003383   Mehtaz S;Borah P;Sharma R K;Chakraborty A (Veterinary Microbiology Dep, College of Veterinary Science Assam Agricultural Univ, Khanapara, Guwahati-781 022, Email: borahp@rediffmail.com) : Antibiogram of Clostridium perfringens isolated from animals and foods. Indian vet J 2013, 90(1), 54-6.

Out of a total of 203 samples from apparently healthy as well as clinically affected animals and chicken and from meat and milk, 98 (48.27%) yielded Clostridium perfringens. The organism could be isolated most frequently from intestinal contents and faecal samples from clinically affected animals and chicken. Of the 68 representative isolates tested for virulence factors, 40 (58.82%) showed DNase production, 22 (32.35%) were haemolytic on blood agar and 29 (42.65%) showed production of phospholipase C. A total of 98 isolates of C. perfringens were tested for their susceptibility to 12 different antimicrobial agents. Highest sensitivity (88.78%) was recorded to ciprofloxacin, followed by ofloxacin (82.65%), norfloxacin (80.61%) and enrofloxacin (78.57%), while least sensitivity (7.14%) was observed to streptomycin.

1 table, 9 ref

003382   Manpreet Kaur;Sandeep Kaur;Gupta A K;Zhawar V K (Biochemistry Dep, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Punjab Agricultural Univ, Ludhiana-141 004, Email: vikram97jit@yahoo.com) : Role of abscissic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and superoxide ions produced during germination and growth of wheat seedlings. Indian J agric Biochem 2013, 26(2), 148-54.

Effect of sodium tungstate, ST (an inhibitor of ABA biosynthesis) and tiron, T (specific scavenger of superoxide ions) was studied on seed germination, growth and antioxidant potential of shoots and roots of wheat seedlings of two cultivars C306 (ABA-higher sensitive) and PBW343 (ABA-lesser sensitive) to study the role of ABA biosynthesized and superoxide ions produced under normal (non-stressed) conditions for these processes. Seed germination was decreased under both ST and T supply in both cultivars. Such decrease was not so higher under ST in both cultivars and under T in PBW343 but was much higher under T in C306. Length (shoot and root) of the plant was increased but fresh biomasses of shoots and roots were not affected under ST in both cultivars. Under T, both length and biomasses were increased in both cultivars. Antioxidant potential was decreased in the form of decreases in antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate contents, ascorbate to dehydroascorbate ratios; increases in malondialdehyde contents, H₂O₂ contents under ST and under T in both cultivars. Proline contents were increased under ST and under T in both cultivars but increases were higher in C306 than in PBW343.

2 tables, 23 ref

003381   Kesherwani S;Jain V (Zoology Dep, Govt. M.H. College of H. Sc. and Sci. for Women, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Email: sadhanakesherwani23@gmail.com) : Inheritance pattern of ear lobes in local population of Jabalpur (M.P.). Life Sci Bull 2013, 10(1), 117-19.

Investigation is aimed to assess the genetic variability of phenotypic expression of ear lobes among human population.

1 table, 6 ref

003380   Hanumanth Nayak V;Potla K R (NO, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Email: vhnayak@gmail.com) : Metabolome analysis, methods and future prospects: a review. Int J Trop Agric 2013, 31(1-2), 39-45.

Metabolomics now plays a significant role in fundamental plant biology and applied biotechnology. Plants collectively produce a huge array of chemicals, far more than produced by most other organisms. Hence, metabolomics is of great importance in plant biology, it has gained importance in biotechnology applications, as exemplified by quantitative loci analysis, prediction of food quality, and evaluation of genetically modified crops. Metabolomics approaches enable the parallel assessment of the levels of a broad range of metabolites and have been documented to have great value in both phenotyping and diagnostic analyses in plants and other organisms. Analysis of metabolites was done by using different method like HPLC, GC, CE, MS etc. but due to problem in their efficiency, accuracy and speed they are replaced by new throughput instrument like GC-MS, HPLC-MS, CE-MS, NMR, GC-MS-TOF etc. These high through instrument gives better result over traditional one in respect to their efficiency, accuracy and speed for the analysis of huge number of metabolite in the cell. Metabolomic approach nowadays effectively used to identify mQTL in plant which helpful in breeding programme for the selection of progeny in short period of time that of MAS selection. Metabololomics not only used in breeding programme but also make effective role in diagnosis and prediction of different disease in human. Hence comprehensive study of human metabolites "human metabolome project" was lunched jan-2005 in Canada. Further advancements in metabolomics technologies are needed to cover the wide array of phytochemicals and increase the spatial and temporal resolution of metabolome analysis. Strengthening of spectral databases and sophisticated informatics for more accurate annotation of metabolites is necessary, and these efforts must be internationally harmonized and publicly available.

4 ref

003379   Gupta P;Das A K;Nishant Kumar (Animal Genetics and Breeding Dep, SKUAST-J, R.S. Pura, Jammu (Jammu Kashmir)) : Gene knockout technology and its applications. Life Sci Bull 2013, 10(1), 1-4.

Gene knockout is a genetic technique in which one of an organism's genes is made inoperative. Also known as knockout organisms or simply knockouts, they are used to study the function of specific genes, detect their protein products and link them to diseases that arise when their function is inadequate. Thus, utilization of knockout mouse models has been powerful for elucidating the function of genes as well as finding new therapeutic interventions for the diseases. This review article highlights the gene knockout technology and the several applications of this technology in the various fields of biomedical research.

^iia1 table, 47 ref

003378   Gupta A;Srivastava A K;Srivastava M; Vishwakarma N (Veterinary Pathology Dep, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Uttar Pradesh, Email: mrsnavneet12@rediffmail.com) : Healing effect of cow's urine in experimental rats. Vet Practnr 2013, 14(1), 176-8.

Work was conducted on experimental rats to assess the healing effect of cow's urine. The systemic effect of urine along with topical application on surgical wound healing in the rats were far better as assessed by macroscopical and histomorphochemical examination. The urine treated rats did not require any supportive therapy and showed early development of granulation tissue and regeneration of epidermis with fibroplasias. The presence of vertically arranged fibroblast with production of thin and better quality , of collagen fibres and formation of thin band of connective tissue without apparent scar mark were characteristic features in the rats of urine treated group. However, the rats of control group revealed fibroplasias with horizontally arranged fibroblasts, presence of thick and coarse collagen fibres and formation of wide band of connective tissue with apparent scar mark in different stages of surgical wound healing.

3 illus, 1 table, 13 ref

003377   Ghosh A S;Selvam D G;Neethu C S;Saramma A V; Hatha A A M (Marine Biology Dep, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin Univ, Fine Arts Avenue, Cochin-682 016, Email: mohamedhatha@gmail.com) : Diversity and antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria from the gut of marine fish Rastrelliger kanagurta against fish,shrimp and human pathogens. J Mar Biol Ass India 2013, 55(2), 22-7.

Emergence of antibiotic resistance among aquaculture pathogens has made it necessary to look into environment friendly, effective and sustainable methods such as probiotic and immunostimulants among others.. In the present study, LAB were isolated from the gut of fish species namely Rastrelliger kanagurta and analyzed for their antibacterial activity against various fish, shrimp and human pathogens. Different LAB species such as Lactobacillus plantarum, L bulgaricus, L brevis and L. viridiscens were encountered in the gut of R. kanagurta. Several strains showed good activity against fish, shrimp and human pathogens. LAB from the gut of such marine species may be developed as possible probiont for environment friendly health management of fresh water, estuarine and marine species currently exploited in aquaculture.

3 tables, 34 ref

003376   Chamisa S F;Mjoli T Q (Industrial Psychology Dep, Fort Hare Univ, Alice, Eastern Cape South Africa 5700, Email: shingirayi_chamisa@hotmail.com) : HIV/AIDS awareness training programmes and risk behaviour among students. J hum Ecol 2014, 46(2), 157-64.

