RESUMO
Five species of Azospirillum isolated from Manakkudi mangrove ecosystem were subjected for their efficiency to find out their growth parameters potential for the successful establishment of mangrove seedlings. Of the isolated five Azospirillum species, Azospirillum lipoferum (60%) was found to be the dominant one. But the level of maximum indole acetic acid (IAA) production (19.8mg.ml-1) and nitrogen fixation (5.9 C2H2hr-1) was identified with A. brasilense. Further, A. brasilense showed significant (p<0.05) level of increased growth parameters [maximum root length (29.55%), average root length (7.39%), total Chl (55.36%), carrotenoids (28.57%), Chl b (37.50%), carbohydrates (90.91%) and total amino acids (78.95%)] in Avicennia officinals when compared with control group. Further, A. brasilense also showed significant (p<0.05) level of increased growth parameters [average number of primary roots (40%), average biomass (44.44%), average shoot biomass (55.56%), total Chl (20%), Chl b (77.78%) and carotenoid (1.54%)] in C. decandra seedlings when compared with control group. Similarly, the average number of primary roots (23.08%), average root biomass (15.52%), average shoot biomass (15.30%), carbohydrate (20%) and total amino acids (44.44%) were found significant (p<0.05) in A. irakense inoculated R. apiculata seedlings. In conclusion, Azospirillum brasilense was found better for the growth of Avicennia officinalis and Ceriops decandra seedlings, but Azospirillum irakense was found better for Rhizophora apiculata seedlings.
RESUMO
Hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort on concanavalin-A induced stress in Wistar albino rats have been reported. Rats were administered with ethanolic extract of Suaeda maritima at the concentration of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg of body wt. for 9 days and concanavalin-A was administrated (iv) 12 mg/kg on 9th day. Rats in concanavalin-A administered group showed elevated levels of AST, ALT, ALP and bilurubin. Pretreatment of rats with ethanolic extract (300 mg/kg) significantly reduced these serum parameters compared to concavalin-A administered group. Histopathological examination of liver sections showed that, normal liver architecture was disturbed by hepatotoxin intoxication. The extract treated group and silymarin treated group retained the normal cell architecture, although less visible changes were observed. Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of triterpenioids and may be responsible for the hepatoprotective activity. The LD50 was calculated as 3 g/kg of the body weight. IC50 values of hydroxyl (52.21±1.32g/ml) and nitric oxide radicals (09.14±0.94 g/ml) scavenging results showed comparable activity with vitamin-C. Results of this study may be useful for the development of herbal medicine from Suaeda maritima for the treatment of hepatitis.
RESUMO
Microbiological studies in a modified extensive shrimp culture system at Nambuthalai, southeast coast of India were carried out for a period of 120 days. Population dynamics and distribution profile of luminous bacteria and total heterotrophic bacteria in the water, sediment and animal samples were monitored. Luminous bacteria associated with exoskeleton, gills and gut were isolated and quantified. The total heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 1.3 x 104 to 25.3 x 104 CFU ml-1 in water and 1.5 x 106 to 26.2 x 106 CFU g-1 in sediment. The V. harveyi population density varied between 0.6 x 104 and 8.8 x 104 LCFU ml-1 in water and from 1.2 x 106 to10.4 x 106 LCFU g-1 sediment respectively. The gut of the animal was found to harbor high density of V. harveyi than gills and exoskeleton. The total heterotrophic bacteria and V. harveyi population density showed increasing trend during the culture period. The high V. harveyi density observed in this study at the end of the culture period correlated with the outbreak of white spot disease.