Antioxidants Activities in the Plasma of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed To Atrazine

Akinrotimi OA, Amachree D, Owhonda KN, Nwosu PO and Odezugo CJ

Published on: 2025-01-28

Abstract

Atrazine is a pre-emergence herbicide that is widely used in Nigeria to control weeds. Given that herbicides could harm non-target species like fish, this study examined the effects of atrazine on antioxidant activities which includes Catalase (CAT), Lipid peroxidation (LPO), Glutathione (GSH), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Glutathione - S - Transferase (GST), in the plasma of  Clarias gariepinus. Juveniles of C. gariepinus of mean length (11.74±2.64cm) and mean weight (256.68±1.81g) were exposed to different concentrations of atrazine containing 0.00 (control), 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20mg/l of atrazine for a period of 96 Hours. Results obtained in the study indicated that   atrazine caused significant increase (p<0.05) in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, CAT and LPO in all experimental groups compared with control exposures. There was also a significant decrease in the values of GSH, SOD and GST in all experimental groups compared with control exposure. The study therefore revealed that atrazine exposure had a toxic effect on C. gariepinus in a dose-dependent manner, hence caution should be applied in its application, and the usage must be monitored and controlled especially when in use close to any aquatic ecosystem.