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS awareness programmes in reducing risk sexual behaviour. A survey design was used to realise the research objectives. The sample population was 41 students studying at the University of Fort Hare. The Safe Sex Behaviour Questionnaire (SSBQ) was utilised as the measuring instrument. Snowball sampling was used to select respondents. Data was analysed with the SPSS. The results of the study confirmed that students who have attended HIV/AIDS awareness training engage in significantly lower sexual behaviour than those who have not attended such training. Understanding the value of HIV/AIDS awareness training programmes in reducing risk sexual behaviour have the potential to help practitioners design effective programmes with much emphasis on individual differences, more specifically on culture and religion. The study provides initial evidence on the impact of HIV/AIDS awareness training in reducing HIV/AIDS risk sexual behaviour which is also important in evaluating different risk sexual behaviours displayed by students which further assists in the curbing of the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in tertiary institutions.

4 tables, 22 ref

002406   Yadav A;Singh S (Zoology Dep, Nari Shiksha Niketan P.G. College, Kaiserbagh, Lucknow-226 001, Email: sudhisingh10@yahoo.com) : Relationship of chronotype to sleep pattern in a cohort of college students during work days and vacation days. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(5), 569-74.

Aim is to study whether the chronotype is linked with the sleep characteristics among college going students assessed during college days and vacation days, adult female students at undergraduate level were asked to answer the Hindi/English version of the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ), fill a sleep log, and drinking and feeding logs for three weeks covering college and vacation days. Based on chronotype categorization as morning type, intermediate type and evening type, sleep onset and offset times, sleep duration and mid-sleep times for each group were compared, separately for college and vacation days. Results indicate that the sleep duration of the morning types was significantly longer than the evening types, both, during college and vacation days. Similarly, the sleep onset and sleep offset times were significantly earlier in the morning types than the evening type students. During the vacation days, the individuals exhibited longer sleep duration with delayed mid-sleep times. Further there was no significant difference among the chronotypes regarding their feeding and drinking frequency per cent during the college and the vacation days. It is suggested that the students should be made aware of their chronotype, so that they can utilize their time optimally, and develop a schedule more suitable to their natural needs.

2 illus, 31 ref

002405   Touitou Y;Reinberg A;Smolensky M H;Riedel M; Mauvieux B;Brousse E;Marlot M;Berrez S (NO, , Unite de Chronobiologie, Fondation A. de Rothschild. 25 rue Manin. 75940 Paris 19, France, Email: yvan.touitou@chronobiology.fr) : Twenty-four-hour pattern in french firemen of lag time response to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and work-related injury. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(5), 420-4.

Circadian cognitive and physical rhythms plus 24 h patterns of accidents and work-related injuries (WRI) have been verified in numerous studies. However, rarely, if ever, have 24 h temporal differences in both work performance and risk of WRI been assessed in the same group of workers. Authors explored in a homogenous group of French firemen (FM) 24 h patterns of both lag time (LT) response duration to emergency calls for medical help (ECFM) for life-threatening out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA), used as a non-specific index of work performance, and WRI. Our studies demonstrate rather high amplitude statistically significant 24 h patterns of the two variables. The LT response duration was twice as long <126>0500 h (slowest response) than <126>1600 h (fastest response). In the same group of FM, the actual number WRI/h was greatest <126>1600 h and lowest in the early morning hours. However, the 24 h pattern of the relative risk (RR) of WRIs, i.e., per clock hour number of WRI/(total number of responses to emergency calls x number of FM at risk per response), was very different, the RR being greatest <126>0200 h and lowest in the afternoon. The 24 h pattern in LT response duration to ECMH for OHCA and RR of WRI was strongly correlated (r=+0.85, P<60>0.01), with the nocturnal trough (slowest response) in LT response duration coinciding with the nocturnal peak RR of WRI. These findings indicate the requirement for circadian rhythm-based interventions to improve the nocturnal compromised work performance and elevated risk of WRI of shift-working FM.

46 ref

002404   Sultana R;Pati A K (School of Life Sciences, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla Univ, Raipur-492 010, Email: akpati19@gmail.com ) : Blood pressure variability and pedigree analysis of noctural SBP dipping in Kubas from rural Chhattisgarh, India. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(5), 542-8.

Family is the smallest unit of people to share most of the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors. They are likely to have similarity in many physiological and behavioural aspects. Therefore, we designed a protocol to test the effect of large rural Indian families living together (Kumbas), on blood pressure variability. Also investigated the hypothesis that `nocturnal dipping' in systolic blood pressure (SBP) is not heritable. Members of two families (1 and 2) consisting of 3-4 generations willingly participated in the study. Both families (natives of Chhattisgarh) belong to reasonably peaceful rural area and are financially stable. Farming is the main occupation of the members of both families. Few members of the families had jobs or small business. The null hypothesis regarding heritability of nocturnal dipping trait was accepted based on data emanating from either of the studied families. Hourly-averaged values depicted less variation in males and females of family 1 from midnight to early morning at around 06:00, as compared to that in males and females of family 2. The 24 h averages of BP in family 2 were significantly higher as compared to that in family 1. Further, in family 2 the peaks of SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) occurred significantly earlier as compared to that in family 1. The peak spread of SBP, DBP, heart rate (HR), MAP and pulse pressure (PP) among the members of family 1 was narrower than that for the members of family 2. Arbitrary cut-off values for classification of dipping, small sample size, and age dependency of nocturnal dipping might have marred outcome of the pedigree analysis of nocturnal dipping trait in this study. We have a hunch that the family shares typical temporal ups and downs in 24 h BP and HR. The above hypothesis needs confirmation based on studies with large data set involving subjective and objective assessment of the effects of psychosocial factors on BP and HR variability.

6 illus, 2 tables, 40 ref

002403   Shlomo R B (Biology Dep, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Univ of Haifa - Oranim, Tivon 36006, Israel, Email: ekly@research.haifa.ac.il) : Chronodisruption, cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(5), 399-403.

Chronodisruption, a disturbance in "natural" daily light/dark regulation, is possibly linked to disturbances in cell cycle homeostasis. The association and the synchronization between circadian rhythms and mitosis are not yet clear. The circadian oscillator is involved in the major cellular pathways of cell division. A molecular link between the circadian clock and the mammalian DNA damage checkpoints has been outlined. Analyses suggest an association between light disruption and obstruction of the cell cycle homeostasis. Disruption in the homeostatic control of the cell cycle has been associated with cancer and acceleration of malignant growth, possibly as a result of the interruption of DNA damage check-points. Studies further indicate that light signal during the dark phase affects the transcription level of a substantial number of genes that are associated with cell cycle progression, cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Indeed, the International Agency for Research in Cancer categorized "shift work that involves circadian disruption" as possibly carcinogenic. In this review the current finding on light pollution and its potential influence on cell cycle check-points and DNA repair is presented.

51 ref

002402   Sen R;Shaffi S A;Kakaria V K;Chauhan A (Zoology Dep, Regional Institute of Education (NCERT), Shyamla Hills, Bhopal) : Biochemical parameters alterations induced by oral administration of dichloroacetic acid (DCA) in male albino rats. Adv Pharmac Toxic 2014, 15(2), 1-6.

Dichloroacetic acid(DCA) is a Haloacetic acid compound. It is used as a therapeutic agent to treat lactic acidosis, diabetes, and familial hyperlipidaemia in humans. Male albino rats were orally administered with 125mg/kg-body weight of Dichloroacetic acid for 30 days, 60 days and 90 days. The animals were sacrificed and reproductive organs were quickly dissected out and washed in saline solution for biochemical estimation. The study also showed a significant reduction in testis and accessory organs enzymes, succinic dehydrogenase(SDH) and Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) but Acid phosphatase(ACP) enzyme showed significant increase and Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) showed significant reduction in testis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland but significant increase in epididymis at 30, 60 and 90 days respectively. The result concluded that oral exposure to Dichloroacetic acid cause toxic effect on enzyme activity and reproductive functions.

