Herbicide Pretilachlor Induces Oxidative Stress in Freshwater Fish Clarias batrachus

The present study has been carried out in C. batrachus to evaluate the oxidative stress induced by herbicide pretilachlor through analysing level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and activities of different antioxidant enzymes in liver tissue. Fish were exposed to different sub lethal test concentrations of pretilachlor based on 96 h LC50 value. The durations of exposure were 30, 45 and 60 days. Herbicide concentration and exposure duration dependent changes in the level of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities were observed. Maximum level of LPO was observed in fish exposed to maximum test concentration of herbicide at all duration of exposure. For a particular test concentration the maximum LPO was seen at 45 days which was followed by decrease at 60 days of exposure. In a similar way, activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) increases with increasing duration of exposure initially and then decreases. No significant changes in GR activity was observed because GSH: GSSG ratio is more resistant to exposure of pretilachlor. Results clearly indicated that herbicide pretilachlor changes the antioxidant status of fish therefore its excessive and improper use in agricultural fields must be avoided.