Thipramalai Thankappan Ajith Kumar

In vitro anticancer activity of fucoidan from Turbinaria conoides against A549 cell lines

The present study was conducted to evaluate the anticancer activity of fucoidan isolated from brown seaweed Turbinaria conoides. Extracted fucoidan contained 53 ± 0.69% of fucose and 38 ± 0.42% of sulphate, respectively. Functional groups and structural characteristics of the fucoidan were analyzed by FT-IR and NMR. In vitro anticancer effect was studied on A549 cell line. Fucoidan inhibited the growth of cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner and potent anticancer activities were 24.9-73.5% in the concentrations of 31.25-500 μg/ml. The CTC50 value against the cancer cell was found to be 45 μg/ml and the CTC50 value of normal Vero cell line is 325 μg/ml. This study suggests that the fucoidan from T. conoides could be significantly improved if the active component is further purified and tested for further investigation in various cancer cell lines.

Dietary supplementation of Avicennia marina extract on immune protection and disease resistance in Amphiprion sebae against Vibrio alginolyticus

The effect of Avicennia marina aqueous leaf extract on innate immune mechanisms such as total white blood cell counts (WBC), serum lysozyme activity, respiratory burst assay, alternative complement (ACH50) assay, phagocytic activity assay, disease resistance, gut bacteria, and survival rate of clownfish (Amphiprion sebae) against Vibrio alginolyticus is reported. Healthy fish challenged with V. alginolyticus (1 × 10(7) cells ml(-1)) were fed with diets supplemented (0, 1, 2, and 4%) with A. marina extract. The survival rate was 85% and 80% in infected fish fed with 4% and 8% supplementation diet; with 1% diet it was 70% while in the infected untreated group it was only 10%. The total gut bacteria flora was high in 8% and 4% supplementation diet groups with 2.8 × 10(5) and 4.7 × 10(4) cfu/g while it was 8.9 × 10(3) cfu/g in 1% diet group. The immunological parameters significantly increased on weeks 6 and 8 when infected fish were fed with 1% or 4% supplementation diet. This study reports that in clownfish challenged with V. alginolyticus, dietary administration of the 1% or 4% of A. marina extract improved the immune status and survival rate.

Metals in Fish along the Southeast Coast of India

Metal concentrations (cadmium, chromium, iron, lead, copper, manganese, zinc and mercury) in the muscle of five fish species (Epinephelus chlorostigma, Lutjanus russelli, Terapon jarbua, Cynoglossus arel and Lagocephalus lunaris) from the six fish landing centres along southeast coast of India were measured. In Cuddalore and Mudasalodai, the level of toxic metals cadmium, chromium and manganese were well above the permissible limits. Concentrations of cadmium, chromium, manganese and mercury in C. arel were above the permissible limit and it is consistent with their habitat and diet. The results showed a relationship between metal concentrations and pollution status of the areas.

Heterotrophic cultivation of Nannochloropsis salina for enhancing biomass and lipid production

Graphical abstract

Breeding and mass scale rearing of clownfish Amphiprion percula: feeding and rearing in brackishwater

Breeding and mass scale larval rearing of clownfish Amphiprion percula is very limited in brackishwater. We designed an indoor program of A. percula culture in brackishwater with a salinity of 24±1, during which the impacts of feed type, water temperature, and light intensity, on the efficiency of its reproduction, were revealed. The fish were accommodated along with sea anemones in fibre glass tanks to determine the influence of brooder diet on breeding efficiency. Higher reproductive efficiency [number of eggs laid (276 ± 22.3 eggs)] was observed when fish were fed live Acetes sp. rather than clam (204 ± 16.4 eggs), trash fish (155 ± 12 eggs) and formulated feed (110 ± 10 eggs). The spawning rate was increased during September and October (water temperature, 28.74 ± 0.55°C) on average of 2.4 spawning per month; and low spawning rate was in January (water temperature, 24.55 ± 0.45°C) on average of 1 spawning per month. Among three light intensities (100, 500, and 900 lx) set to evaluate larval survival rate, larvae showed the highest survival rate (65.5%) at 900 lx. The breeding method specifically in brackishwater developed in the present study is a new approach, will help the people from the regions of estuary and backwater to enhance their livelihood and it will lead to reduce the exploitation from the wild habitat.

Nutritional Evaluation of Commercially Important Fish Species of Lakshadweep Archipelago, India

Estimation of nutrition profile of edible fishes is essential and thus a bio-monitoring study was carried out to find out the nutritional composition of commonly available fishes in Agatti Island water of Lakshadweep Sea. Protein, carbohydrate, lipid, ash, vitamin, amino acid and fatty acid composition in the muscle of ten edible fish species were studied. Proximate analysis revealed that the protein, carbohydrate, lipid and ash contents were high in Thunnus albacares (13.69%), Parupeneus bifasciatus (6.12%), Hyporhamphus dussumieri (6.97%) and T. albacares (1.65%), respectively. Major amino acids were lysine, leucine and methionine, registering 2.84–4.56%, 2.67–4.18% and 2.64–3.91%, respectively. Fatty acid compositions ranged from 31.63% to 38.97% saturated (SFA), 21.99–26.30% monounsaturated (MUFAs), 30.32–35.11% polyunsaturated acids (PUFAs) and 2.86–7.79% branched fatty acids of the total fatty acids. The ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs were ranged 13.05–21.14% and 6.88–9.82% of the total fatty acids, respectively. Hence, the fishes of Lakshadweep Sea are highly recommended for consumption, since these fishes are highly enriched with nutrition. The results can be used as a baseline data for comparing the various nutritional profiles of fishes in future.

Seasonal Disparity in Fecundity and Embryonic Development of Cinnamon Anemone Fish, Amphiprion melanopus (Bleeker, 1852) In Captivity

Seasonal Disparity in Fecundity and Embryonic Development of Cinnamon Anemone Fish, Amphiprion melanopus (Bleeker, 1852) In Captivity The present study explains the seasonal influence on fecundity, embryonic development and parental care of Amphiprion melanopus reared in aquaria. Water quality parameters like temperature 27 ± 2°C, salinity 29 ± 2ppt, ammonia 0.001 ppm, dissolved oxygen 4 ± 2 ppm, pH 7.7 ± 0.2, light intensity 18 μ mol-1sec-1and photoperiod (13 L: 11 D) were provided. Brooders were fed with boiled oyster, shrimp and clam meet thrice a day and organic wastes were removed regularly. After obtaining maturation (4 months rearing in captive condition) successful spawning was observed. The percentage of fecundity, hatching, deformation and incubation were categorized into four seasons (summer, pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon) for a year.