Sub-lethal effects of organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroid insecticides on muscle tissue transaminases of Oreochromis niloticus in vivo.

Organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroid insecticides have been commonly used in public health and agriculture. The present study aimed to evaluate the sub-lethal effects of organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroid insecticides on transaminases: glutamate oxaloacetate/aspartate transaminase (AST) and glutamate pyruvate/alanine transaminase (ALT) in Oreochromis niloticus. Fish were exposed to malathion (OP), chlorpyrifos (OP) and λ-cyhalothrin (synthetic pyrethroid) at sub-lethal concentrations of 1.425, 0.125 and 0.0039 ppm, respectively for 24 and 48 h. AST and ALT activities were shown to be remarkably (p < 0.05) decreased and increased, respectively in O. niloticus treated with the insecticides. The highest and lowest inhibition in AST level were noted as -12.2% and -12.2% in chlorpyrifos and λ-cyhalothrin 24 h treated fish samples, respectively. The highest and lowest elevation in ALT level were recorded as + 313% and 237% in 48 h chlorpyrifos and 24 h malathion treated fish samples, respectively. This indicates that the insecticides used in this study did not result in death but in changes in AST and ALT enzyme activities. Therefore, organophosphates (malathion, chlorpyrifos) and synthetic pyrethroid (λ-cyhalothrin) insecticides are toxic to fishes and could affects their survival in their natural habitat.

An Overview on the Potential Hazards of Pyrethroid Insecticides in Fish, with Special Emphasis on Cypermethrin Toxicity.

Pesticides are chemicals used to control pests, such as aquatic weeds, insects, aquatic snails, and plant diseases. They are extensively used in forestry, agriculture, veterinary practices, and of great public health importance. Pesticides can be categorized according to their use into three major types (namely insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides). Water contamination by pesticides is known to induce harmful impacts on the production, reproduction, and survivability of living aquatic organisms, such as algae, aquatic plants, and fish (shellfish and finfish species). The literature and information present in this review article facilitate evaluating the toxic effects from exposure to various fish species to different concentrations of pesticides. Moreover, a brief overview of sources, classification, mechanisms of action, and toxicity signs of pyrethroid insecticides in several fish species will be illustrated with special emphasis on Cypermethrin toxicity.

Extraction, Identification and Biological Activities of Saponins in Sea Cucumber Pearsonothuria graeffei.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Secondary metabolism in marine organisms produces a diversity of biologically important natural compounds that are not present in terrestrial species. Sea cucumbers belong to the invertebrate Echinodermata and are famous for their nutraceutical, medical and food values. They are known for possession triterpenoid glycosides (saponins) with various ecological roles. The current work aimed to separate, identify and test various biological activities (antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmanial and anticancer properties) of saponins produced by the holothurian Pearsonothuria graeffei from the Red Sea, Egypt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The structures were identified by 1D and 2D NMR (1H, 13C, TOCSY, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY) experiments and acid hydrolysis. The crude and purified fractions was analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS)/MS to identify saponins and characterize their molecular structures. Partially purified fraction, mainly containing compounds 1 and 2, was screened for its antifungal activity against three clinical isolates of Candida albicans (Candida 580 (1), Candida 581(2) and Candida MEO47228. Antileishmanial activity against Leishmania major and toxicity on colon cell-line were also evaluated. RESULTS: Two lanostane type sulfated triterpene monoglycosides were isolated from the Holothurian Pearsonothuria graeffei from the Red Sea, Egypt. Holothurin A (1) and echinoside A (2) triterpene saponins were separated by reversed phase semi-preparative HPLC. LC50 values (µg/mL); calculated for the fraction containing saponins 1 and 2 as major constituents; against Candida albicans, Leishmania major and colon cell-line were 10, 20 and 0.50, respectively. CONCLUSION: Consequently, this study demonstrated the potential use of sea cucumber Pearsonothuria graeffei not only as appreciated functional food or nutraceuticals but also as the source of functional ingredients for pharmaceutical products with antifungal, antileishmanial and anticancer properties.