ArticlePDF Available

Toxicity and Effect of Carica Papaya Seed Aqueous Extract on Liver Biomarkers of Clarias Gariepinus

Authors:
  • University of Nigeria & Global Organization of African Academic Doctors

Abstract and Figures

The mesocarp of pawpaw fruits (Carica papaya) is a delicacy in the tropics. However, the seeds contain toxic substances such as carpine, papain, etc. The first phase of the present study determines the acute toxicity of C .papaya seed extract to Clarias gariepinus juveniles using static bioassay. Sixty juveniles with mean weight 3.86 } 1.18g and mean length 9.5 } 1.52cm were exposed to triplicate concentrations of 0, 150, 225 and 300mg/l in twelve 15L plastic tanks, with each replicate having 5 fish. There were 93.33, 66.67, 46.67 and 0% cumulative mortalities corresponding to 300, 225, 150 and 0 mg/l of C. papaya seed aqueous extract within the of hours of exposure. The 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC50 values were 1200.78, 426.67, 191.76 and 163.02 mg/l of C. papaya seed aqueous extract, respectively. These showed that the effects were dose and time dependent. The second phase determined the effect of sub-lethal concentrations of the test substance (0, 50, 75 and 100mg/l) in a renewal bioassay system on the liver biomarkers. Significant dose and time dependent changes (p.0.05) in acid phosphatase (ACP), aspartate transferase (AST) and alanine transferase (ALT) activities were noticed. The liver ACP levels were significantly higher (p.0.05) at 72 and 144h than at 0h. Both the AST and ALT levels were significantly higher (p.0.05) at 72h when compared with 0h and 144h. The behavioural responses by Clarias gariepinus in this test were; erratic movement, air gulping, loss of reflex and skin discoloration. The maximum admissible toxicant concentrations ranged from 1.91 to 2.30 log toxicant concentration (at 95% confidence limit). The results obtained showed that concentrations of pawpaw seed extract in excess of 163.02 mg/l can be potentially harmful to Clarias gariepinus juveniles.
Content may be subject to copyright.
International Journal of Indigenous Medicinal Plants, ISSN: 2051-4263, Vol.46, Issue.3 1301
© RECENT SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS ARCHIVES| August 2013|$25.00 | 27702685 |
*This article is authorized for use only by Recent Science Journal Authors, Subscribers and Partnering Institutions*
Toxicity and Effect of Carica Papaya Seed Aqueous
Extract on Liver Biomarkers of Clarias Gariepinus
Joseph E Eyo
Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
Enugu State, Nigeria Email: joseph.eyo@unn.edu.ng
Chidinma A Levi
Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
Enugu State, Nigeria Email: chidinma.levi@unn.edu.ng
Chinweike N Asogwa
Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
Enugu State, Nigeria Email: normi4u@yahoo.com chinweike.asogwa@unn.edu.ng
Elijah C Odii
Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
Enugu State, Nigeria Email: elijahrelateswithjesus@yahoo.com
Christian O Chukwuka
Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
Enugu State, Nigeria Email: onyichrismac@yahoo.com
Njoku Ivoke
Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
Enugu State, Nigeria Email: njoku.ivoke@unn.edu.ng
Uwakwe S Onoja
Department of Home Sciences and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State,
Nigeria. Email: uwakwe.onoja@unn.edu.ng
Christopher C Onyeke
Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu
State, Nigeria. Email: christopher.onyeke@unn.edu.ng
ABSTRACT
The mesocarp of pawpaw fruits (Carica papaya) is a
delicacy in the tropics. However, the seeds contain toxic
substances such as carpine, papain, etc. The first phase of
the present study determines the acute toxicity of C
.papaya seed extract to Clarias gariepinus juveniles using
static bioassay. Sixty juveniles with mean weight 3.86 ±
1.18g and mean length 9.5 ± 1.52cm were exposed to
triplicate concentrations of 0, 150, 225 and 300mg/l in
twelve 15L plastic tanks, with each replicate having 5 fish.
There were 93.33, 66.67, 46.67 and 0% cumulative
mortalities corresponding to 300, 225, 150 and 0 mg/l of
C. papaya seed aqueous extract within the of hours of
exposure. The 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC50 values were
1200.78, 426.67, 191.76 and 163.02 mg/l of C. papaya
seed aqueous extract, respectively. These showed that the
effects were dose and time dependent. The second phase
determined the effect of sub-lethal concentrations of the
test substance (0, 50, 75 and 100mg/l) in a renewal
bioassay system on the liver biomarkers. Significant dose
and time dependent changes (p0.05) in acid phosphatase
(ACP), aspartate transferase (AST) and alanine transferase
(ALT) activities were noticed. The liver ACP levels were
significantly higher (p≤0.05) at 72 and 144h than at 0h.
Both the AST and ALT levels were significantly higher
(p≤0.05) at 72h when compared with 0h and 144h. The
behavioural responses by Clarias gariepinus in this test
were; erratic movement, air gulping, loss of reflex and
skin discoloration. The maximum admissible toxicant
concentrations ranged from 1.91 to 2.30 log toxicant
concentration (at 95% confidence limit). The results
obtained showed that concentrations of pawpaw seed
extract in excess of 163.02 mg/l can be potentially harmful
to Clarias gariepinus juveniles.
Keywords- Carica papaya, seed aqueous extract,
toxicity, mortality, liver enzymes, Clarias gariepinus
1. INTRODUCTION
Pawpaw (Carica papaya) is a common fruit available
throughout the year in the tropics. The fruits, leaves, seeds
and latex are used as a cure for many tropical diseases
hence the common name “medicine tree” or “melon of
health” [1,2]. The major active ingredients (carpine,
chymopapain, papain, bactericidal aglycone, benzyl
isothiocyanate, aglycoside, sinigrin, the enzyme myrosin
and carpasemine) are present in the seeds [1-3]. The fleshy
part of the fruits (mesocarp) is a delicacy and nutrient-rich
drinks of high demand are produced from them. However,
some of the active substances (e.g. carpine and papain)
from pawpaw are toxic [2]. Carpine are present in traces in
the black seeds of C. papaya. In large quantities, it is used
to lower the pulse rate and depress the nervous system.
