Chick List of Some Marine Molluscs and Their Medicinal Properties from Gulf of Mannar
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International Journal of Advanced Technology & Science Research Volume 01 Issue 02 November 2020 CHICK LIST OF SOME MARINE MOLLUSCS AND THEIR MEDICINAL PROPERTIES FROM GULF OF MANNAR Dr.G.Chelladurai PG Research Department of Zoology, V.O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India Email:[email protected] 1. ABSTRACT Gulf of Mannar is the richest source of marine gastropods which is situated in the south east coast of India. Most of the mollusc’s shells are used for multifarious purposes. In some of molluscs have medicinal properties and it’s believed that certain diseases like asthma and rickets can be cured by eating particular molluscs. The power of seed pearls is said to be specific in healing certain skin ailments. In evidence from cancer research suggests that some mussels meat may be challenging to certain types of cancer and that the extraction of cancer- curing drugs from molluscs may be feasible in the future . Keywords: Marine molluscs, Medicinal Properties, Biodiversity, Gulf of Mannar 1. INTRODUCTION The Gulf of Mannar was established as a biosphere reserve in 1989 by the Indian Government and the State of Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu forest department conducts the reserve, and in addition, a Trust has been established that requires aide for the reserve from surrounding communities (Marine Conservation Society, 2009). It is considered as‘Biologists paradisc’ for it inhabits large number of species of flora and fauna. Gulf of Mannar is endowed with a rich variety of marine organisms because its biosphere area includes variety if coastal ecosystems. These ecosystems support a wide range of fauna and flora including rare cowries, cones, volutes, murices, whelks, strombids, chanks, tonnids, prawns, lobsters, pearl oysters, seahorses, sea cucumbers etc., in terms of biodiversity about 3,600 species of marine organisms were reported in the gulf of mannar, which includes 117 species of corals (Patterson et al., 2007), 147 species of seaweeds (Kaliyaperumal, 1998), 13 species of sea grass (Rajeswari and Anand, 1998), 17 species of sea cucumbers (James, 2001), 510 species www.ijatsr.org Copyright © IJATSR 2020, All Rights Reserved Page 110 International Journal of Advanced Technology & Science Research Volume 01 Issue 02 November 2020 of finfish’s (Durairaj, 1998), 106 species of shell fishes of shrimps (Ramaiyan et al., 1996) and 4 species of lobsters (Susheelan, 1993). Molluscs constitute an important group of animals in marine hydrosphere representing 23% of all the organisms. Since majority of these live in harsh and aggressive, intertidal rocky shores, mudflats and shelf zone exposed to a series of physical and chemical stresses, they are vulnerable to wounds and damages caused by inter-species and intra-species competitions and microbial attacks. These organisms therefore have the capability to adapt themselves and overcome different kinds of stress with the synthesis of secondary metabolites possessing immunological property and anti- microbial activity Phylum mollusca were initially divided into 9 different classes of which two have been reported as extinct. Of the seven extant classes, four have been labeled as major and three as minor phyla. The four major classes include Polyplacophora (Chiton, Katharina, Mopalia etc.), Gastropoda (Conch, Cones, Snails, Cypraea sp etc.), Bivalvia (Oysters, Clams, Mussels, Scallops etc.) and Cephalopoda (Squids, Octopuses, Cuttlefish etc). The three minor classes include Monoplacophora (Neopilina), Solenogastres (Neomenia) and Caudofoveata (Chaetoderma, Limifossor). Each of the extant molluscs supports some kinds of economic activity. Marine molluscs have been used in a variety of ways; the most common being as a source of food, ornaments and production of lime. A few species act as scavengers in cleaning the environment and pollution indicators. Many molluscan species have been identified as superior source of secondary metabolites having wide range of pharmaceutical applications. Some important compounds screened, isolated and tested for their anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial properties are discussed here. Marine gastropods are found to be a vital source of useful bioactive substances. These bioactive compounds are involved in various biological functions such as communication, infection, reproduction and self-defense (Tamil Muthu and Selvaraj, 2015). Recently, researchers have found that this humble category of invertebrates – which includes some 85,000 different species of marine and freshwater clams, snails, squids, mussels, and octopods – actually harbors a secret that could help humans stay healthy and pain-free. Molluscs, as it turns out, have guts. And, more importantly, those guts contain unique micro- organisms that might save human lives. Present study consists the current status of the exploration and exploitation of bioactive compound source from marine molluscs with due importance to Indian coasts. It is hoped that it would provide basic insight in the field of pharmaceutical discoveries from the molluscs. