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The prophylactic effects of oleanolic acid (OA) isolated from chloroform extract (CE) of Flaveria trinervia against ethanol induced liver toxicity was investigated using rats. CE and OA at three different doses were tested by administering orally to the ethanol treated animals during the last week of the 7 weeks study. Silymarin was used as the standard reference. The substantially elevated serum enzymatic levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin in ethanol treated animals were restored towards normalcy by treatment of CE and OA. In vivo antioxidant and in vitro free radical scavenging activities were also positive for all the three concentrations of CE and OA. However, OA at 150 mg/kg showed significant activity when compared to the other two doses. Biochemical observations in support with histopathological examinations revealed that CE and OA possess hepatoprotective action against ethanol induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

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Globally, stable isotopic methods are rapidly being employed in food web studies to quantify the relative proportions of diverse primary carbon sources in an animal diet. Tropical estuarine ecosystems, one of the vital marine habitats, harbour complex food webs due to the multiplicity of habitats and resources. The complex system of inputs and exchanges of organic matter sometimes complicate identi cation of the carbon sources that support the higher trophic levels. To assess the primary food sources of four abundant amphipod species in the anthropogenically in uenced upper Vashishti estuary, Carbon and Nitrogen stable isotopes were employed. Seasonal variations were signi cant for δ 13 C and δ 15 N of suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) and also for δ 13 C of sediment organic matter (SOM), but not for the isotopic signatures of individual amphipod species. Signi cant variations in the δ 13 C and δ 15 N values between amphipods suggested species-speci c diets. Mixing model output indicated discrepancies in seasonal variations of food preferences between species. Trophic level values indicated that all amphipod species were primary consumers. The depleted δ 15 N values of SPOM, SOM and amphipod species and the negative relationship between δ 15 N values of SPOM with SS and NO 2 --N concentration and also between δ 15 N values of Gammaropsis megnae with increasing NO 3 --N and NO 2 --N concentrations were possibly due to the anthropogenic input of nitrogen in the estuary. Eriopisellas echellensis -22.8 to -20.8 3.5 to 3.7 This study