International Journal of Indigenous Medicinal Plants, ISSN: 2051-4263, Vol.46, Issue.3 1302
© RECENT SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS ARCHIVES| August 2013|$25.00 | 27702685 |
*This article is authorized for use only by Recent Science Journal Authors, Subscribers and Partnering Institutions*
Externally, the latex is an irritant, dermatogenic and a
vescicant. Internally, it causes severe gastritis. Some
people are allergic to the pollen, the fruit and the latex.
Papain can induce asthma and rhinitis. The acid fresh latex
can cause severe conjunctivitis and vesication. Carpine
and papain also have anti-fertility properties and thus can
be used in birth control [4]. Clarias spp are mostly
freshwater fishes which are distributed throughout the
African and Asian lakes, swamps and rivers. Clarias,
however, can be obtained throughout the year in Nigerian
rivers and are anadromous. The fish is in high demand
because of it rich flesh and good taste. To meet the ever
increasing demand, C. gariepinus is the fish of choice in
Nigerian aquaculture. The aim of this study was to find out
the toxicity effects of C. papaya seed extract on C.
gariepinus by assessing its effect on mortality, liver
enzymes levels and behaviour of C. gariepinus.
2 MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 Experimental Fish
Ninety six Clarias gariepinus juveniles with mean length
11.00 ± 3.00 cm and mean weight 6.0 ± 1.5g used in this
study were obtained from Agricultural Holdings, Nsukka.
The fish were transported to the Fisheries and
Hydrobiology Wet Laboratory, Department of Zoology
and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka and acclimatized for two weeks. During the
acclimatization, catfish were fed regularly (twice a day)
with the Copens fish feed containing 35% crude protein.
The water was aerated continuously using aquarium
aerators.
2.2 Carica Papaya Seed Aqueous Extract
Twenty five (25) large ripe pawpaw fruits were harvested
from the Agriculture Farm, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. The mature seeds were
recovered from the fruit, washed and sun dried to constant
weight. 500g of the dry seeds was ground into powder
using Corona grinder (China) and the resulting powder
was soaked in 10 litres of distilled water. The mixture was
allowed to stand for 24 hours with intermittent shaking.
The mixture was filtered using Whatman filter paper
(grade 1: 11 µm) and the filtrate dried into powder using a
rotary evaporator (Stuart, model RE-300, UK) and stored
in seal vials under refrigeration pending use. The aqueous
extract was serially diluted in distilled water to
appropriate concentration before administration.
2.3 Acute Toxicity Test
Sixty catfish juveniles with mean weight 3.86 ± 1.18g and
mean length 9.5 ± 1.52cm were used for this experiment.
The acute toxicity test was conducted to determine the
level of toxicity of pawpaw seed aqueous extract. C.
gariepinus juveniles were batch-weighed and distributed
randomly to twelve (15 litres) plastic tanks. Each container
was covered with nylon mesh tied firmly with rubber strap
to prevent the fish from jumping out. Each treatment
group were dosed with 0 (control), 150, 225 and 300 mg/l
of C. papaya seed aqueous extract [5] and replicated thrice
with each replicate containing five fish. The toxicity
testing was done using static bioassay whereby there was
no aeration, no water change nor feeding throughout the
test period [5]. The mortality and behavioural changes of
the catfish during the acute toxicity test was monitored for
four days and the 96 hour-LC50 determined graphically
using probit transformation. The inability of fish to
respond to external stimuli was used as an index of death.
The temperature, pH, DO and total hardness were 27.0 ±
2.6˚C, 7.50 ± 1.02mg/l, 6.7 ± 0.52mg/l and 110 ± 2.28mg/l
equivalent of CaCO3, respectively during the study.
2.4 Sub-Lethal Toxicity Test
Thirty six juveniles of 3.86 ± 1.18g and 9.5 ± 1.517cm
were used for this experiment. Each treatment group was
replicated thrice with each replicate containing three fish.
The pawpaw seed extract was administered at sub-lethal
concentrations (1/3 of the LC50) of 0 (control), 50, 75 and
100mg/l in a renewal bioassay system [6]. The water and
the tested compound were changed daily without reducing
or changing the toxicant concentration. The liver from
different treatments groups were assayed for enzyme
activities at 0, 72 and 144h. The fish were dissected and
their various livers collected. The liver enzymes studied
were acid phosphatase (ACP) [7], aspartate
aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase
(ALT) [8]. Apart from monitoring and recording fish
mortality, behavioural and dermatological changes such
as: erratic swimming, air gulping, loss of reflex, skin
discoloration and haemorrhage were monitored.
2.5 Statistical Analysis
Mean values were analysed for significant differences
(p≤0.05) using the analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Differences between means were partitioned using the
Duncan new multiple range test. The statistical package
for social sciences (SPSS), version 17, was used for all
analysis. The probit value was determined from the probit
model developed by Finney [9].
3. RESULTS
3.1 Behavioural Responses
The catfish juveniles showed behavioural responses to C.
papaya seed aqueous extract. The behavioural responses
were both extract concentration and time dependent with
0mg/l inducing lesser behavioural responses than 300mg/l
for both acute and sub-lethal toxicity phases and 24h and
48h producing lesser behavioural changes than 96h and
168h for the acute and sub-lethal toxicity phases,
respectively. The observed behavioural responses were
loss of reflex, air gulping, erratic swimming, discoloration
of skin and haemorrhage (Table 1).
3.2 Mortality
Percentage mortality at 24 h increased with increase in
toxicant concentration. Catfish juveniles exposed to 150,
225 and 300mg/l had 6.67, 13.33 and 20.00% mortalities,
respectively (Table 2). The 24 h LC50 at 95% confidence
International Journal of Indigenous Medicinal Plants, ISSN: 2051-4263, Vol.46, Issue.3 1303
© RECENT SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS ARCHIVES| August 2013|$25.00 | 27702685 |
*This article is authorized for use only by Recent Science Journal Authors, Subscribers and Partnering Institutions*
limit was estimated as 1200.78mg/l (Fig. 1). The
percentage mortality at 48h increased with the toxicant
concentration. Catfish juveniles exposed to 150, 225 and
300mg/l had 13.33, 13.33 and 20.00% mortalities,
respectively (Table 2). The 48h LC50 at 95% confidence
limit for toxicant concentration was estimated as
426.67mg/l (Fig. 2). The percentage mortality at 72h
increased with the toxicant concentration. Catfish
juveniles exposed to 150, 225 and 300mg/l had 20.00,
26.67 and 33.33% mortalities, respectively (Table 2). The
72h LC50 at 95% confidence limit for toxicant
concentration was estimated as 191.76mg/l (Fig. 3).
