itis eticeoni eases 530 5473 NT OF EARTHWORM EISENIA FETIDA WEED WATER HYACINTH T. Sakthika S oF Zooey. AP.CMabalemi College fr Women, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, ia Corresponding Author: Sakthikesaravanan@ gmail.com ABSTRACT Farthworms were cultured on Aquatic weed waterhyacinth for 60 days. Essential and Non essential aminoacids were analysed from the earthworm extract and compared with the worms cultured on garden soil. Highest level of essential amino acid in the experimental worm was leucine (8.6g// 100g), followed by Lysine (7.3g / 100g). The Roressential amino acid in the experimental earthworm was dominated by glutamic acid (7.608 / 1008), followed by Aspartic acid (7.80g / 100g).The present investigation proves that the conversion of aquatic weed biomass into worm biomass is an effective eco-friendly technology for not only producing aminoacid enriched protein but also for managing the rapid growth of aquatic weeds, KEY WORDS: Waterhyacinth, Eisenia fetida, Vermiculture, Aminoacid, INTRODUCTION Amino acid utilized as proteins are primary constituents of structural and protective tissues, including skin, feathers, bone, ligaments, as well as muscles and organs. The highest essential amino acid of earthworm was dominated by histidine (0.63% of dry matter basis) and earthworm meal was dominated by isoleucine (1.98%. .63% f di ter basis). Histidine was essential for protein synthesis, involved in of dry matter s synthesis, It was effective in allergic disease and tension of carnitine and haemoglobin ft meanwhile isoleucine was involved in protein ervous system, i ee on and muscle building (Padmavathic¢ al 2017), roductit 5 = . iti aa mee (2005) reported that the highest essential amino acid composition Tram et al, ine (3.47% and 0.76% of dry matter basis respectively). The of P. excavates was leucine we sidjonrtosinninisalasaslicnnneen cid 0: non essential amino a 29% and 3.60% of dry ‘Bio-commerce 2019 atter basis respectively). Glutamic acid was glutamic acid (1 International Conference onpreventing and healing of peptic ulcer and ulcerative colitis. ‘The high essential amino acid composition of earthworm meal would procy great result when added in animal feedstuff ratio, By protein content rich with aming | t acids, the earthworm meal presents around 98% of absorption by animal organism ‘ due the balance between vitamins and amino acids. (Julendra, 2003), showed that 1 earthworm meal of Lumbricus rubellus had 65.63% crude protein content (Damayant ef al, 2008), earthworm meal of Lumbricus terestris contained 32.60% protein ang earthworm meal of Perionyx excavatus contained 57.2% crude protein and had complete amino acid (Tram et al., 2005) Earthworm L. rubellus contained ‘lumbricin 1° which had antibacterial activity, included in peptide group which contained 62 amino acids (Salzet et al., 2006). Barthworms could serve as a source of Essential Aminoacids especially Lysine which is limiting in many basic food stuffs (Albarran, 1996). The content of Lysine in earthworm flour is significant representing the daily requirement for children between the age of 2 and 5 years. Earthworm meal was shown to have an aminoacid composition very similar to that of fishmeal and potentially superior to meat meal and the protein was shown to contain such essential aminoacids such 35, phenyl alanine leucine lysine, metionine and valine (Gabriel and Dedeke, 2010). ‘According to Gajalakshmi et al (2001), water hyacinth could be converted to compost by carth worms. The high protein content makes the water hya: ha potential feed for live stock such as cows, goats, sheep and chickens. Abdelhamid and Gobu (1991) after chemical analysis on water hyacinths collected from a canal and a ditch reported them are having 9.5% DM, and in the DM ,74.3% organic matter ,19% Crude protei, and 18.9% Crude fiber. Poddar et a! (1991), reported the chemical composition of water hyacinth as 83.6% organic matter, 16.3% Crude protein and 16.4% Crude fiber (on DM basis). Aboud ef a! (2005) reported that water hyacinth could provide large quantities of nutritious feed as was a potential source of ruminant nutrition. Water hyacinth (Hichhornia crassipes) is a fast growing perennial aquatiC plant found in wetlands and which prefers nutrient-enriched water (Wilson &f 4! 