European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

INFLUENCE OF NELUMBO NUCIFERA ON THE RATE OF OXYGEN CONSUMPTION IN CIRRHINUS MRIGALA EXPOSED TO COPPER SULPHATE

Kalavathi R.* and N. Saradhamani

ABSTRACT

Now-a-days, diets included with herbal powders as supplementary feed has the ability to reduce the metal induced toxicity. Among the heavy metals, copper sulphate is used as algaecide or herbicide for the control of phytoplankton or weeds in lakes, reservoirs and ponds. The problem with use of copper sulphate is that there is only a narrow line that separates effective treatment levels from overdoses which can kill fish. The fish, as a bioindicator of aquatic medium plays an important role in the monitoring of water pollution. In fish, oxygen consumption is a useful measure to assess the sub lethal effects of xenobiotics as energy processes serve as indicators of overall physiological state. The present study describes the protective effect of Nelumbo nucifera on the rate of oxygen consumption in a freshwater fish, Cirrhinus mrigala exposed to copper sulphate.

Keywords: Cirrhinus mrigala, Copper sulphate, oxygen consumption, Nelumbo nucifera.