Table 1
Behavioural and dermatological changes of Clarias gariepinus juveniles exposed to varied concentrations of Carica
papaya seed extract during acute and sub-lethal phases
ACUTE TEST
Exposure
time (hour)
24
48
72
96
Concentration
(mg/L)
0
225
300
0
150
225
300
0
150
225
300
0
150
225
300
Behavioural
changes
Loss of reflex
-
+
+
-
++
++
++
-
++
++
++
-
+++
+++
+++
Air gulping
-
+
+
-
++
++
++
-
++
++
++
-
+++
+++
+++
Erratic
swimming
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
-
+
+
++
-
++
++
+++
Dermatological changes
Discoloration
-
+
+
-
++
++
++
-
++
++
++
-
+++
+++
+++
Haemorrhage
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
+
+
-
++
++
++
Sub-lethal test
Exposure
time (hour)
48
96
144
168
Behavioural
changes
Loss of reflex
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
+
Air gulping
-
+
+
-
-
+
+
-
+
+
+
-
+
++
+++
Erratic
swimming
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
++
++
Dermatological changes
Discoloration
-
+
+
-
+
+
+
-
+
+
++
-
+
++
+++
Haemorrhage
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Where - = no significant sign, + = low severity, ++ = moderate severity and +++ = high severity.
Table 2
Percentage mortality of Clarias gariepinus juveniles exposed to varied concentrations of Carica papaya seed extract
during acute phases
TOXICANT
CONCENTRATION
(MG/L)
PERCENTAGE MORTALITY
24h
48h
72h
96h
Cumulative
mortality (%)
0
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
150
6.67
13.33
20.00
6.67
46.67
225
13.33
13.33
26.67
13.33
66.67
300
20.00
20.00
33.33
20.00
93.33
LC50 (mg/l)
1200.78
426.67
191.76
163.02
-
Log (concentration)
3.08
2.63
2.28
2.21
-
International Journal of Indigenous Medicinal Plants, ISSN: 2051-4263, Vol.46, Issue.3 1304
© RECENT SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS ARCHIVES| August 2013|$25.00 | 27702685 |
*This article is authorized for use only by Recent Science Journal Authors, Subscribers and Partnering Institutions*
Fig. 1 Probit transformed responses for 24h exposure of
Clarias gariepinus exposed to graded concentrations of
Carica papaya seed aqueous extract
Fig. 2 Probit transformed responses for 48h exposure of
Clarias gariepinus juveniles exposed to graded
concentrations of Carica papaya seed aqueous extract
Fig. 3 Probit transformed responses for 72h exposure of
Clarias gariepinus exposed to graded concentrations of
Carica papaya seed aqueous extract
The percentage mortality at 96h increased with the
toxicant concentration. Catfish juveniles exposed to 150,
225 and 300mg/l had 6.67, 13.33 and 20.00% mortalities,
respectively (Table 2). The LC50 at 95% confidence limit
was estimated as 163.02mg/l (Fig. 4). The models explain
the data were highly efficient at 97.6%.
3.3 Liver Enzymes
The ACP levels in the liver tissues were significant higher
(P≤0.05) at 72 and 144h when compared to 0h.
Fig. 4 Probit transformed responses for 96h exposure of
Clarias gariepinus juveniles exposed to graded
concentrations of Carica papaya seed aqueous extract
The AST activity in the liver of C. gariepinus juveniles
exposed to C. papaya seed extract increased from 0 to 72
hours was highest at 144h in 75 and 100mg/l C. papaya
seed extract treatments. For exposure period of 72h, AST
activity in the liver was highest for 50, 100 and 75mg/l C.
papaya seed extract treatments. The ALT enzyme activity
in the liver of C. gariepinus exposed to C. papaya seed
extract was dose and time dependent. The liver ALT
activity in all the treatments increased from 0 to 72 and
144h. Furthermore, the ALT activity increased
progressively with increase in toxicant concentration. The
mean values were statistically significant (p≤0.05) (Table
3).
The ACP enzyme activity in the liver of Clarias
gariepinus decreased gradually from with exposure time
except for the control. The mean values of ACP enzyme
activity for the duration of exposure (hours) were
statistically significant (p<0.05). Furthermore, the AST
enzyme activity increased sharply across the exposure
periods. Also, the mean value of AST enzyme activity at
0h was statistically significant to 72h and 144h (p≤0.05),
whereas, the mean value of AST enzyme activity at 72h
and 144h were not statistically significant (p>0.05).
However, the ALT enzyme activity in the liver increased
progressively with exposure time. Also, the mean values
of ALT enzyme activity is statistically significant to 72h
and 144h (p<0.06), whereas, the mean value at 72h and
144h of ALT enzyme activity are not statistically
significant (p≥0.05).
4. DISCUSSION
Bioassay of toxicant occupies a central place in aquatic
ecotoxicology. The aim of such test is to determine the
critical amount of toxicants or their mixtures that can be
tolerated by the aquatic organisms and to predict the
influence of the toxicant. The present study was not the
first toxicological test of pawpaw powder extracts to
aquatic animals. Data obtained from this study showed
that percentage mortality of C.gariepinus juveniles
International Journal of Indigenous Medicinal Plants, ISSN: 2051-4263, Vol.46, Issue.3 1305
© RECENT SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS ARCHIVES| August 2013|$25.00 | 27702685 |
*This article is authorized for use only by Recent Science Journal Authors, Subscribers and Partnering Institutions*
Table 3
Mean value of enzymes activity in liver of Clarias gariepinus exposed to Carica papaya seed aqueous extract
DOSAGE (MG/L)
EXPOSURE DURATION (HOURS)
0
72
144
Acid phosphatase (ACP)
0
2.142351 ± 0.27a*
1.236254 ± 0.508a*
1.44767 ± .034a*
50
3.40200 ± 0.34b**
3.13000 ± 0.577c**
1.24933 ± .092a*
75
4.51633 ± 0.86c**
1.07667 ± 0.033a*
1.28300 ± .044ab*
100
3.49067 ± 0.87b***
2.01967 ± 0.058b**
1.48467 ± .039ab*
Aspartate transferase (AST)
0
12.91 ± 1.00c*
12.95 ± 1.00a*
13.03 ± 1.73a*
50
10.00 ± 1.01b*
23.00 ± 0.00c***
17.00 ± 1.00b**
75
10.53 ± 0.57b*
19.00 ± 0.00b**
18.00 ± 1.00b**
100
9.70 ± 0.39a*
23.00 ± 0.00c**
36.00 ± 0.00c***
Alanine transferase (ALT)
0
5.72 ± 0.00a*
5.83 ± 1.33a*
5.72 ± 0.00a*
50
7.00 ± 0.31c**
5.33 ± 1.33a*
8.00 ± 2.31b***
75
6.33 ± 0.38b*
6.67 ± 1.33b*
10.67 ± 1.33c**
100
6.40 ± 0.60b*
10.67 ± 1.33c**
11.00 ± 1.00c**
Mean values having the same alphabets as superscripts along the column do not show significant difference (p≥0.05).