4 illus, 23 ref

002401   Sangeeta Rani;Vinod Kumar (Zoology Dep, Lucknow Univ, Lucknow-226 007, Email: sangeetarani7@yahoo.com) : Photoperiodic regulation of seasonal reproduction in higher vertebrates. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(5), 413-19.

Long-lived animals such as birds and mammals adapt readily to seasonal changes in their environment. They integrate environmental cues with their internal clocks to prepare and time seasonal physiological changes. This is reflected in several seasonal phenotypes, particularly in those linked with migration, hibernation, pelage growth, reproduction and molt. The two endocrine secretions that play key roles in regulating the seasonal physiology are melatonin and thyroid hormone. Whereas, melatonin is used as an endocrine index of day length (and consequently duration of night), the seasonal up- and down-regulation of thyroid hormone affects the physiology, perhaps by influencing different pathways. Both of these hormones are shown to act via a `photoperiodic axis' constituted by the photoreceptors, hypothalamus and pituitary. Recent studies have revealed that the pars tuberalis that connects hypothalamus and pituitary, locally synthesizes the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in response to light (birds) or melatonin (mammals). The levels of TSH regulate the DIO2 and DIO3 synthesis in the ependymal cells in hypothalamus, and in turn affect the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone. This review mainly focuses on the current understanding of the mechanisms of photoperiodic regulation of seasonal responses in the higher vertebrates.

2 illus, 93 ref

002400   Portaluppi F (Hypertension Center and Dep of Medical Sciences, Ferrara Univ, Via Savonarola 9, I-44100, Ferrara, Italy, Email: prf@unife.it) : Circadian organization of the cardiovascular system in health and disease. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(5), 395-8.

In normal conditions, the temporal organization of blood pressure (BP) is mainly controlled by neuroendocrine mechanisms. Above all, the monoaminergic systems (including variations in activity of the autonomous nervous system, and in secretion of biogenic amines) appear to integrate the major driving factors of temporal variability, but evidence is available also for a role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid, opioid, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, and endothelial systems, as well as other vasoactive peptides. Many hormones with established actions on the cardiovascular system (arginine vasopressin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, melatonin, somatotropin, insulin, steroids, serotonin, CRF, ACTH, TRH, endogenous opioids, and prostaglandin E2) are also involved in sleep induction or arousal, which in turn affects BP regulation. Hence, physical, mental, and pathological stimuli which may drive activation or inhibition of these neuroendocrine effectors of biological rhythmicity, may also interfere with the temporal BP structure. On the other hand, the immediate adaptation of the exogenous components of BP rhythms to the demands of the environment are modulated by the circadian-time-dependent responsiveness of the biological oscillators and their neuroendocrine effectors. These notions may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology and therapeutics of hypertension, myocardial ischemia and infarction, cardiac arrhythmias and all kind of acute cardiovascular accidents. For instance, the normal temporal balance between external stimuli and neurohumoral influences with endogenous rhythmicity is preserved in uncomplicated, essential hypertension, whereas it is frequently lost in complicated and secondary forms of hypertension where gross alterations are found in the circadian profile of BP. When all the gates of the critical physiologic functions are aligned at the same time, the susceptibility, and thus risk, of adverse events becomes extremely high, even in the presence of minor environmental stimuli that could be usually harmless, and circadian rhythms of cardiovascular events are observed. This implies that one cannot afford to miss what happens during day but also night. Moreover, the requirement for preventive and therapeutic interventions varies predictably during the 24 h, suggesting that the delivery of protective or preventive medications should be synchronized in time in proportion to need, as determined by established rhythmic patterns in cardiovascular function as well as risk, in a manner that will avert or minimize their undesired side effects.

30 ref

002399   Pandey R K;Bhardwaj S K (Chronobiology laboratory, Zoology Dep, Ch Charan Singh Univ, Meerut-250 004, Email: drskumar7@yahoo.com) : Effects of light intensity on circadian activity behaviour in the Indian weaverbird (Ploceus philippinus). Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(5), 510-15.

Circadian (locomotor activity/perching) behaviour of the weaverbird (Ploceus philippinus) under different light intensities was studied. Six groups of birds were subjected to 12L:12D (L = 1000 and 10 lux and D = 0.3 lux) for two weeks, and thereafter released into constant dim illumination (LL_dim = 0.3 lux). After two weeks of LL_dim, birds were given a 2 h light pulse of 1000 lux at circadian time (CT) 12, 17 and 20, and exposure of LL_dim was continued for another two weeks and the activity pattern was monitored. As expected, all birds were entrained under 12L:12D showing dense-activity in the group that was placed under light phase of 1000 lux. Under LL_dim birds exhibited circadian activity rhythms with periods longer or shorter than 24 h. Light pulse at CT 12 caused small delay shift in the activity phase, but a larger delay in phase shift occurred when the pulse was given at CT 17. A pulse at CT 20 caused small advanced phase shift. Thus, photoperiodic weaverbird appears to show circadian system regulated behaviour as seen by activity-rest pattern under programmed light cycles.

2 illus, 27 ref

002398   Pande B;Parganiha A;Patra P K;Pati A K (School of Life Sciences, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla Univ, Raipur-492 010, Email: akpati19@gmail.com) : Short-duration judgment in young Indian subjects under 30 h constant wakefulness. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(5), 559-58.

Study aimed to investigate probability of a possible endogenous circadian rhythm in human cognitive attribute to estimate short intervals. Apparently healthy young males and females were selected for our study. Eight subjects prospectively produced the short-time intervals 10 s and 60 s at 2 hourly intervals in 30 h constant routine (CR) study conducted in spring (CR-1). The study was repeated again in autumn (CR-2) in the remaining eight subjects. The established circadian markers, namely serum cortisol, salivary melatonin levels and tympanic temperature were also measured either in CR-1 or CR-2. Oral temperature was measured simultaneously. Circadian rhythms were validated in serum cortisol, salivary melatonin, oral, and tympanic temperatures. Circadian rhythm in 60 s estimates was observed in a few subjects and in all males at group level in CR-1. The cognitive attribute to perceive short intervals vary as function of season. The results provide evidence in support of interaction among the interval, circadian and circannual timing systems in human.

3 illus, 4 tables, 60 ref

002397   Novakova M;Sumova A (Faculty of Medicine, Charles Univ in Prague, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic, Email: sumova@biomed.cas.cz) : New methods of assess circadian clocks in humans. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(5), 404-12.

Proper function of the circadian system seems crucial for human health. New advances in methods for assessment of the functional state of the human circadian system facilitate our understanding of the relationship between the disruption of the circadian system and various diseases. Based on the results of such studies, new directions for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases emerge. This communication aims to summarize current methods for evaluating the human circadian system in the laboratory as well as in field studies. The advantages and limitations of the current methods and various approaches used for both in vivo and in vitro assessment of the human circadian system are discussed.

90 ref

002396   Mishra I;Trivedi A M;Vinod Kumar (DST-IRHPA Center for Excellence, Zoology Dep, Delhi Univ, Delhi-110 007, Email: drvkumar11@yahoo.com) : Daily behaviour can differ between colour morphos of the same species: a study on circadian activity behaviour of grey and pied zebra finches. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(5), 516-20.

