No abstract

Objective of the study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Hydrilla verticillata on lead induced hepatic damage in fresh water fish. The fish were treated with sub lethal concentration of lead acetate to induce liver damage and fed with supplementary feed containing 20% of hydrilla dr y powder. After 21 days of treatment, liver was removed and hepatotoxicity and its prevention was analysed. Liver marker enzymes like alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), acid phosphatase (ACP), citrate synthase (CS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Hepatic enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), nitrite, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and lead marker enzymes like aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) and cathepsin D were measured and compared with the control. The lead induced hepatotoxicity by stimulation of ALT, ACP, AST, CS, LDH, LPO and oxidative stress by diminution of SOD, GPx, and nitrite. Hydrilla verticillata supplementation significantly (p ˂ 0.001) reduced the level of hepatic enzymes, LPO and reinstated the defence antioxidant enzymes. The lead toxicity also reduced by the supplementary feed as assessed by decrease in ALAD enzyme and increase in cathepsin D level. This study strongly confirms the hepatoprotective effect of Hydrilla verticillata against lead induced acute liver toxicity. Hydrilla verticillata could be recommended for liver disorders.