In an attempt to develop new herbal therapy, an aqueous extract of the seed of Moringa oleifera was used to screen the effect on arsenic-induced hepatic toxicity in female rat of Wistar strain. Subchronic exposure to sodium arsenite (0.4 ppm/100 g body weight/day via drinking water for a period of 24 days) significantly increased activities of hepatic and lipid function markers such as alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL along with a decrease in total protein and HDL. A notable distortion of hepatocellular histoarchitecture was prominent with a concomitant increase in DNA fragmentation following arsenic exposure. A marked elevation of lipid peroxidation in hepatic tissue was also evident from the hepatic accumulation of malondialdehyde and conjugated dienes along with suppressed activities in the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. However, co-administration of aqueous seed extract of M. oleifera (500 mg/100 g body weight/day for a period of 24 days) was found to significantly prevent the arsenic-induced alteration of hepatic function markers and lipid profile. Moreover, the degeneration of histoarchitecture of liver found in arsenic-treated rats was protected along with partial but definite prevention against DNA fragmentation induction. Similarly, generation of reactive oxygen species and free radicals were found to be significantly less along with restored activities of antioxidant enzymes in M. oleifera co-administered group with comparison to arsenic alone treatment group. The present investigation offers strong evidence for the hepato-protective and antioxidative efficiencies of M. oleifera seed extract against oxidative stress induced by arsenic.

Arsenic is an environmental toxicant, free-radical generator, carcinogenic agent, and aging promoter. Recently, blood samples were analyzed from individuals (control- male 12, female 13; arsenic-exposed- male 16, female 14; and exposed to ≥100 μg/L As, ≥10 y) with dermatological symptoms in few affected villages in Eastern India to unravel their hematopoietic, metabolic, and antioxidant profiles. White blood cells recovered from buffy coat were used for DNA fragmentation test. Present observation suggests that significant number of individuals developed pigmentation and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis with black-brownish patch on their body and many of those developed carcinomas. Hematopoietic data show a significant increase in eosinophil and decrease in monocyte count in either sex. Though insignificant, an increase in neutrophil in female and lymphocyte count in male arsenic-exposed individuals are supported by the earlier report on sex dimorphic immune sensitization. Significant increase in serum alanine transaminase in both sexes and bilirubin only in male suggests the eventuality of hepatic disintegration. Arsenic exposure significantly decreased serum amylase in female. A significant decrease in antioxidant components like catalase, soluble thiol, and recently recognized uric acid worsened the situation by generating free radicals as observed in significant rise in malondialdehyde level, which finally increased DNA fragmentation and arsenic-associated mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. This could attribute to lowering in immune competence and related necrotic and/or apoptotic manifestations.

This is for the first time that two fluoride tolerant bacterial strains of Bacillus spp (KT201599 and KT201600) have been isolated from the mid-gut of third instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster. They are characterized and identified using phenotypic characters and 16S rRNA gene based molecular phylogenetic analysis. Interestingly, KT201599 and KT201600 are able to survive at 2000-2500 lg/mL sodium fluoride (NaF) concentrations. The chronic lethal concentration 50 (LC 50 ) for NaF in Drosophila larvae is 125 lg/mL, whereas, the abovementioned Bacillus strains isolated from their mid-gut are found to be more tolerant to fluoride (F) in comparison to their host. In search for biological relevance of KT201599 and KT201600, we further deciphered that these strains not only survived at high F concentrations, but also were efficient in removing the fluoride ions from the medium by 16.66 and 24.71% respectively. Thus, the study indicates that resident gut flora of Drosophila having the property of reducing fluoride load from the medium, might be helping the host to thrive in a fluoridated environment.

Deformities of non biting midge larvae’s mouthparts are considered as indicators of environmental degradation that caused by water pollutants like pesticides, heavy metals, organic contaminants etc. The present investigation was aimed to assess the effects of 3 pesticides, viz. Cartap Hydrochloride, Carbofuran and Fipronil on deformities of chironomid larvae of the Rice fields of Village Dhunui; Memari Block-II of Burdwan district in West Bengal. The study area is dominated by the species of the genus Chironomus of chironomid community. Concurrently six (6) species were considered. The average percentage of mouthpart deformities was 14% in all chironomid larvae. Highest degree of malformation was noticed in Chironomus circumdatus in which more than 18.90% of all specimens were affected. However, further investigative efforts are essential to investigate the actual explanation in support of the occurrence of high degree of deformities in chironomid.

Two haemolytic bacterial strains of Bacillus pumilus (CU1A, CU1B) and one blood-utilizing strain of Bacillus licheniformis (CU2B) were isolated from relatively low numbers of field-collected females of Culicoides oxystoma and Culicoides peregrinus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). A total of 36 females, including 18 of each of C. oxystoma and C. peregrinus (consisting of one and a pool of eight blood-engorged specimens, and one and a pool of eight non-engorged specimens for each species), were tested. In C. oxystoma, all three strains of bacteria were isolated from the one non-engorged, the pool of non-engorged and the pool of blood-engorged females tested, but CU1A and CU2B were not found in the one blood-engorged female tested. In C. peregrinus, all three strains were present in the pool of blood-engorged females. However, the strain CU2B was not found in the pool of non-engorged females. In the one blood-engorged and one non-engorged female tested, CU1A and CU2B were detected. The bacterial strains were identified based on Gram staining, enzyme activity (amylase and protease) and alignment of the 16S rRNA partial gene sequence to that available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database GenBank. The functional role and significance of these haemolytic and blood-digesting bacteria within the genus Culicoides remain to be determined.