Aim is to investigate if the plumage colour mutation relates to circadian activity behaviour in the zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata, wild type grey and pied mutant males were sequentially subjected for three weeks each to 12 h light:12 h darkness (12L:12D) and constant dim light (LL_dim) condition. During the first 3 h of the 12 h day, pied finches were significantly greater active than grey finches. Also, as compared to grey, pied finches had longer activity duration in the day, with early activity onsets and late activity offsets. This was changed under free-running condition (LL_dim), when the activity later in the subjective day (clock hour 9 and 11) was significantly greater in grey than in pied finches. Two colour morphs differed in daily activity profile, but not in the total daily activity or circadian rhythm period. Results suggest that greyzebra finches represent late chronotype, and could perhaps be better adapted to a seemingly stressful environment, such as low intensity LL_dim in the present study.

3 illus, 22 ref

002395   Manish Mathur (NO, , 18E-564, C.H.B., Jodhpur, Rajasthan-342 003, Email: ravi_mm2099@yahoo.com) : Knowledge and gaps for herbal zinc in relation to their role in regulation of male fertility. Trends Biosci 2013, 6(1), 14-18.

Zinc is currently the trace minerals of greatest concern when considering the nutritional value of vegetarian. It plays several important roles in a biological system and considered as the closest thing to a nutritional aphrodisiac. In the present review various aspects related with zinc and male fertility were discussed. Zinc plays a key role inspermatogenesis from several perspectives and located primarily in the Lyding cells. It takes part in formation of sperm motility, influences directly on sperm morphology and plays an important part in capacitation. Various biological factors, heavy or regular use of alcohol, smoking and endocrine abnormalities are the major factors associated with decrease level of seminal plasma zinc level. Its bioavailability is highly influenced by phytate content of food material that makes non-vegetarian diet more preferable then vegetarian diet. Many medicinal plants as well as their products are now being use and marketed for correcting the Zinc deficiency. In present review it was realized that synergistic studies involving Zinc and phytate concentration and their impacts on sperm dynamics need to taken up.

^iia3 tables, 44 ref

002394   Malik S;Yadav G;Sangeeta Rani;Vinod Kumar (NO, DST-IRHPA Center for Excellence in Biological Rhythm Research, Lucknow-226 007, Email: drvkumar11@yahoo.com) : Light wavelength dependent circadian and seasonal responses in blackheaded bunting. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(5), 448-59.

Animals in the wild are exposed to daily variations in sun light, viz. duration, intensity and spectrum. Photosensitive blackheaded buntings (Emberiza melanocephala) were exposed to photoperiods differing in the length of light period, wavelengths and intensity. The effects of such light changes were measured on locomotor activity rhythm as well as seasonal responses like development of migratory restlessness: Zugunruhe, body mass and gonadal growth. The results show that the buntings are differentially responsive to light wavelengths and intensities and are indicative of a phase-dependent action of light on the circadian photoperiodic system. These birds seem to use changes in the light variables of the solar environment to regulate their circadian and seasonal responses.

8 illus, 45 ref

002393   Chandra Prabha D;Annapoorani S (Biochemistry Dep, Sree Narayana Guru College, Coimbatore-641 105) : Antioxidative effect of protein fraction of Cynodon dactylon (PFC) in CCL₄ challenged swiss albino mice. Int J Pharmac biol Sci 2014, 8(2), 31-5.

Free radical mediated process has been implicated in the pathogenesis of most of the diseases. Free radical scavenging effect as well as the cytoprotective action of medicinal plants appears to be related to the enhancement of endogenous and also exogenous antioxidants in addition to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Hence, to know the promising a ntioxidative potential of PFC, in in vivo conditions, the present study has been focused on the activities of the liver marker enzymes in the Swiss albino mice challenged with the free radical inducer, CCl₄ and compared to the standard antioxidant silymarin (SMN). Hepato specific enzyme status (SGOT and SGPT) in the liver of the mice challenged with the free radical enhancer CCl₄ showed increased activities. But decreased activities were noticed in the PFC and also in co-administration of PFC to the free radical induced animals. These facts indicated the normal functioning of the liver and the protective role of PFC against CCl₄.

1 illus, 1 table, 14 ref

001251   Tomar S P;Kushwah S S;Kushwah A P S (Community Medicine Dep, NSCB MC, , F-7, Doctors Colony, Medical Campus, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh) : Sex ratio at birth among deliveris conducted in G.M.H rewa, a retrospective study. J Evolution med dent Sci 2014, 3(16), 4325-30.

Deficit of women has progressively increased as evident from the sex ratio of the population; more or less steadily declined over the span of hundred years from 972 in 1901 to 933 in 2001. Declining sex ratio is a important social issue need to be urgently addressed so the present study was conducted to find out sex ratio at birth among deliveries conducted in G.M.H Rewa during year 200Sand To find out sex ratio at birth among mothers of different educational statuses, among rural and urban mothers and at different birth orders. The birth register of year 2005 in Department of obstetrics and gynaecology labour room was used as primary source of information. Data was recorded in Computerized MIS provided by UNFPA Bhopal regarding following study variables: Sex at birth, Birth outcome ,Viability of new born at birth, Birth weight of new born, Mode of deliveries, Residence of mother, Educational status of mother, Age of mother, Occupation of mother Religion of mother, Gravidae, Parity (No of surviving children including current one). Data compilation and analysis was done in department of community medicine S.S. Medical College. The sex ratio at birth for total deliveries was 910.Sex ratio at birth for deliveries of rural mothers was 922 and of urban mothers was 883. Sex ratio at birth among illiterate group of mothers, (1174) and for literate mothers it was 836. Sex ratio at birth was lower among educated mothers as compare ,to uneducated mothers and it was found lower for urban mothers as compare to rural mothers.

6 tables, 9 ref

001250   Swer P B;Lohia R; (School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110 067, Email: ssaran@mail.jnu.ac.in) : Analysis of rapamycin induced autophagy in Dictyostelium discoideum. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(4), 295-304.

Natural autophagy and autophagic cell death is being studied in the model system, D. discoideum, which has well known genetic and experimental advantages over the other known systems. There is no apoptotic machinery present in this organism - 68 - which could interfere with the non-apoptotic cell death. The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway is a major nutrient-sensing pathway which when inhibited by the drug rapamycin induces autophagy. Rapamycin was originally discovered as an anti-fungal agent but its use was abandoned when it was discovered to have potent immunosuppressive and anti-proliferative properties. It is a known drug used today for various cancer treatments and also for increasing longevity in many model organisms. It has a wide usage but its effects on other pathways or molecules are not known. This model system was used to study the action of rapamycin on autophagy induction. Using the GFP-Atg8, an autophagosome marker, it was shown that rapamycin treatment can induce autophagy by an accumulation of reactive oxygen species and intracellular free calcium. Rapamycin suppresses proliferation by induction of cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. Taken together, the results suggest that the core machinery for autophagy is conserved in D. discoideum and it can serve as a good model system to delineate the action of rapamycin induced autophagy.

6 illus, 39 ref

001249   Srinivasan M;Kumar K;Kumutha K;Marimuthu P (Agricultural Microbiology Dep, Tamil Nadu Agricultural Univ, Coimbatore-641 003, Email: srinimicrotech@gmail.com) : Establishing monoxenic culture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices through root organ culture. J appl nat Sci 2014, 6(1), 290-3.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are soil fungi distributed worldwide, forming symbiosis with most of the vascular plants for their growth and survival, which is used for sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management. This study investigated the establishment of monoxenic cultures of Glomus intraradices in association with transformed carrot hairy root. The G.intraradices spores were isolated from sugarcane rhizosphere by wet sieving and decanting technique and propagated in open pot culture. Transformation in to carrot hairy root was done using Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Surface sterilization of G.intraradices spores co-cultured with transformed carrot hairy root in Modified Strulla and Romand (MSR) medium was found the host root growth as well as for germination AM spores. After three months of incubation in dark condition, significant production of extensive hyphal growth on MSR medium and an average of 8500-9000 spores per petri dish was observed. The in vitro inoculum exhibited higher potential of root colonization due to numerous intraradices mycelium with extensive spore load. The produced monoxenic inoculum can be used in place of traditional system where it has a advantage of producing contaminant free propagulas. Thus the monoxenic culture system, a powerful tool, of AM sporulation, can be used for the mass production of monoxenic inoculum of AM fungi besides studying its biology.

