Repellent properties of Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. (Family: Fabaceae) against fi lariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae)

To determine the repellent activity of hexane, ethyl acetate, benzene, chloroform, and methanol extract ofPithecellobium dulce leaf and seed against filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus. Evaluation was carried outin a net cage (45 cm2 × 30 cm2 × 25 cm2) containing 100 blood starved female mosquitoes of three mosquitospecies and were assayed in the laboratory condition by using the protocol of WHO: The plant leaf crude extractsof P. dulce was applied at 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/cm2 separately in the exposed area of the fore arm. Only ethanolserved as control. In this observation, the plant crude extracts gave protection against mosquito bites withoutany allergic reaction to the test person, and also, the repellent activity is dependent on the strength of the plantextracts. Among the tested solvents, both the leaf and seed methanol extracts showed maximum efficacy. Thehighest concentration of 5.0 mg/cm2 provided over 120 min and 90 min protection for the leaf and seed extracts,respectively. From the results, it can be concluded the crude extract of P. dulce was potential for controllingfilariasis vector, C. quinquefasciatus mosquito

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

Studies on some aspect of biology and utilisation of mantis-Shrimp Oratosquilla nepa(LATREILLA) (Crutacea stomatopoda)

The thesis is a study undertaken to understand the distribution pattern of Q nega in Cochin waters for better exploitation of the resource and to learn the biological aspects of the animal which has a direct bearing on its utilization for producing different products .The study also presents a thorough knowledge on the size groups available during different seasons for judicious exploitation and utilization of the resource and the changes in the biochemical composition of Q nega during different seasons so as to utilize it properly for producing suitable products throughout the year. The thesis also tests the suitability of the material for producing different products and to test the acceptability of the same for human consumption. The study also aims to show that Squilla can be utilized for the production of industrial products like chitin and chitosan.Cochin University of Science and TechnologySchool of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science and Technolog

Analeptic efficacy of Tinospora cordifolia ethanolic leaf extract and its loaded Phytoniosome on enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in a rodent model of Polycystic ovary syndrome

Introduction: PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) is being known as a significant metabolic and reproductive disorder deliberating to increased risk for type 2 diabetes. Tinospora cordifolia is frequently used in traditional system of medicine where the leaf of the plant possesses pharmacological properties like hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. In recent years the Niosomes a novel drug delivery system is gaining more attention because of their biodegradability, toxicity reduction, improved therapeutic effectiveness and absorption enhancement. In our present study an attempt is made to examine the ameliorative effect of ethanolic leaf extracts of Tinospora cordifolia (ELETC) and Tinospora cordifolia loaded phytoniosomes (nELETC) on enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in PCOS female rats that are induced by mifepristone. Materials and Methods: PCOS was induced by administrating 4mg/kg b. w. Mifepristone to female rats for 8 days and confirmed by persistent estrous cycle. 200mg /kg b. w of ELETC and nELETC extracts were given to the rats which attained PCOS condition for 28 days. The enzymatic antioxidants SOD, CAT, GR, GST and GPx and non-enzymatic antioxidants GSH, ascorbic acid and α-Tocopherol were estimated followed by Histopathological analysis. Result: The antioxidants showed decreased levels in the PCOS induced rats. The treatment with the drug nELETC reverted the antioxidant levels back to normalcy. From the histopathological studies we can understand that corpus luteum, antral follicles and primordial follicular cells were absent with the formation of follicular cyst in the mifepristone induced PCOS rats. nELETC drug treated rats showed the presence of corpus luteum with graafian follicles and primordial follicle cells, with the absence of follicular cyst, indicating nELETC could regain the functional ability of the ovaries from PCOS condition. Conclusion: From the restoration of antioxidant status we can conclude that nELETC extract can be effectively used in the management of PCOS

Insecticidal activity of camphene, zerumbone and alpha-humulene from Cheilocostus speciosus rhizome essential oil against the Old-World bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera

The fast-growing resistance development to several synthetic and microbial insecticides currently marketed highlighted the pressing need to develop novel and eco-friendly pesticides. Among the latter, botanical ones are attracting high research interest due to their multiple mechanisms of action and reduced toxicity on non-target vertebrates. Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a key polyphagous insect pest showing insecticide resistance to several synthetic molecules used for its control. Therefore, here we focused on the rhizome essential oil extracted from an overlooked Asian plant species, Cheilocostus speciosus (J. Konig) C. Specht (Costaceae), as a source of compounds showing ingestion toxicity against H. armigera third instar larvae, as well as ovicidal toxicity. In acute larvicidal assays conducted after 24 h, the C. speciosus essential oil achieved a LC50 value of 207.45 µg/ml. GC and GC-MS analyses highlighted the presence of zerumbone (38.6%), α-humulene (14.5%) and camphene (9.3%) as the major compounds of the oil. Ingestion toxicity tests carried out testing these pure molecules showed LC50 values of 10.64, 17.16 and 20.86 µg/ml, for camphene, zerumbone and α-humulene, respectively. Moreover, EC50 values calculated on H. armigera eggs were 35.39, 59.51 and 77.10 µg/ml for camphene, zerumbone and α-humulene, respectively. Overall, this study represents the first report on the toxicity of C. speciosus essential oil against insect pests of agricultural and medical veterinary importance, highlighting that camphene, zerumbone and α-humulene have a promising potential as eco-friendly botanical insecticides

Thigh-length compression stockings and DVT after stroke

Controversy exists as to whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with invasive bladder cancer, despite randomised controlled trials of more than 3000 patients. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of such treatment on survival in patients with this disease