Greener Journal of Biological Sciences Vol. 15(1), pp. 38-50, 2025 ISSN: 2276-7762 Copyright ©2025, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. https://gjournals.org/GJBS DOI: https://doi.org/10.15580/gjbs.2025.1.010125003

Article’s title and author 

Toxicity of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Gum Arabic Tree (Acacia nilotica) on the Biochemical Changes of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Juveniles

Damshit, M.J.¹; Audu, B.S.¹; Wade, J.W.¹

¹ Department of Zoology, Fisheries & Hydrobiology Unit, University of Jos, Nigeria.

ARTICLE’S INFO
Article No.: 010125003 Type: Research Full Text: PDF, PHP, EPUB, MP3 DOI: 10.15580/gjbs.2025.1.010125003 Accepted: 02/01/2025 Published: 07/02/2025		*Corresponding Author Margaret Damshit E-mail: margaretdamshit38@ gmail.com	Keywords: Biochemical, Gills, Liver, Blood, Clarias gariepinus, Acacia nilotica

ABSTRACT
	Water pollution is one of the most dangerous environmental threats affecting aquatic biota. The impacts of aquatic pollution have become a matter of great concern. Acacia nilotica fruit extract is used for tanning animal skin in leather production. This study was carried out to determine the acute toxicity of the aqueous crude fruit extract of Acacia nilotica on the juveniles of Clarias gariepinus under Laboratory conditions in 96 hours static non-renewable bioassay. Ten (10) C. gariepinus juveniles were stocked in each of the six (6) circular tanks, each duplicate replicated. After a range finding test was conducted, fish were exposed to acute concentrations of 0.30, 0.25, 0.20, 0.15, and 0.10g/L while 0.00g/L served as the control. Fish mortalities increased as the toxicant concentrations increased throughout the exposure period and the lowest and highest concentrations (0.10 and 0.30 g/L) recorded 20 and 100% mortalities respectively. However, no mortality was recorded in the control tank (0.00g/L). The 96hrs-LC50 of the experimental fish was determined graphically to be 0.18g/L with the lower and the upper confidence limits of 0.14 and 0.22g/L respectively. Results of the water quality parameters monitored varied significantly (P<0.05). Free Carbon dioxide, Nitrite, Ammonia, Hardness and Temperature all increased as the toxicant concentrations increased. Similarly, the biochemical parameters of the exposed fish varied significantly (P<0.05). The activities of the Alkaline phosphatase, Aspartate amino transaminase, Alanine amino transaminase, Total protein, Total bilirubin, Direct bilirubin, Urea, Creatinine, Cholesterol and Glucose in the Gill, Liver and serum revealed significant differences (P<0.05) compared to the control group. This study revealed that the crude fruit extract of A. nilotica is toxic to C. gariepinus juveniles at various concentrations and the result showed that the 96hrs-LC50 concentration resulted to abnormal levels of enzymes compared to the control which could have been responsible for the high mortalities observed causing great concern for fish survival. Therefore, the use of A. nilotica in water bodies could lead to alteration of aquatic ecosystem by causing changes in the biochemical and general well being of fish and other aquatic fauna.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

 

Water pollution and it effect on aquatic organisms and human has become a great concern over the last few decades (Agrawal et al., 2010). Untreated industrial, agricultural and domestic effluents discharged into the aquatic environment has constituted a serious threat to aquatic life (Wade et al.,2002). An evidence in Nigeria shows that untreated wastes are discharged directly into rivers by many industries (Alinnor, 2005), which ultimately affect the survival of aquatic organisms (Parthiban & Muniyan, 2008).

Toxicants may cause ecological imbalance (Velisek, Strara, Machova, & Svobodova, 2012) and changes a single cell or in a whole organism; which leads to stressful conditions with consequent alterations in cells via biological magnification in aquatic animals such as fish, and finally cause damage to humans through the food chain (Giari, Sinoni, Monera & Dezfuli, 2008). The buildup of toxins in an aquatic environment can result to infertility, decrease growth rate and reduced ability to withstand variation in pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen (Adelegan, 2008). The aim of acute toxicity is to determine whether a certain xenobiotic is harmful to the environment (Ebrahimpour, Mosavisefat & Mohabbati, 2010). Acute toxicity tests are short term test designed to measure the effect of toxic agents’on species during a short period of their life span (Ebrahimpour et al., 2010).

