Evaluation of Selected Biochemical Indices in <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> Exposed to Aqueous Extract of Nigerian Crude Oil (Bonny Light)

Abstract

In this study, selected biochemical parameters including the activities of lipid peroxidation in fish exposed to varied percentages of aqueous extract (AE) of Nigerian Crude Oil (Bonny light) were assessed. The total Hydrocarbon and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon contents of the AE were 124.1mg/l and 16.9mg/l respectively. Results of the levels of glucose, total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in fish exposed to 10.0% AE were 46.2mm, 9.18g/dl, 5.13 g/dl, 62.6 IU/l and 18.3 IU/l, respectively. Also, the average concentrations of malondialdehyde obtained in Clarias gariepinus exposed to 10% AE was 5.84 nmol. In general, the concentrations of the selected biochemical indices studied were higher in test fish exposed to 10.0% AE, followed by those of the lower concentrations. These findings suggest that exposure of Clarias gariepinus to low levels of AE of Nigerian Crude Oil would result in chronic oxidation stress, cellular membrane damage and death of cell.