10 illus, 27 ref

001248   Sontakke G;Mokashe S (NO, Padambhusan Dr. Vasanraodada Patil Mahavidyalaya, Tasgaon, Sangli (Maharashtra), Email: sgajuk@gmail.com) : Diversity of zooplankton in Dekhu reservoir from Aurangabad, Maharashtra. J appl nat Sci 2014, 6(1), 131-3.

Zooplanktons by their heterotrophic activity play a key role in the cycling of organic materials in aquatic ecosystems and are used as bioindicators of environmental quality. The present study was carried out from February 2009 to January 2010 which deals with diversity and abundance of zooplankton in Dekhu reservoir from Aurangabad district. A total 25 species of zooplankton were recorded in which rotifers were more abundant with 11 species followed by copepods and cladocerans 6 species each and 2 species of Ostracods. Results indicated that Dekhu reservoir is more productive.

2 tables, 25 ref

001247   Singh D;Swashankh Kumar;Niwas R (Animal Husbandry & Dairying Dep, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu Univ, Varanasi-221 005, Email: ramniwasbhu@gmail.com) : Recent trend in development of natural preservation technique for raw milk with lactoperoxidase system (LPS): a review. Envir Ecol 2013, 31(2A), 605-12.

In the present article, mechanisms of lac-toperoxidase system's action and its potential biological functions in food systems were reviewed. Milk contains several naturally occurring inhibitors e.g. lysozyme, immunoglobulins and lactoferrin but these are not effective to retard the bacterial activity because of their less quantity. Lactoperoxidase (LP), a haem iron-binding glycoprotein, is a peroxidase enzyme secreted from mammary, salivary and other mu-cosal glands. LP System is a naturally occurring bac-teriostatic system in milk, which is activated by means of increasing the concentrations of two components or activators (hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate), reacting with each other. The lactoperoxidase system (LPS) plays an important role in the innate immune system by killing undesirable bacteria in milk and mucosal secretions. Furthermore, augmentation of the LPS has potential applications in controlling bacteria in food and consumer health care products. Though the most extensively suggested industrial application of the LPS in food production is for - 67 - the preservation of raw milk during storage and transportation to the site of plants, additional novel applications of the LP system are being considered. Finally it can be concluded that use of LPS is an interesting additional hurdle to improve the safety of raw milk preservation.

2 illus, 1 table, 41 ref

001246   Shrivastava S;Princy S A (Quorum Sensing Laboratory, SASTRA's Hub for Research and Innovation, SASTRA University, Thanjavur-613 401, Email: adlineprinzy@biotech.sastra.edu) : Pharmacophore based approach to design inhibitors in Crustaceans: An insight into the molt inhibition response to the receptor guanylyl cyclase. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(4), 375-82.

First set of competitive inhibitors of molt inhibiting hormone (MIH) has been developed using the effective approaches such as Hip-Hop, virtual screening and manual alterations. Moreover, the conserved residues at 71 and 72 positions in the molt inhibiting hormone is known to be significant for selective inhibition of ecdysteroidogenesis; thus, the information from mutation and solution structure were used to generate common pharmacophore features. The geometry of the final six-feature pharmacophore was also found to be consistent with the homology-modeled MIH structures from various other decapod crustaceans. The Hypo-1, comprising six features hypothesis was carefully selected as a best pharmacophore model for virtual screening created on the basis of rank score and cluster processes. The hypothesis was validated and the database was virtually screened using this 3D query and the compounds were then manually altered to enhance the fit value. The hits obtained were further filtered for drug-likeness, which is expressed as physicochemical properties that contribute to favorable ADME/Tox profiles to eliminate the molecules exhibit toxicity and poor pharmacokinetics. In conclusion, the higher fit values of CI-1 (4.6), CI-4 (4.9) and CI-7 (4.2) in conjunction with better pharmacokinetic profile made these molecules practically helpful tool to increase production by accelerating molt in crustaceans. The use of feeding sub-therapeutic dosages of these growth enhancers can be very effectively implemented and certainly turn out to be a vital part of emerging nutritional strategies for economically important crustacean livestock.

5 illus, 60 ref

001245   Shetty S A;Marathe N P;Shouche Y S (Microbial Culture Collection, Natio-nal Centre for Cell Science, Pune Univer-sity Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune-411 007, , Email: - 66 - yogesh@nccs.res.in ) : Initiating exploration of the gut microbiome in Indians. Curr Sci 2013, 104(5), 580-1.

^ssc6 ref

001244   Rajan I;Rabindran R;Jayasree P R;Kumar P R M (Biotechnology Dep, University of Calicut, Malappuram-673 635, Email: manishramakrishnan@rediffmail.com) : Antioxidant potential and oxidative DNA damage preventive activity of unexplored endemic species of Curcuma. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(2), 133-8.

Free radical scavenging activity, ferrous ion chelating capacity, reducing power and genoprotective effect of the aqueous leaf extracts of four unexplored endemic Curcuma spp. (C. vamana, C. neilgherrensis, C. mutabilis, C. haritha) were found to be dose-dependent and were highest in C. vamana. DNA protection property of the extracts was evaluated against H2O2/UV-induced oxidative damage. DNA-methyl green displacement assay showed that these extracts were free of DNA intercalating compounds. Further, hemolysis assay also showed that the extracts were non-toxic to human erythrocytes. The results highlight C. vamanaas a promising source for herbal preparations possessing high antioxidant potential and genoprotective activity.

5 illus, 30 ref

001243   Prasad S K;Laloo D;Kumar R;Sahu A N;Hemalatha S (Pharmaceutics Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, Email: shemalatha.phe@itbhu.ac.in) : Antidiarrhoeal evaluation of rhizomes of Cryptocoryne spiralis Fisch. ex Wydler: Antimotility and antisecretory effects. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(2), 139-46.

The antidiarrhoeal activity of Cryptocoryne spiralisrhizomes extract (250, 500, 750 mg/kg, po) was evaluated using faecal excretion, castor oil-induced diarrhoea, small intestinal transit, intestinal fluid accumulation, gastric emptying and PGE₂ induced enteropooling models in rats. In addition, various biochemical estimations, histopathological studies and antibacterial evaluations on strains responsible for diarrhoea were also performed. The results illustrated a significant reduction in normal faecal output rate after 5th and 7th h of treatment, while castor oil-induced diarrhoea model depicted a protection of 55.44% at same dose level from diarrhoea. The other models except, gastric emptying test demonstrated more pronounced effect at same dose level. A significant inhibition in nitric oxide, increase in carbohydrates, protein, DNA, Na^{+ and K+ level with minimum degeneration of colonic fibrous tissues and potent antibacterial activity were also observed. The antidiarrhoeal potential of C. spiralis may be as a result of antimotility and antisecretory type effect mediated through nitric oxide pathway.}

2 illus, 6 tables, 33 ref

001242   Ponmanickam P;Archunan G;Achiraman S;Sankar R;Saito T;Habara Y (Center for Pheromone Technology, Animal Science Dep, Bharathidasan Univ, Tiruchirappalli-620 024, Email: archuan@bdu.ac.in) : Preputial gland activates olfactory receptor neurons in rat: calcium imaging study using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2013, 50(3), 242-6.

