Effect of abiotic factors on the distribution of earthworms in different land use patterns

AbstractThe distribution of earthworms is usually diverse and their numbers fluctuate in relation to the different abiotic factors and land use patterns of the soil. The aim of the present study is to determine the biodiversity, distribution and relative abundance of earthworms under different land use pattern and its relation to abiotic factors (physico-chemical properties) of the soil. Earthworms were collected from different sites on the basis of various environment niches like agriculture fields, gardens, nurseries, along the river and road side etc. by hand sorting method. Physico-chemical analysis of the soil was also done to know the important factors affecting earthworm biodiversity and distribution. Total five species of earthworms belonging to the families Megascolecidae and Octochaetidae were identified: Metaphire posthuma, Lampito mauritti, Amynthas morissi, Eutyphoeus waltoni and Eutyphoeus incommodus. M. posthuma was the most abundant species and found in all the collection sites while other four species were abundantly found in gardens and nurseries. Shannon–Wiener diversity index, Margalef species richness and Pielou’s evenness was ranged from 0.11 to 0.37, 0 to 0.6 and 0 to 0.53 respectively. Principal component analysis also proved that the abiotic factors like pH, moisture, soil texture and OC has strong positive effect on the distribution of earthworm. Earthworm biodiversity and distribution have been found to be positively correlated with type of vegetation and moisture content at the different collection sites and also varied according to soil habitat, soil tillage and land used pattern

Environmental Influence of Soil toward Effective Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is a process by which the organic waste is converted into manure with the help of earthworms. Growth rate, onset of maturity (clitellum development), rate of reproduction (cocoon production) and population buildup of earthworm during vermicomposting have been depend upon the conditions like temperature, moisture and physico-chemical properties of the feed mixtures. Eisenia fetida was superior to other epigeic species and tolerate wide range of temperature, moisture and pH. Endogeic species produced lesser cocoon than epigeic species and cocoon production decreased at low temperature. Maintenance of temperature and moisture content is the critical step for vermicomposting. Growth and maturation of earthworms was best at 20–25°C temperature with 80–85% moisture content. Increase temperature upto 30°C accelerated growth rate of earthworms and lessened the time to sexual maturity. Earthworms can survive in the soil contaminated with heavy metals by accumulating heavy metals in their tissues

Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and In Vitro Antioxidant Activities of Parkinsonia aculeata Linn.

Butanol and hexane leaves extracts of Parkinsonia aculeata L. (Fabaceae) were assessed for its antioxidant potential by in vitro methods. Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of plant extracts were studied using different in vitro assays. UPLC analysis of extracts was carried out for the identification of chemical constituents. The total phenolic contents of the butanol and hexane leaf extract were 42 mgGAE/g and 34 mgGAE/g whereas flavonoid contents of these extracts were found to be 0.044 mgRE/g and 0.005 mgRE/g, respectively. Among both extracts, butanol extract shows maximum inhibition (%) of 93.88%, 80.02%, 52.06%, 94.68%, and 69.37% in DPPH, non-site-specific and site-specific, FTC, and TBA assays and absorbance of 0.852 and 0.522 in reducing power and CUPRAC assay at the highest concentration tested. The FRAP and TAC values of butanol extract were found to be 678 μM Fe(II)/g and 36 mgAAE/100 mg. UPLC analysis of extracts revealed the presence of various polyphenols. The tested plant extracts were found to possess potent antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity which may be due to the presence of flavonoids and polyphenols

Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant properties of methanol and aqueous extracts of Parkinsonia aculeata L

In the present study, methanol and aqueous extracts of Parkinsonia aculeata L. leaves were prepared and analyzed for phytochemical analysis and antioxidant potential in different in vitro assays. Antioxidant activity was studied using DPPH, CUPRAC, reducing power assay, deoxyribose degradation (site and nonsite specific), ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP), ferric thiocyanate (FTC), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), and molybdate ion reduction, respectively. The total phenolic contents of the methanol and aqueous leaf extract were 39 mg GAE/g and 38 mg GAE/g, whereas flavonoid contents of these extracts were found to be 0.013 mg RE/g and 0.006 mg RE/g, respectively. From the two extracts, the methanol extract shows maximum inhibition (%) of 57.82%, 71.23%, 48.26%, 69.85%, and 52.78% in DPPH, nonsite-and site-specific, FTC, and TBA assays and absorbance of 0.669 and 0.241 in reducing power and CUPRAC assays at the highest concentration tested. UPLC analysis was done to determine the presence of various types of polyphenols present in plant extracts

Soil properties changes earthworm diversity indices in different agro-ecosystem

Abstract Background Earthworm communities are generally very sensitive to physico-chemical properties of the soil in different agro-ecosystem i.e. cultivated or non-cultivated which directly or indirectly influence the earthworm survival. The difference in physico-chemical properties of soil at different sites contributed to the formation of population patches for earthworm species. Understanding the physico-chemical properties of soil at a particular site could facilitate the prediction of earthworm species at that site. The objective of the present study was to investigate the diversity, abundance, and distribution of earthworms in cultivated and non-cultivated agroecosystems and their physico-chemical properties affecting the earthworm diversity and abundance. Results Total 10 species of earthworms i.e. Amynthas alexandri, Amynthas morrisi, Eutyphoeus incommodus, Eutyphoeus waltoni, Metaphire birmanica, Metaphire houlleti, Metaphire posthuma, Octochaetona beatrix, Perionyx excavatus, and Polypheretima elongata, were reported. Out of all the reported species, Metaphire posthuma was found to be the most abundant earthworm species in both cultivated and non-cultivated agroecosystems with the occurrence at 56.81% sites. The Shannon-Wiener index (H), Margalef species richness index (DMg) and Pielou species evenness (E) was ranged from 0 to 0.86, 0 to 0.64 and 0.78 to 1 respectively. The principal component analysis resulted in four principal components i.e. PC1, PC2, PC3 and PC4 which contributing variance (%) of 22.96, 19.37, 14.23 and 10.10 respectively. The principal component analysis also showed that physico-chemical parameters of soil such as EC, pH, TDS, texture, OC, moisture, etc. play a critical role in earthworm distribution. Conclusion The conventional farming system has a negative effect on the earthworm diversity in the soil while the physico-chemical properties of soil also have a determinant effect on the same. Earthworms abundance in the present study have significant direct relation with soil properties at a particular site and vice versa. The diversity indices also change due to the conventional farming system which directly affects the earthworm abundance

