• Ms. Veenatai Dongare
• Ms.Vishakha Chodanakar
• Dr. Shashibhal Pandey

The Cladoceran Daphnia pulex is an established model to study effects of various toxicants, phytochemicals. The effect of different chemicals like caffeine, ethanol, aspartame (artificial sugar), and lactose on the heart rate of different species of Daphnia have been studied earlier. Likewise their protocols have been optimized. But its cousin Moina belonging to family Moinidae, has rarely been used as model for eco-toxicological studies. In the present study we have observed the effects of phytochemicals like Withania somnifera commonly called as ‘Ashwagandha’ and Nardostachys jatamansi, on the heartbeat of Moina mongolica. Both of these phytochemicals have been used as medicine in Ayurveda since ancient times and are consumed by humans, but their effect on the heart rate of this small Arthropod was not explored. We prepared extracts of these phytochemicals and observed their effect on heart rate of Moina. The study showed that 1% extract of Withania had no effect on heart rate of Moina. But the population of Moina increased. In contrast to this, Moina couldn’t survive in 1% extract of N. Jatamansi. Whereas lower concentrations of jatamansi showed decrease in heart rate of Moina. The hypotensive effect of N.jatamansi in lower organism like Moina, is novel observation which indicates a promising scope for extending such similar studies on higher organisms, so that safer dose for the consumption can be determined. Our study shows that Moina can serve as model for Eco-toxicological studies.

Moina mongolica, Withania somnifera, Nardostachys jatamansi, Ayurveda, hypotensive effect, ecotoxicology.

"EFFECT OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA AND NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI ON MOINA MONGOLICA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no.174-180, May-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRCB06027.pdf

"EFFECT OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA AND NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI ON MOINA MONGOLICA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no. pp174-180, May-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRCB06027.pdf