NUTRIENT STATUS OF ARASALAR RIVER, A TRIBUTARY OF CAUVERY RIVER AT TANJORE DISTRICT OF TAMILNADU, INDIA

ABSTRACT: Physico-chemical studies were conducted in river Arasalar situated in Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu, India. The study was conducted from January to December 2010. The present paper deals with nutrient status in Arasalar river, for this three stations were selected for the sampling methods i.e., S1, S2 and S3 the main aim of the study was to determine the nutrient status of Arasalar River and the suitability of the water for domestic and other purposes, in the light of water quality criteria prescribed by WHO standards. The parameters analyzed are water Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride Sodium, potassium, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, Sulphate, Silicate and Iron. The results indicated that most of the Physico-chemical quality parameters of River Arasalar were within the WHO limits for drinking water and, therefore, may be suitable for domestic purpose. However, nutrients levels were high during the study period and did not give any clear seasonal variation. The results revealed that the values of Nitrite and Phosphate do not compile with WHO standards. Water quality assessment of delta regions of Arasalar River revealed strictly contamination from anthropogenic activities

MOSQUITO OVICIDAL PROPERTIES OF AGERATINA ADENOPHORA (FAMILY: ASTERACEAE) AGAINST FILARIASIS VECTOR, CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

ABSTRACT Mosquito-borne diseases with an economic impact create loss in commercial and labor outputs, particularly in countries with tropical and subtropical climates. Mosquito control is facing a threat because of the emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides. Extracts from plants may be alternative sources of mosquito control agents because they constitute a rich source of bioactive compounds that are biodegradable into nontoxic products and potentially suitable for use to control mosquitoes. Insecticides of botanical origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. In view of the recently increased interest in developing plant origin insecticides as an alternative to chemical insecticide, this study was undertaken to assess the ovicidal potential of the crude hexane, benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol solvent extracts from the medicinal plant Ageratina adenophora (A. adenophora) against the filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) (Diptera: Culicidae). Ovicidal activity was determined against Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquito to various concentrations ranging from 75-450 mg/L under the laboratory conditions. All the five solvents extracts showed moderate ovicidal activity; however, the methanol extract showed the highest ovicidal activity. One hundred percent mortality was observed at 375 mg/L. These results suggest that the plant extracts have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of mosquitoes. This study provides first report on the mosquito ovicidal activity of A. adenophora plant extracts against filariasis vector, Cx. quinquefasciatus

Toxic Effect of Cadmium on the Electrophoretic Protein Patterns of Gill and Muscle of Oreochromis mossambicus

The present study was carried out to determine the sub lethal toxic effects of the heavy metal cadmium on the electrophoretic protein fractions of gill and muscle tissues of Oreochromis mossambicus. Fishes were exposed to 10% sub lethal concentration (96 h LC50) of cadmium for a period of 10 days. The protein fractions in the muscle of experimental fishes were found to be increased (twelve fractions) with respect to controls (eight fractions). The numbers of protein fractions in the gills of test fishes were found to be lesser than the control fishes. The results of the present study prove that cadmium affects the protein fractions in the tissues of fishes

Toxic Effect of Cadmium on the Electrophoretic Protein Patterns of Gill and Muscle of Oreochromis mossambicus

The present study was carried out to determine the sub lethal toxic effects of the heavy metal cadmium on the electrophoretic protein fractions of gill and muscle tissues of Oreochromis mossambicus. Fishes were exposed to 10% sub lethal concentration (96 h LC50) of cadmium for a period of 10 days. The protein fractions in the muscle of experimental fishes were found to be increased (twelve fractions) with respect to controls (eight fractions). The numbers of protein fractions in the gills of test fishes were found to be lesser than the control fishes. The results of the present study prove that cadmium affects the protein fractions in the tissues of fishes