Anti-nociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Effects of the Leaf Extract of Vitex trifolia Linn. in Experimental Animals

The effect of Vitex trifolia Linn. (FamilyVerbenaceae) leaf extract was studied for the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity in experimental animals. V. trifolia, 25 – 100 mg/kg administered orally for 3 days exhibited graded dose response equivalent to 21.95% - 89.90% protection in the tail flick latent test in rat. The V. trifolia leaf extract (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o X 3 days) was effective in hot plate reaction time (64.05% and 112.97%, p\u3c 0.01 and p\u3c 0.001), analgesymeter induced mechanical pain (28.17% and 54.42%, p \u3c 0.01 and p \u3c 0.001) and acetic acid- induced writhing (26.68% and 51.79%, p \u3c 0.5 and p \u3c 0.05) in mice. The leaf extract of V. trifolia potentiated the analgesic activity with pentazocine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and aspirin (25 mg/kg, i.p.). In the carrageenan- induced paw edema V. trifolia leaf extract (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o X 3 days) decreased paw volume significantly (26.68% and 51.79%) and dose dependent anti-inflammatory activity in 1-3 hour time interval and potentiated with nimesulide (50 mg/kg, p.o.). In summary, this study demonstrates that leaf extract of V. trifolia has significant anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity

Seasonal exploitation of the seacucumber Stichopus hermanni (Semper) at Tuticorin

Stichopus hermanni earlier known as S. variegates is a widely distributed commercial species of Sea cucumber, popularly called 'pura attai' or 'pavaikya attai' in Tamil. In many of the western countries, apart from its food value as a rich protein diet (55% of dry weight) low in fat, sea cucumbers are valued for its medicinal properties. In India few works have been conducted on the biomedical aspects of sea cucumbers. Though this species have already been recorded from Gulf of mannar, the exploitation in huge quantities were never reported before. The recent development of the fishery of this species along Gulf of Mannar indicated its export potentiality as new resource. At Tuticorin along the Kalavasal area, huge quantities of this species have been processed since 2004

Occurrence of spotted sardinella along north Andhra Pradesh coast

Gill nets operated off Lawsons Bay, Visakhapatnam landed an estimated 530 kg of spotted sardinella Amblygaster sirm fWalbaum) during November - December 1992. This species was not observed earlier in the sardine catches from this area. Subsequent to this observation the species was reported in the trawl catches of Kakinada during December. While the catches were very poor during January and February, March recorded an estimated 581 kg and 2331 kg of A. sirm in shrimp trawl and gill nets respectively, at Visakhaptnam. By April this species disappeared from the fishery. The meristic and morphometric details are give

Influence of salinity on hatching rate, larval and early juvenile rearing of sea cucumber Holothuria scabra Jaeger

The fertilized eggs, auricularia larvae and one month old juveniles of Holothuria scabra, obtained from induced spawning were used for various experiments to assess the effect of salinity on hatching rate and larval and early juvenile growth. The experiments were conducted for two days on hatching rate of fertilized eggs, for ten days on larval survival, growth and development and for 30 days on juvenile’s growth rate. The maximum hatching of 39% at 35 ppt, followed by 32% at 33 ppt indicated the suitability of an ambient salinity of 33 to 35 ppt for effective hatching of fertilized eggs. High survival, growth rate and fastest development of auricularia were obtained at salinity between 33 and 35 ppt. The maximum growth rate in length and weight, was at 30 ppt, which may be the optimum for juvenile rearing. The one way ANOVA on differences in the hatching rate, larval growth and survival rate and juvenile growth rate at different salinities indicated high level of significance (p<0.001 )

Stock enhancement of seacucumbers - a solution for the depletion of natural stocks of Holothuria scabra along Gulf of Mannar

Sea cucumbers form a valuable source of income for the poor fisherfolk along Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay areas of South-east-coast of India. Owing to the high demand in international market and inadequate fishery management practice, the commercial sea cucumber species have been over-exploited leading to the extinction of sea cucumber populations in several habitats. The "Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora" (CITES) has recommended inclusion of sea cucumbers in the list of endangered animals and cited the reasons as limited mobility, late sexual maturity, density depended reproduction, low rates of recruitment and ease of collections for their overexploitation and subsequent resource depletion. The releasing of hatchery produced juveniles of commercial sea cucumber species to their natural habitat, a process called restoration, restocking or reseeding is gaining momentum world wide, as the only way for replenishing the depleted stock of sea cucumbers

Environment degradation by chemical effluents along the Kayalpatinam coast of Gulf of Mannar with special reference to mercury

Studies were carried out on the level of mercury and other water quality parameters in the effluent lagoon of Dharangadhara Chemical Works, Tuticorin and the adjacent open sea over a period of three years and the impact of effluent discharge in bulk quantity into the coastal marine environment, over a distance of 18 km. The present study indicated that the presence of mercury, acidity and low oxygen concentration are the major impacts of effluent discharge. The mean concentration of mercury in the open sea during 1999 – 2002, was 4.7 μg. l-1 which got reduced to 1.68 μg. l-1 after five years, indicating the improvement of effluent treatment measures. However the mercury levels are still higher compared to those reported elsewhere. Except for salinity and pH, no statistically significant difference was observed in the variation of other parameters between stations during 1999-2002, but highly significant differences were observed in the variation of dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, pH and salinity between stations during 2007-2008

Observation on juvenile sea cucumber occurrence in the shallow waters of Hare Island (erstwhile Pandian Island), Tuticorin

Understanding juvenile sea cucumber habitat preferences is very much essential for determining the carrying capacity of a given habitat which enables the successful release of sea cucumber juveniles for restocking purpose. Holothurians occupy different habitats such as rocky shores, sandy beaches, muddy flats, coral reefs and mangrove swamps at different depths. In general, the juvenile sea cucumbers exist in the habitat occupied by the adult but are obscured from view within the sediment or crevices or beneath obscuring objects such as corals and rocks. Juveniles of 21 species of holothurians have already been reported from Indian waters, of which 17 were observed in the same habitat as adults and 4 in the absence of adult

Conversion of a cement bag washing yard to a recreational beach and its maintenance: A success story

Tuticorin is known as pearl city of India has credited to have a beach in its name “the Pearl City Beach “(8°48’27.7”N 78°09’44.1”E) which has been dedicated to Public in July 2012 in a function organised to celebrate the silver jubilee programme to mark the bifurcation of Tuticorin from Tirunelveli organised by the Tuticorin police. Earlier this beach was exclusively used for dumping and washing of cement and poultry bags and was looking filthy, unhygienic and not fit for recreational purpose. With the combined efforts of Tuticorin Police department,State Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the City Corporation Authority, the beach is well maintained

Observations on the epifaunal assemblage of micro-mollusc Electroma vexillum on the seagrass beds of Tuticorin coast

Seagrass habitats form a highly productive fragile ecosystem, which offers food, shelter, and essential nursery areas of many fish and benthic invertebrates like crustaceans, bivalves, echinoderms and other groups that are produced within, or migrate to that habitats