Although the toxicity of metal contaminated soils has been assessed with various bioassays, more information is needed about the biochemical responses, which may help to elucidate the mechanisms involved in metal toxicity. We previously reported that the earthworm, Eisenia fetida, accumulates cadmium in its seminal vesicles. The bio-accumulative ability of earthworms is well known, and thus the...

The responses of wheat Triticum aestivum, rice Oryza sativa, earthworms Eisenia foetida, and prawns Penaeus japonicus to combined acetochlor-Cu, Cd-Zn were studied in hydroponic and soil-culturing systems using the methods of ecotoxicology. In particular, systematically quantitative analyses were documented by field experiments. Results showed that ecotoxicological effects under the combined po...

Eisenia fetida was used as a model terrestrial organism to assess the potential ecotoxicity of molecular pristine C60 in soil. Reproduction (assessed by counting cocoon numbers) was hindered only at very high C60 concentrations (5% by weight), and C60 (up to 1%) was not avoided and did not hinder earthworm growth. This suggests that E. fetida is unlikely to experience acute toxicity as a result...

A comparative study was conducted between exotic and local (epigeic--Eisenia fetida and anaecic--Lempito mauritii, respectively) species of earthworms for the evaluation of their efficacy in vermicomposting of municipal solid waste (MSW). Vermicomposting of MSW for 42 days resulted in significant difference between the two species in their performance measured as loss in total organic carbon, c...

The free-living stage of entomopathogenic nematodes occurs in soil, and is an environmental-friendly alternative for biological control. However, their dispersal capability is limited. Earthworms improve soil characteristics, changing soil structure and influencing many edaphic organisms. Thus, earthworms could be used as vectors to introduce/disperse beneficial organisms. Nevertheless this int...

An understanding of the dose-effect relationships of ionising radiation for nonhuman biota establishes important baselines for the radiological protection of ecosystems. We used standard laboratory tests to examine the dose-effect relationships of gamma radiation on the survival, growth and reproduction of the earthworm, Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta). Adult E. fetida were acutely irradiated with...

in this study, the earthworms of tehran province were investigated. specimens were collected from wet soil in 48 stations during 2011 and 2012. during the course of the study, eight earthworm species were identified, including: aporrectodea caliginosa (savigny, 1826), ap. rosea (savigny, 1826), dendrobaena veneta (rosa, 1886), dendrodrilus rubidus (savigny, 1826), eisenia fetida (savigny, 1826)...

Use of earthworm species to biodegrade various substrates (industrial wastes, agricultural residues, etc.) for composting has proven to be successful after initial stabilization of vermi beds. This study presents optimization of vermi beds (soil + cowdung) for culturing of earthworms (Eisenia fetida, Eudrilus eugeniae, and Megascolex megascolex.). Optimum proportion of soil + cowdung (1:3) for ...

Four polyphenols were isolated and purified from a brown alga Eisenia arborea. These phlorotannin compounds showed strong radical scavenging some enzyme inhibitory activities. All of the antioxidative, acetylcholinesterase butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory, tyrosinase inhbibitory activities at 100 μg/mL. Dieckol PFF inhibited butyrylcholinesterase, new target for treatment Alzheimer’s disease, v...

A novel antimicrobial short peptide was purified from earthworm (Eisenia foetida) by a five-step protocol including ammonium sulfate precipitation, ultrafiltration, DE-52 ion exchange chromatography, Sephadex G-10 column chromatography, and C-18 reversed-phase HPLC techniques. The purified peptide was applied to the MALDI-TOP MS to determine the molecular mass and was also subjected to TOF MS-M...