Spatial variation of potentially toxic elements in different grain size fractions of marine sediments from Gulf of Mannar, India

Marine sediments of the Gulf of Mannar (GoM), India are contaminated by potential toxic elements (PTEs) due to anthropogenic activities posing a risk to the existing fragile coral ecosystem and human health. The current study aimed to assess the distribution of PTEs (arsenic-As; cobalt-Co; copper-Cu, molybdenum-Mo; lead-Pb; and zinc-Zn) in marine sediments of different grain size fractions, viz., medium sand (710 μm), fine sand (250 μm), and clay ( Cu > Pb > As > Co > Mo and in the three locations as Rameswaram > Palk Bay > Pamban. The concentration of PTEs in Palk Bay and Rameswaram coast was significantly different (P < 0.05), when compared to Pamban coast. Measured geoaccumulation index (I geo) and contamination factor (CF) indicated significant enrichment of Co and Pb from Rameswaram coast when compared to other two coasts. Although the concentration of Co was low but the measured I geo and CF values indicated significant enrichment of this PTE in Rameswaram coast. The increased input of PTEs in the coastal regions of GoM signifies the need to monitor the coast regularly using suitable monitoring tools such as sediments to prevent further damage to the marine ecosystem.The authors are thankful to the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for financial assistance and to the Director of IICT for providing the facilities and his constant encouragement. The authors KS and RP are thankful to CSIR, for providing the Senior Research Fellowship.publishe

Assessment of cytotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by titanium oxide nanoparticles on Chinook salmon cells

Titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have received wide attention in diverse application, but the potential impact of these nanomaterials on the environment, aquatic life and especially on fish cell lines is lacking. The present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by TiO2 NPs on Chinook salmon cells derived from Oncorhynchus tshawytscha embryos (CHSE-214). The The MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide] and neutral red (NR) assays in CHSE-214 cells exposed to TiO2 NPs revealed concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect in the range of 10 to 60 μg/ml for 24 h. CHSE-214 cells exposed to TiO2 NPs (10-60 μg/ml) exhibited significant decline in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) glutathione (GSH) content and increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) in a concentration-dependent manner. TiO2 NPs induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in CHSE-214 cells which serve as a base line studies for future studies

Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of 2-substituted-1,3-benzoxazole and 3-[(3-substituted)propyl]-1,3-benzoxazol-2(3H)-one derivatives as potent anticancer agents

The synthesis and cytotoxic activity studies of a new series of cyclic amine containing benzoxazole and benzoxazolone derivatives are described. The 2-cyclic amine-1,3-benzoxazoles 5a-k, 5-chloro-3-(3-chloropropyl)-1,3-benzoxazol-2(3H)-one 8 and 3-[3-(cyclic amino)propyl]-1,3-benzoxazol-2(3H)-ones 9a-f were synthesized. The newly synthesized compounds with the influence of the presence of cyclic amine moiety in the benzoxazole scaffold have been evaluated with respect to their cytotoxic effect toward four human cancer cell lines. The new compounds were evaluated to see whether substitution at the second and third position of the benzoxazole motif influence their cytotoxic effect toward cancer cells

Two novel polychiral furanopyrans from <em>Orthosiphon diffusus</em> (Benth.)

855-861Chemical investigation on Orthosiphon diffusus has resulted in the isolation of two new polychiral furanopyrans, orthodiffenes AM-1 and AM-2 which have been thoroughly characterized by detailed spectroscopic studies including IR, NMR (1D and 2D) and FABMS spectra. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of these two compounds has been tested against U-937 and HeLa cells using camptothecin and etoposide as the positive controls. Both the metabolites show modest activity against HeLa cells with IC50 values of 26.98 &micro;g/mL and 21.18 &micro;g/mL, respectively

Modulation of glutathione and its dependent enzymes in gill cells of Anguilla anguilla exposed to silica coated iron oxide nanoparticles with or without mercury co-exposure under in vitro condition

The current study aimed to investigate the modulation of glutathione (GSH) and its dependent enzymes (glutathione reductase, GR; glutathione peroxidase, GPx; glutathione sulfotransferase, GST) from 0 to 72 h in the gill cells of Anguilla anguilla under in vitro condition exposed to silica coated iron oxide nanoparticles functionalized with dithiocarbamate (Fe3O4@SiO2/SiDTC, hereafter called 'IONPs'; 100 nm; 2.5 mg L-1) with or without mercury (Hg) coexposure. Significantly decreased TGSH content under IONP alone exposure from 0 to 72 h indicated increased utilization of the TGSH in response to IONP stress. Significant increases in the activity of GR, GPx and GST were depicted when exposed to IONP alone. Lipid peroxidation (LPG), a membrane damage trait also significantly increased under IONP alone exposure indicating the efficient role of antioxidant induction abolishing the IONP-mediated enhanced reactive oxygen species. Under Hg exposure, gill cells displayed significantly increased activity of the studied enzymes (GR, GPx and GST) and LPO which was accompanied by significantly decreased TGSH content. Concomitant (IONPs + Hg) exposure displayed a synergistic response to that of individual responses of either IOPN or Hg which was evident by significant increases in GR, GPx, GST and LPO. Overall, our findings revealed a fine tuning among the GSH and its dependent enzyme modulation under IONP, Hg and its concomitant (IONPs + Hg) exposure in A. anguilla gill cells under in vitro condition. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Seasonal trend of potential toxic elements in seawater and sediments from Tuticorin coast

Potential toxic elements (PTEs) concentration was analyzed seasonally in seawater and sediment samplesfromTuticorincoast,India.TheextentofPTEs contamination in Tuticorin coast has been revealed by measuring the concentrations of iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer (ICP-MS) seasonally. The concentration of all the PTEs in seawater samples was higher in summer and least in spring. The concentration of all the PTEs was significantly different within and among the season except for Zn and Cu. The concentration of PTEs in sediment samples was higher in winter and least in summer seasons. Exceptionally, the concentration of Cd was not significant among and within the seasons. TheconcentrationofthePTEsinseawaterandsediment samples exceeded the WHO-recommended limits. The contamination factor (CF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values indicated significant contamination of PTEs in the sediment samples collected in different seasons. Variations in the concentration of PTEs could be due to changes in levels of pollution discharge over time, availability of PTEs for adsorption, as well as variations in the sampling season. The presence of a number of industries surrounding the Tuticorin coast and the release of the effluents from both industries and domestic sources are the main source of pollution at Tuticorin coast and are the prime reasons for the loss of existing diverse ecosystem