Phytochemical Composition, Toxicity and Effects of Sphenostylis marginata Aqueous Root Extract on Oxygen Consumption Rate in Oreochromis niloticus Fingerlings: A Comprehensive Study | Chapter 10 | Chemistry and Biochemistry: Research Progress Vol. 5

Introduction: Fish has always been an important part of the human diet due to its natural availability and nutritional value. With the advent of population growth, the consumer demand for fish has exponentially increased. To meet increasing demand, new methods such as netting, spearfishing, angling, and trapping were developed in Africa for catching fish. In established modern fishing fleets, these methods are well-regulated to avoid overfishing as well as consideration for sustainability and environmental impact. Sphenostylis marginata is a plant in the family Fabaceae and native to many parts of Africa. It is used as a wild vegetable, in folk medicine, as a fetish plant, food additive, and for harvesting fish. Small-scale fishermen in selected parts of Zambia use the crushed roots of this plant to harvest fish for consumption. Published data suggest that phytochemicals present in fish toxins and the lethal concentration have a major role to play in the ability of fish to utilize dissolved oxygen. Phytochemical screening and lethal concentration (LC50) of fish toxins are the initial tests required to discover their bioactive profile and short-term poisoning potential.

 

Objective: To determine the effects of S. marginata on dissolved oxygen consumption rate in Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings.

 

Materials and Methods: An interventional approach was used to determine the effects of different concentrations of the aqueous root extract of S. marginata on dissolved oxygen consumption rate (DOCR) in Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings. The fresh root of S. marginata was collected from the Muchinga escarpment in the Mpika district of Zambia, while the crude stem methanol extract of the positive control Albizia versicolor was collected from the University of Zambia’s Biology department. The studied plant was examined, identified, extracted, and concentrated using the Yamato DC401/801 Neo Cool freeze drier. Phytochemical screening was carried out, and toxicity studies were performed to establish the LC50. Dissolved oxygen was measured using a calibrated 86031 AZ waterproof IP67 combo water quality tester for O. niloticus fingerlings in the presence of S. marginata and the positive control. Dissolved oxygen results were used to calculate dissolved oxygen consumption rates. Comparisons of dissolved oxygen consumption rate results between the study plant and the positive control were made using a two-sample t-test for unequal variances in IBM SPSS Statistics version 20. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of temperature, salinity, and pH for both plants was performed. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The Least Significant Difference (LSD) was used as a post hoc test to determine where the differences lie in statistically significant results.

 

Results: Phytochemical screening of S. marginata revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, sterols, flavonoids, tannins, and glycosides. From experimental results, 200 mg/L of S. marginata was required to cause mortality in 50% of O. niloticus in 3 hours (LC50). Calculations from the arithmetic method of Karber showed the LC50 of 210 mg/L, while graphical approximations using RS statistical software estimated a lethal concentration of 221.6 mg/L at ± 15.4 standard error with lower and upper limits of 186.1 and 257.2, respectively. Fingerlings mortality increased with the increase in concentration of the extract, accompanied by induced behavioral changes like rapid swimming, gasping for oxygen, vertical swimming, and loss of balance. The study plant affected the ability of O. niloticus fingerlings to utilize dissolved oxygen in a concentration-dependent response, and the mean dissolved oxygen consumption rate of S. marginata was significantly lower than the positive control A. versicolor (-0.7075 mg/L/hr. and -0.2675 mg/L/hr, respectively). Both plant did not affect the solution parameters pH, temperature, and salinity.

 

Conclusion: In conclusion, the root extract of S. marginata affects the ability of O. niloticus fingerlings to utilize dissolved oxygen with a characteristic concentration-dependent response. The plant does not affect pH, temperature, and salinity. S. marginata contains the phytochemicals tannins, saponins, sterols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and glycosides, highlighting its potential for exploitation as a cholesterol-lowering, antitumor, antimicrobial, promoting wound healing, and anti-diabetic.

 

Author (s) Details

Brian Mukuka
Faculty of Health Sciences, Chreso University, P.O. Box 37178, Lusaka 10101, Zambia.

 

James Nyirenda
Department of Chemistry, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia.

 

Rehana Omar
Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 50110, Lusaka 10101, Zambia.

 

Mony Narayani
Faculty of Health Sciences, Chreso University, P.O. Box 37178, Lusaka 10101, Zambia.

