Experiments were conducted to understand the therapeutic properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, haematological and serum biochemical markers of earthworm paste (EP) derived from an indigenous species Lampito mauritii (Kinberg), in comparison with the standard anti-inflammatory drug- aspirin, on Wistar albino rat (Rattus norvegicus). Administration of earthworm paste of Lampito ma...

The process of vermicomposting with Eisenia fetida has been regarded as a viable solution to the frequent disposal and waste of used coffee grounds. The effects of coffee grounds on earthworms have yet to be fully understood. In a manipulative experiment with varying ratios of coffee grounds and earthworms, we investigate how the amount of coffee grounds affect total earthworm biomass and also ...

New Zealand Journal of Ecology (1998) 22(1): 87-93 ©New Zealand Ecological Society As part of a larger study on the biophysical indicators of sustainability in pastoral ecosystems (Lambert et al., 1996) earthworm numbers have been measured in pastures with differing managements. The native New Zealand earthworm Octochaetus multiporus (Beddard, 1885) was commonly found during the routine winter ...

Earthworms have been widely used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. However, it is only during the past few decades, with the development of biochemical technologies, that research on the pharmaceutical effects has been initiated. The present study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of indigenous earthworm powder (Perionyx excavatus), usi...

Earthworm metabolism is recognized as a useful tool for monitoring environmental insults and measuring ecotoxicity, yet extensive earthworm metabolic profiling using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been limited in scope. This study aims to expand the embedded metabolic material in earthworm coelomic fluid, coelomocytes, and tissue to aid systems toxicology research. Fifty-n...

Little research has been performed on the impact of pesticides on earthworms under tropical conditions. Taking into consideration the often-limited resources in tropical countries, simple screening tests are needed. Therefore, it was investigated whether three pesticides relevant for the Brazilian Amazon (benomyl, carbendazim, lambda-cyhalothrin) affect the avoidance behavior of the earthworm E...

The effect of various animal wastes on growth and reproduction of an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida was studied under identical laboratory conditions. For each waste, viz., cow, buffalo, horse, donkey, sheep, goat and camel, five hatchlings per 100 g of waste were inoculated and monitored for biomass gain, mortality, sexual maturity, cocoons production periodically for 15 weeks. No mortality...

Earthworms are essential detritus feeders that play a vital role in the process of decomposition of organic matter and soil metabolism. They are referred to as indicators of soil health. The complex process of partial breakdown of organic matter and mixing with mucous and gut microbial flora in the form of earthworm cast results in the enhancement of soil fertility status. They influence the so...

In order to test if the intestinal bacteria play an important role in antibacterial ability of earthworm, we chose Escherichia coli O157:H7, an anthropozoonosis pathogen, as a biological stressor and studied the change of intestinal bacteria community of earthworm by PCR-DGGE analysis. Results showed that the pathogen merely existed 1 3 days, then almost disappeared after through the earthworm’...