Preliminary phytochemical screening and Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of whole plant of Evolvulus alsinoides using CCl4 induced model in experimental animals

Present study was conducted to evaluate the preliminary phytochemical screening and hepatoprotective activity of whole plant of Evolvulus alsinoides. The whole plant was defatted with petroleum ether and then extracted with 90 % ethanol. The phytochemical screening was done for ethanol extract using standard procedures. Acute toxicity was done using OECD 423 guidelines and the extract was found to be practically non-toxic upto a dose of 1500mg/kg b.w. when given orally. Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated using Carbon tetra chloride induced model in rats. In CCl4 induced mothod of 90% Ethanolic extract of whole plant of Evolvulus alsinoides (75 & 150mg/kg b.w.) produced significant dose dependent hepatoprotective activity. Histopathological studies could be carried out to assess the degree of damage. The hepatoprotective effect of the aforesaid extract was substantiated by pentobarbital sleeping time experiment in mice. The effect of the extracts at 150 mg/kg was compared to that of the reference drug, Silymarin (50 mg/kg). In vitro antioxidant studies were conducted to confirm the antioxidant mechanism involved in their hepatoprotective activity in CCl4-induced in rats. The presence of flavonoids could be responsible for hepatoprotective activity

Enhancing Syntactic Competency Of Engineering Students In English Using CLIL

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) may be seen as a type of instruction where students can study foreign languages and specialized material concurrently, depending on the subject matter.  By striking a balance between professional education and the acquisition of foreign language abilities, CLIL greatly enhances students' motivation, responsibility, and personal growth.  CLIL is a type of bilingual education where students study foreign languages and subject material at the same time. Through teaching trials, the efficacy of the CLIL technique as an academic subject for second-year mechanical engineering students was examined in this study.  Mechanical engineering second semester students are taken into consideration. Subject and English professors provided ideas for the "definitions" for the elements utilized in the Engineering Practice Lab, which were taken from the Professional English curriculum. Only mechanical engineering students taking English as a supplement are the topic of this study. The main research approach is educational experiments; alternative research methods include survey questionnaires that are used as pre- and post-tests at the start and finish of the study.  Based on the survey questionnaire responses, a statistical assessment of the students' syntactic proficiency was conducted.  The study's findings demonstrate students' interest in developing their definition-building abilities with favorable opinions on CLIL. &nbsp

Self imposed ban by local fisherfolk for the conservation of brown mussel

Brown mussel, Perna indica is one of the important bivalve resources off Thiruvananthapuram coast and mussel beds located in the Vizhinjam-Kovalam region is the main area targetted by fishers. This organized bivalve fishery supports the livelihoods around 300 fishermen. Fishing is carried out throughout the year except during monsoon season that starts early in the morning before 6 am and landing at shore by 9 am

Globalization And Its Effect On Post-Millennium Literature

Globalization, as a slowly spreading risk factor, covers almost the whole country with its full force. Literature and literary studies have evolved into a space for the evocation, promotion and interpretation of various social, political, literary and cultural ideas in the world of globalization. Indian Literature after Independence of India has seen some significant changes in the literary writings. Today, the younger generation in the country is searching for a new identity and they are at the intersection of Individuality, Culture and Society. In the world of literature, the call-center generation sees itself as India’s cultural commissars, projecting India as a land of illumination and emancipation. The major Samson of the youth lies in the power of the youth through the unlimited consumption of natural and human resources. The novels of the millennium assist us in dispelling the myth that contemporary writing is only for the light entertainment of the younger generations. &nbsp

Recent advancements in Edible Oyster (Crassostrea madrasensis) hatchery technology in India

Oyster farming remains a vital industry, catering to the culinary preferences of millions while also championing responsible aquaculture practices and environmental conservation. As we forge ahead in our quest for sustainable seafood production, oyster farming serves as a remarkable example of how human innovation can coexist harmoniously with nature, ensuring a legacy for these exquisite molluscs for generations to come. Currently, the time required for freshly produced spat to mature into marketable-sized oysters stands at three to four years in the subtropical countries that dominate the industry. India, with its tropical climate, faster growth rates, abundant suitable areas for oyster farming, and cost-effective labour, has a promising opportunity to enter the oyster export market

