IDENTIFICATION OF HEAVY METAL TOXICITY INDUCED BIOMARKERS AND THE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF ASCORBIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION IN CHANNA PUNCTATUS

Arsenic and mercury are presently the most common pollutants of freshwater bodies. There is a continuous increase in the toxic level of these pollutants with some seasonal changes, affecting the aquatic biota. The present study aimed to identify cellular biomarkers of arsenic and mercury toxicity in freshwater fish Channa punctatus. Antioxidant defense like catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate, reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidative stress marker lipid peroxidation (LPO), lysosomal marker like acid phosphatases and apoptotic marker namely caspases-3 were employed to check the damage caused to the fish as a result of arsenic and mercury contamination of water. Results indicate that increased lipid peroxidation induced apoptosis in arsenic toxicity. On the other hand, mercury toxicity induced necrosis mediated by lysosomal induction. These results further significantly indicate the protective effects of ascorbic acid that reduces the increased level of hepatic oxidative stress during metal toxicity. This study suggests that ascorbic acid supplementation can be a good option to save fish, which are at high risk of heavy metal-induced damage resulting in the availability of healthy edible fish in the market.