The rodent preputial gland is one of the major sources of odours and is reported to be involved in several behavioural activities. However, how the preputial gland initiates the olfactory response to manifest the effects is not known. Olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) present in the olfactory epithelium are involved in the perception of odorant/pheromonal compounds. In - 65 - the present study, the response of rat ORNs to preputial gland extract was evaluated by calcium imaging analysis. We found that some rat ORNs responded to the preputial gland extract by exhibiting an intracellular calcium response. By contrast, the ORNs did not respond at all to the foot pad extract (control). The results indicated that the substances contained in the preputial gland might interact with a type of receptor expressed in the female rat ORNs, suggested to manifest the behavioural responses, such as social and sexual interactions. This study provided the first evidence of activation of ORNs by the preputial gland extract.

^ssc4 illus, 25 ref

001241   Nirogi R;Goyal V K;Jana S;Pandey S K;Gothi A (Discovery Toxicology, Suven Life Sciences Ltd., , Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Email: vinod_goyal@suven.com) : What suits best for organ weight analysis: review of relationship between organ weight and body/brain weight for rodent toxicity studies. Int J pharm Sci Res 2014, 5(4), 1525-32.

Organ weight analysis is an important endpoint for identification of potentially harmful effects of test compounds in toxicology studies. Organ weight differences are often accompanied by differences in body weights between treatment groups which make the organ weight interpretation more difficult. We have evaluated the relationship between organ weight and body/brain weight based on statistical analysis to determine which endpoint (absolute organ weight, organ-to-body weight ratio, or organ-to-brain weight ratio) is likely to accurately detect target organ toxicity by using data from control rats that were part of 43 toxicity studies conducted under similar conditions. All the organs weight data of both sexes were subjected to the linear regression; correlation was established with body weight and brain weight. Present data set revealed that there was a strong correlation betweenliver, kidneys and heart weights with body weights. Organs like spleen and adrenal weight also showed correlation with body weight. Other commonly weighed organs in toxicity studies viz. thymus, pituitary and thyroid-parathyroid did not show consistent pattern of relationship with body weights in either sex. If correlation is analyzed with brain weights; organs other than liver, kidneys and heart weights showed no/poor correlation. In conclusion, analysis of organ weight to body weight ratio is optimum for most of the organs for prediction of toxicity. For organs like ovaries, thyroid-parathyroid, thymus and pituitary gland, either absolute weight or other alternative statistical method should be considered for evaluation of toxic effects.

15 ref

001240   Morya K;Vachhrajani K D (Environment and Toxicology Div, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara-390 002, Email: kdvachhrajani-zoo@msubaroda.ac.in) : Impairment of renal structure and function following heterogeneous chemical mixture exposure in rats. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(4), 332-43.

Renal structural and functional alterations following an exposure to a heterogeneous chemical mixture (HCM) of phthalic acid - 64 - di butyl ester, 1, 2-dichlorobenzene, cadmium chloride and chromium trioxide, administered through oral gavage in low doses (1/100 and 1/1000 of LD₅₀ value of individual chemical) for 60 days, followed by withdrawal till 120 days resulted in significant rise in kidney lipid peroxidation and fall in the activities of enzymatic antioxidants. However, withdrawal of HCM treatment restored most of these altered parameters. Degenerative changes in the kidney included proximal convoluted tubules devoid of brush boarder with cytoplasmic blebbing, dissolution and sloughing of nuclei. Cortical glomeruli were also affected with epithelial disintegration, pyknosis of podocyte nuclei and mesengial cell hyperplasia. The morphological alterations recovered fully in the low dose compared to the high dose treatment group.

6 illus, 3 tables, 80 ref

001239   Misra H S;Rajpurohit Y S;Kota S (Molecular Biology Div, , Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai-400 085, Email: hsmisra@barc.gov.in) : Physiological and molecular basis of extreme radioresistance in Deinococcus radiodurans. Curr Sci 2013, 104(2), 194-205.

Deinococcus radiodurans is characterized for its extraordinary radioresistance. An efficient DNA strand-break repair and strong oxidative stress tolerance are amongst the mechanisms that contribute to its extreme phenotypes. The multipartite genome structure, recombination repair without RecBC enzymes, absence of SOS response and the roles of serine/ threonine protein kinase in DNA damage response, and the small molecules protecting proteins from oxidative damage are some of the other unique features of this bacterium. Here, we review the most recent advances in our understanding on different aspects of D. radiodurans that are shown to be important for its extraordinary radioresistance.

^iia5 illus, 2 tables, 104 ref

001238   Kumar R;Reeta K H;Roy S B (Anatomy Dep, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110 029, Email: rakeshpandey12@gmail.com) : Chronic spinal infusion of loperamide alleviates postsurgical pain in rats. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(4), 317-22.

Plantar incision in rat generates spontaneous pain behaviour. The opioid drug, morphine used to treat postsurgical pain produces tolerance after long-term administration. Loperamide, a potent mu-opioid agonist, has documented analgesic action in various pain conditions. However, loperamide analgesia and associated tolerance following continuous spinal administration in postsurgical pain has not been reported. Chronic spinal infusion of drugs was achieved using intrathecal catheters connected to osmotic minipump. Coinciding with the onset of spinal infusion of loperamide or morphine, rats were subjected to plantar incision. Pain-related behaviour was assessed by Hargreaves apparatus (thermal hyperalgesia) and von Frey filaments (mechanical allodynia). Morphine and loperamide (0.5, 1 and 2 μL/h) induced analgesia was observed until 7th day post-plantar incision in Sprague-Dawley rats. Morphine and loperamide produced dose-dependent analgesia. Loperamide, in the highest dose, produced analgesia till 7th day. However, the highest dose of morphine produced inhibition of thermal hyperalgesia till 5th day and mechanical allodynia only till 3rd day post-plantar incision. Morphine and loperamide produced analgesia in postsurgical pain, which may be mediated through different mechanisms. Longer duration of analgesia with loperamide could probably be due sustained blockade of calcium channels.

3 illus, 42 ref

001237   Kalita S;Verma A K;Prasad S B (Cell and Tumor Biology Laboratory, Zoology Dep, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793 022, Email: sbpnehu@hotmail.com) : Chlorambucil and ascorbic acid-mediated anticancer activity and hematological toxicity in Dalton's ascites lymphoma-bearing mice. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(2), 112-24.

Chlorambucil is an anticancer drug with alkylating and immunosuppressive activities. Considering various reports on the possible antioxidant/protective functions of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), it was aimed at to explore the modulatory effect of ascorbic acid on therapeutic efficacy and toxicity induced by chlorambucil. Dalton's ascites lymphoma tumor serially maintained in Swiss albino mice were used for the present experiments. The result of antitumor activity showed that combination treatment with ascorbic acid and chlorambucil exhibited enhanced antitumor activity with 170% increase in life span (ILS), which is significantly higher as compared to chlorambucil alone (ILS 140%). Analysis of apoptosis in Dalton's lymphoma tumor cells revealed a significantly higher apoptotic index after combination treatment as compared to chlorambucil alone. Blood hemoglobin content, erythrocytes and leukocytes counts were decreased after chlorambucil treatment, however, overall recovery in these hematological values was noted after combination treatment. Chlorambucil treatment also caused morphological abnormalities in red blood cells, majority of which include acanthocytes, burr and microcystis. Combination treatment of mice with ascorbic acid plus chlorambucil showed less histopathological changes in kidney as compared to chlorambucil treatment alone, thus, ascorbic acid is effective in reducing chlorambucil-induced renal toxicity in the hosts. Based on the - 63 - results, for further development, hopefully into the clinical usage, the administration of ascorbic acid in combination with chlorambucil may be recommended.

10 illus, 2 tables, 79 ref

001236   George N;Chauhan P S;Sondhi S;Saini S;Puri N; Gupta N (Microbiology Dep, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Email: ng.puchd@gmail.com) : Biodegradation and analytical methods for detection of organophosphorous pesticide: chlorpyrifos. Int J pure appl Sci Technol 2014, 20(2), 79-94.

