PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF PANCHA HARITHAKADI CHURNA FOR DIGESTIVE ACTIVITY

Pancha Harithakadi Churna (PHC) is a traditional polyherbal formulation meant for digestion which consists of household ingredients having digestive property. PHC is mainly used for Constipation and Bloating. Churna’s will play an important role in gastro intestinal problems. Churna’s are having greater bioavailability because of smaller particle size. It consists of fine powder (sieve 100 size) of Ginger rhizomes, Fennel fruits, Myrobalan fruits, Senna leaflets and Pink Rock salt in equal proportions (1:1:1:1:1) are mixed well. PHC is formulated by standard procedures and evaluated by physical and analytical methods. Physicochemical standards and heavy metals are found to be within the limits. PHC is found to be free from microbes. The PHC showed pronounced amylolytic activity and moderate lipolytic and proteolytic activity when compared with standard showing its efficacy for treating indigestion. In future we will carry out other digestive enzymes in vitro studies and also to carry out in vivo digestive studies.

Coexistence of Lateriporus teres (Cestoda: Dilepididae) and Polymorphus phippsi (Palaeacanthocephala: Polymorphidae) in the intestine of common eider

The purpose of the research is studying the peculiarities of parasite infection of the cestodes Lateriporus teres Krabbe, 1869 (Cestoda: Dilepididae) and acanthocephalans Polymorphus phippsi Kostylew, 1922 (Palaeacanthocephala: Polymorphidae) during coexistence in the intestine of the common eider, particularly, the localization of these parasites, the activity of protein and carbohydrate metabolism enzymes on the tegument of the worms, the degree of parasite influence on the host digestion, as well as to assess total digestive activity in the gastrointestinal tract of birds infected with these helminths.Materials and methods. Using methods of biochemical analysis, the activity of digestive enzymes (protease and glycosidase) and the intensity of a digestion with the participation of these enzymes along the intestine of the common eider were determined. The digestive activity of enzymes in the body of helminthes was measured, and the intensity of membrane digestion on the surface of their tegument was estimated.Results and discussion. During coexistence, L. teres were observed mainly in the proximal parts of the intestine of the birds, P. phippsi in the distal parts. Membrane digestion, involving the action of proteases and glycosidases, occurred on the surface of the tegument of both cestodes and acanthocephalans. The protein metabolism intensity in both helminth species was nearly the same, but the glycosidase activity was higher on the tegument of L. teres. The glycosidase activity in the body of the acanthocephalans exceeded that in the cestodes strobile six times. In the intestine parts inhabited by L. teres, both protease and glycosidase activity decreased. In the intestine parts where P. phippsi parasitized, protease activity increased in the intestinal mucosa of the common eider. The total activity of protease and glycosidase along the entire length of the intestine in common eider infected with L. teres and P. phippsi was lower compared to the uninfected birds.

Digestive activity and organic compounds of Nezara viridula watery saliva induce defensive soybean seed responses

The stink bug Nezara viridula is one of the most threatening pests for agriculture in North and South America, and its oral secretion may be responsible for the damage it causes in soybean (Glycine max) crop. The high level of injury to seeds caused by pentatomids is related to their feeding behavior, morphology of mouth parts, and saliva, though information on the specific composition of the oral secretion is scarce. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the biochemical damage produced by herbivory to developing soybean seeds. We measured metabolites and proteins to profile the insect saliva in order to understand the dynamics of soybean-herbivore interactions. We describe the mouth parts of N. viridula and the presence of metabolites, proteins and active enzymes in the watery saliva that could be involved in seed cell wall modification, thus triggering plant defenses against herbivory. We did not detect proteins from bacteria, yeasts, or soybean in the oral secretion after feeding. These results suggest that the digestive activity and organic compounds of watery saliva may elicit a plant self-protection response. This study adds to our understanding of stink bug saliva plasticity and its role in the struggle against soybean defenses.

Helminthes of the Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) on the Eastern Murman, its impact on the digestive activity and physiological state

An ecological and physiological study of Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) nesting on the coast of Eastern Murman was carried out. The species composition of helminthofauna of birds and the quantitative parameters of the infection were studied. It is established that trematodes of the genus Microphallus, three species of cestodes - Lateriporus teres (Cestoda: Dilepididae), Fimbriarioides intermedia (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae), Microsomacanthus diorchis (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) and one species of acanthocephalan - Polymorphus phippsi (Palaeacanthocephala: Polymorphidae) parasitized in the small intestine of Common Eider. It is shown that the activity of proteases decreased at the locations of F. intermedia and M. diorchis in the intestines of birds, with infestation with the acanthocephalan P. phippsi, on the contrary, increased. The activity of glycosides in the intestinal mucosa was reduced in comparison with the control values by infection cestodes M. diorchis. There was an increase in the values of hematological indices in infected individuals relative to the control parameters.