Effect of soybean diet: Growth and conversion efficiencies of fingerling of stinging cat fish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

Replacement of 15% protein from soybean meal in Diet II was feasible for the stinging cat fish, Heteropneustes fossilis and no significant differences in growth parameters were found in fish fed soybean meal-based diets compared to those fed control diet (Diet I). Live weight gain percent (165%) obtained in fish fed soybean meal based diet was not significantly different to that achieved (171%) in fish fed Diet I. Specific growth rate percent, SGR (2.79%), feed conversion ratio FCR (1.40) and protein efficiency ratio PER (1.79) recorded in fish fed Diet II were also more less comparable to those fed control diet. Mortality was not recorded in the period of the feeding trial. Body composition of the fish fed soybean meal based diet (Diet II) was also comparable to that fed control diet. Significantly higher fat content was noted in fish fed Diet II. However, the protein contents were not changed in fish fed Diet I and II. Similarly, no significant differences (P > 0.05) in protein productive value were noted between the two groups. However, ash content differed significantly (P < 0.05) in fish fed Diet I and II. Although soybean meal-based diet depressed growth and feed conversion efficiencies of the fish to some extent, inclusion of soybean meal was found to be cost-effective alternative to fish meal

Antileishmanial effect of silver nanoparticles: Green synthesis, characterization, in vivo and in vitro assessment

The drugs used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cannot effectively penetrate lesions. Nanogold and nanosilver have been used for treating or enhancing drug delivery in CL. The present study used Commiphora molmol (myrrh) to synthesize silver nanoparticles (MSNPs). The MSNPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. In addition, antiparasitic effect of myrrh silver nanoparticles (MSNPs) was assessed on Leishmania major both in vitro and in vivo. Five concentrations of MSNPs (10, 50, 80, 100, and 150 μl/100 μL) were used to study their effect on L. major cultures in vitro, and MSNPs were also applied topically to subcutaneous lesions in mice in vivo. The results showed that the MSNPs were 49.09 nm in size. MSNPs, showed a marked and significant (p ≤ 0.05) growth inhibition of L. major promastigotes which was concentration dependent. Overall, the higher concentrations (100, 150 μl/100 μL had a significantly greater inhibitory effect for the MSNPs in comparison to the chemical nanoparticles (CNPs) and pentostam at the same concentrations. Lesions healed completely in 21 d after MSNP treatment in vivo, while pentostam, a commercial drug, and CNPs showed a moderate healing effect on the lesions. Thus, MSNPs were more effective than pentostam and CNPs both in the in vivo and in vitro studies. MSNPs can therefore be promising candidates for various nanomedicine applications