Mean values having the same asterisk as superscripts along the row do not show significant difference (p≥0.05).
increased with increase in concentration of C. papaya and
was dose dependent. The observed values for catfish
juveniles mortality was in agreement with those of
Ayotunde and Offem [5,6] for Nile tilapia. Acute toxicity
occurred at concentrations comparable to those of lead
[10], diazinon [11], phenol [12] and tetrachloromethane
[13] but lower than those of benzene [14], methanol [15]
and acetonitrile [16]. However, pawpaw powder was less
toxic than chlorine [17] and ammonia [18]. For such
comparison to be meaningful, species variability and
possible differences in water quality needs to be accounted
for. The latter is important, since hardness, alkalinity and
pH of the medium can all influence the species and the
extent of toxicity [19,20]. However, because the same
medium was used, changes in the effective toxicant
concentration due to possible interaction with the medium
were ruled out. In this experiment, the 96 h LC50 value of
aqueous extracts of pawpaw seed powder to C. gariepinus
juveniles was higher than the value obtained Nile tilapia
fingerlings exposed to similar concentrations of pawpaw
seed aqueous extract [5,6]. The difference in toxicity may
be species and size specific. In a similar experiment with
organochlorine substances, Albaiges et al. [21] revealed
that the levels of chemicals in the gonads and liver of fish
were similar in both adults and young fishes, which
indicated that the age and thus size of fish was a
significant factor in the accumulation of toxicants.
However, these results disagreed with the size-specific
sensitivity to acute chemical toxicity observed in some
aquatic animals with the smallest individuals showing the
highest sensitivity [22,23]. The size-specific and
interspecific difference in lethal level will allow the
effective usage of pawpaw seed as anti-fertility agent in
tilapia polyculture with catfish [5,6]. Clarias sp is
ecologically adapted to muddy environments in which
temporary changes in water chemistry are more rapid and
the contaminant concentration are usually higher. Such an
environmental stress may facilitate tolerance to increased
concentrations of contaminants [24]. This view was
supported by the observation, which revealed that 96 h
may not to be sufficient time to determine the asymptotic
LC50 for the pawpaw seed powder concentration to Clarias
fingerlings since mortality would have continued if
exposure time was extended. Three factors for the
selective toxicity of toxicants for various fish species such
as: different inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase, different
detoxification and absorption has been suggested [25]. The
above factors may probably be responsible for the
different reactions showed by catfish fingerlings in
response to varying concentration of aqueous extracts of
C. papaya seed. The reactions were more pronounced at
higher concentration due to increased inhibition of
acetylcholinesterase which eventually results in the death
of the fish [11,26-29]. In toxicological experiments, the
time of exposure has large effect on biological response.
The general rule of thumb is that the longer the exposure
time, the lesser the LC50 value and the greater the toxicity.
Results of this study showed similar pattern having lesser
96h LC50 than 48h LC50 and so on, with increasing ratios
of 24:48h, 24:72h and 24:96h LC50 as 2.81, 6.26 and 7.37
indicating delayed acute toxicity response. Dose-response
approach in estimating the lethal effects of toxicants on
organisms have been criticized for lacking real ecological
meaning [30,31]. Nonetheless, regulatory norms have been
built around LC50 values that can be compared across
toxicants and organisms [13]. Thus, LC50 values from
dose-response bioassays have become the starting points
for ecologically relevant studies of toxicant effects on
animal populations [32].
Liver ACP levels were significantly decreased in C.
papaya treated fish at various concentrations. The ACP is
an inducible enzyme because its activity goes up when
there is a toxic impact and the enzyme begins to
International Journal of Indigenous Medicinal Plants, ISSN: 2051-4263, Vol.46, Issue.3 1306
© RECENT SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS ARCHIVES| August 2013|$25.00 | 27702685 |
*This article is authorized for use only by Recent Science Journal Authors, Subscribers and Partnering Institutions*
counteract the toxic effect [33]. Subsequently, the enzyme
may begin to drop either as a result of having partly or
fully encountered the toxin or as a result of cell damage.
Alteration in the membrane permeability can have severe
consequences such as leakage of hydrolytic enzyme
including ACP, which would have detrimental effect on
the cell. However, if due to toxicity of a substance, there is
increased ACP activity, then it means that the substance
interacted with the lysosome and caused an increase in the
lysosomal activity in the liver [33].
Liver AST and ALT were significantly increased in C.
papaya treated fish, though not all exposure days were
statistically significant. This indicated that C. papaya
stimulates glutamate transaminase activity in the liver
which could be due to injury caused by C. papaya, which
may stimulate tissue repair through protein turn over and
increased respiration.
5. CONCLUSIONS
The pawpaw seed powder had a positive toxicity effect
correlating with exposure time from 24 to 96h on C.
gariepinus. From the toxicity tests pawpaw seed powder
concentration as low as 163.02mg/l can be potentially
hazardous to some freshwater fish. Therefore, acute
toxicity data of the present study provide baseline
information needed to develop models on the use of
pawpaw seed powder as piscidal agent.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are indebted to the Department of Zoology and
Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka for
providing laboratory space and facilities for the study. We
are also thankful to Mr. and Mrs. Levi Echefu who funded
the study. There is no conflict of interest among the
authors.
REFERENCES
[1] P. O. Akah, A. N. Oli, N. M. Enwerem, and K.
Gamaniel, Preliminary studies on purgative
effect of Carica papaya root extract,” Fitoterapia,
vol. 68(4), pp. 327331, Jan. 1997.