 

Gibson Sijumbila
School of Medicine, Mulungushi University, P.O. Box 80415, Lusaka 10101, Zambia.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/cbrp/v5/5068

Modulation of Testicular Functions by 4-Nonylphenol in Catfish Heteropneustes fossilis and Clarias batrachus | Chapter 9 | Innovations in Biological Science Vol. 1

 The present study compares the effect of the same dose of 4-NP on both the physiologically different male catfishes concerning their reproductive function. Nonylphenol (4-NP) is a persistent organic water pollutant that disturbs many physiological processes in aquatic species. It is extensively used as industrial organic compounds and as a biodegradation byproduct of alkylphenol ethoxylates which are a form of industrial effluents and released in water bodies. This experiment was taken up to compare the effects of 4- NP on the two indigenous male catfish Heteropneustes fossilis and Clarias batrachus. Effects of 4-NP (low dose: 64µg.L-1 and high dose: 160 µg.L-1) on the behaviour, gonadosomatic index (GSI), structure, and function of testis of both fish were analyzed. Fishes were exposed during the preparatory to pre-spawning phase for 30, 45, and 60 days. There was a significant dose- and duration- dependent decrease in the GSI. Histopathological alterations were observed in the testes of both along with altered steroid biosynthesis. There was a dose and duration-dependent decrease in the level of testosterone. Estradiol 17β(E2) level was significantly increased at a low dose for 30 days but significantly decreased at 45 and 60 days. E2 level was significantly decreased at a high dose for all durations in testes of H. fossilis and C. batrachus. Even though the catfishes investigated were physiologically different their response toward the 4-NP toxicity was not significantly different. Thus, we can conclude that 4-NP affects the structure and function of testes as well as steroid hormone levels in both catfish species. There is an intense need for awareness and concern about such pollutants to prevent the threat it poses to the aquatic species and maintain balance in the aquatic ecosystem.

Author(s) Details:

Suman,
Zoology Department, Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh-221005, India.

Radha Chaube,
Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh-221005,India.

Gautam Geeta Jiwatram,
Zoology Department, Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh-221005, India.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/IBS-V1/article/view/14060

Determination of Acute Toxicity of Metasystox among Freshwater Fish, Nemacheilus botia from Kedrai Dam in Maharashtra, India | Chapter 6 | Advanced Research in Biological Science Vol. 6

This stage primarily focuses on the severe toxicity of Metasystox on the freshwater fish, Nemacheilus botia from Kedrai dam in Maharashtra, India. The indiscriminate use of these pesticides to better agricultural result and yield may have impacts on non-mark organism, particularly aquatic life and atmosphere. On the freshwater fish Nemacheilus botia, the severe toxicity of the organophosphate pesticide Metasystox has happened investigated. For many age, the fish have been used to evaluate the level of water contamination. To decide the median inevitable doses of Metasystox (Oxydemeton-methyl) over 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, static bioassays were transported on freshwater fish, N. botia. The LC50 values were 10.3, 9.131, 7.884, and 7.018 ppm subsequently 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively. The results show that the LC50 principles decreased accompanying increase in exposure ending. Fish mortality on account of pesticide uncovering mainly depends upon allure sensitivity to the death, its concentration and event of exposure. The judgment of LC50 concentration of contaminants is an important step before completing activity further studies on physiological changes in animals. In the study the N. botia exposed to metasystox, the severe toxicity level was expressed in conditions of LC50 values.

Author(s) Details:

Nikam S. M.,
Department of Zoology, Arts, Commerce and Science College, Lasalgaon, Tal-Niphad, India.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/ARBS-V6/article/view/12805

Toxicity of Some Simple Plant Extracts Towards Three Species of Pheidole Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) under Laboratory Conditions| Chapter 9 | Cutting Edge Research in Biology Vol. 4

 In current age, the use of artificial pesticides has produced concerns concerning human fitness. These offensive facets of pesticides have heartened the study of alternative powers for blight control in the way that the use of plant-derivative commodity accompanying depressed toxicity, together expressed as biopesticides. As unspecified a preliminary showing of few potential biopesticides, we have showed the toxicity of extracts from nine well-known plants native in Egypt against peasants of three variety of Pheidole ants under lab environments. Crude extracts of the tubers of Allium sativum L., the sources of Anethum graveolens L., Coriandrum sativum L., Trigonella foenum-graecum L and Nigella sativa L., flowers of Calendula officinalis L., and leaves of Mentha viridis L., Rosamarinus officinalis L and Eucalyptus citriodora Hook were proven thus. Bioassays were acted on mature employees of three class of Pheidole ants; P. jordanica (Saulcy), P. laticeps (Mayr) and P. sinatica (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) too average in Egypt. All rude methanolic plant extracts were poisonous to the three Pheidole class' laborers. The coarse methanolic extract of A. sativum was ultimate direct, as proved apiece capital portion humanness of restlessness traders, understood by extracts of T. foenum-graecum, and the rude extract of E. citriodora was the smallest alive. The judgments plan that few of these plant extracts concede possibility be secondhand as a beginning of secure substitutes for insecticides.

Author(s) Details:

Asmaa Saber Ali,
Analysis Laboratory, Minia Health Administration, Ministry of Health, El-Minia, Egypt.

Mahmoud Fadl Ali,
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, El-Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/CERB-V4/article/view/9272