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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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Subject: Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology × End date: 2010 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Identification of toxic fractions of Mimosa invisa (Anathottavadi) and its toxicity in rabbits
    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2007) Usha, P T A; KAU; Gopakumar, N
    The present study was undertaken to identify the toxic fraction of Mimosa invisa in rabbits and to assess to toxicity of Mimosa invisa fresh juice, cold alcoholic extract and various fractions of alcoholic extract utilizing rabbit as a model along with treatment study. The experiment was conducted in two phases. The first part of the study involved assessment of toxicity of fresh juice of Mimosa invisa (group II) and cold alcoholic extract (group Ill). Group I served as control. The preliminary tests were conducted to derive the toxic dose of fresh juice and alcoholic extract of Mimosa invisa. The toxic doses were 25 g/kg and 1 g/kg body weight for Mimosa invisa fresh juice and alcoholic extract respectively. The clinical symptoms, biochemical parameters and haemogram were observed to assess the toxicity. The serum ALT, AST and GGT levels showed significant increase in both the groups. The serum creatine kinase levels exhibited an increase followed by a decrease. There was a significant increase in serum creatinine and urea levels. There were no changes in serum total protein, albumin, globulin and albumin-globulin ratio. Significant decrease in VPRC, haemoglobin and RBC count could be noticed. The erythrocyte indices did not show any variations. The leucocytosis was observed in group II and III when compared to control (group I). Lymphocytosis with neutropenia were also observed in both the groups. The second phase of the study involved identification of toxic dose of each fraction of Mimosa invisa: The preliminary studies revealed that chloroform fraction (Fraction I) and water insoluble residue (fraction IV) were not toxic to rabbits while the fraction II (n-butanol fraction) and fraction III (aqueous fraction) were toxic to rabbits. Hence the two toxic fractions were pooled and used for further studies. It was found that 0.4 g/kg of pooled toxic fraction was toxic in rabbits. The toxicity was assessed by the evaluation of clinical symptoms, biochemical parameters and haemogram. The group V (pooled toxic fraction) showed inappetence, dullness, lethargy and reluctant to move. A significant increase in serum ALT, AST and GGT levels were observed. The serum ALP levels showed an increase followed by a decrease. The serum creatine kinase also showed similar increase followed by decrease. The creatinine and urea levels exhibited a continuous increase in group V. There were no changes in total protein, albumin, globulin and albumin-globulin ratio. The VPRC, RBC and haemoglobin showed significant decrease but there were no changes in erythrocyte indices. A significant leucocytosis was observed in group V. The differential leucocyte count showed lymphocytosis with neutropenia. The group VI (Half the toxic dose of pooled toxic fraction) failed to produce toxicity as evidenced by biochemical parameters and haemogram. The group VII (Double the toxic dose of pooled toxic fraction), all the animals died within 12-24 hours of administration of the dose. The group VIII animals were treated with a decoction prepared from equal quantities of Boerhvia diffusa, Hygrophila auriculata and Tribulus terrestris along with pooled toxic fraction of Mimosa invisa. The prominent symptom of inappetence was only for a short period of time (1-2 day). Then the animals started taking normal feed and water. The serum AL T, AST and GGT levels were significantly increased during the first five days, then the values returned to normal level. The serum creatine kinase and ALP levels did not show significant changes. The serum creatinine and urea levels showed significant increase followed by decrease. All the parameters showed significant improvement when compared with group V (pooled toxic fraction alone). There were no changes in serum protein, 'albumin, globulin and albumin-globulin ratio. The screening of alcoholic extract and various fractions revealed that the alcoholic extract n-butanol fraction and aqueous fraction contained steroids phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, diterpenes triterpenes and saponins. The chloroform fraction was positive for flavonoids only, whereas water insoluble fraction contained flavonoids and traces of tannins, triterpenes and saponins. From the results of the present study, it is concluded that the phytotoxin present in M invisa is nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic. The treatment schedule tried using a decoction of Boerhavia diffusa, Tribulus terrestris and Hygrophila auriculata could protect kidney and liver from the phytotoxin present in M invisa. Further study is needed to isolate the phytotoxin present in M invisa so that a specific antidote can be developed.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Hypoglycemic, hypolipidaemic and cytoprotective effects of lotus seeds (Nelumbo nucifera) in sprague-dawley rats
    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2007) Jeyamurugan, M; KAU; Chandrasekharan Nair, A M
    A study was undertaken to assess the hypoglycemic, hypolipidaemic and cytoprotective effects of ethanolic extract of red and white lotus seeds in male Sprague-Dawley rats. It was carried out in different animal models and compared with respective reference drug. The extracts of red and white lotus seeds were administered at the rate of 600 mg kg-1 for 28 days. The experiment was carried out in two hundred and seventy six rats. The blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, serum HDL, serum triglycerides and plasma free fatty acids was estimated on 0, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day of treatment in the respective animal models. The LDL cholesterol was calculated with help of formula. Type I diabetic rats treated with lotus seeds (red and white) extract showed significant reduction in blood glucose from 14th day onwards and in case of metformin from 7th day onwards. On 28th day oral glucose tolerance test and on 29th day liver glycogen and GLUT2 gene expressions were carried out. A significant increase in liver glycogen and reduction in GLUT2 gene expression was observed in all the treated groups. Glucose tolerance also showed significant improvement in all the treated group. In case of type II diabetic rats there was significant reduction in glucose levels from 21st day of treatment in extracts treated groups. Metformin treated group showed significant reduction from 7th day onwards. There was significant increase in liver glycogen, GLUT4 gene expression and glucose tolerance in all the treated groups. The pancreatectomized rats showed significant reduction in blood glucose levels from 21st day onwards in all the treated groups. Histopathological examination of pancreas revealed that there was significant proliferation of beta cells and increasing number of active cells was seen in all the treated groups. Hypercholesterolemic animals treated with lotus seed extract showed significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL levels from 14th day treatment onwards. In case of simvastatin treated group significant reduction was noticed from 7th day treatment onwards. A significant increase in HDL level was observed on 28th day and from 7th day in extract and simvastatin treated groups respectively. A significant reduction in liver total lipid was noticed in all the treated group on 29th day. Hypertriglyceridemic animals treated with the extract showed significant reduction in triglycerides from 14th day treatment onwards. In case of fenofibrate significant reduction was observed from 7th day treatment onwards. The free fatty acid levels reduced significantly from 21st and 14th day onwards for extract and fenofibrate treated groups respectively. Liver total lipid level showed significant reduction in all the treated groups on 29th day. Pancreatitis was induced by repeated administration of alloxan in rats. They were treated with lotus seed extracts for 28 days. Pancreas was collected after sacrificing the animals for estimation of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation. The superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase levels increased in pancreas of extract and metformin treated group. It was significant from 14th day treatment onwards. There was a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation level in red and white lotus seed extract treated group from 21st and 14th day treatment respectively. In case of metformin treated group significant reduction was noticed from 14th day of treatment. Histopathological examination of pancreas revealed islet hyperplasia with more number of active cells in a duration dependent fashion in all the treated groups. From the study, it can be concluded that both red and white lotus seed extract have hypoglycemic, hypolipidaemic and cytoprotective effects. However, the effects are less than that of respective reference drug.