METHODOLOGY

Experimental Plant

(Acacia nilotica) Fruit.

The dry fruit of A. nilotica (Plate 1) was obtained from Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. The fruit was taken to Plant Science Technology Department, University of Jos, Nigeria for Scientific Identification.

Collection and Acclimation of Experimental Fish (Clarias gariepinus) Juveniles

Apparently healthy one hundred and twenty (120) juvenile of C. gariepinus, mean weight 9.77 ± 0.42g and mean length of 13.8 ± 0.80cm were used for this investigation. Fish were placed in twelve (12) circular plastic tanks (40 × 30 × 20cm) and ten (10) fish were placed in each of the tanks and were allowed to acclimatize to laboratory conditions, fish were fed with Vital feed^® once daily at 3% body weight. Three quarters of the water in the tank were siphoned out on daily basis to remove left over feed and fecal matter and replaced with fresh borehole water. Mortality observed during acclimation period was removed, replaced and allowed to stabilize to zero. Photo period was natural (12hrL:12hrD) and feeding was stopped 24 hours prior to exposure to the bioassay media.

Experimental Design

A -24hour preliminary test was conducted to obtain a realistic toxic concentration for the acute toxicity test in a static non-renewable bioassay. The test was carried out to determine the 96hr-LC₅₀ (lethal concentration that will cause 50% mortality of the test animal in 96hr). A total of six (6) circular plastic test tanks (40 × 30 × 20cm) were used, each duplicate replicated in a randomized block design. The tanks were labelled Al – A2, Bl – B2, Cl – C2, Dl – D2, El – E2 and F1 –F2 which served as the control tank. Each tank contained ten (10) mixed sex juveniles of C. gariepinus of mean weight 9.77g ± 0.4g and mean length 13.8g ± 0.42g. Each of tanks was filled with 20L (twenty litre) of borehole water.

Preparation of Stock Solution of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

The plant material Gum Arabic (A. niloticaI) fruit was air-dried, weighed using Camry Premium weighing machine. The dried sample was crushed using a mortar and pestle. Known weights (0.30, 0.25, 0.20, 0.15 and 0.10g) of A. nilotica powered were macerated in 1L of distilled water each and allowed to stand for 24hrs (Audu et al., 2014). The mixtures were filtered using a funnel choked with non-absorbent cotton wool and filtrate forms the stock solution (Audu et al., 2020).

Range Finding Test (RFT) of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica Exposed to Clarias gariepinus Juveniles

Range finding test (RFT) was conducted to determine the concentrations of aqueous crude extract of A. nilotica that would cause 50% mortality of the test fish after 96 hours (4 days). The Range finding test involved exposing five (5) fish to different concentrations 0.40, 0.35, 0.30, 0.25 and 0.2g/L of aqueous crude fruit extract of A. nilotica with 0.00g/L which served as the control.. Based on the results of the RFT, a definitive concentrations of 0.3, 0.25, 0.20, 0.15 and 0.1g/L of the aqueous crude fruit extract of A. nilotica and 0.00g/L (control) were prepared in six (6) circular plastic tanks and replicated for the bioassay (UNEP, 1989).

Water Quality Parameters

During the bioassay which lasted for 96 hours (4 days), water quality parameters such as temperature, was measured every 24hours while the dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, pH, free carbon dioxide, nitrite, total hardness, conductivity and total ammonia were determined using standard laboratory procedures (APHA, 1985)

Biochemical Analyses of the Blood, Gills and Liver.

The blood, gills and liver of C. gariepinus juveniles exposed to acute concentrations of aqueous crude fruit extract of A. nilotica were analyzed for the following enzyme activities; Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Total Protein (TP), Total Bilirubin (TBIL), Direct Bilirubin (DBIL), Urea, Creatinine, Cholesterol and Glucose using the procedures as described in the test kits.

