Argonauta 1-6 2010





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Biochemical Estimations:

     The biochemical experiments were performed by the method of Tripathi and Singh (2001). The biochemical experiment was conducted in freshwater ponds. Each pond was stocked with 100 snails in 29.28 m3 in area and 9.19 m3 in water volume with a size difference not greater than 1.5 times (APHA, 1992). The experimental animals were treated with two different sub-lethal doses, i.e. 40% and 80% of LC50 (24h) of methanol extract of stem bark of Lantana indica or Alstonia scholaris singly or in binary mixtures for 96h. Control groups were kept under similar conditions without treatment for same duration. Diet was not given to the snail during the course of experiment. After the completion of 96h of treatment snails were removed from the treated water and the nervous and hepatopancreas tissues of both the treated as well as control group were quickly dissect out and used for biochemical estimations.
     In order to see the effect of 7th day of withdrawal, animals were exposed to sub lethal doses i.e. 80% of LC50 of 24h singly i.e. Lantana indica bark methanol extract (LIBME) or Alstonia scholaris bark methanol extract (ASBME) or in binary mixture of LIBME+ASBME in 1:1 ratio for 96h exposure periods. After 96h animals were transferred to freshwater free from any treatment for the seven day. After completion of 7th day the nervous and hepatopancreas tissue was quickly dissect out and used for bio-chemical parameters.

Total free amino acid: Estimation of total free amino acid was made according to the method of Spies (1957). Homogenates (50 mg/mL, w/v) were prepared in 95% ethanol, centrifuged at 6000 xg and used for amino acid estimation.

Protein: Protein levels were estimated according to the method of Lowry et al., 1951 using bovine serum albumin as standard. Homogenate (50 mg/mL, w/v) were prepared in 10% TCA.

Glycogen: Glycogen was estimated by the Anthrone method of Vander Vies 1954, as modified by Mahendru and Agarwal 1982. 50 mg of tissue were homogenised with 5 mL of cold 5% TCA. The homogenate was filtered and 1.0 mL of filtrate was used for assay.

Nucleic acid: Estimation of nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) performed by the method of Schneider (1957), using diphenylamine and orcinol reagents, respectively. Homogenates (1 mg/mL, w/v) were prepared in 5% TCA and centrifuged at 5000 xg for 20 minute and supernatant was prepared and used for estimation.

Activity of enzyme protease: Protease activity was measured according to the method of Moore and Stein (1954). Homogenate (50 mg/L, w/v) was prepared in cold distilled water (0°C) and optical density was measured at 570 nm. Protease activity is expressed in as micromoles of tyrosine equivalents/mg protein /h.