Multiple health benefits of curcumin and its therapeutic potential

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Turmeric, or Curcuma longa as it is formally named, is a multifunctional plant with numerous names. It was dubbed “the golden spice” and...     

Comparative low lethal effects of three insecticides on demographical traits and enzyme activity of the Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Many species of devastating insect pests have acquired a high degree of resistance to insecticides in the field during the last few decades....     

Pollution and biodegradation of hexabromocyclododecanes: A review

• Bioremediation is the most cost-effective approach for degradation of HBCDs. • Bacteria or bacterial consortia are used in the cases of bio-augmentation. • Microbes combined with phytoremediation increase the remediation efficiency. Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are the most common brominated flame-retardants after polybrominated diphenyl ethers. HBCDs can induce cancer by causing inappropriate antidiuretic hormone syndrome. Environmental contamination with HBCDs has been detected globally, with concentrations ranging from ng to mg. Methods to degrade HBCDs include physicochemical methods, bioremediation, and phytoremediation. The photodegradation of HBCDs using simulated sunlight or ultraviolet lamps, or chemical catalysts are inefficient and expensive, as is physicochemical degradation. Consequently, bioremediation is considered as the most cost-effective and clean approach. To date, five bacterial strains capable of degrading HBCDs have been isolated and identified: Pseudomonas sp. HB01, Bacillus sp. HBCD-sjtu, Achromobacter sp. HBCD-1, Achromobacter sp. HBCD-2, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa HS9. The molecular mechanisms of biodegradation of HBCDs are discussed in this review. New microbial resources should be explored to increase the resource library in order to identify more HBCD-degrading microbes and functional genes. Synthetic biology methods may be exploited to accelerate the biodegradation capability of existing bacteria, including modification of the degrading strains or functional enzymes, and artificial construction of the degradation microflora. The most potentially useful method is combining micro-degradation with physicochemical methods and phytoremediation. For example, exogenous microorganisms might be used to stimulate the adsorption capability of plants for HBCDs, or to utilize an interaction between exogenous microorganisms and rhizosphere microorganisms to form a new rhizosphere microbial community to enhance the biodegradation and absorption of HBCDs.     

Statistical source identification of metals in groundwater exposed to industrial contamination

Levels of selected metals Na, Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb and Mn were estimated by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry in groundwater samples from Kasur, a significant industrial city of Pakistan. Salient mean concentration levels were recorded for: Na (211 mg/l), Ca (187 mg/l), Mg (122 mg/l), K (87.7 mg/l), Fe (2.57 mg/l) and Cr (2.12 mg/l). Overall, the decreasing metal concentration order was: Na > Ca > Mg > K > Fe > Cr > Zn > Co > Pb > Mn > Ni > Cd. Significantly positive correlations were found between Na–Cr (r = 0.553), Na–Mn (r = 0.543), Mg–Fe (r = 0.519), Mg–Cr (r = 0.535), Pb–K (r = 0.506) and Pb–Ni (r = 0.611). Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis identified tannery effluents as the main source of metal contamination of the groundwater. The present metal data showed that Cr, Pb and Fe levels were several times higher than those recommended for water quality by WHO, US-EPA, EU and Japan. The elevated levels of Cr, recorded as 21–42 fold higher compared with the recommended quality values, were believed to originate from the tanning industry of Kasur.     

Cyanobacterial Flora from Polluted Marine Shores

Citation of cyanobacterial cultures from the shores of south west coast of Gujarat, India and their relationship with sea water quality, influenced by extensive pollutant runoff is reported in this study. Intensity of pollution was evaluated by physico-chemical analysis of water. Higher load of suspended solids (60–1000 mg l⁻¹) and nutrients (PO₄ ⁻P: 1.3–4 μmole l⁻¹ and NO₃ ⁻N: 12.5–17.8 μmole l⁻¹) were persistent throughout the analysis. Community structure is seen to be influenced by such persistent pollution. Twenty nine cyanobacterial species were isolated belonging to 9 genera of 4 families, with an elevated occurrence of Oscillatoria and Lyngbya species. No heterocystous cyanobacteria were isolated throughout the study.     

