CHANGES IN CHOLESTEROL CONTENT OF THE FRESHWATER FISH, LABEO ROHITA DUE TO THE EFFECT OF AN INSECTICIDE ‘ENCOUNTER’ (HERBAL PLANT EXTRACT)

Recent evidence indicates that fish, an extremely valuable resource, are quickly becoming scarce. One consequence of this scarcity is the increasing concern for fish survival and a growing interest in identifying the levels of various chemical pollutants, which are safe for fish and other aquatic life. Pesticides are among the most hazardous chemicals to men and ambient. Insecticides are extensively used to protect agricultural crops against the damages caused by pests. However, these chemicals may reach other ecological compartments as lakes and rivers through rains and wind affecting many other organisms away from the primary target. Biochemical and physiological variables show specific responses to certain type of environmental stress. The insecticide Encounter (Herbal plant extract) is used for the present study. The fishes were exposed to different concentrations of insecticide ‘Encounter’ to calculate the LC₅₀ value. The LC₅₀ value is 0.11ppm. Four groups of fishes were exposed for 24, 48, 72 &96 hours respectively. At the end of each exposure period, fishes were sacrificed and tissues such as liver, kidney, muscle and gills were removed and analysed for Cholesterol content. It showed decreased value of Cholesterol content in all the tissues when compared to control.