ABSTRACT
The current study investigated the multifunctional properties of Cadmium Sulphide Nanoparticles synthesized using a green synthesis method (CdS NPs) using a green feedstock, Nopal Cactus fruit extract. The biological activities of the CdS NPs were thoroughly investigated, including their insecticidal, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. The different concentrations (0.005-0.04%) of CdS NPs were fed to the larvae of Spodoptera litura, and their ingestion effects were observed on the different biological, biochemical, and oxidative stress markers. There are significant dose-dependent changes in the biochemical parameters like superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and MDA level as a marker of lipid peroxidation in the treated larvae were studied. In the highest concentration (0.04%), significant larval mortality (46.66%), malformation (pupae and adult) (27.78%), inhibition of adult emergence (43.87%), as well as reduced fecundity (25.28%), and fertility (22.74%) as compared to control was observed. CdS NPs have been investigated for antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains. In vitro anticancer activities were carried out to decrease the viability of the Pancreatic cancer cell line. The cells showed 18% and 12% viability at a 200 µg/ml concentration when incubated with CdS NPs for 24 and 48 h, respectively, confirming its potent anticancer property. The lack of cytotoxicity against the (RBC) endorses the biocompatible nature of synthesized CdS NPs. It was observed that green synthesized CdS NPs could be used as a promising insecticidal, antibacterial, and anticancer agent.
Subject(s)
Insecticides , Nanoparticles , Animals , Spodoptera , Insecticides/pharmacology , Insecticides/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Larva , Eating , Plant Extracts/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The study deals with new record of species bush-cricket Platycleis albopunctata (Goeze, 1778) from Kargil, Ladakh, India. The species is reported from fodder (alfalfa) and cereal (barley) crops of Kargil, Ladakh. Illustrations and morphometric ranges of reported species have been provided. All specimens have been deposited in the Zoology Department, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
Subject(s)
Gryllidae , Orthoptera , Animals , Crops, Agricultural , Humans , India , Universities , ZoologyABSTRACT
Indiscriminate and unregulated application of pesticides produces deleterious effect in various groups of organisms including humans and the environment. To solve these issues, it has been reported that the residue-free green nanocomposite synergistically enhances the pesticide efficacy. In this study, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with a thiamethoxam nanocomposite were synthesized and we investigated their synergistic effect on 4th instar larvae of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). These larvae were allowed to feed on the composite of ZnO NPs with thiamethoxam (10-90 mg/L) and thiamethoxam-impregnated castor leaves. Observations showed an increased larval mortality (27% increased mortality), a malformation in pupae and adults, overdue emergence, and reduced fecundity and fertility. A significant dose-dependent variation in the biochemical parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the treated larvae was also observed. A decline of 72.42 and 33.82% in SOD and GST activity ,respectively, was observed at higher concentration as compared to the control. On the contrary, it enhanced the TBARS level up to 56.7%. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by different biophysical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (average crystalline size 34 nm), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (average particle size 30 nm), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (Zn-O stretching peaks at 432 cm-1 and 503 cm-1). The observation of the present study suggests that ZnO NPs pave the way for developing cost-effective, eco-friendly, and capable nanomaterial for its applications in the field of biological sciences.
ABSTRACT
The present paper includes description of one new species Conocephalus (Anisoptera) rentzi sp. nov. and some known species of genus Conocephalus Thunberg, 1815 from India. Brief diagnosis of genus and subgenus with a key to species of subgenus Anisoptera and morphometric ranges of all the species are provided. The distributional map and illustrations of all the described and reported species with SEM photography of stridulatory files of C. (Anisoptera) maculatus C. (Anisoptera) rentzi sp. nov. have also been included. All type specimens have been deposited for posterity in the Zoology Department, Aligarh Muslim University, India (ZDAMU).
Subject(s)
Orthoptera , Animal Distribution , Animals , India , OdonataABSTRACT
The study deals with one new record of genus Xestophrys Redtenbacher, 1891 (Conocephalinae: Copiphorinae) and one new species from India, and provides species descriptions and illustrations of the male. All type specimens are deposited in the Zoology Museum, Aligarh Muslim University, India.
Subject(s)
Orthoptera , Animal Distribution , Animals , China , India , Male , Museums , Universities , ZoologyABSTRACT
The paper deals with a new record Hexacentrus japonicus Karny, 1907 and a new species Hexacentrus bifurcata sp. nov. from India. Necessary and important illustrations with SEM images of stridulatory file of Hexacentrus japonicus and Hexacentrus bifurcata sp. nov. are provided. A key to the Indian species of Hexacentrus and morphometric ranges of all the species have also been included. Type specimens have been preserved for further investigation in Zoology Department, Aligarh Muslim University (ZDAMU).