Studies on the Efficiency of Various Plant Extracts in Encountering the Toxic Effect of Mercury on Oreochromis mossambicus

Lipid peroxidation and consequent formation of lipofuschin granules have got fundamental importance in heavy metal homeostasis. In other words lipid peroxidation in fish is an adaptation to internally detoxify and thereby safely assimilate the intruding metals. Though these are of fundamental importance in heavy metal homeostasis, they leave an unfavourable alteration in the physiology of lysosomal lamina. These alterations are exclusively due to changes in the amount of lipid and protein which make up the lysosomal membrane. This alteration is beyond the permissible limit in fish exposed to mercury. The present paper is aimed to compare the efficiency of commercial fish feed and feeds prepared by incorporating garlic, gooseberry, curry leaves, ocimum and turmeric in remediating the enhanced lipid peroxidation consequent to exposure of fish to mercury. Variations in the level of total protein are also studied.