Comparative study on the liver fatty acid profiles of the red toothed trigger fish (Odonus niger) from southwest coast of India

In order to find an alternative source for the highly unsaturated fatty acids oil with lower cost, a marine trash fish Odonus niger has been analysed and characterised. The body weight and the corresponding liver weight of the fish were studied and the results showed that for one gram increase in the size of the animal, the liver weight can increase to 0.04 g. The oil yielding capacity of the liver was assessed by four different methods namely Soxhlet, Bligh and Dyer, Direct steaming and Solar extraction. The percentage of oil yield was high in Soxhlet method (67.7%), but it was 54.3% in Bligh and Dyer method, 42.5% in direct steaming method and minimum of 32.0% in solar extraction method. The solidification point of all the extracted oils remained at 29 ± 0.5° C. The specific gravity (0.95 to 0.96) and refractive index (1.42µ to 1.48µ) of the oil extracted by the four different methods were not varied significantly. The cholesterol contents of the oil extracted by Bligh and Dyer and direct steaming extraction methods were at the highest level (1991.00 and 2059.00mg 100ml^-1) but it was 50% less in other methods. The percentages of PUFA in the total fatty acid of the oils were 13.78, 20.46, 19.07 and 22.54% (by weight) in solar extraction, direct steaming, Soxhlet and Bligh and Dyer methods, respectively. Thus the physico-chemical properties of liver oil of O. niger were found to be influenced by the extraction adopted methods. Also it is clear that Bligh & Dyer method is the suitable method for the extraction of liver oil from marine fishes without much loss of nutrients

Isolation and characterization of lipase-producing Bacillus strains from oil mill waste

Bacillus strains (B1 - B5) producing extra cellular lipase were isolated from the soil sample of coconut oil industry. The strains were identified by morphological and biochemical characters. Growth of theorganisms and lipase production were measured with varying pH (4 - 9) temperature (27, 37 and 47ºC) and various substrate concentrations. The result indicated that the lipase production varied betweenBacillus strains and also between varying parameters tested. The maximum lipase production was recorded at pH 7 during 24 h of the culture period by Bacillus strain B5. Among the substrates tested,coconut oil at a concentration of 0.5% was found to enhance the lipase production in the same Bacillus strain B5. Further the effect of medium temperature indicated that the production of lipase was maximum at 37ºC. Statistical analysis revealed that the variation in lipase production was highly significant between bacterial strains than the independent influence of pH, substrates concentration and medium temperature

In vivo administration of fucoidan from Turbinaria decurrens protects shrimps from white spot syndrome virus

212-216Fucoidan was extracted from the brown seaweed Turbinaria decurrens by hot water extraction and characterized with HPLC, FTIR, NMR and GPC to study the impact against the White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), bacteria and fungi. Fucoidan was fed for shrimps along with the diet (before and after WSSV infection). In the end of the study, the survival percentage of shrimp was 51% (in the case of 5-8 g) and 97% (in the case of 12-15 g), respectively. Among the 10 bacterial pathogens and 7 fungal pathogens, fucoidan inhibited 2 bacterial pathogen such as S. aureus (0.26±0.02 mm) and E. faecalis (1.3±0.1 mm) and A. Niger (0.84 ± 0.03 mm) in fungal pathogens with clear zone of inhibition

Extraction and characterization of fish visceral protease from Carangoides malabaricus and its potential application in detergent and pharmaceutical industries.