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS A variety of marine mollusc species were collected from different location of Gulf of Manner using specific fishing technique. For making ornaments samples were mainly collected from www.ijatsr.org Copyright © IJATSR 2020, All Rights Reserved Page 111 International Journal of Advanced Technology & Science Research Volume 01 Issue 02 November 2020 by catch of different types of nets used to catch the fish, shrimp, crab as well as skin diving and hand picking. The collected samples were kept for removing soft body part by three general methods are burial, boiling and sun drying. After removing the soft parts the shells are kept in acid for cleaning. The damaged thin shells after acid wash are removed and remaining is used for further shaping. During shaping again some of the damaged thin shells are removed. Finally thick as well as undamaged shells are using for keeping our college museum for reference purpose. 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The commercially important marine molluscs include gastropods; cephalopod and bivalve, which occur in the intertidal and inshore waters. These are considerable attention in recent years due to greater demand for meat, ornamental shell for shell handcrafts and medicinal properties. Humans have valued marine molluscs shells since prehistoric times. Shells have been used for currency, jewelry, ornaments, tools, horns, games, medicine, and as magical or religious symbols (Claassen, 1998). Even though tropical bivalves and gastropods have lost much of their historical meaning as medicine, tools or religious symbols, they may be used in even larger quantities today. Shell- craft industries in Southeast Asia may still use thousands of tones of shells annually for mother-of-pearl products. The ornamental shell trade, which primarily includes shell exploited for their decorative or rareness value, is also substantial. The ornamental shell trade might even have intensified in recent years with the rise of the Internet. The body meat contains plenty of active compounds which is most used to treatment of several diseases. COMMERCIALLY AND MEDICINALLY IMPORTANCE OF MARINE MOLLUSCS GASTROPODS www.ijatsr.org Copyright © IJATSR 2020, All Rights Reserved Page 112 International Journal of Advanced Technology & Science Research Volume 01 Issue 02 November 2020 Key characters 1. Conus arenatus, common name the sand-dusted cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae , the cone snails and their allies. [1] 2. These snails are predatory and venomous. 3. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all. 4. This is an Indo-Pacific species. Medicinal values: It is used to control the heart disease, and to produce a revolutionary new drug for chronic pain control (Ziconotide). It also used this compounds of the toxin that may be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, epilepsy and nerve injury (Motta,1982). www.ijatsr.org Copyright © IJATSR 2020, All Rights Reserved Page 113 International Journal of Advanced Technology & Science Research Volume 01 Issue 02 November 2020 Key characters 1. The shell thick and heavy, biconical to fusiform, often nodulose to spinose on shoulder. 2. Periostracum conspicuous. 3. Siphonal canal present. 4. Inner lip with strong folds. 5. Operculum is corneous in nature. Medicinal values: Its source of calcium salt and used to preparation of Indian medicine such as sankha bhasma. The shell of this animal is used to treating dyspepsia, digestive impairment, melabsorption syndrome, enlargement of liver hepatomegaly and duodenal ulcer. The flesh of this animal used as an anodyne and is a cardiac stimulant. It is also used in asthma, phthisis and tumours (Kerr and Kerr, 1999; www.ijatsr.org Copyright © IJATSR 2020, All Rights Reserved Page 114 International Journal of Advanced Technology & Science Research Volume 01 Issue 02 November 2020 Key Characters 1. The size of the shell varies between 60 mm and 130 mm. 2. The average adult reaches 3 1/2 inches and the shells have an ovate body with aheavily calloused spire. 3. The columella, or the lower portion of the inside coil, has dark brown coloring Medicinal values: The whole body tissue contain rich antimicrobial properties (Suresh et al., 2012; Pettit et al., 1978). Chicoreus virgineus (Röding, 1798) www.ijatsr.org Copyright © IJATSR 2020, All Rights Reserved Page 115 International Journal