Allelopathic potential of oil seed crops in production of crops: a review

Agricultural production enhancement has been realized by more consumption of fossil energy such as fertilizer and agrochemicals. However, the production provides the present human with sufficient and diversified commodities, but at the same time, deprives in some extent the resources from the future human as well. In the other hand, it is known that synthetic herbicides face worldwide threats to human’s health and environment as well. Therefore, it is a great challenge for agricultural sustainable development. The current review has been focussed on various oilseed crop species which launch efficient allelopathic intervention, either with weeds or other crops. Crop allelopathic properties can make one species more persistent to a native species. Therefore, these crops are potentially harmful to both naturalized as well as agricultural settings. On the other side, allelopathic crops provide strong potential for the development of cultivars that are more highly weed suppressive in managed settings. It is possible to utilize companion plants that have no deleterious effect on neighbor crops and can be included in intercropping system, thus, a mean of contributing to agricultural sustainable development. In mixed culture, replacement method, wherein differing densities of a neighbor species are planted, has been used to study phytotoxic/competitive effects. So, to use alternative ways for weed suppression has become very crucial. Allelochemicals have the ability to create eco-friendly products for weed management, which is beneficial for agricultural sustainable development. Our present study assessed the potential of four oilseed crops for allelopathy on other crops and associated weeds.     

Floristic composition of arid off –shore islands in Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates

Data on flora and vegetation of 14 off-shore islands representing different habitat types were studied for investigating floristic composition, vegetation types and correlation with their habitats and ecosystem. The results demonstrate considerable plant distribution and diversity among the islands within the limited spectrum of species; encompassing a total of 47 species, belonging to 43 genera under 24 families. The most representative families were Amaranthaceae (9 species), Fabaceae (4 species), Poaceae (4 species) and Asteraceae and Aizoaceae (3 species each). Fourteen families are represented by only one species. The mangrove species, Avicennia marina, occurs throughout the coast of Abu Dhabi in discontinuous patches and in different water salinities. The studies also seek to underline that dominant species that constitutes the flora of Abu Dhabi are salt tolerant in nature. Compared to other Arabian Peninsula ecosystems, UAE perhaps has a higher coastal: mainland area ratio, which has contributed to a natural dominance of salt tolerant species among the community. The studies show 40% similarity among islands with respect to the species diversity. The floristic composition of the off-shore islands also indicates a need to consider these sites as protected sites.     

Effects of continuously regenerating diesel particulate filters on regulated emissions and number-size distribution of particles emitted from a diesel engine

The effects of continuously regenerating diesel particulate filter (CRDPF) systems on regulated gaseous emissions, and number-size distribution and mass of particles emanated from a diesel engine have been investigated in this study. Two CRDPF units (CRDPF-1 and CRDPF-2) with di erent specifications were separately retrofitted to the engine running with European steady-state cycle (ESC). An electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI) was used for particle number-size distribution measurement and mass estimation. The conversion/reduction rate (RCR) of hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) across CRDPF-1 was 83% and 96.3%, respectively. Similarly, the RCR of HC and CO and across CRDPF-2 was 91.8% and 99.1%, respectively. The number concentration of particles and their concentration peaks; nuclei mode, accumulation mode and total particles; and particle mass were highly reduced with the CRDPF units. The nuclei mode particles at downstream of CRDPF-1 and CRDPF-2 decreased by 99.9% to 100% and 97.8% to 99.8% respectively; and the particle mass reduced by 73% to 92.2% and 35.3% to 72.4%, respectively, depending on the engine conditions. In addition, nuclei mode particles increased with the increasing of engine speed due to the heterogeneous nucleation initiated by the higher exhaust temperature, while accumulation mode particles were higher at higher loads due to the decrease in the air-to-fuel ratio (A/F) at higher loads.     

Endosulfan is toxic to the reproductive health of male freshwater fish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinion watsoni</Emphasis>

Endosulfan is an organochlorine pesticide that is toxic to aquatic life. Endosulfan might hamper the reproductive health of indigenous fish in agricultural areas of Pakistan where this pesticide is sprayed widely. The aim of the current study is to investigate the toxic effects of endosulfan on selected reproductive parameters of male freshwater fish, Cyprinion watsoni. Two concentrations of endosulfan (0.5 and 1 ppb for 30 days exposure) were tested for their effects on body weight, body length, and testicular weight, length, and width. Testicular testosterone was assayed from tissue extracts using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A significant increase in the mortality rate was observed in both treated groups during both spawning and quiescent seasons. The overall behavior of fish in the aquarium was normal in all control and treated groups. However, the treated fish exhibited anxiety after treatment with endosulfan. The body weight and length, and testicular weight, length and width were not significantly different to the control group. The testicular testosterone concentrations were significantly lower in both endosulfan-treated groups compared to the control. The decrease was dose-dependent, with a significant difference between the two treated groups. The histomorphological results demonstrated various testicular alterations in the treated groups. These alterations included an increase in interlobular areas and clumping patterns in spermatocytes/spermatids. Because spermatids eventually differentiate into sperms, their low count will directly result in lower sperm count. Taken together, these results suggest that endosulfan is a toxicant that at least disturbs testosterone levels (possibly others) and negatively impacts the reproductive health of male freshwater fish.