2005), It can cause infestations over large areas of water surfaces and leads 10 sei of problems such as decrease of biodiversity, blockage of rivers and drainage syst"MATERIALS AND METHODS Earthworms and Substrates Earthworms, Eisenia fetida were obtained fro DCW Lid, Arumuganeri, Thoothukudi District Aquatic weed Eichornia sps was taken from Thamirabarani River, near Eral. Garden soil was used as control. Cow dung was obtained from a local farmyard Experimental design The Water hyacinth was dried in air, cut into small pieces and mixed with cow dung (nutrient mixture) on dry weight basis in a ratio of 5:1 for the experiment. This mixture was pre decomposed for 15 days to make it palatable for the earthworms The compost was prepared in wooden box of 3 feet breadth and 2 feet height. A thin layer of 1.5 cm thick sterilized soil is filled at the bottom as the supporting material for vermicomposting, Partially decomposed cow dung was placed over the soil layer. The experiment was setup by taking Skg nutrient mixture (on dry weight basis) in each wooden box and no extra feeds were provided during the study. Fifty i: st of mixture earthworms, Kisenia foetida were released over the mixture. The compo: Was covered with paddy straw. Two vermibeds were prepared for control and i lysis of the results. Waterhyacinth. Three replications were setup for statistical analys conditions in darkness at an B : a der laboratory con Vermicomposting was conducted un 70 -75%, The experiment i tent of average T°C at 25°C and a substrate moisture conte aint Was conducted for 60 days after releasing the earthworms. eeartnorm was analysed fe OOO em was washed in musing tp Preparation of Earthworm Extract: The ‘and submerged in warm water (40 Water 1 remove dirt if any over the body Surace the earthworms were 0 be 0) for 2 hours 10 allow its gut-solls 19 Gommerce 2019 exoreted out. Later on,days to get it completely dried ‘Assay of total amino acids: Total amino acids content of protein free supematans were estimated by modified dinitrophenyl (DNP) derivatization method (Varley, er y 1980). In brief, the methanol extract (100 1!) of biological fluid or the reference standard (equimolar mixture of glutamate:glycine) was made up to 250 ul with go0% (viv) methanol. Equal volume (250 ul) of borate buffer was added to cach of the tubes, followed by 0.5 ml of DNFB reagent. Tubes were incubated at 45°C for 39 minutes and allowed to attain room temperature. After adding 1 ml of 0.25 M HC] to each of the tubes and mixing, the absorbancy was measured at 420 nm. Apart from reagent blank and reference standards, some of the samples also carried a known amount of glutamate:glycine mixture to assess the recovery of total amino acids through different steps of assay procedure RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A total of seventeen (17) amino acids consisting of Nine (9) essential namely Lysine, Histidine, Arginine, Threonine, Valine, Methionine, Isoleucine, Leucine and Phenylalanine (Table.1) and (8) non-essential amino acids namely Aspartic acid, Serine, Glutamic acid, Proline, Glycine, Alanine, Cystine and Tyrosine (Table. 2) were recorded in this study through the high performance liquid chrometography Table 1: Essential amino acid contents (g per 100g) of earthworm tissue Essential Aminoacid Control Worm — Worms Increased Cultured On percentage Aquatic Weed Lysine 4520.17 62.22, Histidine 2,340.25 56.52 Arginine 4140.98 51.21 Threonine 3,740.55 21.62 Valine 3,240.94 56.25 Methionine 1840.45 22.22 Leucine 4.240.1.2 80.95 Isoleucine 2.70.70 70.37 Phenylalanine _2.540.70_ 3.34032 32,00___ Table 2: Non Essential amino acid contents (g per 100g) of earthworm tissue Parueazeten set amnine acid contents (g per'100g) of earth ek au Non Essential Control Worm Worms Cultured On Increased Aminoacid Aquatic Weed percentage— Aspartic acid 5.30 £0.90 6.68 41.45 26.03 Serine 2.40 £0.60 3.03 £0.54 26.20Er Taba 2.554 0.32 2.76 40.34 23 76 0, 8, 0.64 40.23 0.75 40.12 ie 2.804 0.34 3.70-40.36 32.12 say tay 0.70+ 0.12 937 fs . 2.48 £0.56 7.83 The earthworm meal contains around 98 per cent of absorption by animal organism due the balance between vitamins and amino acids. The amino aeid contents of canthworn meal were varied depending on species and food source. Higher values of all the essential amino acid contents in the Earthworm cultured on Waterhyacinth compared to that of control in the present study was due to the high protein content of water hyacinth, It is a potential feed for livestock such as cows, goats, sheep and chickens. Abdelhamid and Gabr (1991) after chemical analysis on water hyacinths collected from a canal and a ditch reported as having 9.5% DM, and in the DM 74.3% organic matter 19% crude protein and 18.9% crude fiber. Aboud et a/ (2005) reported that water hyacinth could provide large quantities of nutritious feed and was a potential source for ruminant nutrition. Highest level of essential amino acid in the experimental worm was leucine (86g / 100g), followed by Lysine (7.3g / 100g). Similarly, Isoleucine, valine, methionine, Histidine, Arginine, Threonine and Phenylalanine were increased to 70.37%, 56.25%, 22.22%, 56.52%, 51.21%, 21.62% and 32.00% respectively than the control. Leucine works with the amino acid Isoleucine and Veline to repair