Collection of Blood for Biochemical Analysis

At the end of the 96hrs exposure of C. gariepinus juveniles to acute concentrations of aqueous crude fruit extract of A. nilotica, fish were subjected to blood collection through cardiac puncture using non heparinized syringe and needle (1m) (Audu, et al,. 2014). Blood obtained was immediately centrifuged at 1000rpm for 5minutes to obtain the serum and were assayed for enzyme biochemistry using spectrophotometer GENESYS 20 (model: 400/4). This calorimetric procedure was adopted according to the method of Reitman & Frankel (1957).

Collection of Gills and Liver for Biochemical Analyses

Fish from the different test tanks were sacrificed after exposure for 96hs and dissected to remove the gills and liver. The organs were rinsed in distilled water to remove trace of blood (Ogueji & Auta, 2007). The liver and gills samples were homogenized in normal saline using a ceramic mortar and pestle. The samples were centrifuged for 5 minutes at 1000rpm to obtain supernatants which were used for the analyses using the methods of Audu et al. (2020). The activities of the various enzymes were determined according to the method of Reitman & Frankel (1957).

Data Analysis

Data obtained were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Statistical differences between and within groups and were subjected to One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Post Hoc Test was used to compare differences between treatment means at probablity level P=0.05.

RESULTS

Water Quality Parameters

The result of water quality parameter during acute toxicity tests showed that the mean values of water quality parameters varied significantly (P<0.05) compared to the control. The temperature value showed slight increase in all the test tank range from 18 to 19.5⁰C.Hydrogen ion concentration pH showed a decreasing trend with increase in the concentration of the test material i.e. this ranged between 3.7 and 7.05. Dissolved oxygen content decreased proportional with increase in the concentrations of the aqueous crude fruit extract of A. nilotica in the test tanks with values in the range of 2.00 to 5.90g/L. Free carbon dioxide showed an increase pattern with increase in concentration of the fruit extract in the test tanks with values in the range of 2.00 to 5.90g/L. Free carbon dioxide showed an increase pattern with increase in concentration of the toxicant with a range of 30.0 to 56.5 ppm while decrease with increase in concentration of the toxicant in all the test tanks with a range of 31.0 to 73.0 g/L. Nitrite range from 0.02 to 0.07 as the toxicant concentrations increased. Unionized ammonia (NH₃) showed a slight variation as the concentration of the test tanks increase with range of 0.20 to 0.45 g/L. Hardness increased proportionally with increased the concentrations of all the experimental tanks with values in the range of 5.50 to 9.15g/L while the control tank recorded the lowest value of 5.50g/L (Table 1). The mean mortality rates of C. gariepinus juvenile exposed to acute concentrations of aqueous crude extract of A. nilotica are presented in Table 2. While the logarithmic probability curve for the 96hr LC₅₀ toxicity test is presented as Figure 1.

Table 1: Mean Values of Water Qualities Parameters of Tanks with Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica.

Conc (g/L)	pH	DO (mg/L)	Free CO2 (ppm)	Alkalinity (mg//L)	Nitrite (mg/L)	NH3 (mg/L)	T0C	Hardness (mg/L)
0.30	3.70 ±0.10	2.00 0.00	56.50 0.50	31.00 1.00	0.07 0.00	0.45 0.05	19.50 0.00	9.15 0.05
0.25	4.45 ±0.25	2.40 0.10	49.50 2.50	33.50 0.50	0.07 0.01	0.40 0.00	18.50 0.50	8.40 0.00
0.20	5.40 ±0.30	4.35 0.15	39.50 1.50	35.00 3.00	0.05 0.01	0.39 0.01	18.25 0.25	7.45 0.05
0.15	6.30 ±0.60	5.05 0.15	38.00 2.00	55.50 1.50	0.05 0.01	0.35 0.01	18.10 0.10	7.10 0.10
0.10	6.85 ±0.05	5.65 0.15	34.50 0.50	65.50 3.50	0.04 0.01	0.28 0.03	18.10 0.10	6.50 0.00
0.00	7.05 ±0.05	5.90 0.10	30.00 0.00	73.00 1.00	0.02 0.00	0.20 0.00	18.00 0.00	5.50 0.00

