PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF “RAPHANUS SATIVUS” EXTRACT AGAINST COPPER SULPHATE TOXICITY IN “CTENOPHARYNGODON IDELLA” FISH

The living organisms of the aquatic ecosystem have been directly affected by the accumulation of the heavy metals in the aquatic environment ¹. Fishes are very good biosensors of aquatic contaminants and as bio-indicator species respond with great sensitivity to changes in the aquatic environment. Copper will accumulate in many different organs in fish and mollusks. In the present study the acute toxicity of copper sulphate was analyzed by the exposure of the copper sulphate to the fresh water fish Grass carp (ctenopharyngodon idella) in the concentration of (3ppm/l for 15 days). The vital organs like Gill, Liver, and muscle tissues showed pronounced effect on the activity of enzymes. Copper sulphate administration decreases the activity of the antioxidants SOD (superoxide dismutase), and CAT (catalase), and the activity of the enzymes GPx (Glutathione peroxidase), GR (Glutathione reductase), GSH (Reduced Glutathione) to the significant level in all the tissues. The level of Lipid peroxidation (LPO) was increased in all the tissues compared to the control group. The decreased activity of antioxidants may indicates the presence of reactive oxygen species which induces peroxidation. The study suggested that the presence of toxic heavy metals like copper sulphate in the aquatic environment has strong influence on the antioxidant in the fresh water fish (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The activity of the antioxidants were reversed nearly to the normal levels significantly after the treatment with Raphanus Sativus leaves extract with the concentration of 250mg/l for 15 days