Modulation of atrazine-induced chromosomal aberrations and cyclin-dependent kinases by aqueous extract of Roylea cinerea (D.Don) Baillon leaves in Allium cepa

Abstract Roylea cinerea (D.Don) Baillon an indigenous medicinal plant of Lamiaceae family used for the treatment of several diseases. In the present study, its aqueous (leaves) extract was tested for genoprotective action against atrazine-induced chromosomal aberrations in the root tip cells of Allium cepa. Atrazine is a herbicide of triazine class commonly used to inhibit the growth of broad leaf and grassy weeds. In order to find the concentration of atrazine that exhibits maximum toxicity, its different concentrations (1, 5 and 10 µg/mL) were tested. It was observed that 10 µg/mL concentration was more toxic as it reduced the mitotic index and also increased the chromosomal aberrations. Among all the tested concentrations of aqueous (leaves) extracts (0.25. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 3.0 µg/mL), the3.0 µg/mL concentration in both modes of experiments i.e. pre and post showed a significant reduction in chromosomal aberrations induced by atrazine. To understand the mechanism of protection by plant extract on atrazine-induced chromosomal abnormalities the RT-qPCR studies were conducted to observe the expression of marker genes Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) (CDKA:1, CDKB2:1 and CDKD1:1. For this, the RNA was extracted from root tips treated with extract along with atrazine by TRIzol®. It was observed that aqueous extract of Roylea cinerea (D.Don) Baillon leaves upregulated the CDKs gene expression in both the modes i.e. pre and post treatments. A critical analysis of results indicated that aqueous extract ameliorated the chromosomal aberrations caused by atrazine which may be be due to the increased expression level of CDKs genes

Ecological risk assessment of metals in roadside agricultural soils: A modified approach

<p>The threat of metal contamination of roadside agricultural soils poses severe ecological risks throughout the globe due to dual contamination by intensive agriculture and traffic-related activities. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess ecological risks posed by metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn) in intensively cultivated roadside agricultural soils of Punjab, India. The results of the contamination assessment factors <i>i.e.</i> Contamination Factor (CF) and Enrichment Factor (EF) indicated that the studied soils were moderately to highly contaminated with metals. It was observed that the Modified Risk Index (MRI), which is based upon EF, indicated the ecological risks of metals more efficiently than the traditional Ecological Risk Index (RI), which is based upon CF in the present study. The MRI values indicated that the metals posed considerable to high risk in 67.86% samples as compared to only 7.14% samples based upon RI values. Thus, MRI can be considered as a more efficient risk indicator in comparison to RI. Spatial distribution maps of MRI indicated to higher metal contamination in inner urban parts of study area due to higher traffic and industrial activities.</p

Hepatic Dysfunction Induced by 7, 12-Dimethylbenz(α)anthracene and Its Obviation with Erucin Using Enzymatic and Histological Changes as Indicators

<div><p>The toxicity induced by 7, 12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA) has been widely delineated by a number of researchers. This potent chemical damages many internal organs including liver, by inducing the production of reactive oxygen species, DNA-adduct formation and affecting the activities of phase I, II, antioxidant and serum enzymes. Glucosinolate hydrolytic products like isothiocyanates (ITCs) are well known for inhibiting the DNA-adduct formation and modulating phase I, II enzymes. Sulforaphane is ITC, currently under phase trials, is readily metabolized and inter-converted into erucin upon ingestion. We isolated erucin from <i>Eruca sativa</i> (Mill.) Thell. evaluated its hepatoprotective role in DMBA induced toxicity in male wistar rats. The rats were subjected to hepatic damage by five day regular intraperitoneal doses of DMBA. At the end of the protocol, the rats were euthanized, their blood was collected and livers were processed. The liver homogenate was analyzed for phase I (NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, cytochrome P450, cytochrome P420 and cytochrome b5), phase II (DT diaphorase, glutathione-S-transferase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidise, ascorbate peroxidise, glutathione reductase and lactate dehydrogenase). The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxides, conjugated dienes and reduced glutathione in the liver homogenate was also analyzed. The serum was also analyzed for markers indicating hepatic damage (alkaline phosphatase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, direct bilirubin and total bilirubin). Erucin provided significant protection against DMBA induced damage by modulating the phase I, II and antioxidant enzymes. The histological evaluation of liver tissue was also conducted, which showed the hepatoprotective role of erucin.</p></div

Comparative changes noted on histology- Normal Vs Abnormal at H&E 400 X.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Normal portal triad comprising of hepatic duct, artery and portal vein without any inflammatory infiltrate.; (<b>B</b>) Portal tracts showing mild to moderate periportal inflammation by mononuclear inflammatory cells; (<b>C</b>) Normal central vein which is surrounded by unremarkable looking hepatocytes maintaining their normal trabecular architecture and orientation; (<b>D</b>) Central vein is dilated and congested and shows loss of normal trabecular architecture along with focal necrosis.</p