Chlorpyrifos is a broad spectrum moderately toxic organo-phosphorous insecticide. It is widely used in agriculture for pest control and in households as a termicide. However, exposure to chlorpyrifos and its metabolites can affect the public health resulting from its long residual periods in soil and water. Thus, there is an essential need to develop sensitive method for the detection of chlorpyrifos in environmental samples. Emerging technologies like development of biosensor has gained enormous attention in this area. Apart from detection, worldwide efforts are going on to develop efficient and cost effective methods for its degradation. Chlorpyrifos previously shown to be immune to biodegradation has now been proved to undergo enhanced microbe mediated decay into less harmful and non-toxic metabolites. Now-a-days, research activity in this area has shown that a diverse range of microorganisms are responsible for chlorpyrifos degradation. This article therefore aims at giving an overview of the present status of research in analytical detection and biodegradation of chlorpyrifos.

3 illus, 2 tables, 71 ref

001235   Gani M;Gupta R K;Bali K (Entomology Div, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Chatha-180 009, Email: mudasir32@gmail.com) : Efficacy of Spodoptera litura multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus after serial passage through the homologous insect larval host. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(4), 369-74.

An originally isolated baculovirus, Spodoptera litura multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) was serially passed through the S. litura larvae for upto four generations to determine the mean number of occlusion bodies (OBs) harvested per larva and their efficacy in terms of infectivity, feeding cessation and speed of kill of host larvae. The results revealed that the mean number of OBs harvested per larva increased significantly with increase in the dose of SpltMNPV at each passage and the yield was significantly lower in original stock wild-type SpltMNPV (P0) as compared to serially passed SpltMNPV (P1, P2, P3 and P4). Laboratory bioassays indicate that median lethal doses (LD50), median times to feeding cessation (FT50) and median survival times (ST50) of P0, P1, P2, P3 and P4 were significantly different from each other. The OBs of each passage when tested for their cross-infectivity against Spodoptera exigua and Spilarctia oblique - 62 - revealed significant reduction in their mortality. These results indicate that serially passed SpltMNPV is more host specific and more effective biocontrol agent than the original stock wild-type virus and can be adopted for mass production as a viral pesticide for control of the S. litura.

3 tables, 14 ref

001234   El-Sayed H. B;Header E A (Clinical Nutrition Dep, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia) : Effect of aqueous extract of green tea (Camellia Sinensis L.) on obesity and liver status in experimental rats. Int J pure appl Sci Technol 2014, 22(1), 53-63.

Obesity is one of the most common disorders encountered in clinical practice. It has been noted as a major public health problem in many countries including Arab countries. It is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases. Green tea is reported to contain thousands of bioactive ingredients which are almost contributed by polyphenols which play a key role in prevention and treatment of many diseases including obesity. Our investigation aimed to study the effect of oral administration of aqueous extracts of green tea (GTE) on obesity and liver status by using experimental rats. Sixteen adult male albino rats (150-160g) was divided into four experimental groups: The first considered as control negative group (C -ve) and fed on normal diet, while other three groups fed on high fat diet for three weeks to induce obesity. Obese rats were divided into three equal groups (n=4 rats). Second group (obese rats) considered as (C +ve). Third group (obese rat) and fourth group fed on 10 and 20 of green tea extract respectively. At the end the experimental period (28 days), the body weight gain, food intake, feed efficiency ratio, blood sugar, liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP), and lipid profile were evaluated. Our results revealed that the consumption of green tea extract produced a significant reduction in body weight in obese rats and enhances liver functions. Green tea could be used as a weight reductions and enhancing liver status for obese.

5 tables, 51 ref

001233   Bhati-Kushwaha H;Malik C P (School of Life Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jagatpura, Jaipur-302 017, Email: cpm_malik@yahoo.com) : Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using fresh extracts of Tridax procumbens Linn. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(4), 359-68.

Simple and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of biogenic nanoparticles (NP's) using an aqueous solution of T. procumbens fresh plant extract (leaf and stem) as a bioreductant is reported. The prepared biogenic - 61 - nanoparticles were well characterized using U.V. visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The particles were confirmed to be elemental crystal by X-ray diffraction. The potential applications of biosynthesized nanoparticles as antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) against pathogens Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus were demonstrated.

11 illus, 6 tables, 41 ref

001232   Baig M;Mitra B;Qu K;Min-sheng P;Irshad A; Yong-Wang M;Lin-sen Z;Ya-ping Z (Zoology Dep, Government Vidarbha Institute of Science and Humanities, Amravati-444 604, Email: zhangyp@mail.kiz.ac.cn) : Mitochondrial DNA diversity and origin of Bos frontalis. Curr Sci 2013, 104(1), 115-20.

Bos frontalis is an enigmatic bovine species found in selected regions of Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, Thailand, Bhutan and India. Though there are con-flicting hypotheses regarding its origin, the most widely held view is that Bos frontalisoriginated from direct domestication of Bos gaurus (gaur).To study this, we analysed mtDNA control region and cyto-chrome bgene sequences of 41 B. frontalis from China and India, together with the available sequences in the public databases. Bayesian inference revealed cluster-ing of B. frontalisand B. gaurussequences into two separate clades. Application of relaxed molecular clock to these clades shows that B. frontalis and B. gaurus diverge between 0.134 and 0.207 million yearsago. This time estimate lies much outside the ~10,000-year-old history of animal domestication. Based on this finding, we argue that B. frontalis should be treated as a separate species/sub-species and not merely a domestic form of B. gaurus. Our study also highlights the gene flow between domestic cattle and B. frontalis population.

1 illus, 1 table, 19 ref

001231   Aggarwal A;Singla S K;Tandon C (Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Dep, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan-173 234, Email: chanderdeep.tandon@juit.ac.in) : Urolithiasis: Phytotherapy as an adjunct therapy. Indian J expl Biol 2014, 52(2), 103-11.

Role of herbal drugs and medicinal plant extracts in the successful treatment of urolithiasis, classified as the third most common urinary tract diseases is well documented. Ayurvedic plants and their components mediate antilithogenic effects by altering ionic composition of urine, being diuretic, antioxidant or having antimicrobial activity. Therapeutic peptides and proteins have unique place in pharmaceutical biotechnology due to their critical roles in cell biology. The innovation in antilithiatic proteins is that they are anionic, rich in acidic amino acids which make oxalate unavailable by interacting with calcium and have EF Hand domain which is a characteristic feature of various calcium binding protein like calgranulin, osteopontin. The review provides a background on the pathogenesis of urolithiasis and medical treatments. It focusses on the present research evaluating the scientific basis of antilithiatic potential of various plants and role of plant proteins as therapeutic agents thus opening new vista in the management of urolithiasis. Further investigations are required.

3 tables, 88 ref

000167   Uttam Kumar;Choudhary S;Mukesh Kumar (Zoology Dep, S.K. Mahila College, Begusarai, Email: schoudhary2007@yahoo.co.in) : Present status, conservation and management of chaurs (wetlands) of Begusarai, Bihar. Proc Zool Soc India 2014, 13(1), 53-62.

The Begusarai is an important district in the state of Bihar lies on the northern bank of river Ganges. Geographically lying between latitude 25°15'N and 25°44'N, longitude 85°45'E and 86°45'E. The district Begusarai (North Bihar) is rich in water resources which offer a tremendous scope for development of aquaculture. The district has about 11 chaurs spread over an area of about 1200 hac. Altogether 45 species of fishes were recorded. The cat fishes and air breathing fishes dominate the chaur. The chaurs show its productive environment and as a result to enhance fish production steps should be taken into account. Above all these facts that Aquaculture not only a vital source for income, but also helps to protect the environment by recycling the waste. Last but not the least will help to conserve and manage the natural resources the wetlands of Begusarai district of Bihar.

