RESUMEN
Objective: To investigate the susceptibility to some conventional and non-conventional insecticides in laboratory and field larval populations of the West Nile vector Culex pipiens L. (Cx. pipiens), the dominant species in Jeddah Province, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The tested conventional insecticides were Actikil and Pesgard, while the non-conventional ones were Bacilod, Dudim and Baycidal. Probit analysis and photo-microscopical observations were carried out to shed light on acute toxicity in laboratory and field Cx. pipiens strains. Results: Cx. pipiens were more susceptible to Pesgard (LC50: 0.045 and 0.032 mg/L) than Actikil (0.052 and 0.038 mg/L) and Bacilod (0.129 and 0.104 mg/L), for the field and laboratory strains, respectively. Results showed that treatments with the chitin syn-thesis inhibitor Dudim and Baycidal evoked morphological effects similar to those induced by other insect growth regulators. According to IC50 values obtained (concen-tration which to inhibit the emergence of 50%of mosquito adults), the compound Dudim (0.000 3 and 0.000 1 mg/L) was more effective against Cx. pipiens L. mosquitoes than Baycidal (0.000 4 and 0.000 3 mg/L) for both the field and laboratory strains, respectively. Conclusions: Our results provide baseline data to enhance control programs and orient public health decisions on the selection of pesticides against mosquito vectors in Saudi Arabia.
RESUMEN
Aims: Our aim was to study the modulatory effect of a Unani herbal formulation Jawarish amla sada against cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity in tumour bearing mice. Study Design: Non randomized control study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi during 2008-10. Methodology: Study was conducted in Swiss albino mice divided in five groups (n=6). Animals were challenged with Ehrlich’s ascites tumour cells (1x106 cells). Cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg body weight), an alkylating anticancer drug that especially affects humoral immune functions, was injected intraperitoneally in a single dose. The protective effect of Unani drug Jawarish amla sada (250 mg/kg body weight) was studied in tumour bearing animals treated with cyclophosphamide. Immune function assessment test such as plaque forming cell assay (PFC) and biochemical parameters such as activities of antioxidant enzymes and reduced glutathione were measured in mice. Results: Jawarish amla sada significantly modulated the immunosuppressive effect of cyclophosphamide as compared to the group treated with cyclophosphamide. Jawarish amla sada also protected activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase and significantly restored level of reduced glutathione in liver and kidney of tumour bearing mice exposed to cyclophosphamide. Similar protective effect of Jawarish amla sada was observed against elevated lipid peroxidation in these tissues. Conclusion: Jawarish amla sada showed potential to provide protection against toxic effects of cyclophosphamide in tumour bearing mice. The mechanism of action of the drug may be attributed to various antioxidants fortified in this herbal Unani formulation, which is used in the traditional system of medicine in Indian subcontinent against several liver ailments.