The effect of Vitamin E (1 mmol/kg body weight/day given intraperitoneally for 7 days before the administration of benzene) on benzene (500 mg/kg body weight/day in corn oil) induced alterations of some enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism and oxidative stress in rat liver was investigated. Control group was give only corn oil. Each treatment was carried out for 20 days. Results revealed that administration of benzene caused a significant increase in the levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde (MDA). Whereas the levels of glucose-6 phosphatase, reduced glutathione (GSH) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase were significantly decreased compared to control animals. But in those animals which received Vitamin E therapy 7 days before being challenged with benzene, the changes in those parameters were almost statistically non-significant. This study indicated that, Vitamin E, a well known antioxidant can protect the major profiles of Carbohydrate metabolism and normal oxidative state of liver from the detrimental effects of benzene at this concentration.

The microbial production of gluconic acid has been investigated using a mutant Gluconobactor oxydans GPM 60 through optimization of some Physical parameters. Production conditions like initial pH, incubation period, volume of media, age of inoculum, volume of inoculum, agitation and temperature were individually opitimized one by one. The maximum yield of gluconic acid is 13.80 g/L with pH 6.0, 96h incubation, 20 ml medium, 48h age of inoculum, 10 ml volume of inoculum, 250 rpm agitation and 30oC temperature.

Effect of total dietary fats on serum cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein levels were investigated in this study. For this purpose two different percentages (15% and 60% respectively) of fats were used. 25% dietary fat was choosen as control. Corn oil is used as a source of fat in this experimental protocol. Each treatment was carried out for 10 days. Cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels in animals receiving 15% fat (Group A) showed significant decrease. But Group B animals (received 60% fat) showed only significant increase in HDL level suggesting thereby 60% dietary fat intake does not affect cardiovascular risk factors adversely. Even HDL (good cholesterol) level increase indicates some cardio protective effect.

Red tides are becoming more common in aquatic ecosystems, particularly the coastal habitats which are highly influenced by climatic and anthropogenic activities. We provide the first report of a red tide event in Meda creek, west coast of India. Light and scanning electron microscopy were used to identify the bloom forming organism, while physicochemical, biological and biooptical parameters were determined to characterize the aquatic body of the Meda Creek. The dominant bloom forming organisms were observed as unarmored, spherical, dorsoventrally compressed flagellate with truncated apex, notched and rounded hypocone, displaced premedian cingulum and extending sulcus. The length wise size of the cell varied from 20 to 30.83μM, whereas, the width varied from 14 to 27.5μM. The organisms was identified as Gymnodinium sp. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and spectral profile of the bloom indicatedeleven major peaks corresponding to that of 19-but-fucoxanthin (52.75%), astaxanthin (9.62%), fucoxanthin (8.81%), Mgdv (6.45%), prasinoxanthin (3.35%), chlorophyll C2 (3.22%), neoxanthin (3.12%), antheraxanthin (3.14%), diadinoxanthin (2.63%) and diatoxanthin (1.38%). Chlorophyll a concentration in the bloom sample was 38.8μg/L. Water temperature, salinity, NH3-N, NO2-N, NO3-N, PO4-Pwere higher during the bloom period than the non-blooming ones, while metals including Fe, Zn, Cr, Mn and Co were lower. No death of aquatic biota was observed. We propose that eutrophication along with the warm and saline conditions provided enabling conditions for occurrence the bloom. Also, most of the pigments expressed have antioxidant role and might be purposeful for the survival of the organism in the extreme condition of temperature and salinity recorded. Proper management and monitoring measures might help mitigate further occurrences of this bloom in the light changing climate and increasing anthropogenic impacts.