[2] A. E. Eno, O. I. Owo, E. H. Itam, and R. S. Konya,
“Blood pressure depression by the fruit juice of
Carica papaya (L.) in renal and DOCA-induced
hypertension in the rat,” Phytotherapy Research,
vol. 14(4), pp. 235239, Jun. 2000.
[3] R.K.Wilson, T. K. Kwan, C. Y. Kwan, and Sorger,
G. J. “Effects of papaya seed extract and benzyl
isothiocyanate on vascular contraction,” Life
Sciences, vol. 71, pp. 497507, 2002.
[4] N. K. Lohiya, P. K. Mishra, N. Pathak, B.
Manivannan, and S. C. Jain, Reversible
azoospermia by oral administration of the
benzene chromatographic fraction of the
chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya
in rabbits,” Advances in Contraception, vol.
15(2), pp. 141161, Jun. 1999.
[5] E.O.Ayotunde, and B.O.Ofem, Acute and chronic
toxicity of pawpaw (Carica papaya) seed powder
to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linne 1757)
fingerlings,” Journal of Agricultural Technology
and Environment, vol. 1, pp. 14, 2005.
[6] E.O.Ayotunde, and B.O.Ofem, Acute and chronic
toxicity of pawpaw (Carica papaya) seed powder
to adult Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linne
1757). African Journal of Biotechnology, vol.
7(13), pp. 22652274, Jul. 2008.
[7] A.L.Babson, and P.A. Read, A new assay for
prostatic acid phosphatase in serum,” American
Journal of Clinical Pathology, vol. 32(1), pp. 89
91, Jul. 1959.
[8] S.Reitman, and S.Frankel, “A colorimetric method
for the determination of oxaloacetic acid glutamic
pyruvic transaminase,” American Journal of
Chemical Pathology, vol. 28, 5356, 1957.
[9] D.J.Finney, Probit Analysis, 3rd ed., London,
England: Cambridge University Press, 1971.
[10] A. A. Oladimeji, and B. O. Offem, “Toxicity of lead
to Clarias lazera, Oreochromis niloticus,
Chironomus tentans and Benacus sp.,” Air, Water,
and Soil Pollution, vol. 44(3-4), pp. 191201, Apr.
1989.
[11] O. B. Adedeji, A. O. Adedeji, O. K. Adeyemo, and
S. A. Agbede, “Acute toxicity of diazinon to the
African catfish (Clarias gariepinus),” African
Journal of Biotechnology, vol. 7(5), pp. 651654,
Mar. 2008.
[12] U. M. Cowgill, and D. P. Milazzo, “The sensitivity
of Ceriodaphnia dubia and Daphnia magna to
seven chemicals utilizing the three-brood test,”
Archives Environmental Contamination and
Toxicology, vol. 20, pp. 211213, Feb. 1991.
[13] G.A.LeBlanc, “Acute toxicity of priority pollutants
to water fleas (Daphnia magna),” Bulletin of
Environmental Contamination and Toxicology,
vol. 24(5), pp. 684691, May 1980.
[14] J.H.Canton, and D.M. M.Adema, “Reproducibility
of short-term and reproduction toxicity
experiments with Daphnia magna and comparison
of the sensitivity of Daphnia magna with Daphnia
pulex and Daphnia cucullata in short-term
experiments,” Hydrobiologia, vol. 59(2), pp. 135
140, Jun. 1978.
[15] Z. Tong, Z. Huailan, and J. Hongjun, “Chronic
toxicity of acrylonitrile and acetonitrile to daphnia
magna in 14-d and 21-d toxicity tests,” Bulletin of
Environmental Contamination and Toxicology,
vol. 57, pp. 655659, 1996.
[16] L.Guilhermino, T. Diamantino, M. C. Silva, and
A. M. Soares, “Acute toxicity test with Daphnia
magna: an alternative to mammals in the
International Journal of Indigenous Medicinal Plants, ISSN: 2051-4263, Vol.46, Issue.3 1307
© RECENT SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS ARCHIVES| August 2013|$25.00 | 27702685 |
*This article is authorized for use only by Recent Science Journal Authors, Subscribers and Partnering Institutions*
prescreening of chemical toxicity?,”
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, vol.
46(3), pp. 357362, Jul. 2000.
[17] M.Kaniewska-Prus, “The effect of ammonia,
chlorine, chloramines toxicity on the mortality of
Daphnia magna Straus,” Polish Archives of
Hydrobiology, vol. 29(3-4), pp. 607624, 1982.
[18] D. I. Mount, and T. J. Norberg, “A seven-day life
cycle cladoceran toxicity test,” Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 3(3), pp. 425
434, Jul. 1984.
[19] C. Barata, D. J. Baird, and S. J. Markich,
Influence of genetic and environmental factors
on the tolerance of Daphnia magna Straus to
essential and nonessential metals, Aquatic
Toxicology, 42(2), 115136, Jun. 1998
[20] D.G.Heijerick, C. R. Janssen, and W. M. De Coen,
“The combined effects of hardness, pH, and
dissolved organic carbon on the chronic toxicity
of Zn to D. magna: development of a surface
response model,” Archives Environmental
Contamination and Toxicology, vol. 44(2), pp.
210217, Feb. 2003.
[21] J. Albaiges, A Farran, M. Soler, A. Gallifa, and P.
Martin,“Accumulation and distribution of
biogenic and pollutant hydrocarbon, PCB and
DDT in tissues of Western Mediterranean fishes,”
Marine Environmental Research, vol. 22(1), pp.
1 18, 1987.
[22] R. Goyer, and T. Clarkson, Toxic Effects of Heavy
Metals, C. Klaassen, Ed. Casarett Doull’s
Toxicology, New York: McGraw- Hill, 2001.
[23] A.Bianchini, M. Grosell, S. M. Gregory, C. M.
Wood, Acute silver toxicity in aquatic animals is
a function of sodium uptake rate,” Environmental
Science and Technology, vol. 36(8), pp. 1763
1776, Apr. 2002.
[24] S. Koivisto, “Is Daphnia magna an ecological
representative zooplankton species toxicity test,”
Environmental Pollution, vol. 90(2), pp. 263289,
1995.
[25] H. S. Oh, S. K. Lee, Y. H. Kim, and J. K. Roh,
Mechanism of selective toxicity of diazinon to
killifish (Oryzias latipes) and loach (Misgurnus
anguillicaudatus),” M. A. Mayes and M. G.