Studies on the broodstock production and larval rearing of Coral demoiselle Neopomacentrus nemurus (Bleeker 1857)

Steps taken for broodstock development of Neopomacentrus nemurus, Coral demoiselle (Bleeker, 1857) in a hatchery, its spawning and development of egg to the juvenile stage are described. Among the three treatments tried, only the trial using Parvocalanus crassirostris nauplii as the first diet helped in the development of larvae. Larval and post‐larval growth was studied for a period of 65 days post hatch. The larva measured 2–2.4 mm in total length at the time of hatching. The mouth size of larva at the time of hatching measured 237.92 μm. By the 5th day, the width of the larval body had significantly increased. All the fins were conjoined, except for the caudal fin which had begun its appearance on the 2nd day itself. The digestive system was functional by the 5th day and the copepod remains were seen in the digestive tract. The larva metamorphosed by the 15th day with fully developed fins and fin rays. On the 20th day, the larval body had begun to display signs of fin pigmentation. The larva assumed adult pigmentation by the 35th day. By the 65th day, the larva grew to a total length of about 27 mm and weighed about 0.56 g

Bivalve seed production

The mussels are bivalve molluscs found attached to the hard surfaces in the littoral and sublittoral zones. They attach themselves to the substrate by secreting long threads called byssus. Though they are considered sedentary, they may move from one area to another if faced with unfavourable environmental conditions. Mussels are regarded as one of the best candidates for aquaculture since they are filter feeders feeding at the lowest level in the food chain (primary consumers); they feed on phytoplankton, detritus and associated microscopic flora and fauna. The two important species of mussels in India are the Green mussel Perna viridis(Peacock mussel/MayilpeeliKakka/Kallummekaya) and the Brown mussel Perna indica (Red chippi). The green mussel has a wider distribution along the west and east coasts of India, including the Andaman Islands. In contrast, the brown mussel is restricted to the southwest coast of India. Along the east coast, the green mussel is found in Chilka Lake, Kakinada, Madras, Pondicherry, Cuddalore and Porto Novo and along the west coast it forms on extensive beds from Muthalappuzha estuary in Trivandrum, Quilon, Alleppey, Cochin, Calicut to Kasargod, Mangalore, Karwar, Goa, Bhatia Creek, Malvan and the Gulf of Kutch (CMFRI, 2000). Now fishery for the green mussel exists in the region from Kollam to Kasargod and for brown mussel from Quilon to Kanyakumari along the Kerala Coas

Micro-nurseries for bivalve seed production

Along the southwest coast of India, mussel farming is practiced by thousands of farmers in the estuarine areas using rack and rope method or on-bottom method, during the post monsoon months. Production of farmed mussel after the peaking in 2009 (18400 t) has stagnated around 9000-10000 t per year. Large scale collection of seed from the natural mussel beds following increased adoption of green mussel farming has led to conflicts between wild mussel pickers and farmers in the past. Moreover, mussel and oyster farmers face an unpredictable wild seed supply and lack of dependable supply of quality seed from hatcheries. Vizhinjam Research Centre of ICAR-CMFRI has developed micro-nursery systems with down-welling and up-welling subsystems for the settlement and metamorphosis of floating larvae to spat and for further nursery rearing of green mussel spat to seed size suitable for farming. This will make large scale bivalve seed production of mussels, edible oyster, pearl oyster and clam possible in the hatchery which can cater to the requirements of thousands of bivalve farmers in coastal areas of India

Production of green mussel seed using micron-meshed cages for spat rearing

Vizhinjam Research Centre of ICAR-CMFRI has developed a cost effective nursery rearing technique for growing green mussel, spat to seed size suitable for mussel, farming using micron meshed cages. This will bring livelihood security for thousands of mussel farmers and fishermen in coastal areas of India