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Maniyan Manju ¹, Appiyathu S. Vijayasree ¹, Mohammad A. Akbarsha ², Oommen V. Oommen ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram-695581, IN
2 Department of Animal Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, IN

Abstract

The ultrastructure of hepatic, renal and intestinal tissues of Anabas testudineus and the influence of dietary curcumin (0.5 and 1% for 6 months) on the organization of these tissues were studied. The results revealed an increased vascularity in curcumin-treated fish liver. The size of hepatopancreas and its nuclei and melanomacrophage centres increased in the treated liver while size of hepatocytes and their nuclei remained unchanged. The hypertrophy and hyper-activity of hepatopancreas might provide for proper digestion and absorption of food. In the intestine, the number of goblet's cells in the villi decreased in the curcumin treated group which might help the retention of food in the intestine. Therefore, based on the above results it can be concluded that curcumin is beneficial to fish and, so, could be of application in aquaculture practices.

Keywords

Anabas, Liver, Melanomacrophage Centre, Hepatopancreas, Ultrastructure.

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A. S. Vijayasree ¹, V. Rejitha ¹, Valsa S. Peter ², Oommen V. Oommen ¹, M. C. Subhash Peter ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram 695581, IN
2 Department of Zoology, Fatima Mata National College, Kollam 691001, IN

Abstract

The physiological response of climbing perch to water-borne nitrate, an important component of the effluents of coconut husk retting, was examined to identify the mechanism of nitrate tolerance in fish. Indices of interrenal function, and metabolic and osmoregulatory homeostasis were analyzed in fish treated with potassium nitrate. Nitrate loading in water for 48 h produced a significant increase in the plasma cortisol by a low dose (247 μM), whereas a higher dose (494 μM) had little effect. A remarkable cortisol surge was found in the nitrate-treated fish kept for recovery in clean water for 96 h, which correlated with the rise in the plasma Na⁺. Glucose, lactate and Na⁺ concentrations in the plasma showed reduction in the nitrate-exposed fish, whereas plasma urea increased. Nitrate exposure had little influence on the gill and kidney Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activities but had a stimulatory effect on liver Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity, indicating a major role of liver in nitrate tolerance. Overall, the present data indicate that nitrate exposure induces an integrated stress response in climbing perch as a result of an activated interrenal axis and disturbed metabolic and hydromineral regulations. This suggests a protective role of cortisol in the regulation of nitrate tolerance in this fish.

Keywords

^{Anabas testudineus}, Fish, Interrenal, Nitrate, Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, Metabolism, Osmoregulation, Stress.

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R. Dileep Kumar ¹, Oommen V. Oommen ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram- 695581, Kerala, IN

Abstract

Sugars used for sweetening do contribute calories, which can lead to obesity, a risk factor for some chronic diseases. Hence, the craving for sweetness led to discover several forms of alternative sweeteners, which would offer consumers the sweet taste without calories. Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a natural herb with low calorie sweetener. Stevioside is one of the principal diterpene glycosides in this herb having sweetness 250-300 times more than sucrose. In search for an alternative natural calorie-free sweetener, stevioside would be suitable but it is essential that it is exonerated of toxicities. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the female reproductive toxicity of aqueous Stevia extract and Stevioside in a mammalian model system. This study reports that the oral intake of water-based sweet stevia extract and stevioside, at doses 500mg/kg body weight and 800mg/kg body weight, respectively, does not cause any significant female reproductive toxic effect in Swiss albino mouse.

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Oommen V. Oommen ¹, Francis Sunny ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Trivandrum 695 581, IN
2 Department of Zoology, University College, Trivandrum 695005, IN

Abstract

Steroid honnones regulate diverse biological functions by binding to intracellular receptors, which in turn alter the expression of genes. According to the common theory of steroid action, steroids modulate gene transcription by interacting with intracellular receptors, which act as ligand dependent transcription factors. Steroids regulate various genes either by positive or negative expression (1,2). Most of the steroid receptors are located in side the cell and hence the steroids need to get into the ceils and alter gene expression. The receptors for glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, progesterone and androgen are cytoplasmic and that of estrogen is nuclear (3). These receptors exist in inactive state in the cytoplasm or nucleus. The inactive state is maintained by their interaction with a group of receptor associated proteins called the chaperones and cochaperones (4,5). The mode of action of steroids requires intracellular localization of the steroid receptor and typically takes at least 30 to 60 min for the response. These cellular responses of steroids are known as the classical genomic action of steroids, which are characterized by a specific delay and sensitivity towards inhibitors of transcription and translation. The detailed description of steroid actions was the result of intensive long term research on steroid hormones.

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V. Saraswathy ¹, R. Dileepkumar ², Achuthsankar S. Nair ¹, M. A. Akbarsha ³, Oommen V. Oommen ¹

Affiliations
1 Centre for Venom Informatics, Department of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Kerala-Kariavattom Campus, Thiruvananthapuram – 695581, Kerala, IN
2 Indriyam Biologicals, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Poojapura, Thiruvananthapuram – 695012, Kerala, IN
3 National College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli – 620001, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Envenomation is a serious neglected health issue at the global level that affects millions of people every year. It is highly prevalent among farmers and rural natives and is mainly due to the bite from snakes, spiders, frogs, dogs, wasps, bees, ants, etc. Many plants with antidote potential grow around our backyard without proper recognition and, unfortunately, several of them are under threat of extinction due to human interference and other environmental factors. The sustainable utilization of those antidote herbs can benefit as a life saver to the needy patients. The herbs can also be farmed and used commercially for the pharmaceutical application and incorporated with biotechnology and bioinformatics with a vision of synthesizing antidote drugs with less or no side effects. The objective of the present work is to create awareness among the public for the wise use of wild and local herbs, and their sustainable utilization with a computational case study on laboratory experiments done in two traditional plant based antidotes, selected from literature. The investigation is focused on Daboia russelii venom neutralization via in silico approach which can significantly reduce the time, expense, labour and samples taken. Our approach will add to the conventional non-specific polyvalent anti-snake venom (ASV) with more specific plant-based antidotes.

Keywords

Antidote, Envenomation, Herbal Medicines, Sustainable Utilization, Venom Informatics.

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