Barron, (Eds.), Aquatic Toxicology and Risk
Assessment, vol. 14, pp. 343353, 1991.
[26] M.Muniyan, and K. Veeraragghavan, “Acute
toxicity of ethofenprox to the freshwater fish
Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters),” Journal of
Environmental Biology, vol. 20(2), pp. 153155,
1999.
[27] M.Santhakumar, and M. Balaji, “Acute toxicity of
an organophosphorus insecticide monocrotophos
and its effects on behaviour of an air-breathing
fish, Anabas testudineus Bloch,” Journal of
Environmental Biology, vol. 21(2), pp. 121123,
2000.
[28] V. O. Ayuba, and P. C. Ofojekwu, “Acute toxicity
of the Jimson’s weed (Datura innoxia) to the
African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings,”
Journal of Aquatic Science, vol. 17: pp. 212,
2002.
[29] C. M. Liao, B. C. Chen , S. Singh, M. C. Lin, C.
W. Liu, and B. C. Han, “Acute toxicity and
bioaccumulation of arsenic in tilapia
(Oreochromis mossambicus) from a blackfoot
disease area in Taiwan,” Environmental
Toxicology, vol. 18(4), pp. 252259, Aug. 2003.
[30] C. Newman, Quantitative Methods in Aquatic
Toxicology. Florida, USA: Lewis Publishers,
1995.
[31] J.Pernak, K.Sobaszkiewicz, and I. Mirska, “Anti-
microbial activities of ionic liquids,” Green
Chemistry, vol. 5, pp. 5256, Jan. 2003.
[32] D. W. Schindler, “Detecting ecosystem responses
to anthropogenic stress,” Canadian Journal of
Fisheries Aquatic Science, vol. 44(S1), pp. s6
s25, Dec. 1987.
[33] N. Ghorpade, V. Mehta, M. Khare, P. Sinkar, S.
Krishnan, and C. V. Rao, “Toxicity study of
diethyl phthalate on freshwater fish Cirrhina
mrigala,” Ecotoxicology and Environmental
Safety, vol. 53(2), pp. 255258, Oct. 2002.
... In the course of their experiment, it was discovered that at the 96 h static bioassay, symptoms of toxicity in the fish indicated that aqueous extract of fresh pawpaw leaf caused sub-acute effects such as alterations in the fish behavior and the changes were also dose-dependent. This result also agrees with the results of Eyo et al. (2013) when they showed the toxicity of Carica papaya seed extract on liver biomarkers of Clarias gariepinus. In this study there were increase in weight of the fishes in all the groups. ...
... The results of their study showed no significant changes in the AST and ALT as also observed in this study. However, the results of the analysis of liver enzymes disagrees with the findings of Audu et al. (2017) and Eyo et al. (2013), when they investigated the toxicity and effects of Carica papaya seed aqueous extract on liver biomarkers of Clarias gariepinus. Their study showed significant increases in the AST and ALT levels. ...
... carpine and papain) that are known to be toxic to aquatic life. Carpine, which is present in papaya seeds, may cause acute toxicity in catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and the Nile tilapia (Ayotunde and Ofem, 2008;Eyo et al., 2013). ...
... From the present study, these behavioural changes were dominant as the concentration of the extract increases. This led to the fish exhibiting haphazard movement and aggressiveness in the medium (Eyo et al., 2013). Generally, when water quality is affected by toxicants, physiological changes will be observed in the values of some of the haematological parameters and swimming activity of the fish (Heath, 1991;Adeyemo, 2005). ...
... These results established that both extracts at 0.1% or higher concentrations significantly affected the survivability of the embryos. The toxic effect obtained in the present study is in conformity with the acute and chronic toxic effects of C. papaya seeds extract in Clarias gariepinus juveniles [8] and Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings and adult [9,10]. This bioactivity could be accounted to phytochemical substances of C. papaya seeds and leaves such as saponin, flavonoid and terpenoid which act as toxic compounds that cause damage of cell membrane, leading to the inhibition of macromolecular synthesis [11]. ...
Article
Full-text available
With the teratogenic assay using D. rerio embryonic model, this present work established the toxic and teratogenic effects of extracts of the two C. papaya seed types, young and mature. Bioactive compositions were obtained through hot water extraction. Embryos at segmentation phase were exposed to the varying extract concentrations. Mortality, hatchability, and morphological malformations were determined. Based on the results, the incidences of mortality and most teratogenic effects were apparently concentration-dependent. Embryos exposed at 10% of young seed extract and 3% of mature seed extract significantly recorded 100% mortality after 48 hours of treatment exposure. Coagulation of embryo was the most notable toxic effect of both extracts. Hatchability of 0.1% and 0.3% treated embryos was significantly lower than that of the control embryos. No hatched was recorded in 1% or higher concentrations. Embryos at 0.1% (young seed) and 0.03% (mature seed) or higher extract concentrations showed delayed development. Tail malformation (bent tail or hook-like tail) is a fingerprint morphological endpoint of both C. papaya seed extracts. At 72 hour post treatment application (hpta), tail malformation was observed in embryos at 0.03% (for mature seed) and 0.1% (for young seed) or higher concentrations. Altogether, the extracts of the two C. papaya seed types affect the survival and embryonic development of D. rerio, however, mature seed extract is found more toxic than the young seed extract.
... Experimental Fish Three hundred healthy juveniles of fresh water African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Family: Clariidae: Order, Siluriformes; Genus: Clarias) with the mean weight of 159.8  42g and standard mean length of 30.18  5cm were obtained from a reputable fish farm in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria and transported to the Fisheries laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeira, Nsukka. They were acclimatized for three weeks in a 3001 capacity plastic tank, during which they were fed 3% of their body weight in divided rations, twice daily (7.00am and 7.00pm) with locally prepared floating pelleted diet, containing 35% crude protein as recommended by Eyo et al. (2013). All animals were cared for according to guidelines of the Institutional Animal Ethics. ...