Values in ± are standard error

Table 2: Mean Mortality Rate and Percentage Mortality of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica for 96 Hours

			Mean mortality
Conc (g/L)	Log Conc	No of fish	12hrs	24hrs	36hrs	48hrs	72hrs	96hrs	Percentage Mortality (%)	Probit Mortality
0.30	0.5229	10	4.0	6.0	–	–	–	–	100	8.7190
0.25	– 0.6021	10	3.0	4.0	1.0	–	–	–	80	5.8416
0.20	– 0.6989	10	2.0	2.0	1.0	–	–	–	50	5.0000
0.15	– 0.8239	10	–	1.0	1.0	1.0	–	–	30	4.475
0.10	– 1.0000	10	–	–	–		1.0	1.0	20	4.158
0.00	– 0.0000	10	–	–	–		–	–	0	0.000

Fig 1. Linear Relationship between Mean Probit Mortality and Log Concentration of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Toxicity of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

Biochemical Analyses of Gill, Liver and Serum

The activities of Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of the gills, liver and serum showed significant difference (p<0.05) compared with the control group. The liver and serum had the high ALP activities of 42.00µ/L and 78.15 µ/L recorded in the tank with the highest test material concentration of 0.30g/L , while the gill highest ALP values of 20.05µ/L was recorded in the control tank (0.00g/L) of acute concentration of aqueous crude fruit extract of A. nilotica (Figure 2). Significant difference (p< 0.05) was found in the activities of ALT (Alanine aminotransferase) of the gills, liver and sera of C. gariepinus juveniles exposed to the acute concentration of aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica. The ALT values of liver and serum increased as the acute concentration of aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica increased while that of the gill decreased as the toxicant concentration increased (Figure 3). However the activities of AST (Aspartate transaminase) in the gills and liver decreased as the toxicant concentrations increased with the gills and liver recorded highest values of 278.1µ/L and 226.15µ/L in the control tanks (0.00g/L) while the AST of the sera increase as the acute concentration increases, the highest concentration (0.30g/L) recorded the highest values of 0.16µ/L (Figure 4). The lactate dehydrogenase varied significantly (p<0.05) in the gills, liver and serum. The lactate dehydrogenase activities of the liver and serum increased as the crude value of the fruit extract of Acacia nilotica increased. The highest values of 2661.17 and 3025.54 µ/L of the liver and serum were recorded in the highest concentrations of 0.3g/L while, the lowest value of 1840.45µ/L of the gill was recorded in the control tank 0.00g/L (Figure 5).

Total protein (TP) of the gills, liver and sera of C. gariepinus juveniles exposed to acute concentration of aqueous crude fruit extract of A. nilotica varied significantly (P< 0.05). The total protein in the gills, liver and serum decreased with the increase in acute test concentration; the highest total protein (TP) values of 28.50µ/L (gills), 20.90µ/L (Liver) and 52.90µL (serum) were obtained from the control tank (0.00g/L) l while the liver had the lowest value of 10.16µ/L of TP recorded in the tank with the highest concentrations of 0.30g/L of the test material (Table 3).

The mean values of total bilirubin and direct bilirubin activities of the ; gills, liver and serum exposed to acute concentrations of aqueous crude extract of A.nilotica varied significantly (p<0.05) except for the direct bilirubin of the serum which did not show significant difference (Table 4 and 5) . The activities of total bilirubin of the gills and liver increased as the acute concentrations of the test media increased. The highest total bilirubin values of 63.5µ/L (gill) and 44.10µ/L (liver) were recorded in the highest concentration of 0.3g/L of the test material. The lowest values of total bilirubin of 33.6µ/L (gill) and 23.5µ/L (liver) were recorded in the control tank (0.00g/L). The activities of urea, creatinine, cholesterol and glucose varied significantly (P<0.05) in all the test media compared to the control ( Tables 6,7,8 and 9).

