PROTECTIVE ROLE OF CORIANDRUM SATIVUM (CORIANDER) EXTRACT ON LEAD INDUCED ALTERATIONS IN THE OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF FRESH WATER GASTROPOD SNAIL, BELLAMYA BENGALENSIS (LAMARCK)

The present study describes antioxident effect of coriandrum sativum extract against lead nirtate induced toxicity in an experimental model, the fresh water snailand Bellamya bengalensis. The effect of snail was studied under five groups. Group A was maintained as control, Group B snails were exposed to chronic LC ₅₀/₁₀ doses of lead nitrate (6.9ppm) for 21 days, while group C snails were exposed to respective chronic concentrations of heavy metals with 5 ml/lit of extract from coriandrum sativum. Rates of O₂ consumption from all groups were estimated after 7, 14 and 21 days. Snails from B groups were divided into two groups after 21 days exposure to heavy metals into D & E groups. Snails of D group were allowed to cure naturally while those of E were exposed to extract from coriandrum sativum (5 ml/lit) and their rates of O₂ consumption were studied after 7, 14 and 21 days. Remarkable decrease in rate of O₂ consumption was observed in lead exposed snails. The groups exposed to heavy metals along with extract from coriandrum sativum showed more rates of oxygen consumption than those exposed to heavy metals. Pre-exposed snails to heavy metals showed fast recovery and higher rate of oxygen consumption than those which were allowed to cure naturally. The probable antioxident role of  extract from coriandrum sativum  is discussed in the paper.