Biochemical alteration in freshwater fish Channa punctatus due to latices of Euphorbia royleana and Jatropha gossypifolia

Exposure of fish over 96 h to 40 and 80% of LC50 (24 h) of aqueous latex extracts of Euphorbia royleana and Jatropha gossypifolia of family Euphorbiaceae significantly altered the level of total protein, total free amino acids, nucleic acids, pyruvate, lactate, glycogen and as well as protease activity also in muscle, liver and gonadal tissue of the fish Channa punctatus. The alterations in all the biochemical parameters were significantly dose-dependent. Withdrawal study also shows that there is a partial recovery in the levels of glycogen, pyruvate, lactate and nucleic acids, but nearly complete recovery in total protein, total free amino acids level and protease activity in all the three tissues of the fish after the 7th day of the withdrawal of treatment, which supports the view that the plant product is safer in use as pesticides for control of common weed fishes in culture ponds. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.