Fig 2. Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Activity in Gills, Liver and Serum of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

Fig 3. Alanine Transaminase (ALT) Activity in Gills, Liver and Serum of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

Fig 4: Aspartate Transaminase (AST) Activity in Gills, Liver and Serum of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

Fig 5: Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Activity in Gills, Liver and Serum of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

 

Table 3: Total Protein (TP) in Gills, Liver and Serum of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

Concentration (g/L)	Gill (µL)	Liver (µL)	Serum (µL)
0.30	14.4 ±0.00	10.16 ±0.10	52.90 ±0.00
0.25	14.8 ±0.00	11.7 ±0.00	51.00 ±0.00
0.20	15.15 ±0.15	12.50 ±0.00	50.5 ±0.05
0.15	22.30 ±0.00	15.35 ±0.40	49.05 ±0.05
0.10	23.3 ±0.30	18.15 ±0.20	48.25 ±0.05
0.00	28.50 ±0.00	20.90 ±0.00	47.00 ±0.00

Values in ± are standard error

 

Table 4: Total Bilirubin (TBIL) in Gills, Liver and Serum of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

Concentration (g/L)	Gill (µL)	Liver (µL)	Serum (µL)
0.30	63.5 ±0.00	44.10 ±0.00	0.36 ±0.00
0.25	61.3 ±0.00	35.05 ±0.05	0.51 ±0.01
0.20	58.4 ±0.00	33.60 ±0.20	0.88 ±0.01
0.15	48.3 ±0.00	30.20 ±0.00	1.33 ±0.01
0.10	35.9 ±0.00	28.20 ±0.00	1.43 ±0.03
0.00	33.6 ±0.00	23.50 ±0.20	1.77 ±0.00

Values in ± are standard error

Table 5: Direct Bilirubin (DBIL) in Gills, Liver and Serum of Claria gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

Concentration (g/L)	Gill (µL)	Liver (µL)	Serum (µL)
0.30	16.2 ±0.00	38.00 ±0.00	0.77 ±0.00
0.25	23.4 ±0.00	28.6 ±0.10	0.75 ±0.01
0.20	24.2 ±0.00	25.00 ±0.00	0.75 ±0.01
0.15	35.7 ±0.20	23.30 ±0.10	0.68 ±0.00
0.10	36.3 ±0.50	22.00 ±0.50	0.33 ±0.01
0.00	41.75 ±0.30	20.15 ±0.05	0.20 ±0.04

Values in ± are standard error

Table 6: Urea Activity in Gill, Liver and Serum of Claria gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

Concentration (g/L)	Gill (µL)	Liver (µL)	Serum (µL)
0.30	2.17 ±0.00	2.24 ±0.00	8.34 ±0.00
0.25	2.28 ±0.00	1.74 ±0.00	6.39 ±0.00
0.20	2.65 ±0.05	1.42 ±0.20	5.09 ±0.01
0.15	3.23 ±0.03	1.32 ±0.02	4.91 ±0.01
0.10	3.81 ±0.01	1.22 ±0.00	2.94 ±0.04
0.00	4.49 ±0.01	1.04 ±0.02	2.82 ±0.00

Values in ± are standard error

Table 7: Creatinine (CRT) Content in Gills, Liver and Serum of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

Concentration (g/L)	Gill (µL)	Liver (µL)	Serum (µL)
0.30	37.30 ±0.00	17.30 ±0.10	26.65 ±0.05
0.25	36.65 ±0.05	18.30 ±0.10	30.30 ±0.00
0.20	33.30 ±0.00	20.90 ±0.00	31.75 ±0.25
0.15	32.85 ±0.05	21.00 ±0.90	35.50 ±0.50
0.10	21.60 ±0.20	23.35 ±0.20	38.6 ±0.00
0.00	10.7 ±0.10	26.35 ±1.40	41.30 ±0.00

Values in ± are standard error

Table 8: Cholesterol (CHOL) Content in Gills, Liver and Serum of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

