Assessment of haematotoxic potential of mercuric chloride in rat.

The blood is an important liquid connective tissue flow in body and performs the role of distribution of oxygen to various tissues, taken out carbon dioxide and maintains the health status of an organism. Any change in the blood components can cause adverse effects on the body. The effect of mercuric chloride has been evaluated on blood in albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). The albino rats were treated with mercuric chloride 0.926 mg kg-1 body wt. for acute (1 day) and 0.044 mg kg-1 body wt. for sub-acute (7, 14 and 21 day) sets after calculating LD50 (9.26 mg kg-1 body wt.). Major changes have been observed in the form of enhanced clotting time (CT) and bleeding time (BT) due to toxic effect of mercuric chloride on haemopoietic system along with decrease in the total erythrocyte count (TEC) and haemoglobin concentration (Hb. conc.). The changes in erythrocyte count and haemoglobin concentration have been correlated with cytotoxic effect of mercuric chloride on erythropoiesis. However, the intoxication of mercuric chloride on total leukocyte count (TLC) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) has been observed to be significantly increased after acute and sub-acute treatments due to leucocytosis and rouleux formation. Moreover, the present observations highlight dose dependent toxicity.

Effect of arsenic trioxide on renal functions and its modulation by Curcuma aromatica leaf extract in albino rat.

The protective effects of Curcuma aromatica leaf extract were studied on nehrotoxicity induced by arsenic trioxide in albino rats. LD50 estimated for arsenic trioxide was 14.98 mg kg-1 body weight. Nephrotoxicity was assessed by estimating the serum levels of urea, uric acid and creatinine, the markers of renal dysfunctioning. The applied doses of arsenic trioxide administered orally were 0.007 , 0.01 , 0.02 and 0.15 mg 100 g-1 body weight for sub acute (21,14 and 7 days) and acute (1 day) treatments respectively. Arsenic trioxide intoxication significantly increased the serum level of urea, uric acid and creatinine in comparison to control due to renal dysfunctioning. Pretreatment with dose of 50 mg kg-1 body weight of leaf extract of Curcuma aromatica restored the increased serum levels of urea, uric acid and creatinine to normal. The results reveal that Curcuma aromatica leaf extract has a potential to modulate the renal dysfunctioning caused by arsenic trioxide.

Cybil induced hepatobiochemical changes in wistar rats.

Cybil, 25%EC formulation of Cypermethrin, induces biochemical changes in the liver of wistar rats after oral intubation of the same at acute (one day) and subacute (7, 14 and 21 days) levels. The changes were tallied with the controls run simultaneously. LD50 of Cybil was estimated to be 622mg/kg body weight The acute dose is 80mg/kg body weight exposed for one day i.e. 24 hours and subacute dose is 4mg/kg body weight exposed for 7, 14 and 21 days. When compared with the control values, both the doses enhanced the level of glycogen, cholesterol, total lipid and acid phosphatase activities, while decreased activity of alkaline phosphatase. Alterations in glycogen, cholesterol, total lipid, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase resulted in the impairement in liver physiology.

Effects of beta-cyfluthrin on white and sepia mutants of Drosophila melanogaster.

The effects of sublethal concentrations of a synthetic pyrethroid, beta-cyfluthrin (Bulldock 025 SC) were investigated in the F1 generations of white and sepia mutants of Drosophila melanogaster after various cross combinations of the parents which were exposed separately to the insecticide mixed diet for 24 hours. The experiment was carried out under the laboratory conditions at a temperature of 25+/-5 degrees C and 60+/-5% relative humidity. The insecticide had deleterious effect on the growth and development of both the mutant flies. Larval, pupal and total developmental periods were found to be increased as compared to controls, whereas the number of adult emerged decreased in all the treatment sets. Larval period index (LPI), pupal period index (PPI) and growth index (GI) were observed to be decreased in the entire cross combinations. Maximum effects were observed in those sets where both the sexes were treated, crossed and F1 generation was studied on the treated food having sublethal concentration of the insecticide, followed by similar treatment sets but on the fresh untreated food. Females were found to be resistant as compared to the males, whereas white mutant files were more susceptible to the test insecticide beta-cyfluthrin as compared to sepia mutant flies.