ABSTRACT
Using Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model organism, we evaluated the radioprotective and antioxidant effects of the Indian traditional medicine Shilajit exposed to X-Ray. The Zebrafish were divided into three experimental groups and control group, each group containing ten fish. The three experimental fish groups, group I, group II and group III were fed with 3, 5 and 7ppm shilajit encapsulated Chironomous larvae and group IV served as a control fed with non- encapsulated larvae. After 60 days of feeding trial, fish were irradiated with X-Ray at a single acute dose of 1Gy. 72h of post-irradiation, each experimental fish were observed for its morphological, behavioral, clinical symptoms, antioxidant levels and DNA damage were evaluated. Among the experimental groups 5ppm shilajit encapsulated Chironomous larvae fed fish group shows the most significant radioprotective effects compared with control and other experimental fish groups. The present study indicates that shilajit have significant radioprotective and antioxidant enhancing capability. The humus substance of shilajit may be the factor responsible to react with radiation-derived or radiation related reactive species on zebrafish.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Chironomidae/growth & development , Larva , Minerals/pharmacology , Radiation-Protective Agents/pharmacology , Resins, Plant/pharmacology , Zebrafish , Animals , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Behavior, Animal/radiation effects , Comet Assay , DNA Damage , Drug Compounding , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , X-Rays , Zebrafish/genetics , Zebrafish/metabolism , Zebrafish/physiologyABSTRACT
Effects of tributyltin (TBT) on antioxidant [total superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR)] and DNA damage levels in the spermatozoa were studied and reported here for the first time in the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Three groups of (n = 10 in each group) fishes were exposed to three different nominal concentrations of TBT viz., 1, 2, and 4 mg L(-1) along with control group for 90 days. Significant decrease of antioxidant and increased DNA damage levels were seen at higher doses of 2 and 4 mg L(-1). In prawn, the antioxidant level plays a vital role in sperm protection, activation, differential functions related to the physiology, and reproductive behavior. This study serves as a biomonitoring tool to assess the TBT effects on reproductive behavior of aquatic biota.
Subject(s)
Palaemonidae/drug effects , Spermatozoa/drug effects , Trialkyltin Compounds/toxicity , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Animals , DNA Damage , Fresh Water , Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism , Glutathione Reductase/metabolism , Male , Palaemonidae/metabolism , Spermatozoa/metabolism , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolismABSTRACT
A systemic study on the natural radionuclides such as (210)Po and (210)Pb in the environmental matrices and biota of Ennore Creek has been undertaken to establish a baseline data on the radiation profile of Ennore Creek environment. The environmental samples such as water, sediment, and biota (seaweeds, molluscs, crustaceans, and fishes) have been subjected to analyses. It has been observed that the concentration of (210)Po and (210)Pb in the water samples of Ennore Creek as 2.7 and 1.63 m Bq L(-1), respectively. The activity concentration of (210)Po and (210)Pb in the sediment sample was 17.9 and 28.9 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The bivalve mollusk Perna viridis have been identified to accumulate higher concentrations of (210)Po and (210)Pb suggesting that they could serve as bioindicator of radionuclides in the Ennore Creek environment. The committed effective dose for human beings was found at 81.13-216.8 and 2.1-297.2 µSv year(-1) for (210)Po and (210)Pb, respectively.