Concentration (g/L)	Gill (µL)	Liver (µL)	Serum (µL)
0.30	0.43 ±0.01	1.50 ±0.00	39.00 ±0.00
0.25	0.78 ±0.00	1.01 ±0.01	37.10 ±0.10
0.20	0.94 ±0.02	0.87 ±0.03	36.20 ±0.20
0.15	1.31 ±0.01	0.75 ±0.00	33.90 ±0.00
0.10	3.05 ±0.05	0.61 ±0.00	30.40 ±0.00
0.00	6.09 ±0.01	0.56 ±0.00	28.25 ±0.05

Values in ± are standard error

Table 9: Glucose (GLU) Content in Gills, Liver and Serum of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Acacia nilotica

Concentration (g/L)	Gill (µL)	Liver (µL)	Serum (µL)
0.30	27.20 ±0.20	1.31 ±0.01	1.57 ±0.00
0.25	26.00 ±0.00	1.50 ±0.00	1.56 ±0.01
0.20	23.00 ±0.00	1.64 ±0.04	0.91 ±0.01
0.15	22.45 ±0.50	1.84 ±0.04	0.53 ±0.01
0.10	20.50 ±0.50	2.70 ±0.00	0.49 ±0.00
0.00	12.45 ±0.50	3.50 ±0.00	0.45 ±0.00

Values in ± are standard error

DISCUSSION

Water Quality Parameters

Hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of the experimental media were observed to decrease with increase toxicant concentrations in the acute bioassay. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in pH values between treatment tanks and control. This could have resulted to respiratory distress, disturbance of ion/osmoregulatory performance and acid-base balance of body fluids. The severity of such disturbance have been reported to be related to the extent of acidification of the water (as was seen in this experiment) and the calcium ion concentration of the water (Malcom, 1994). Patin (2004), reported that acute effects of toxicants were greatly affected by temperature. However, temperature was within acceptable limits in this experiment, varied significantly (P<0.05) in all the test tanks including the control thus, did not affect fish survival.

Dissolved oxygen content was observed to decrease with increase concentration of the toxicant. Dissolved oxygen values of the test media varied significantly (P < 0.05). Low dissolved oxygen concentration can increase the susceptibility of fish to toxic effects of toxicant. Decreased dissolved oxygen observed may have resulted to increase in free carbon dioxide, this is in agreement with FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) that in water of low O₂ and high CO₂, where gaseous exchange at the respiratory surface is limited, the fish increase their ventilation rate and become restlessness, loss of equilibrium and may die. The extent of the reduction in pH depends on the amount of CO₂ present in the water (Zdenka et al., 1993).

Free carbon (IV) oxide content increased with increase in the amount of the aqueous crude fruits extract of Acacia nilotica. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in the amount of carbon (IV) oxide in the test tanks compared to the control in the 96 hours acute toxicity test. Because of the anesthetic properties of carbon dioxide, it has the ability to disrupt the normal physiological activities of fish (Malcom, 1994). This could induce stress in fish by its ability to combine with water to form a weak acid (Malcom, 1994). And where the water is alkaline, it neutralizes but if the water is acidic, it becomes more acidic (Malcom, 1994). This acidity could result to physiological distress, affect the pH of the blood and cause severe imbalance in fish (Malcom, 1994) which could have been responsible for the instability observed in test fish.

The total alkalinity content in this experiment was observed to decrease with increase in the amount of the toxicant concentration. Total alkalinity recorded was significant difference (P <0.05) between test tanks and the control. Capkin, Altinok & Karahan (2006) reported that alkalinity (as CaC0₃) levels above 20mg/L can increase the survival rate of fishes significantly. High acidity or alkalinity can cause damages to skin, gills and eyes of fish directly (Capkin et al.2006).

