ABSTRACT
The water soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil was tested against Macrobrachium macrobrachion and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mg/L in glass aquaria stocked with ten animals for 96 h under observations for changes. Moribund swimming, restlessness, respiratory difficulties, depigmentation and mortalities were observed in the WSF exposure groups, but not in the controls. LC(50) values were estimated at 5 ± 1.76 and 4 ± 1.76 mg/L for M. macrobrachion and M. vollenhovenii respectively. There was no significant difference in mortalities between the two species (p > 0.05), leading to the conclusion that the WSF of crude oil in the Nigerian coastal waters may be equally toxic to M. macrobrachion and M. vollenhovenii.
Subject(s)
Palaemonidae/drug effects , Petroleum/toxicity , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Animals , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Fresh Water/chemistry , Lethal Dose 50 , Nigeria , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Ethanol extracts of seeds of Afromomum meleguetta and flower buds of Splilanthes acmella presented pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities in a concentration related manner under in vitro conditions. The two plants were extracted with 70% ethanol by sonication, fractionated on silica gel and tested at concentrations in the range 0.75-2.0 mg/mL. Lipase inhibitory activities of 90% and 40% were observed in A. meleguetta and S. acmella, respectively. The two plants have potentials as candidates for weight reduction and obesity control.
Subject(s)
Anti-Obesity Agents/analysis , Asteraceae/chemistry , Lipase/antagonists & inhibitors , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Zingiberaceae/chemistry , Anti-Obesity Agents/pharmacology , Dietary Fats/metabolism , Flowers/chemistry , Seeds/chemistryABSTRACT
Methanol extracts of the seeds of Piper guineense (Piperaceae) were active against gold fish (Carassius auratus auratus L. Pisces Cyprinidae) monogenean parasites. The seed extract of P. guineense was administered at different concentrations (0.5-2.0 mg/L) under in vivo and in vitro conditions. There was a higher efficacy of the effects of the extracts against fish parasites under in vitro situations than under in vivo. Three major compounds (piperanine, N-isobutyl (E,E)-2,4 decadienamide and Deltaalpha,beta-dihydrowasanine) were identified from the seed extract of Piper guineense by LC-MS analysis.
Subject(s)
Goldfish/parasitology , Phytotherapy , Piper , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Platyhelminths/drug effects , Animals , Fish Diseases/drug therapy , Fish Diseases/parasitology , Gills/parasitology , Helminthiasis, Animal/drug therapy , Helminthiasis, Animal/parasitology , Parasitic Sensitivity Tests , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Seeds , Skin/parasitologyABSTRACT
The ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is among the most pathogenic parasites of fish maintained in captivity. In the present study, the effects of the crude methanolic extract of leaves of Mucuna pruriens and the petroleum-ether extract of seeds of Carica papaya against I. multifiliis were investigated under in vivo and in vitro conditions. Goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) infected with the parasites were immersed for 72 h in baths with M. pruriens extract, and for 96 h in baths with C. papaya extract. There was a 90% reduction in numbers of I. multifiliis on fish after treatment in baths of each plant extract at 200 mg l(-1 )compared to untreated controls. Consequently, parasite-induced fish mortality was reduced significantly. A complete interruption of trophont recruitment was achieved by immersion in the M. pruriens extract. In vitro tests led to a 100% mortality of I. multifiliis in 150 mg/l M. pruriens extract, and in 200 mg/l of C. papaya extract after 6 h. Although the active constituents of the medicinal plant extracts are still unknown, we have demonstrated that they have potential for effective control of I. multifiliis.
