Toxicity of Moringa oleifera seed extract on some hematological and biochemical profiles in a freshwater fish, Cyprinus carpio

The study was carried out to investigate the acute and sublethal toxicity of Moringa oleifera seed extract on hematological and biochemical variables of a freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio under laboratory conditions. The 96 h LC50 value of M. oleifera seed extract to the fish C. carpio was estimated by probit analysis method and was found to be 124.0 mg/L (with 95% confidence limits). For sublethal studies a non lethal dose of 1/10th of 96 h LC50 value (12.40 mg/L) was taken. During acute treatment (96 h), hematological variables like red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in fish exposed to seed extract. However a significant (P < 0.05) increase in white blood cell count (WBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) value was observed in the exposed fish during above treatment period when compared to that of the control groups. Biochemical parameters such as plasma protein and glucose levels significantly declined in fish exposed to seed extract while a significant (P < 0.05) increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was observed. During sublethal treatment (12.40 mg/L), WBC count, MCV, MCH, plasma glucose, AST, ALT and ALP activities were gradually elevated (P < 0.05) at the end of 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35th days in seed extract exposed fish, whereas plasma protein level declined. However, a biphasic trend was noticed in Hb, Hct, RBC and MCHC levels. This study may provide baseline information about the toxicity of M. oleifera seed extract to C. carpio and to establish safer limit in water purification.