Toxicity of Aqueous Extract of Desert Date (Balanites Aegyptiaca Linnaeus) on the Juveniles of Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus Teugels, 1986).

Abstract

An investigation was conducted on the toxic effects of the fruit extract of (Balanites aegyptiaca L.) on the mortality and behaviour of juveniles of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). In the acute lethal toxicity study, the fish were exposed to different concentration levels of 64.0, 32.0, 16.0, 08.0, 04.0 and 0.00gL-1 (control) of the fruit extract. A positive correlation (r=0.9811) was observed between fish mortality and the various concentrations used. Prior to death of fish, some behavioural activities observed were erratic swimming on the water surface, loss of reflex and hyperventilation. Haemoglobin estimation and packed cell volume (PCV) values were significant (P< 0.05) for acute lethal toxic dose. The 96h-LC50 value of the fruit extract was obtained as 12.59gL-1, with lower and upper confidence limits of 7.87gL-1 and 20.14gL-1 respectively. Phytochemical analysis showed that the fruit contained saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins and carbohydrates. In conclusion, solution of the fruit extract caused fish mortality, and its toxic effects lowered the values of some haematological parameters compared to the control group.