Abstract

Global warming and climate change are the most serious consequences of anthropogenic activities. Although global warming poses threat to all living organisms, poikilotherms are most vulnerable among them. In the current study, management of heat stress in insects that constitute the largest group of poikilotherms has been studied using Drosophila melanogaster as a model. Various catalytic and non-catalytic oxidative parameters, at physiological as well as molecular level, were analyzed after exposing the Drosophila flies to high temperature. The efficacy of Abhrak bhasma and ascorbic acid in ameliorating the heat stress was also investigated. It was observed that heat stress alters various parameters indicating oxidative stress. Heat stress influences the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes and also has an effect on total reduced glutathione (GSH) content as well as GSH: oxidized form of GSH (GSSG) ratio. Dietary supplement of Abhrak bhasma and ascorbic acid was found to alter the changes in antioxidant parameters induced due to heat stress. These flies also showed an increase in expression of cap “n” collar C and heat shock protein 70 genes, which play a crucial role in the management of stressful conditions. Overall, supplementation of diet with Abhrak bhasma and ascorbic acid was found to boost the capacity of Drosophila to counter the effects of heat stress.

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