Heavy metal-induced toxicity in the Indian green frog: Biochemical and histopathological alterations.

Heavy metal contamination may have adverse effects on wetland biota, particularly on amphibians. Severe immunotoxic effects elicited in Euphlyctis hexadactylus (Indian green frog) because of metal exposure (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in the Bellanwila-Attidiya Sanctuary, a polluted urban wetland in Sri Lanka, provided the rationale for the present study. We evaluated the biochemical and histopathological effects of this metal contamination with a reference E.

Heavy metal mediated innate immune responses of the Indian green frog, Euphlyctis hexadactylus (Anura: Ranidae): Cellular profiles and associated Th1 skewed cytokine response.

Immune cell and cytokine profiles in relation to metal exposure though much studied in mammals has not been adequately investigated in amphibians, due mainly to lack of suitable reagents for cytokine profiling in non-model species. However, interspecies cross reactivity of cytokines permitted us to assay levels of IFNγ, TNFα, IL6 and IL10in a common anuran, the Indian green frog (Euphlyctis hexadactylus), exposed to heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb, at ~5ppm each) under field and laboratory settings in Sri Lanka. Enumeration of immune cells in blood and melanomacrophages in the liver, assay of serum and hepatic cytokines, and Th1/Th2 cytokine polarisation were investigated.

Artemisia vulgaris L. ethanolic leaf extract reverses thrombocytopenia/thrombocytosis and averts end-stage disease of experimental severe Plasmodium berghei murine malaria.

Background & Objectives: Artemisinin isolated from Artemisia annua is the most potent antimalarial against chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria. We previously reported that the ethanolic leaf extract of Artemisia vulgaris, an invasive weed and the only Artemisia species in Sri Lanka, possess both potent and safe antimalarial activity (in terms of antiparasitic properties) in a P. berghei murine malaria model.

Antimalarial properties of Artemisia vulgaris L. ethanolic leaf extract in a Plasmodium berghei murine malaria model.

Background & Objectives: Artemisinin isolated from Artemisia annua is the most potent antimalarial drug against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Artemisia vulgaris, an invasive weed, is the only Artemisia species available in Sri Lanka. A pilot study was undertaken to investigate the antiparasitic activity of an A.

Effects of diazinon on larvae of the Asian common toad (Bufo melanostictus, Schneider 1799).

Continuous subchronic exposure experiments were conducted to assess the effects of diazinon, an organophosphate pesticide, on the survival, growth and activity of larvae of the Asian common toad Bufo melanostictus. Two larval stages, the gill stage (Gosner stages 21 and 22) and gill-atrophy stage (Gosner stages 24 and 25), were continuously exposed to 4 microg/L, 400 mirog/L, and 10 mg/L of commercial-grade diazinon for 30 d. Treatments and untreated controls were maintained in triplicate with water changed and pesticide concentrations renewed every 3 d.