Mohammed Nurul Absar Khan

Effects of the brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida on erythematous inflammation assessed using digital photo analysis

The brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar produced potent inhibition of erythematous inflammation assessed using digital photo analysis. The analysis technique was validated by laser speckle flowgraphy and blood vessel contraction. The methanol extract suppressed erythema by 50% when applied within 1 h before or 15 min after application of phorbol myristate acetate. Erythema reduction to half‐maximal values took 12 h with the extract, compared with 25 h with the vehicle. The blade part of the thallus showed the highest activity, while the northern type of U. pinnatifida had slightly higher activity than the southern type. The active constituents were stearidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. These findings reinforce the claims of the health care industry and indigenous medicine that U. pinnatifida can be used as a health food and remedy for inflammation‐related symptoms. Copyright

A methoxylated fatty acid isolated from the brown seaweed Ishige okamurae inhibits bacterial phospholipase A2.

A methoxylated fatty acid that inhibits phospholipase A2 (PLA2; EC 3.1.1.4) was purified from the brown seaweed Ishige okamurae. Approximately 8.1 mg of the inhibitory compound, 7‐methoxy‐9‐methylhexadeca‐4,8‐dienoic acid, was isolated from 1 kg of I. okamurae powder. Recombinant PLA2 derived from the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio mimicus was used as the target enzyme. The methoxylated fatty acid compound competitively inhibited PLA2 with a Ki value of 3.9 µg/mL. The concentrations required for 50% inhibition of PLA2, oedema and erythema were 1.0 µg/mL, 3.6 mg/mL and 4.6 mg/mL, respectively. The compound strongly inhibited PLA2 activity in vitro and had potent antiinflammatory activity in vivo. Copyright

Investigation of Diseases of Thai koi, Anabas testudineus (BLOCH) from Farming Conditions in Winter

Investigation on health conditions of Thai koi (Anabas testudineus) were carried out through clinical and histopathological observations from different farms of Mymensingh district for seven months during August 2006 to February 2007. Fish sampling and water quality parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH) were monitored on a monthly basis. Clinical examination of fishes was also carried out for any kind of abnormalities at monthly intervals. Samples of skin, muscle, gill, liver and kidney were observed by histological technique. Among the water quality parameters the values of water temperature, dissolved oxygen were found to be at unfavorable level for fish during the colder months in the farms. Clinically it was observed that fishes were more affected from December to January and almost normal in appearance during August to September and February. Different clinical symptoms like scale loss, dermal lesion, ulcer and loss of caudal fin were noticed in December and January. In histopathological study, structures of fish organs were normal from August to September. In the months of October and November, minor pathologies were found to be started. Marked pathological changes like necrosis, pyknosis, inflammation, hemorrhage, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, missing of primary and secondary gill lamellae were observed in the months of December and January. Whereas, in the month of February the pathological condition of fish gradually reduced. Again when considered individual fish farm, fishes of Reliance Aqua Farm were more affected than Sotota Matshya Hatchery. The study showed that severity of clinical and pathological changes were increased in December and January. During the period EUS and protozoan diseases were noticed in A. testudineus of the investigated farms.

Anti-Edema Effects of Brown Seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida) Extract on Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate-Induced Mouse Ear Inflammation

The brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar is used in traditional medicine to treat fever, urination problems, lumps and swelling, and as a dietary supplement for post-childbirth women. We examined the anti-inflammatory activities of the seaweed. The methanol extract of the seaweed was active against mouse ear edema induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), with an IC(50) of 10.3 mg/ml. The extract reduced the edema to a half-maximal level when applied at the concentration of 40 mg/ml within 3 hours before or 2 hours after application of PMA. Extract taken from the blade section of the seaweed demonstrated the highest activity. The Northern form of U. pinnatifida was more active than the Southern form. In the analgesic test, the methanol extract suppressed the acetic acid-induced writhing response, with an IC(50) of 0.48 g/kg body weight. The extract also demonstrated antipyretic activity in yeast-induced hyperthermic mice. Activity-related constituents were arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and stearidonic acids.

In vivo Anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic, and Analgesic Activities of the Aquaculturable Green Seaweed Codium fragile Extracts in Mice

Dichloromethane, ethanol, and boiling water extracts of the green seaweed Codium fragile, used as an herbal medicine and known as an invasive species over the world, were examined for anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic activities in mice. The dichloromethane and ethanol extracts inhibited inflammatory symptoms of mouse ear edema and erythema by 74% or higher. The extracts also demonstrated inhibition of pyrexia, similar to that of acetyl salicylic acid. Eicosapentaenoic acid was isolated from the seaweed as the main active anti-inflammatory compound. These findings are consistent with various claims that the seaweed can be used as remedies for inflammation-related symptoms.

Growth Performance of Pangasiid Catfish, Silver carp and Catla in Polyculture

The growth performance of pangasiid catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and catla (Catla catla) was evaluated in polyculture at varied combinations and stocking ratios in earthen pond for a period of 16 weeks. Combinations of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla with the total density of 30,000 fish per hectare were evaluated. A commercial pelleted feed containing 28% crude protein and 6% lipid was fed only to pangasiid catfish at the rate of 8% of body weight during the first six weeks, 6% during the second six weeks and 4% thereafter twice daily. The growth and feed utilization efficiency of pangasiid catfish were found similar in all treatments. The growth of silver carp was markedly decreased upon the increase of its own stocking density. The highest growth of silver carp achieved in polyculture of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla at 2:1:1 ratio where density of silver carp was lowest. The growth of catla was found to be affected by the presence of silver carp. The growth rate of catla markedly declined with the increase of silver carp density. The highest growth of catla obtained in polyculture of pangasiid catfish only with catla stocked at 1:1 ratio. The highest yield and economic return achieved in polyculture of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla at the ratio of 2:1:1 due to higher growth of silver carp and higher market value of catla. The water quality conditions in all different treatment ponds were within optimum ranges throughout the culture period and the values did not show any significant variation (p>0.05) among the treatments.