Bioactivity of Oil Extracted from Vitex negundo L. (Verbenaceae) on Insects SUophilus oryzae L.(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Rhyzopertha dominica F. (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae)

Santosh, D.K. Tewary and P. Vasudevan
Center for Rural Development and Technology,
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016.

Essential oil extracted from the plant Vitex negundo L. was tested for its bioactivity against Sitophilus oryzae Land Rhyzopertha dominica F. by treating the grain samples with different concentrations of the oil. To evaluate the persistence of the oil’s bioefficacy, insects were inoculated in the treated wheat grain at different time intervals. Response varied with insect species. However, oil’s activity against both the insects showed a decreasing trend when inoculation time was increased after the treatment. On inoculating the insects immediately and 15 days after the grain treatment with the oil, the LC₅₀ values for S. oryzae and R. dominica were found to be 12 and 17 mL oil/500 gm grain respectively. The same values increased to 196, 332 mL respectively when inoculation was done 75 days after the treatment. Only 9, 16 mL oil/500 gm required to cause 50 percent reduction in adult emergence of F1 progeny when inoculation was made immediately and 15 days after the treatment. The oil was analysed by GC using Fill detector to determine its constituents. The effect of oil on water absorption capacity and germination potential of the grain was also determined and found to be in the normal range.

Effect of Lucerne and Berseem Leaves Concentrate Supplementation With or Without Ascorbic Acid on the Iron Status of Young Women

B. Mathur, A. Goyle, S. Varma, A. Arya, A. Rathi
Department of Home Science,
*Department of Zoology
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 004

The study determined the effect of oral Leaf Concentrate (LC), a dark green powder extracted from plants like Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and berseem (Trifolium alexandrium L.) supplementation with and without ascorbic acid on the iron status on 30 young women over an intervention period of l4 weeks. Of the 3 groups of 10 subjects each, one experimental group received 6g LC supplementation, the other received LC and ascorbic acid (125 mg) supplementation while the third group was control, which did not receive any supplementation. Blood analysis for iron status determination was conducted pre and post-intervention. Dietary data were collected through a 3 day 24 hour dietary recall method. The dietary intakes of all the 3 groups were comparable. The diets were found to be low in iron rich foods but were adequate in ascorbic acid. Post-intervention, blood analysis showed that the two experimental groups exhibited a better blood picture as compared to the control group. Hemoglobin levels of the experimental groups II and I improved significantly while the control group showed no such improvement. Results highlighted increases in haematocrit and TRBC levels as well. An increase in serum iron and consequent decrease in serum TIBC levels was noted in the experimental groups. Thus, supplementation did not add to iron absorption.

The Seasonal Effects on the Biology of Leucinodes orbonalis Guen. During Summer and Winter

A. Mathur, A. Saxena and LV Jain
Department of Zoology,
Raj. Rishi. College,
Alwar, Rajasthan.

Brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guen. is the most destructive insect pest on brinjal is cultivation. Comparative studies were carried out at Umren region, Alwar in winter 2001 and summer 2002 to understand the influence of ecological factors (temperature and relative humidity) on the population of insect pest, Leucinodes orbonalis Guen. It is noted that a highly significant difference occurs in the time period at the larval stage whereas a significant difference occurred at pupal and adult stage and a non-significant difference in the egg stage. The total development period was found to be 37 ± 2.31 days and 28.2 ± 1.2 days in winter and summer, respectively. The difference in these and other stages was significantly different owing to the difference of temperature and relative humidity values, thereby reflecting the effect of two important ecological factors viz. temperature and relative humidity on the total development period as well as on the individual developmental stages.

Biochemical Alterations in the Haemolymph of Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) Infected Larvae of Spodoptera tUura (Fab.)

Vinod Kumari and N.P. Singh
Department of Zoology
University of Rajasthan,
Jaipur-302 004, Rajasthan, India.

The effect of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) on pathophysiology of Spodoptera litura (Fab.) larvae was studied at 24.48 and 72 hours post infection. The infection resulted in significant changes in various biochemical parameters of haemolymph. Protein carbohydrate, uric acid and lipid contents were higher in treated larvae as compared to untreated control. The increase was maximum for 5 day old larvae at 72 hpi in case of protein, carbohydrate and lipid and for 8 day old larvae at 48 hpi in case of uric acid.

Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki on Biochemical Changes in Haemolymph of Helicoverpa arniigera (Hubner) Larvae

R. Tripathi and N.P. Singh
Department of Zoology
University of Rajasthan,
Jaipur - 302004, Rajasthan

Biochemical estimation of haemolymph of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki infected larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) revealed that protein and carbohydrate content increased whereas, lipid content decreased. The reason for changes are discussed. The LC₅₀ values amounting for III, IV and V instar larvae were 809.37, 2095.57 and 2605.54 IU/mg, respectively.

Alteration in the Diameter of Seminiferous Tubules of Irradiated Mouse Pretreated with a Thiophosphate Radioprotector (WR-2721)

Jaimala and S. Pahadiya
University of Rajasthan,
Jaipur-302004 (India).

Adult Swiss albino mice were exposed to different acute doses of gamma radiation with and without pretreatment with a thiophosphate radioprotector (WR-2721) and were sacrificed at various post irradiation intervals. It was found that irradiation led to a remarkable reduction of reversible nature in diameter of the seminiferous tubules. The thiophosphate pretreatment checked this reduction to a significant extent and reduced the recovery time. The reduction in the tubular diameter was maximum at the highest irradiation dose (i.e. 8 Gy) and was minimum at the lowest dose (i.e. 3 Gy) in both the groups. The trends and causes have been discussed.

β-carotene against Radiation-induced Oxidative Stress in Mice Brain

Manish Kumar Sharma and Rashmi Sisodia
Radiation Biology Laboratory,
Department of Zoology,
University of Rajasthan,
Jaipur-302004, Rajasthan.

Fourteen days oral administration of b-carotene (35 mg/Kg body weight) followed by an acute dose of gamma radiation (5 Gy) checked the augmentation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) with a statistically significant protection against GSH in Swiss albino mice brain. The antioxidative property of b-carotene against gamma radiation is suggestive of free radical scavenging and singlet oxygen quenching.

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