Article
Full-text available
The effect of short term treatments with ivermectin on the oxidative stress parameters in the tissues of Clarias gariepinus juveniles was studied between July and September 2015. Three hundred healthy juveniles of fresh water African catfish, Clarias gariepinus were used for the study. The present study investigated the behavioural responses, lethal concentration of ivermectin and the effect of sublethal concentrations on lipid peroxidation , antioxidant parameters and acute toxicity in the tissue of C. gariepinus. All animals were divided into 7 groups: Gp 1 (Tap water) served as the untreated control (0) while groups 2- 7 were treated with graded levels of ivermetin 0.15, 0.30, 0.45, 0.60, 0.75, 0.90mg/l body weight and was done for 28 days. The percentage mortality increased as the concentrations increased. The 24, 48, 72 and 96h Lc50 of ivermectin were: 0.75, 0.62, 0.45, 0.38mg/L respectively indicating four groups. The tissues of fish were exposed to various sublethal levels of ivermectin. Catalase, lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase activities of liver, and gill was highest in the control when compared to other groups.
... The fish specimens were treated with 0.05% potassium permanganate to avoid possible dermal infections. They were acclimatized for 20 days in a 1000 L plastic tank during which they were fed 3% body weight (BW) in divided rations twice daily (7.00 am and 7.00 pm) with locally laboratory prepared pelleted diet containing 35% crude protein (Eyo et al., 2013). The feeding was terminated 24 h prior to the range finding and toxicity test to avoid interference of faeces (Reish and Oshida, 1987). ...
Article
Full-text available
This study conducted in 2014 investigated the histopathological effects of Cyperdicot and vitamin E supplementation on some selected organs in juveniles of Clarias gariepinus. Fish were exposed to 0. 0.08 and 0.16 mg/L Cyperdicot and vitamin E. Fish were divided into six groups: control, 0.80 mg/L; Cyperdicot, 0.16 mg/L; Cyperdicot, vitamin E, vitamin E + 0.08 mg/L Cyperdicot, and vitamin E + 0.16 m/L Cyperdicot insecticide. There was significant relation between temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen with Cyperdicot concentration. The LC 50 value based on probit analysis was found to be 0.08 mg/L for 96 h. Samples were taken at fixed times for histopathological studies. The fish exhibited behavioural and dermatological changes. Vitamin E + 0.08 mg/L Cyperdicot and vitamin E + 0.16 mg/L Cyperdicot treated fish showed abnormalities in their behaviour. Gills, liver, and kidneys of the 0.08 mg/L Cyperdicot treated group also showed several histopathological changes during the experimental periods. The organs of the fish treated with vitamin E + 0.16 mg/L Cyperdicot induced histopathological changes. The toxic effect of Cyperdicot is clear on the behavioural and histopathological aspects of the fish gills, liver, and kidney tissues, while vitamin E had no amelioration effects on them.
... The fish specimens were treated with 0.05% potassium permanganate to avoid possible dermal infections. They were acclimatized for 20 days in a 1000 L plastic tank during which they were fed 3% body weight (BW) in divided rations twice daily (7.00 am and 7.00 pm) with locally laboratory prepared pelleted diet containing 35% crude protein (Eyo et al., 2013). The feeding was terminated 24 h prior to the range finding and toxicity test to avoid interference of faeces (Reish and Oshida, 1987). ...
Article
Full-text available
This study assessed the capabilities of the dung beetle, Euoniticellus intermedius (Coleoptera: Scarabaeida), larva gut consortia in degrading cellulose that can serve as glucose source for biofuels production. A total of 144 live dung beetles were randomly collected from a dairy farm and bred in a temperature controlled insect rearing room. On reaching the late second to third instar stage, dung beetle larvae were harvested, dissected and the gut micro-flora were cultured in medium containing cellulose as sole carbon source. Microbial growth (total protein concentration) and cellulose degradation activity (reducing sugars concentration) in the cellulose cultures were monitored successively for 15 days. Statistical analysis showed that there was significant microbial growth, but no significant increase in reducing sugar levels. Despite the lack of increase in reducing sugar levels, it was concluded that the dung beetle larva gut has micro-flora with cellulose degrading capabilities that allowed it to grow and survive in the cellulose minimal medium.
Chapter
With the expansion of human settlements and the environmental changes brought on by human activity and pollutants, toxicology and risk assessment of piscine species is becoming increasingly of interest to scientists involved in environmental research and connected disciplines. This book focuses specifically on environmental risk assessment in fish species from different zoogeographical regions of the world. Fish Species in Environmental Risk Assessment Strategies is an ideal companion to toxicologists and ecologists interested in risk assessment in the environments of ichthyic fauna, particularly those with an interest in the deleterious impact introduced by human activity. The book is also of interest to those working in conservation biology, biological invasion, biocontrol, habitat management and related disciplines.
Article
Full-text available
This study investigated the effect of Euphorbia hirta leaf extracts on the gill and liver tissues of Clarias gariepinus juveniles. The experiment was carried out at the University Fish Farm, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. The fishes were acclimatized for one week and were fed twice daily at the rate of 3% body weight and water was siphoned on daily basis. A total of 300 C. gariepinus juveniles were used for the study. The experiment was carried out using 5 treatments at concentrations of 0g/l, 1.25g/l, 2.5g/l, 3.75g/l and 5g/l; and in replicates. The fishes were exposed to the leaf extract for a period of 96 hours. The result showed significant difference (p<0.05) in mortality rate as it decreases with decreasing extract concentration. The histological result revealed severe lesion on the gills of fish exposed to varying concentrations of the leaves extract. However, severity decreases with lower concentration of the leave extract. More so, in the liver, severe fatty degeneration was observed and the severity of this degeneration decreasing with decrease in the extract concentration. The result suggested that E. hirta have adverse effect on the juvenile Clarias gariepinus and should be disposed carefully.
Chapter
Full-text available
Papaya seeds (PSs) are healthy, delicious, and rarely used. Moderate consumption of these tiny, spherical seeds is beneficial for menstruation pain, cancer, and weight loss. Heart-friendly too. PSs cleanse, hydrate, reduce inflammation, and improve digestion. PSs contain fiber, protein, and fat. Minerals and vitamins abound. Carotenoids, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, and tocopherol are extensively studied as antiproliferative agents against cancerous cells and for modifying cell signaling, preventing proliferation, inducing apoptosis, and preventing migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. Papaya seed chemicals initially boost Th1-type cytokine production. Papaya suppresses hematopoietic cells such as Jurkat, ARH77, Raji, Karpas-299, and HL-60. Papaya decreases renal cell cancer. Papaya extracts affect cancer cells. PSs inhibit IL-6, TNF-α, PC-3, and MCF-7 cancer cells. PSs were effective against colon, leukemia, lung, liver, breast, and prostate cancer.. Papaya extract destroys cancer cells in vitro. This chapter highlights PSs’ plant-based compounds and antiproliferative properties on cancer cell lines.
