Browsing by Author "R, Radha"

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EFFECTIVENESS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA SEEDS IN THE PHYTOREMEDIATION OF POND WATER
(Scrutiny Journals, 2014) P, Susheela; Sri Rahavi; R, Radha
Most people in the rural communities almost depend exclusively upon traditional sources of highly turbid and untreated pondwater for their domestic water needs. The present investigation was carried out to confirm the effectiveness of seed powder extracted from mature-dried Moringa oleifera seeds which are commonly available in most rural communities. The main objective of this work is to determine the suitability of Moringa oleifera as an alternative and cheap purification method in the improvement of water quality in terms of turbidity, pH and hardness. During this study, pond water samples were collected for treatment by Moringa seeds in powdered form and evaluated for the efficiency dose on pond water. After treatment of seed powder with water samples were analyzed for different physico-chemical parameters. All parameters were decreased with increasing dose of application of moringa seed powder. Hardness removal efficiency of Moringa oleifera was found to increase with increasing dosage.Application of Moringa oleifera seeds is biodegradable, environmentally friendly and non-toxic alternative which can be used in purification of pond water in rural communities.
EFFICACY OF ESSENTIAL OILS IN THE CONTROL OF MICROBES IN CONTAMINATED CURRENCY NOTES IN INDIA
(Euresian Publications, 2014) R, Radha; P, Susheela
The environment plays a vital role in the transmission of diseases and also in the spread of resistant strains of microbes to humans. These routes of transmission are of great importance in the health status of many populations in developing countries like India. Paper currency notes that are passed from hand to hand are likely to be contaminated with disease-causing microorganisms especially if handled in an unhygienic way. The present study was made to investigate the bacterial contamination of currency notes collected from people of different walks of the society and the efficacy of three essential oils for controlling the bacterial contamination of currency notes in India. The study reported here found that the extent of contamination was found related to the denominations of the currency. The prevalence occurrence of pathogenic microorganisms isolated from Indian paper currency notes from different occupational groups showed that all the currency denominations groups had microbial contamination and Rs.500 had less contamination than other denominations .It was derived from the result that cinnamon oil was proved to be the best essential oil in warding off harmful microbes much more effectively than the other essential oils
EFFICACY OF PLANT EXTRACTS ON THE TOXICITY, OVIPOSITIONAL DETERRENCE AND DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OF THE COWPEA WEEVIL, CALLOSOBRUCHUS MACULATUS (COLEOPTERA: BRUCHIDAE)
(Akinik Publications, 2014) R, Radha; P, Susheela
A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the efficacy of different plant derivatives against the development of the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) fed on cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (W) seeds. The leaf extracts of aromatic plants, Murraya koenigii and Azadirachta indica (A.Juss) were evaluated for their growth, adult mortality and oviposition inhibition of C. maculatus. The results revealed that the extracts of the two plant species caused a considerable reduction in the number of weevils. The combination of neem seed kernel extract and leaf extract of M. koenigii was the most effective in checking insect infestation and allowing the least number of F1 adults to emerge from the seeds over other treatments. Acetone leaf extracts of M. koenigii were more toxic to adult beetles compared to ethanolic extracts. Thus, the botanicals acted as insect antifeedant and the order of toxicity of various treatments on cowpea weevil were: combination of neem seed kernel extract + M. koenigii leaf extract > neem > M. koenigii.
LABORATORY EVALUATION AND COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HERBAL MOSQUITO COILS AGAINST THE FILARIAL VECTOR, CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)
(ISROSET, Indore, India, 2014) P, Susheela; R, Radha
Synthetic insecticides employed for the control of insect pests are toxic to man and livestock acting as pollutants to the environment, killing all beneficial insects thereby causing a disturbance to the ecosystem. The use of natural products such as plant essential oils has assumed significance as an important component of insect pest management because of their financial viability and eco-friendly nature. They hold promise as alternatives to chemical insecticides to reduce pesticide load in the environment. A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the efficacy of three essential oils -eucalyptus oil, lemon grass oil and thyme oil for the repellent activity against the filarial vector, Culex quinquefasciatus. Among the essential oils, Lemon grass oil showed good repellency property when compared to the other two plant oils. Hence, the results of the investigation would indicate a significant potential for lemon grass oil as a possible source of natural products that could be used as an alternative to synthetic insecticides.
STUDIES ON THE BACTERIOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF SERUM OF MUD CRAB, SCYLLA SERRATA AGAINST THREE DIFFERENT STRAINS OF BACTERIA
(International Journal Of Current Research, 2014-12-30) P B, Harathi; R, Radha
Invertebrates are dependent on cellular and humoral immune defences against microbial infection. Scylla serrata is an important commercial species of crab, but the fundamental knowledge on its immune defense related to the immune-associated reactions is still lacking. This study was undertaken to determine the antibacterial activities of serum from the mud crab, Scylla serrata against three different bacterial strains. Bacterial cultures were treated with different volumes serum from Scylla serrata and the growth was monitored by optical density at 450 nm. In addition, the serum was treated with protease to determine the mechanism of antibacterial activities. Treatment of bacterial cultures with serum from mud crab, Scylla serrata resulted in a volume-dependent decrease in bacterial growth. Cultures of M. lysodeikticus, exhibited strong growth inhibition by serum of Scylla serrata, while cultures of Vibrio furnissi and Vibrio damsel were nearly completely obliterated for 24 h by only 10% (v/v) serum. The antibacterial activity of Scylla serrata serum occurred very rapidly, as 18% of M. lysodeikticus growth was inhibited by a five min exposure to serum. Furthermore the bacteriolytic activity detected in the presence of phosphate buffer was significantly higher than that observed with, thereby indicating the suitability of phosphate buffer for assay of bacteriolytic activity.
STUDIES ON THE LEVELS OF CHOLESTEROL AND PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN THE HAEMOLYMPH OF THE LEPIDOPTERAN LARVAE BEFORE AND AFTER STINGING BY THE POTTER WASP, EUMENES CONICA
(International Science Congress Association, 2013) P, Susheela; R, Radha
The potter wasp, Eumenes conica is a solitary larval endoparasitoid, which feeds on host haemolymph of lepidopteran larva during its internal phase. The wasp first constructs the nest, hunts for its prey, the caterpillars, stings the prey, paralyses it and then brings them to the nest which is probably a very highly specialized behaviour. The present study was conducted to determine the levels of cholesterol and phospholipids in the haemolymph of the lepidopteran larvae before and after stinging by the wasp, Eumenes conica. The parasitization of the wasp affect the nutritional physiology of the larva and cause a reduced uptake of food and an increase in the concentration of free sugars in the haemolymph and of glycogen in whole body. The parasitoid larva, causes a reduction of proteins in the host’s plasma and an accumulation of lipids in whole body. Dilution of host haemolymph led to a reduced concentration of lipid in parasitoid larvae and a reduced survival rate. Thus, a sufficient concentration of nutrients in the host’s haemolymph appears to be crucial for successful parasitoid development.