Rina Chakrabarti

Enhanced anti-proteases inLabeo rohita fed with diet containing herbal ingredients

Aqueous root extract ofAchyranthes aspera was incorporated in the experimental diet ofLabeo rohita (rohu). Control diet was prepared without root extract. Feeding of fishes with experimental diet has significantly (p<0.05) enhanced the serum anti-proteases level than fishes fed with control diet.

Life table responses of zooplankton (Moina micrura Kurz and Daphnia carinata King) to manure application in a culture system

Abstract Neonates or adults of Moina micrura and Daphnia carinata were individually dispensed into culture tubes suspended in each of three replicate tanks representing treatments differing in days (2, 4, 6, 9 and 11 days) after manure (cattle manure, poultry droppings, and mustard oil cake, 1:1:1) application. The cladocerans in the culture tubes were examined daily to collect life table data. Primary productivity values and water quality parameters were determined. Time to first reproduction (A) was delayed during the early part of manure application. Mean longevity (W), total offspring production (S), reproductive life span, net reproductive rate (Ro), average generation time (Tc), intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) and finite rate (er) of the test cladocerans were reduced 2 days after application compared with 11 days after application. Differences in offspring production of test cladocerans in five different treatments were directly conrrelated with gross or net primary productivity values but inversely correlated with increasing levels of ammonia-N.

Role of Stocking Density on Growth and Survival of Catla, Catla catla, and Rohu, Labeo rohita, Larvae and Water Quality in a Recirculating System

ABSTRACT Catla, Catla catla, and rohu, Labeo rohita, fry were cultured at 6,667,8,333, and 10,000/m3 in 15-L aquaria in recirculating systems for 30 days. Larvae were fed with exogenous live plankton. Cultures at 6,667 and 8,333 larvae/m3 showed significantly (P <0.05) higher survival and growth than larvae stocked at 10,000 larvae/m3 for both species. Food was more efficiently used in low stocking density, as evident from the significantly (P <0.05) lower values of feed conversion ratio in lower density compared to those for high stocking density. Specific growth rate of both species was high in the early stage and gradually declined along with the ontogenic development. Dissolved oxygen level was higher in the low density system than in the high density one. Values of phosphate and COD increased during the experiment. Ammonia, nitrite, phosphate, and COD levels were significantly (P <0.05) higher in the 10,000 larvae/m3 density system than in the other two systems for both species. Considering the survival and growth of fish and values of water quality parameters, it appears that stocking density can be raised up to 8,333 larvae/m3 with a recirculating system for both catla and rohu.

Impact of UV-B radiation on the digestive enzymes and immune system of larvae of Indian major carp Catla catla.

Purpose: Ultraviolet radiation is a potent threat to the aquatic animals. Exposure to such stressor affects metabolic and immunological processes. The present investigation aims to study the effect of UV-B radiation on digestive enzymes and immunity of larvae of Catla catla. Materials and methods: Larvae were exposed to ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280–320 nm) radiation (145 μW/cm2) for three different exposure times of 5, 10 and 15 min on every other day. After 55 days, important digestive enzymes were assayed. For immunological study, lysozyme, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) levels were measured. Then the fish were kept for one month without radiation and lysozyme level was measured. Results: Protein concentration varied directly with the duration of exposure and was highest among fish that had received the 15 min UV-B irradiation. Significantly higher amylase, protease, trypsin and chymotrypsin activities were found in 5 min exposed fish compared to others. Lysozyme level was significantly higher in control group compared to the UV-B treated fish. The lysozyme level decreased with the increasing duration of UV-B radiation. When fish were kept without UV-B radiation for one month, lysozyme level was brought to the normal level in all treatments, except 15 min exposed fish. The GOT and GPT levels were significantly higher in the 15 min exposed group than others. Conclusions: The effects of UV-B radiation on the digestive physiology and immune system of catla have been clearly observed in the present study. The decreased enzyme activities in UV-B radiated fish results into improper digestion and poor growth.

Evaluation of immunostimulatory and growth promoting effect of seed fractions of Achyranthes aspera in common carp Cyprinus carpio and identification of active constituents

Immunostimulatory and growth promoting properties of Achyranthes aspera seeds were studied with larvae of common carp Cyprinus carpio. Four experimental diets were prepared using raw (D1) and alcohol (D2), petroleum ether (D3) and 50% aqueous alcohol (D4) extracts of A. aspera seeds. Diet without seed served as control (D5). Fish were fed with test/control diet for 30 days and then immunized with 10 μl of c-RBC. Blood samples were collected 7 days after immunization. Survival (93 ± 3%) of fish was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in D1 diet fed group compared to others. Highest specific growth rate was found in fish fed with diet D2. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of serum protein and albumin were found in D1 and D3 compared to others. Highest serum globulin level was found in D1, which was followed by D3, D2, D4 and D5. Hemagglutination titer level was 5-18 folds higher in diet D3 fed fish compared to others. SGOT and SGPT levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in control group compared to the treated groups. Myeloperoxidase activity was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in D1 (2.513 ± 0.27 λ 450 nm) and D3 (2.38 ± 0.07 λ 450 nm) diets fed groups compared to others. The best performance of fish was found in raw A. aspera seeds incorporated diet fed group and the active constituents were identified as ecdysterone and two essential fatty acids linolenic acid and oleic acid.

Anti-inflammatory effects of shea butter through inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines via the Nf-κB pathway in LPS-activated J774 macrophage cells.