Fish viscera have innumerable potential applications being the rich source of digestive enzymes, especially proteases. In order to assess the bio prospecting of fish processing wastes as natural wealth to obtain value added bioactive compounds, the visceral wastes of Carangoides malabaricus were characterized. This study involves the characterization of crude visceral protease extract from C. malabaricus and its potential application as a destainer. The optimum activity and stability of the crude visceral protease was observed at pH 9.0 and 50°C. This alkaline proteolytic crude extract was then tested for its potential application as destainer and it showed better stain removing efficiency. Characterization studies revealed that metal ions like Calcium chloride, surfactants like Tween 20 and SDS, inhibitors like PMSF influenced the activity and stability of the crude Visceral Protease. The present study also inferred that, crude visceral protease enzyme from C. malabaricus along with shrimp shell hydrolysate displayed higher DPPH radical scavenging activity (58.11%), Reducing activity (1.89 mg/ml) and Chelating ability (73.6%). As a whole, this study confirmed possible application of Visceral Protease from C. malabaricus in detergent and pharmaceutical industries

Bioencapsulation strategy and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) enrichment in Artemia franciscana nauplii by using marine trash fish Odonus niger liver oil

To investigate the maximum accumulation of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) in Artemia franciscana nauplii through bioencapsulation process, five different concentrations (0 - 4%) of emulsified Odonus niger liver oil were prepared. The prepared emulsions were used to enrich A. franciscana at different time intervals of 6, 12, 18 and 24 h. After the enrichment period, the fatty acid composition of the nauplii were analysed and estimated individually along with freshly hatched A.franciscana and O. niger liver oil. The HUFA content such as linoleic (18: 2n-6), linolenic (18: 3n-3), arachidonic (20: 4n-3 + n-6), eicosapentaenoic (20: 5-n3) and docosahexaenoic (22: 6n-3) acids were 12.87, 0.21, 2.66, 2.86 and 2.30% dry weight (DW), respectively, in O. niger liver oil, and 8.60, 17.20, 1.80, 2.40 and 0.1% DW, respectively, in freshly hatched A. franciscana. During 6 – 24 h of enrichment period, all the above HUFA increased considerably from 8.76 to 10.84, 17.24 to 23.84, 1.16 to 3.98, 2.45 to 5.88 and 0.30 to 2.69% DW, respectively. The increase in the level of individual HUFA of A. franciscana enriched with various concentrations of emulsified liver oil at different time durations showed a positive linear relationship and the correlation coefficient obtained were statistically significant (P< 0.05)

Effects of binders on stability and palatability of formulated dry compounded diets for spiny lobster Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Experimental trials were conducted to formulate a palatable dry compounded diet for subadults of the spiny lobster Panulirus homarus in the size range 103-114 mm, using ingredients derived from natural sources in a desirable combination of 54.5% crude protein. Since the diet exhibited low stability, series of experiments were conducted further using different combinations of binders sourced from plant as well as synthetic origin to derive a stable and palatable pellet diet. Among 35 test diets formulated, diet with good palatability and maximum pellet stability (85.55 ± 5.94% for 8 h) were identified as the pellets made with binders in combination of sodium alginate (3%), ‘stick on’ a commercial phytochemical (1%) and agar agar (3%). This combination of binders was found suitable for artificial pelleted diet prepared for subadults of P. homarus

Protective responses of antioxidant enzymes against bisphenol-A induced oxidative stress in Asian Seabass Lates calcarifer

1458-1463Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor used as plastic monomer and plasticizer widely present in the aquatic environment. In the present study, the effect of BPA on the antioxidant system in Lates calcarifer was documented. Three different concentrations such as 1, 10, 100 &micro;g/l were selected and exposed to fishes for 30 days. After BPA exposure, antioxidant parameters were estimated against control. The levels of marker enzymes were assessed in the gill, muscle, liver and brain tissues. The results showed that the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and lipid peroxidation (LPx) were increased in treated groups than control. On the other hand, reduced glutathione (GSH) level was decreased in BPA exposed groups compared to control. Based on the results, imbalance in the antioxidant defence system clearly indicated that the BPA toxicity could lead to susceptible oxidative stress in various tissues of the fish L. calcarifer

The sex locus is tightly linked to factors conferring sex-specific lethal effects in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