muscle, regulate blood sugar level and provides the body with energy. Lysine is important for proper growth to convert fatty acids in to energy and reduce blood cholesterol level. Methionine is a powerful antioxidant and critical for proper neurological, immunological and gastrointestinal functions, Methionine also aids the proper selenium and zinc and the removal of heavy metals, such as leed and absorption of mercury, Histidine facilitates growth, the creation of blood cells, and tis ells, which is called sue repair. It also helps maintain the special protective covering over nerve c et al2015), Histidine supplements in food help to the myelin sheath (Yongqing Hou, tant to normal sexual relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. It is also impo functioning. ‘The protei soil fertility (Medit ee BS .in content in the earthworm powder has been used in agriculture ina et al. 2003), in pharmaceutical as an anticancer, antibiotic, antand anti-hypotension (Poole on The non-essential amino acid in the experimental earthworm was by glutamic acid (7.803 / 100), followed by Aspartic acid (7.80g / 1008). Simitaiy Serine, Proline, Glycine, Alanine, Cysteine and Threonine were increased 10 26.20%, 8.23%, 17.18%, 32.12%, 9.37% and 7.83% respectively than the control. Highes level of glutamic acid among non-essential amino acids in earthworms was reported in Perionyx excavatus (1.42g / 100g) and Lumbricus rubellus(1.52g / 109g) (stigomah et al., 2009). The results of the study conducted by Sakthika ef al (2014) indicated thet fish fed with earthworm meal prepared from water hyacinth showed increased BWG and SGR than the control group of fish Mystus montanus, Selvaraj, (2006) reported that the number of adult worms was found to be 4,590 (more than three times increase ‘over the initial number of worms introduced) in the water hyacinth compost and each worm weighed about 1.70gms in the water hyacinth compost. This evidence supports the high nutritive content of earthworm cultured on waterhyacinth and there by the reason of increasing concentration of Glutamic acid. It is involved in protein synthesis and as source of energy for cells lining the intestine, It also facilitotes immune function and improves anti-inflammatory effects, aids in preventing and healing of Peptic ulcer and ulcerative colitis (Istigomah e? al., 2009). It had long been assumed that NEAA are synthesized sufficiently in animals and humans to meet the needs for maximal growth and optimal health (National Research Council, 2012). However, no experimental data substantiate this assumption (Wu et al 2013). Certain NEAA can regulate gene expression in animal cells, micro- RNA biogenesis, and epigenetics (Wang et al 2012). For example, dietary glutamine reduces intestinal expression of genes that promote oxidative stress and immune activation Wang et al 2008). NEAA affect digestive and absorptive function of the small Intestine. NEAA arginine, glutamine, and proline regulates immune responses, including expression of T-cell receptors; lymphocyte proliferation; the production of cytokines and antibodies; macrophage polarization (i.e. the population of Ml and M2 cells); killing of pathogens by NO, superoxide anion, and H,0) modulation of intestinal microbiota and its function; 2009). and prevention of infectious disease (Tan ¢ hya on) gar Ear wel mo Ab Abn managing organic wastes with earthworm, some researchers have _ carried out to determine the ability of certain species of earthworm to degrade organic materials. Tripathi and Bhardwaj (2004) comparing Eisenia fetida and Lampito Mauritii noted that rate of decomposition and mineralization were higher in B, fetida and concluded that E, fetida was a better species for decomposition of kitchen manure and cow dung. Balasubramanian and Kasturi (1995) noted that the degradation ability of the earthworm is influenced by waste type, Using cow dung, water hyacinth and biogas plant effluent, the efficiency of waste breakdown by earthworm was found to be highest in cow dung followed by water hyacinth and then biogas plant effluent (Balasubramanian and Kasturi, 1995). CONCLUSION Earthworm has high content of essential and non-essential amino acids. Water hyacinth is a good source of earthworm feed. In the present study earthworm cultured on water hyacinth showed higher content of aminoacids than earthworm cultured on garden soil. This cco friendly economical method to produce aminoacid enriched Earthworm protein is certainly a promising one to meet the dietary requirement as well as a chance to utilize the aquatic weed to reduce its menace in the aquatic habitat, more over the vermicompost is an alternate source of chemical fertilizer. REFERENCES Abdelhamid, A. M and AA. ‘Albarran, G.N, (1996). 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