Abstract

Clarias gariepinus adults were exposed to aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Parkia biglobosa pods (85 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 115 mg/L, 130 mg/L and 145 mg/L), respectively, in order to evaluate their effects on the biochemical parameters of exposed fish. There were significant increases (P < 0.05) in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities as well as in plasma glucose concentrations respectively. The activity of alkaline phosphatase changed in a non significant (P > 0.05) manner with increasing concentrations of both extracts. However, plasma total proteins concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing extracts concentrations in fish exposed to ethanolic extracts while non significant changes (P > 0.05) occurred in those exposed to aqueous extracts. Similarly, there were significant decreases (P < 0.05) in cholesterol concentrations with increasing extract concentrations in fishes exposed to the ethanolic extract while there were no significant changes (P > 0.05) in those exposed to aqueous extracts. These biochemical changes in exposed fish revealed that both extracts of Parkia biglobosa pods are toxic to Clarias gariepinus adults with non significant differences (P > 0.05) between their levels of toxicities.

Key words: Clarias gariepinus, Parkia biglobosa pods, toxicity, biochemical parameters.

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: AST, Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase;ALP, alkaline phosphatise.