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Comparative Evaluation of Nelumbo nucifera
(Gaertn.) Flowers and Vitamin C
in In Vitro Antioxidant Activity
- - K Gayathri,
R Dhevi, K L Niraimathi,
M Mohamed
Shabi,
U Subashini,
G Victor Rajamanickam and G P Dubhey
Oxidative damage remains as an important factor for the growth and spread of diseases.
Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) (NN)
flowers are used in traditional medicine as cardiotonic. In the present study, the antioxidant activity of 70% ethanolic extract of
NN was investigated and the activity was compared with Vitamin C, total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin content. The results reveal that
the IC50 of the extract is lower than that of Vitamin C. It can be concluded that,
NN is a rich source of phytoconstituents and a
potent antioxidant than Vitamin C.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Sex Determination from
an Evolutionary Perspective:
The Mammalian Regulatory Model
- - Roxani Angelopoulou,
Giagkos Lavranos
and Panagiota Manolakou
Sex determination varies greatly among animal species including mammals. Although two identical (XX) or distinct (XY)
gonosomes are found in all species of the latter, the ratio of sex-specific content varies considerably ranging from a small minority
in monotremes to more than 90% in primates. However, the similarities are strong enough to allow us to study those
mechanisms in comparison with each other and obtain useful information on the evolution of sex determination. The paper focuses on the
basic principles of sex determination in mammals, stressing the common evolutionary background behind the striking
similarities observed even among phenotypically and geographically distinct species. Sequencing and comparative genetic data seem
to suggest that a common evolutionary origin for all mammalian sex determination strategies is most probable.
Nevertheless, original research data is still required for the understanding of the complex underlying mechanisms.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Study on Microbial Diversity of Wild Ass Sanctuary,
Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India
- - Koyani Rina, Patel Hiral,
Patel
Payal,
Dharaiya N and Patel R K
The Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch is a typical ecological system with saline desert climate with least floral diversity
and unique faunal diversity. The area has been declared as a wildlife sanctuary for protection of free ranging population of the
Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur). The present paper explores this unique ecosystem in the light of its microbial
diversity. Microorganisms were isolated from the soil samples collected from different areas of the sanctuary by enrichment
isolation technique using the variables of pH and salinity. Primary characterization of soil samples was done with reference to
Water Holding Capacity (WHC), pH, organic carbon, salinity and fluoride which revealed diverse and unique soil type. The isolates
were further studied for morphological and biochemical heterogenecity. Due to the hyper saline and hyper alkaline environment,
the investigated microflora were having dominated population including alkalophiles, halophiles and haloalkalophiles.
Extremophilic isolates were further screened for extracellular enzyme in the extreme environment which suggests a possible
biotechnological implication, besides the first significance in biodiversity and their role in the ecosystem.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
The Tube-Dwelling Polychaete
Diopatra cuprea: Habitat Preference
and Bioturbation Styles in Coastal Environments of
North-East India
- - Asok Kumar Bhattacharya and Santosh Kumar
Sarkar
The carnivorous macrobenthic polychaete Diopatra
cuprea is known for its distinctive tube-building capacity in soft
bottom substrates and powerful irrigation technique that forms a conveyer belt mechanism. Many beds containing this
polychaetous annelid occur in the intertidal flats of the coasts of West Bengal and Orissa in India. The morphology of the dwelling tubes, and
the preference for the muddy and sandy substrates formed under contrasting wave and tidal energy conditions are the focus areas
of the study. The sandy megaripple bedforms occurring as the substrates for this polychaete species is described for the first
time. The irregularities produced by the projecting portions of the tubes decrease the shear stress and enhance sediment trapping
on the flat surfaces of both mud and sand.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Isolation and Hemolytic Activity
of Active-Polypeptides
from Captive Sea Anemone
- - M Arumugam, T T Ajithkumar and T
Balasubramanian
The aim of the present study is to find out the presence of bioactive compounds in sea anemones and their significance in
the biomedical arena. Sea anemones have potent biomolecules especially on their tentacles. Four species of Actinid sea
anemones, such as Stoichactis giganteum,
Stoichactis haddoni and two
Heteractis species belonging to genus
Heteractis, were purchased from aquarium traders for rearing clown fishes in Marine Research Aquarium for six months. The crude polypeptide compound
was extracted using EtOH, centrifuged and lyophilized. Partial purification of crude samples was done by dialysis through
dialysis membrane (MWCO 3500) against distilled water. The partial purified samples were subjected to bioassay (Hemolytic).
Purified fractions were also examined by the Infra red spectral analysis for the identification of their molecules. In the case of
hemolytic assay, the samples induced moderate levels of hemolysis on chicken, sheep and human blood. The presence of polypeptides
was identified using the IR spectral uniqueness at 400 to 4000
cm-1.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Optimization of Microwave Assisted Extraction of
Annona squamosa Seeds
- - Vijay Kothari, Amruta Punjabi
and Shivani Gupta
This paper focuses on the optimization of various parameters for microwave assisted extraction
of Annona squamosa seeds. Two parameters namely, sample to solvent ratio and the total extraction time were
optimized. Extraction efficiency was found to be affected significantly by both these parameters. A decrease in the extraction efficiency
was noted if the total extraction time was extended beyond a certain limit. Non-polar solvents proved better than the polar ones
with respect to extraction efficiency.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Seasonal Incidence and Influence
of Weather Factors on the Incidence
of Spodoptera litura (Fab.) on Groundnut
- - B Vinoth Kumar, T N Balasubramanian
and R Jagannathan
Investigations were carried out on the seasonal incidence of
Spodoptera litura on groundnut
at the Regional Research Station, Vriddhachalam, Tamil Nadu. Seven field experiments were conducted during
Kharif 2001, Kharif 2002,
Kharif 2003, Kharif 2004,
Rabi 2001-02, Rabi 2002-03, and
Rabi 2003-04 using groundnut variety VRI 2. The
presence of Spodoptera was noticed two weeks after sowing and continued to exist up till harvesting of the crop. The peak incidence of
pest occurs around 50-60 days after sowing. The correlation and regression studies showed that during
Kharif season, the individual weather parameters have no significant correlation with the abundance of
Spodoptera, but all weather parameters together
can have influence up to 90% on the incidence of
Spodoptera. During Rabi season also the effect of weather parameters
individually on the abundance of Spodoptera was not significant. But, the
R2 value indicated that the influence of weather parameters on
the incidence of Spodoptera was 98%. The forecasting model developed for
Kharif season was
Y = 12.309 + 2.37 X23, where,
Y-Percent pest Incidence, X23 = Adjusted Minimum Temperature (2-week lag). The
model developed for Rabi season was Y = 0.189 + 2.039
X12, where, Y-Percent pest Incidence,
X12 = Adjusted Maximum Temperature (1-week lag). These models were validated with individual season data.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
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