Ameliorative efficacy of bioencapsulated Chironomous larvae with Shilajit on Zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to Ionizing radiation.

Using Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model organism, we evaluated the radioprotective and antioxidant effects of the Indian traditional medicine Shilajit exposed to X-Ray. The Zebrafish were divided into three experimental groups and control group, each group containing ten fish. The three experimental fish groups, group I, group II and group III were fed with 3, 5 and 7ppm shilajit encapsulated Chironomous larvae and group IV served as a control fed with non- encapsulated larvae. After 60 days of feeding trial, fish were irradiated with X-Ray at a single acute dose of 1Gy. 72h of post-irradiation, each experimental fish were observed for its morphological, behavioral, clinical symptoms, antioxidant levels and DNA damage were evaluated. Among the experimental groups 5ppm shilajit encapsulated Chironomous larvae fed fish group shows the most significant radioprotective effects compared with control and other experimental fish groups. The present study indicates that shilajit have significant radioprotective and antioxidant enhancing capability. The humus substance of shilajit may be the factor responsible to react with radiation-derived or radiation related reactive species on zebrafish.

Effect of Shilajit enriched diet on immunity, antioxidants, and disease resistance in Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) against Aeromonas hydrophila.

The effect of diet supplemented with Shilajit, a multi-component natural mineral substance on the antioxidant activity, immune response, and disease resistance in freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) against Aeromonas hydrophila is reported. The total hemocyte count (THC) and phagocytic activity significantly increased with 2 g kg(-1) supplemented diet on first week and with other enriched diets on weeks 2 and 4. The respiratory burst (RB) activity and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were significantly increased with 2 g kg(-1) supplemented diet on weeks 1 and 2 whereas 2 and 4 g kg(-1) diets on week 4. The phenoloxidase (PO) activity increased significantly with 2 g kg(-1) diet only on second week and with other enriched diets only on fourth week. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased significantly with any enriched diet during the experimental period except with 6 g kg(-1) diets on first week. However, the glutathione reductase (GR) activity was enhanced significantly only with 2 g kg(-1) enriched diets on weeks 2 and 4. The cumulative mortality of the prawn fed with 2 and 4 g kg(-1) enriched diets was 10% and 15% whereas with 6 g kg(-1) diet the mortality was 20%. The results suggest that diet enriched with Shilajit at 2 g kg(-1) or 4 g kg(-1) positively enhances the antioxidant activity, immunity, and disease resistance in M. rosenbergii against A. hydrophila.