7 illus, 8 tables, 10 ref

000166   Thangavel K;Doss V A (Biochemistry Dep, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore-641 014, Email: thangavelkm@gmail.com) : Antidiabetic actiity of hydroethanolic leaf extract of Gymnema hirsutum Wight & Arn in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. Int J pharm Sci Res 2013, 4(10), 4027-31.

Study has investigated the hypoglycaemic effect of oral administration of 50% ethanolic leaf extract of G. hirsutum Wight & Am in normal and Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Albino Wistar rats (190 to 220 gm) were induced diabetic condition by administration of Streptozotocin (STZ) (55 mg/kg bw) intraperitoneally. 50% ethanolic extract of G. hirsutum Wight & Am leaves (300 mg/kg bw Iday) was orally administrated to normal and STZ-induced diabetic rats (150, 300 and 450 mg/kg bw /day) for 30 days to determine hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycaemic activity. Serum and tissue biochemical analysis including fasting blood Sugar level in normal and STZ-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Oral - 54 - administration of 50% ethanolic extract of G. hirsutum Wight & Am leaves (300 and 450 mg/kg bw/day) for 30 days exhibited a significant (p<60>0.05) reduction in serum Glucose (88%), Total Cholesterol (80%), Triglycerides (76%), HbA1c (75%) and in an oxidative stress. The findings of investigation showed similar to those produced by Glibenclamide (GB) at dose of 600 mg/kg bw /day for 30days (positive control). Histopathological observation showed significant improvement in the rats treated with G. hirsutum Weight & Am leaf extract. The results demonstrate that 50% ethanolic extract of G. hirsutum leaves possess potent antidiabetic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Alkaloids, Flavanoids, Phenols and Tannins present in this plant might be responsible for the effect.

10 ref

000165   Swer P B;Bhadoriya P;Saran S (NO, School of Life Science, Jawaharlal Nehru Univ, New Delhi-110 067, Email: saran@mail.jnu.ac.in) : Analysis of rheb in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum: cellular localization, spatial expression and overexpression. J Biosci, Bangalore 2014, 39(1), 75-84.

Dictyostelium discoideum encodes a single Rheb protein showing sequence similarity to human homologues of Rheb. The DdRheb protein shares 52% identity and 100% similarity with the human Rheb1 protein. Fluorescence of Rheb yellow fluorescent protein fusion was detected in the D. discoideum cytoplasm. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and whole-mount in situ hybridization analyses showed that rheb is expressed at all stages of development and in prestalk cells in the multicellular structures developed. When the expression of rheb as a fusion with lacZ was driven under its own promoter, the β-galactosidase activity was seen in the prestalk cells. D. discoideum overexpressing Rheb shows an increase in the size of the cell. Treatment of the overexpressing Rheb cells with rapamycin confirms its involvement in the TOR signalling pathway.

6 illus, 29 ref

000164   Suryanarayanan T S;Gopalan V (NO, Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Chennai-600 004) : Crowdsourcing to create national repositories of microbial genetic resources: fungi as a model. Curr Sci 2014, 106(9), 1196-200.

To address the challenging task of identifying, obtaining and cataloging the different microbes in a country with wide-ranging environments and habitats, we present a crowdsourcing model. With fungi as the prototype, we discuss approaches for rapid collection and identification of strains from environments and habitats that might lead to novel genes of industrial importance. Also, we expect the use of easy culture preservation methods to promote colleges as mini culture-collection centres and serve as the initial focal point in a national research initiative. Our model envisions the concerted involvement of undergraduate students, faculty, industries, national laboratories and culture-collection repositories to rapidly build a large assemblage of rare fungal strains and enhance the biodiversity resource of a country.

1 illus, 1 table, 27 ref

000163   Rudra S K;Banerjee P;Chatterjee S N (NO, Support Health & Human, Kumarpur, Asansol-713 303, Email: drsrudra@yahoo.com) : Abolition of mosquito menace in a five storeyed office building in Durgapur, West Bengal. Envir Ecol 2013, 31(2), 601-3.

In a five storied office building in the steel city, Durgapur, West Bengal, more than 200 persons including employes and out comers had been suffering from constant mosquito nuisance and their bites since July 2011. We started investigation on 17 October 2011. Indoor resting mosquitoes were collected for consecutive seven days from the five floors. Mosquito species collected were Armigeres subalbatus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti having per man hour density (PMD) of 126.14, 28.78 and 7.5 respectively. Both in and out fencing areas of the building were searched carefully to find out the source of the mosquito population. Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae were available from both the drains. Few cracks were noticed on above and side of the septic tanks. Although the cracks were repaired and the side drains were cleaned, the problem was not completely solved. A godown below the ground level with an area of approximately 3,000 sq ft full of foul water at a depth of 15-20 cms containing innumerable mosquito larvae was detected as the main source of these irritating mosquitoes. Larval sampling was done randomly in the water logged godown premises. The average larval density of Ar. subalbatus and Cx. quinquefasciatus was 275 and 45 per dip respectively. After clearance of the polluted stagnant water, the mosquito density was reduced and - 53 - the people got relief.

^ssc2 tables, 8 ref

000162   Ray K (Biological Sciences Dep, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai-400 005, Email: krishanu@tifr.res.in) : From fission to fusion: a perspective on the research that won the nobel prize in physiology or medicine, 2013. J Biosci, Bangalore 2014, 39(1), 3-11.

5 illus, 17 ref

000161   Noor F;Eldin F I N (Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Dep, GMC, Srinagar-190 081, Email: faridanoor@gmail.com) : ABO, Rh, gene frequency: a comparative study between different countries. Indian Internet J Forensic Med Toxicol 2013, 11(2), 23-32.

People have always been fascinated by blood, ancient Egyptians bathed in it, Aristocrats drank it. Currently, 30 different blood group systems are known, 9 of which are considered to be the major blood group systems. The ABO and Rh blood groups are among the most important blood groups. Different population exhibits significant differences in the frequency of each blood group, so the aim of this work is to study the geographic variation and prevalence of ABO blood group, Rh factor and gene frequency of ABO blood group and Rh factor. The study was done on medical students from Egypt (Faculty of Medicine in Menofiya University), Libya (Faculty of Medicine in El Zawya-Al Gabal Algharby University) and India (Government Medical - 52 - Collage Kashmir). ABO blood group and Rh were done by standard rapid tile method. The result of this study showed that blood group 'O' was the most prevalent in Libya and India (48.9% and 40.8%, respectively) followed by group A (37.9%) and group B (12.8%) in Libya, in India, A (20.9%) is second in prevalence followed by B (31.6%). In Egypt, blood group A (37.9%) is the most prevalent one, which is in contrast to previous studies were O was the most prevalent, which is now in second place (27%), followed by B (25.1%). All the three countries showed AB as the least common blood group in its population with the predominance of Rh positive. Expected A gene frequency in Egypt is the highest one (0.279), followed by Libya (0.214) and India (0.149). Gene B frequency is more prevalent in India then Egypt and Libya (0.215, 0.195 and 0.094, respectively), while O gene is more frequent in Libya (0.962), then India (0.637) and Egypt (0.526). In Libya and India, males showed high frequent blood group O (44.9% and 44.5%, respectively), while in Egypt both males and females showed high frequency of blood group A (41.7% and 33.3%, respectively). This work concluded that blood group O is the commonest blood group in Libya and India, whereas in Egypt there is a shift from previous prevalence of O blood group to now A. More than 85% of the population is Rhesus positive in all the three countries. A gene is more frequent in Egypt, B gene is more in India, while O gene is more in Libya. There is significant relation between ABO and gender.

9 tables, 28 ref