Shorebird droppings analysis: Microplastics and heavy metals in a key conservation reserve and adjoining sand beaches in the west coast of India.

Coastlines are susceptible to plastic and heavy metal pollution, which can accumulate from both marine and terrestrial sources. Shorebirds, top-level predators in these fragile ecosystems are considered as indicators of environmental health. Here, we tested the occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in the droppings of ten regular wintering migrant shorebird species in Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu Community Reserve and adjoining sand beaches during November, December and January, each year, between 2019 and 2021.

Review of the spider wasp genus Episyron Schidte, 1837 (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) from India, with description of three new species.

The spider wasp genus Episyron Schidte, 1837 is reviewed, with five species recorded from various parts of India along with three new species described and illustrated from Kerala: E. keralaensis Anju, Girish Kumar & Thejass, sp. nov.

The threat of microplastics: Exploring pollution in coastal ecosystems and migratory shorebirds along the west coast of India.

To evaluate the exposure risk and ingestion of microplastics by migratory shorebirds, which are regarded as apex predators in the coastal ecosystem, this study investigated the ubiquitous presence of microplastics in estuarine and coastal habitats and their potential to be transferred in the food chains. We analysed the presence of microplastics in water, sediment, major macroinvertebrate prey and the guano samples of ten shorebird species from ten important wintering grounds in the west coast of India. Our results revealed that water is the primary source through which microplastics disseminate into various ecosystem components.

Taxonomic study on the spider wasp genus Ceropales Latreille, 1796 (Pompilidae: Ceropalinae) with description of two new species from India.

The spider wasp genus Ceropales Latreille, 1796 from India was studied, resulting in the discovery of two new species in the nominotypical subgenus: Ceropales (Ceropales) anaghae Anju, Girish Kumar & Thejass, sp. nov. and C.

The impact of long-term environmental change on zooplankton along the southwestern coast of India.

Environmental pollution and climate change are causing major changes in the marine environment. Coastal zones around the world are experiencing changes such as nutrient influx, resulting in altered plankton communities. The aim of this study was to determine the response of zooplankton to the changes in the environmental variables in the coastal zone of the Arabian Sea, Southwest Coast of India, over 10 years.

Description of a new species of spider wasp Genus Machaerothrix Haupt(Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) from India with reports on its host ssociation and nesting behaviour.

The little-known spider wasp genus Machaerothrix Haupt, 1938 is recorded for the first time from India with the description and illustrations of both sexes of a seventh species from the World. The biology, habitat, prey preference and transport, nest structure and nesting behaviour of the new species is studied and the association of the wasps with salticid spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) is here validated.

Induction of apoptosis by sulforaphane in highly metastatic B16F-10 melanoma cells.

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a naturally occurring isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc. SFN has received a great deal of attention because of its ability to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in several tumor cell lines. Previously, we have demonstrated that SFN inhibits the metastasis of B16F-10 melanoma cells in both in vivo and in vitro models.

Diallyl disulfide induces caspase-dependent apoptosis via mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway in B16F-10 melanoma cells by up-regulating p53, caspase-3 and down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and nuclear factor-κβ-mediated Bcl-2 activation.

Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is a major organo-sulfur compound derived from garlic (Allium sativum), which inhibits the proliferation of various types of cancer cells. In this study we investigated the effect of DADS on the induction of apoptosis, as well as its regulatory effect on the activation of transcription factors in B16F-10 melanoma cells. Treatment of B16F-10 cells with nontoxic concentrations of DADS resulted in the presence of apoptotic bodies and induced DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner.

Inhibition of endothelial cell differentiation and proinflammatory cytokine production during angiogenesis by allyl isothiocyanate and phenyl isothiocyanate.

Angiogenesis is a crucial step in the growth and metastasis of cancers. The activation of endothelial cells and their further behavior are very critical during angiogenesis. The authors analyze the effect of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) on angiogenesis in an in vitro model using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Modulation of cell-mediated immune response in B16F-10 melanoma-induced metastatic tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice by sulforaphane.

Effect of sulforaphane on cell-mediated immune response (CMI) was studied in B16F-10 melanoma-induced metastasis-bearing C57BL/6 mice. Administration of sulforaphane significantly enhanced natural killer (NK) cell activity in metastatic tumor-bearing animals (43.17% cell lysis, on day 5) and the activity was observed earlier than in tumor-bearing control animals (maximum of 9.

Antiangiogenic activity of Diallyl Sulfide (DAS).

Antiangiogenic activity of Diallyl sulfide (DAS) was studied using in vivo as well as in vitro models. In vivo antiangiogenic activity was studied using B16F-10 melanoma cell induced capillary formation in C57BL/6 mice. DAS significantly inhibited tumour directed capillary formation.

Inhibition of angiogenic differentiation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells by diallyl disulfide (DADS).

Angiogenesis is a crucial step in the growth and metastasis of cancers. The activation of endothelial cells and their further behaviour are very critical during angiogenesis. We analyzed the effect of diallyl disulfide (DADS) on angiogenesis in in vitro models using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) inhibit tumour-specific angiogenesis by downregulating nitric oxide (NO) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production.

Angiogenesis, a crucial step in the growth and metastasis of cancers, is initiated with vasodilation mediated by nitric oxide (NO). The pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), is a mediator of nitric oxide synthesis. We analyzed the effect of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) on serum NO as well as TNF-alpha level during angiogenesis.

Immunomodulatory activity of Sulforaphane, a naturally occurring isothiocyanate from broccoli (Brassica oleracea).

The effect of Sulforaphane on the immune system was studied using BALB/c mice. Intraperitoneal administration of five doses of Sulforaphane (500 microg/dose/animal/day) was found to enhance the total WBC count (12,950 cells/mm3) on 9th day. Bone marrow cellularity (23 x 10(6) cells/femur) and number of alpha-esterase positive cells (1346.

Augmentation of natural killer cell and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in BALB/c mice by sulforaphane, a naturally occurring isothiocyanate from broccoli through enhanced production of cytokines IL-2 and IFN-gamma.

Effect of sulforaphane on cell-mediated immune (CMI) response was studied in normal as well as Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. Administration of sulforaphane significantly enhanced natural killer (NK) cell activity in both normal as well as tumor-bearing animals, and the activity was observed earlier than in tumor-bearing control animals. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) also was enhanced significantly in both normal as well as tumor-bearing animals after sulforaphane administration compared with untreated control tumor-bearing animals.

Antimetastatic activity of Sulforaphane.

The effect of Sulforaphane on the inhibition of lung metastasis induced by B16F-10 melanoma cells was studied in C57BL/6 mice by three different modalities of administration-simultaneous, prophylactic and after tumour developed. Of this simultaneous mode of Sulforaphane administration was found to be most effective. There was 95.