The Effect of Dry Extract of Derris elliptica Stem on some Enzymatic Changes in the Plasma of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822).

The dry extract of different parts of the Derris elliptica is used in fish ponds to harvest and control predatory fish. However, the toxicological impact of the extract on fish has not yet been evaluated. The objective of the present study is to investigate the effects of the extract on some enzymes of plasma of the widely consumed African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Fish specimen were exposed to sublethal concentrations (0.00 [control], 0.75, 1.50 and 3.00g/L) of dry extract of stems of D. elliptica for 24, 72 and 168 h adopting the semi-static renewal bioassay technique and were then subjected to plasma analyses. The level of plasma acid phosphatase and plasma alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly (P 0.05) while plasma alanine aminotransferase and plasma aspartate aminotransferase increased significantly (P 0.05). It was concluded that the dry extract of the stem of D. elliptica produced disorders in liver, kidney and respiratory metabolism of C. gariepinus.