Biochemical Changes

Exposure of C. gariepinus juveniles to acute concentrations of aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica resulted in elevation in the activities of AST and ALT in the serum and liver tissue of fish. The result may indicate degeneration changes and hypo function of the liver as the effect of the toxicant on the hepatocytes resulted in tissue damage in the cellular enzymes are released from the cells into the blood serum through leakages (Ajima, Ogo, Akpa & Ajaero, 2015). The increase in the enzyme activities in serum and liver of C. gariepinus is mainly due to the leakage of these enzyme from the liver cytosol into the blood stream as a result of liver damage by aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica which provided an indication of the hepatotoxic effect of toxicants. The present results are in agreement with the findings of Firat, Cogun, Yuzereroglu, Gok, Kargin & Kolemen (2011) who reported an increase in activities of serum ALT, AST and LDH in Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) exposed to cypermethrin and an increase in ALT and AST serum activities in Nile tilapia exposure to Zn and Cd (Firat & Kargin, 2010). Abdel-Tawwab, Mousaad, Sharafeldin & Ismaiel (2013) showed significant increases in ALT and AST activity in common carp exposed to waterborne zinc toxicity for different periods.

Exposure of C. gariepinus juvenile to aqueous crude fruit extract of A. nilotica in this study resulted in the decrease in the total protein level of the gill and liver. The observed reduction in total protein level may be due to pathological alterations in liver and kidney tissues as a result of the toxicant stress (Nwani, Ugwu & Okeke., 2013). Exposure of C. gariepinus juvenile to aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica resulted in the decrease level of total protein level of the gill and liver This decrease may be a result of aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica exposure, causing significant alteration in the protein secondary structure which has been noted by Palaniappan et al. (2010) to be responsible for the decrease in the alpha-helix and increase in the beta-sheet content of the gill tissues of Labeo rohita exposed to Zinc. Total serum protein is used as an indicator of liver impairment (Yang & Chen, 2013). The reduction in total proteins of the gill and liver could be attributed to damaging effects caused by the solution of aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica to the liver cells.

The elevation in blood and gill glucose concentrations is noted as a general secondary response to stress in fish caused by the toxic effects of aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica.It is considered as a reliable indicator of environmental stress (Sepici-Dincel et al., 2009).The hyperglycaemic response observed in this study is an indication of a change the in metabolism of carbohydrates mediated perhaps by an increase in glucose 6-phosphatase activity in the liver or an enhanced rate of glycogen breakdown (Sepici-Dincel et al.,2009). This study reveals that C. gariepinus juveniles exposed to aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica exhibited a significant difference (p<0.05) in most of the biochemical parameters with increase in aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica concentrations. There were also significant changes (p<0.05) in aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, total protein, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol and glucose in all the tissue tested.

CONCLUSION

The acute bioassay of aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica on C. gariepinus juveniles revealed that the substance is toxic to fish at various concentrations, the result showed that 96 hour LC₅₀ caused 50% mortality which made the substance to be acutely lethal. Acute toxicity of aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica was dose dependent, such that as the concentrations of aqueous crude fruit extract of A.nilotica increased, the mortality also increased, this agrees with the report of Sprague (1970) who reported that mortality increased with an increased in toxicant concentration.

Biochemical parameters are helpful tools in identifying the target organs of toxic effects. Enzymes catalyze reactions by lowering the activation energy level of reactant (substrate) before reaction occurs (Ferreria et al., 2007). Enzymatic activity increases due to the active site being either denatured or damage (Ferreria et al., 2007). Alkaline phosphatase level in the gills and liver increase significantly (P<0.05) with increase in concentration of the toxicant. This is also in agreement with activities of AST which increased significantly (P<0.05) in the gills of C. gariepinus juveniles exposed to aqueous crude fruit extract of A. nilotica thereby causing a great concern for fish survival. Therefore, the use of A. nilotica in water bodies could lead to contamination of aquatic ecosystem by causing alteration in the physiology and general well-being of fish and other aquatic fauna. Therefore, the use of A. nlotica in water bodies should be discouraged.

 

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Cite this Article: Damshit, MJ; Audu, BS; Wade, JW (2025). Toxicity of Aqueous Crude Fruit Extract of Gum Arabic Tree (Acacia nilotica) on the Biochemical Changes of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Juveniles. Greener Journal of Biological Sciences, 15(1): 38-50, https://doi.org/10.15580/gjbs.2025.1.010125003.

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