Impact of Sodium Arsenite on Certain Biomolecules of Nutritional Importance of the Edible Components of the Economically Important Catfish C. batrachus (Linn.)

Abstract

The toxicity of sublethal concentration (1 mg/L; 5% of 96hLC₅₀ value) of sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂) for 60 days on certain biomolecules (proteins, lipids, and water) of five vital organ systems (muscles, liver, brain, skin, and gills) of Clarias batrachus were analyzed to evaluate the damage rendered to the food value of the fish. Arsenic disturbs the equilibrium existing between these nutritionally important macromolecules in all the organ systems. These tissues showed marked fluctuations in their protein (1.56 ± 0.79% in gills to 4.46 ± 1.54% in muscles), lipid (1.79 ± 0.89% in skins to 4.81 ± 1.15% in brain tissue) and water contents (65.84 ± 1.01% in brain to 78.66 ± 0.37% in gills).

Keywords:

• Clarias batrachus
• lipids
• proteins
• sodium arsenite
• toxicity

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The senior author wishes to acknowledge financial support from the Junior Research Fellowship granted by the University Grant Commission, New Delhi, India, RGN Fellowship No. 14-2(SC) /2008(SA-III).