chemical medications. Lichens are still one of the least explored natural sources for drug discovery. These slow-growing forms are a rich source of some exceptional secondary metabolites known collectively as lichenochemicals. The significant proportion of these lichenochemicals are bioactive compounds with multiple pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, anticancer, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and neuroprotective abilities and are also high in nutritional values, making this uncanny combination of algae and fungi, together with their metabolites, so well renowned in traditional and indigenous medicine. Although only oral knowledge was available about them earlier, studies over the last few decades have isolated and identified some unique bioactive compounds with high medicinal values, making lichen biology one of the most interesting and promising areas of pharmacological research. More than half of the lichen species and phytochemicals are yet to be explored. However, lichen-derived vitamin D3 is the only vegan source of vitamin D3. Likewise, studies have shown that lichenochemicals can significantly reduce the problem of antibiotic resistance developed by microorganisms. Advanced techniques in identification and isolation, combined with bioinformatics, predictive software, and databases, have greatly aided in understanding lichen chemistry. This review summarizes the use of lichens in drug discovery with a highlight on recent breakthroughs in lichen biology.
Synergistic effect of Camel milk and Hibiscus rosa sinensis on the reproduction of Type II diabetic albino Wistar rats
Get PDFDiabetes adversely affects male reproduction and closely associated with male infertility. The present study designed to assess the synergistic effects of Camel milk and Hibiscus rosa sinensis on the reproduction of type II diabetic Wistar rats over one month. Rats were divided into seven groups: control (Group I) and diabetic control (Group II). Group III received 125 mg/kg/day H. rosa sinensis, whereas Group IV received 50 ml/rat/day Camel milk. Groups V–VII were treated synergistically with varying H. rosa sinensis and Camel milk dosages. Group II showed persistent hyperglycemic state, gradually decreasing in treatment groups (III-IV) and synergistic groups (V-VII). The pancreas of Group II rats was damaged, including acinar cell necrosis and vacuolation. These damages were significantly improved in treatment groups (III-IV) and synergistic groups (V-VII). Group II male rats exhibited significant damage to their seminiferous tubules, including a decrease in diameter, and loss of spermatozoa. Seminiferous tubule structures were significantly improved in treatment groups III & IV. The 1st synergistic group (V) demonstrated greater recovery of altered seminiferous tubule structures than the 2nd and 3rd synergistic groups (VI and VII). Sperm analysis revealed that Group II animals had significantly reduced sperm count, motility, and viability, whereas treatment groups III-IV had better sperm characteristics. The synergistic group (V) had a greater sperm count, motility, and viability than synergistic groups (VI and VII). The present study showed synergistic benefits of H. rosa sinensis and Camel milk in treating and reproducing type II diabetic rats at very low doses.