In many taxa, sex chromosomes are heteromorphic and largely non-recombining. Evolutionary models predict that spread of recombination suppression on the Y chromosome is fueled by the accumulation of sexually antagonistic alleles in close linkage to the sex determination region. However, empirical evidence for the existence of sexually antagonistic alleles is scarce. In the mosquito Aedes aegypti, the sex-determining chromosomes are homomorphic. The region of suppressed recombination, which surrounds the male-specific sex-determining gene, remains very small, despite ancient origin of the sex chromosomes in the Aedes lineage. We conducted a genetic analysis of the A. aegypti chromosome region tightly linked to the sex locus. We used a strain with an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged transgene inserted near the male-determining gene to monitor crossing-over events close to the boundary of the sex-determining region (SDR), and to trace the inheritance pattern of the transgene in relation to sex. In a series of crossing experiments involving individuals with a recombinant sex chromosome we found developmental abnormalities leading to 1:2 sex biases, caused by lethality of half of the male or female progeny. Our results suggest that various factors causing sex-specific lethal effects are clustered within the neighborhood of the SDR, which in the affected sex are likely lost or gained through recombination, leading to death. These may include genes that are recessive lethal, vital for development and/or sexually antagonistic. The sex chromosome fragment in question represents a fascinating test case for the analysis of processes that shape stable boundaries of a non-recombining region

Bioactive Metabolites Profile of Methanol Flower and Seed Extracts of Clitoria ternatea (L.)

Since ancient times, plants and plant products were used against numerous diseases. In this context, Clitoria ternatea (C. ternatea) was used for the various treatments of infectious diseases as a therapeutic role containing various phytochemical, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The methanol flower and seed extracts of C.ternatea were analysed for antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) using the agar well diffusion method. However, the probe of the antibacterial activity in both the methanol flower and methanol seed showed more or less the same zone of inhibition at 200 µg/ml. Furthermore, antioxidant properties were analysed by DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay. Results on the DPPH assay showed better results in the methanol flower (42.79±0.0819) extract than methanol seed extract (37.41±0.0265) 200µg/ml. Likewise, the reducing assay manifested in the extract of methanol flower (0.90737±0.00375) was supremacy. Moreover the High resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HRLCMS) analysis of methanol flower and seed extract of C. ternatea contained 32 and 51 major bioactive compounds, respectively in positive and negative modes. In light of the study, the extracts of methanol flower and seed extract of C. ternatea are utilized in the mode of action against H. pylori. The methanolic flower and seed extracts authenticated the presence of extensive identified and unidentified phytochemicals in C. ternatea and through more light on the important bioactive compounds to be explored for medicinal applications in future research

Role of Probiotics in Culture of Carps with reference to Rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton)

The demand for farmed carp species has increased significantly over the last decade due to their high market value. In culture of omnivorous species such as Rohu, Labeo rohita (L. rohita), intestine, gonads, culture water, sediments and even commercial products can be a source of appropriate probiotic. Probiotics technique is a promising statergy for improving aquaculture performance and it is known to have many health benefits including the ability to modulate growth responses and immune system on positive side. Also encapsulating probiotics to live feed is an efficient method to deliver probiotics to aquatic animals. Probiotics can be applied as a single strain or a combination of strains. The comprehensive literature search highlights the significant positive role of probiotics in culture of L. rohita. It inferred that, use of probiotics enhanced growth performance, survival (SUR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), amylase activity (AMY), total serum protein (TP), hemocrit, specific and non specific immune parameters. Furthermore, dietary administration of probiotics also accelerated heat shock protein (MSP) and gene expression in L .rohita. These findings encourage the use of probiotics as a valuable tool in optimizing the production of L. rohita in culture system. Moreover, dosage and duration of probiotics and age of the host species are the significant factors in achieving desired result. This review article aims to present research findings on the use of probiotics in farming of L. rohita. Furthermore, this study attempts to fill the gaps in existing knowledge for the merit of further investigation and developments