Nazrul Islam Bhuiyan

ORGANOCHLORINE INSECTICIDES (DDT AND HEPTACHLOR) IN DRY FISH AVAILABLE IN BANGLADESH: SEASONAL TRENDS AND SPECIES VARIABILITY

ABSTRACT The concentrations of organochlorine insecticides DDT (Dichloro diphenyl trichloro ethane) and Heptachlor were investigated to estimate the current status of insecticides used in dry fish in different seasons and different species. Six most popular species of dry fishes namely Bombay duck (Loittya), Ribbon fish (Chhuri), Shrimp (Chingri), Hilsha shed (Ilish), Chinese pomfret (Rupchanda) and Indian salmon (Lakhua) were collected from Asadgonj (whole sell market for dry fish) of Chittagong, Bangladesh at different seasons, six samples at winter season (December) and six same samples at rainy season (July). The range of DDT concentration at winter was found 3.6 ug kg-1 to 250.8 ug kg-1 and at rainy season the range of concentration was found 11.1 ug kg-1 to 1107.4 ug kg-1. The range of Heptachlor concentration at winter was found 0.4 ug kg-1 to 2.5 ug kg-1 and at rainy season was found 1.1 ug kg-1 to 37.8 ug kg-1. The concentrations of DDT and Heptachlor were much higher in the samples of rainy season than the same samples of the winter.

Constituents of the essential oil from leaves and buds of clove (Syzigium caryophyllatum (L.) Alston)

Essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from fresh leaves and dry buds of Syzigium caryophyllatum were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Thirty eight components were identified in the leaf oil. The main components were eugenol (74.3%), eucalyptol (5.8%), caryophyllene (3.85%) and α-cadinol (2.43%). Thirty one components were identified in bud oil with the main components being eugenol (49.7%), caryophyllene (18.9%), benzene,1-ethyl-3-nitro (11.1%) and benzoic acid,3-(1-methylethyl) (8.9%). The clove oil from Bangladesh was found to be comparable in terms of its eugenol content. It is suggested that clove can be grown as an economically viable crop in Bangladesh.

Volatile constituents of essential oils isolated from different parts of Alpinia calcarata Rosc

The essential oils isolated from different parts of Alpinia calcarata Rosc. growing in Chittagong, Bangladesh, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The leaf oil contained 1,8-cineole (28.48%) and camphor (21.40%) as the major constituents. The stem sheath oil had fenchyl acetate (19.16%) and carotol (16.77%) as the major compounds. On the other hand, the root oil showed fenchyl acetate (51.34%) and borneol (11.44%) as the main constituents.