Shea butter is traditionally used in Africa for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. In this study we explored the anti-inflammatory activities of the methanolic extract of shea butter (SBE) using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophage cell line J774. It was observed that SBE significantly reduced the levels of LPS-induced nitric oxide, Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins, 1β (IL-1β), and -12 (IL-12) in the culture supernatants in a dose dependent manner. Expression of pro-inflammatory enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were also inhibited by SBE. These anti-inflammatory effects were due to an inhibitory action of SBE on LPS-induced iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-12 mRNA expressions. Moreover, SBE efficiently suppressed IκBα phosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear translocation induced by LPS. These findings explain the molecular bases of shea butter’s bioactivity against various inflammatory conditions and substantiate it as a latent source of novel therapeutic agents.

Purification and characterization of trypsin from the digestive system of carp Catla catla (Hamilton)

Trypsin was purified from the digestive system of carp Catla catla (Hamilton) by ammonium sulfate fractionation, diethylaminoethyl-cellulose column chromatography, and Benzamidine Sepharose 4 fast flow column affinity chromatography. Trypsin was purified 26.2-fold with an 11.1% yield. The purified enzyme was active between pH 7.0 and 9.8, and maximal activity of the enzyme was observed at pH 7.0. Highest activity was found at 40°C. The activity was reduced to 52.84% at 60°C and was completely lost at 70°C. An addition of 2 mM CaCl2 enhanced trypsin activity during the 8-h incubation. The Km, Kcat, and catalytic efficiency values of purified enzyme were 0.062 mM and 19.23/s, and 310.16/s/mM, respectively. The enzyme activity was inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonylflouride, and N-α-p-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was 20.2 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Mass spectrometry study of purified enzyme gave the peptide sequences LGEHNIAVNEGTEQFIDSVK (MW = 2,027.9568) and HPSYNSRNLDNDIM (MW = 1,692.6952) showing identical sequence with trypsin from various fishes.

The effect of management protocols for juvenile carp (Cyprinus carpio) culture on life history responses of a zooplankton food source, Moina micrura (Kurz.)

Abstract Three systems of carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) culture (live food system, manured system, and control system) were used to examine environmentally dependent life history characteristics of zooplankton, Moina micrura . Twelve culture tubes with one neonate of M. micrura per tube and covered by nylon bolting cloth of 75 μm mesh size were suspended in situ in each culture system. Each culture tube was examined daily to evaluate life history patterns. Time to first reproduction ranged from 4 to 7 days in the control and manured systems and 3 to 5 days in the live food system. Mean longevity, net reproductive rate, average generation time, as well as total offspring production per female, were distinctly higher for the live food system than for the manured or control systems. Interactions between chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, phosphate levels and primary productivity resulting in optimal conditions were responsible for large variations in life history characteristics of M. micrura among the culture systems.

Exogenous Introduction of Live Plankton – A Better Approach to Carp Growth than the Direct-Manure System

Abstract The growth of four species of carp – catla (Catla catla), mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and rohu (Labeo rohita) – was compared among three feeding schemes: (1) exogenous introduction of zooplankton, (2) fertilization with manures, and (3) a control system with addition of boiled rice and mustard oil cake. Growth of fish was measured after 90 d in four separate tests conducted during September 1986–June 1987. Generally, frequency distributions of weight-groups of fishes at harvest were skewed toward larger fish in the live-food system and toward smaller fish in the control system. The instantaneous growth and net weight gain of fish were significantly higher in the live-food system than in the manured or control system. The better growth in the live-food system was attributed to a greater abundance of plankton and better water quality expressed in terms of lower values of chemical oxygen demand and higher concentrations of dissolved oxygen.

Trypsin from the digestive system of carp Cirrhinus mrigala: Purification, characterization and its potential application

Trypsin was purified 35.64-fold with 4.97% recovery from the viscera of carp Cirrhinus mrigala (mrigal) by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange and affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme was active at a wide range of pH (7.0-9.2) and temperature (10-50°C). The purified enzyme exhibited high thermal stability up to 50°C for 1h. The enzyme activity was stabilized by Ca(+2) (2mM) up to 7h at 40°C. The Km and kcat values of purified enzyme were 0.0672 mM and 92.09/s/mM, respectively. Soybean trypsin inhibitor and phenylmethylsulphonylflouride completely inhibited the enzyme activity. The specific inhibitor of trypsin, N-α-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone inhibited 99.67% activity. Na(+), K(+) and Li(+) inhibited 20.99 ± 5.25%, 16.53 ± 4.80% and 18.99 ± 1.42% of enzyme activity, respectively. Divalent ions Mg(+2), Zn(+2), Co(+2), Hg(+2) and Cd(+2) inhibited 21.61 ± 2.22%, 31.62 ± 1.78%, 31.62 ± 1.96%, 85.68 ± 1.51% and 47.95 ± 2.13% enzyme activity, respectively. SDS-PAGE showed that the molecular mass of purified enzyme was 21.7 kDa. MALDI-TOF study showed a peptide sequence of AFCGGSLVNENKMHSAGHCYKSRIQV at the N-Terminal. This sequence recorded 76-84% identity with trypsin from Thunnus thynnus and other fish species. This confirmed that the purified protein was trypsin. The purified enzyme has potential applications in detergent and food industry because of its thermal stability and alkaline nature.