Comparative Study of Various Metals in the Sewage Samples of Three Major Drains of the City-Patna, Bihar, India

Untreated sewage is a major water pollutant and widely used for irrigation in the agricultural fields of district Patna, Bihar, India. When sewage, containing heavy metals, irrigated into the agricultural fields, it enters into the human food chain by the process of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. In view of the above fact, the present study was conducted to determine the level of metals in the sewage samples of three major drains namely Mandiri, Rajapur and Pahari situated in the city Patna, Bihar, India, during March 2010 to February 2011. In comparison with other two drains, the metals were found in higher amount in the sewage of Pahari drain throughout the year

Phytoremediation of selenium by two helophyte species in subsurface flow constructed wetland

The phytoremediation of selenium by two different wetland species was investigated. Selenium (20.4 mug/l) was supplied continuously to subsurface flow constructed wetlands, one vegetated with Typha latifolia L. and the other with Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. The beds of both species had same hydraulic loading rate (0.079 m(3)/m(2)/d) and water retention time (24 h). However, the mass loading rate was 1.27 mg Se/m(2)/d for Phragmites and 1.35 mg Se/m(2)/d for Typha. In the Typha bed Se migrated faster than in the Phragmites bed. After 25 d of Se supplementation in the Typha bed about 54% of the Se inlet concentration remained in the outlet water. In the Phragmites bed Se was removed completely from the water after passing through 3/4 of the bed length. After 65 d of Se supplementation the highest amount of Se (2.8 mug/g dry matter) was determined in the organic material of the Typha bed. Roots and rhizomes accumulated 2,2 and 1.8 mug/g dry matter respectively. Phragmites accumulated Se in the leaves and stems, but not in the rhizomes. The accumulation in the leaves (1.8 mug Se/g dry matter) was three times higher than in the sterns (0.6 mug Se/g dry matter). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Phytoremediation of selenium using subsurface-flow constructed wetland

The potential of two plant species, Phragmites australis (common reed) and Typha latifolia (cattail), in the phytoremediation process of selenium (Se) was studied in subsurface-flow constructed wetland (SSF). Se was supplemented continuously at a concentration of 100 microg Se L(-1) in the inlet of the cultivation beds of the SSF. Water samples collected from the outlet of the Phragmites bed after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 wk of treatments showed that Se content was under detectable limits. Water samples collected from the Typha bed at the same five periods showed that Se concentrations in the outlet were 55, 47, 65, 76, and 25 microg/L, respectively. The results of bioaccumulation in the biomass of both species after 12 wk of treatment indicated that Typha plants accumulated Se mainly in fine roots. Phragmites accumulated Se mainly in leaves and rhizomes, and moderate levels were found in stems and fine organic materials. The results indicate that common reed is a very good species for Se phytoextraction and phytostabilization (immobilization) and that cattail is only a phytostabilization species. The use of common reed and cattail for Se phytoremediation in a SSF system and in constructed wetland models are discussed

Antinociceptive, anti inflammatory and antiarthritic activity of ethanol root extract and fraction of <em>Aganosma dichotoma</em> (Roth) K. Schum

646-656Aganosma dichotoma (Roth) K. Schum, locally called Malati, has been traditionally used in the treatment of pain and inflammation in Ayurvedic system of medicine. In the present study, We investigated its antiarthritic potential. Qualitative and quantitative study through HPTLC was done in ethanolic root extract (EAD), petroleum ether fraction (PF) and chloroform fraction (CF) using quercetin, kaempferol, ursolic acid and lupeol as standard. EAD (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.), PF and CF (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) were evaluated for analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activities by Freund's complete adjuvant induced arthritis model (FCA). Arthritis was assessed on the basis of ‘change in paw’ volume and arthritis index. Hematological parameters, spleen and thymus index, cytokine level in serum, radiological and histological parameters were also evaluated. EAD possess a higher amount of ursolic acid (2.23%) and lupeol (5.81%). EAD 400 mg/kg, p.o. showed potent inhibition in paw volume and TNF-α (33.19, 57.32%) as compared to curcumin 100 mg/kg, p.o. (31.12, 44.09%), respectively. EAD, PF and CF possessed significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activities. EAD and PF at higher dose decreased the spleen index