Article
Datura innoxia root extract was exposed to fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus (mean weight: 10.20 + 0.38 g) for 96 hours under laboratory conditions using static bioassays with continuous aeration to determine its acute toxicity. The LC50 of the exposed fingerlings was found to be 204.17 mg/L with lower and upper confidence limits being 125.89 and 384.59 mg/L respectively. The fish exhibited loss of balance, respiratory distress and swam erratically just before death. Key words : Catfish, Clarias gariepinus, Datura innoxia, Datura innoxia, toxicity. Journal of Aquatic Sciences Vol.17(2) 2002:131-133
Article
Sensitivities were in the order Daphnia magna > Simocephalus vetulus > Asellus aquaticus. The greatest toxic effect was noted in solutions containing all three kinds of chloramines, the least in ammonia. -from Author
Article
Acute toxicity of insecticide monocrotophos to the fresh water fish Anabas testudineus was studied using static bioassay method. The 24, 48, 72 and 96 h LC50 were found to be 22.65, 21.2, 19.75 and 19 ppm respectively. The calculated safe concentration of monocrotophos was 0.19 ppm. Decrease in opercular movement, loss of equilibrium, increase in surfacing behaviour, change in body colour, increase in mucus secretion all over the body, irregular swimming activity, increase in nudge, nip and aggressiveness were observed in fish on exposure to monocrotophos.
Article
This study was initiated to explain the acute toxicity difference (14 times in LC50) of killifish (Oryzias latipes) and loach (Misgurnus anguilicaudatus), two dominant fish species in Korean rice paddies, to diazinon, one of the widely used organophosphorous insecticides in Korea. Enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and microsomal fraction was used for the detection of inhibitory action of diazinon and Phase I metabolic activity of fish homogenate in vitro. Ethoxy-14C-labelled diazinon was used for tracing the absorption difference, as well as confirmation of the enzymatic assay result. The results showed that: (1) inhibition of AchE by diazoxon in loach was 22-fold more potent than in killifish: (2) total radioactivity exposed to ethoxy-14C labeled diazinon was decreasing in killifish with daily analysis, while increasing in loach: (3) initial absorption ratio was 4.5:I for killifish; loach; and (4) approximately 10 times more polar metabolites were formed in killifish within a 15-h period. It was concluded that the three factors. AchE inhibition, detoxification, and absorption were all significant for the selective toxicity of diazinon. Further study is under way to reveal the identity of the metabolites.
Article
This experiment determined the toxicity of pawpaw seed powder to adult tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, the most cultivable fish species in Africa. The 96 h static bioassay experiment was conducted to determine the median lethal concentration (LC50) for adult Nile tilapia, to pawpaw seed, Carica papaya. Two hundred live, and apparently healthy O. niloticus measuring 11.5 - 14.6 cm total length and 65.6 - 112.4 g were used for the experiment. Eighteen (75 x 45 x 45 cm) glass tanks of 121.5 litres capacity each were filled with 50 litres aerated unchlorinated well water. The toxicant was introduced at different concentrations in triplicate per treatment. The 96-h LC50 of pawpaw seed powder to adult tilapia is 4.2 mg/l with 95% confidence limit of 31.86 – 93.81 mg/l and the maximum admissible toxicant concentrations ranges between 0.042 - 0.42 mg/l, while the total mortality occurred in the concentration of 8 mg/l within 24 h exposure period. Toxic reaction exhibited by the fish includes erratic movement, air gulping, loss of reflex, discolouration, molting, loss of scale, and haemorrhage. The pathologic lesion of gill, skin, liver and kidney includes different level of degeneration of cells, lamellar hyperemia, hyperthrophy of gill arch, shrinkages and dermal erosion and necrosis of skin, while hyperplasia, disarrangement of hepatic cell, necrosis and vacuolation occurred in liver and kidney of adult tilapia O. niloticus. Damages became severe with increasing concentration of C. papaya to fish and time of exposure. There was no significant changes in the water quality during the experiment; the result obtained before the test, during the test and after the test were found close to the water quality parameters of the control. Results of the tests provided baseline information and established safe limits of using C. Papaya seed powder as an antifertility agent in controlling excessive breeding of tilapia in fish farm.
Article
Acute toxicity of insecticide ethofenprox to the freshwater fish Oreochromis mossambicus was studied using static bioassay method. Median lethal concentration for 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96h were 2.03, 1.95, 1.90, 1.85, 1.79, 1.76 and 1.74 ppm respectively. The signs of toxicity on the behaviour of the fish Oreochromis mossambicus was studied for lethal (2.849 ppm) and sublethal (1.305 ppm) concentration ethofenprox for 96h. Erratic swimming, hyper- and hypo-activity changes in opercular movement, loss of equilibrium, mucus secretion all over the body and chromatic changes on skin were observed. The significance of this study is discussed.
Article
This paper reports the sensitivity ofCeriodaphnia dubia andDaphnia magna to ethanol, acetone, phenol, 4-chlorophenol, trichloromethane, diethanolamine and chlorobenzene, utilizing the three-brood test. The endpoints examined include survival at 48 h and at the end of the three-blood test, total progeny, number of broods, mean brood size, and dry weight. The final calculated result was the LC50/EC50 or that concentration of the test solution that reduced the variable in question to 50% of that of the controls. Total progeny, number of broods and mean brood size provided results of the same order of magnitude for each compound for a specific organism. Dry weight proved to be a poor endpoint. The response ofC. dubia to six compounds failed to provide a determinable EC50 due to a lack of significance of the regression equation. In the case ofD. magna, only five of the seven compounds provided a determinable result for dry weight. Compared to the results based on total progeny, number of broods and mean brood size, dry weight results in the absolute sense forD. magna were less sensitive for ethanol, phenol, 4-chlorophenol, more sensitive for trichloromethane, and about the same for diethanolamine as were the results for total progeny. For both cladocerans, progeny was the most sensitive endpoint for ethanol. For the other six compounds, survival at the end of the three-brood test provided LC50/EC50 results of the same order of magnitude as progeny, number of broods and mean brood size. Finally, it was of interest to discover the differences, if any, between these two cladocerans and place their response in relation to those other organisms that have been so tested. The three brood test results forD. magna prove this organism to be most sensitive to four out of the seven compounds.