Eichhornia crassipes Mediated Copper Removal Alleviates Bioaccumulation and Enzymological Alterations in the Major Carp Catla catla Exposed to a Sublethal Concentration of Copper Sulphate
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61453/INTIj.20260334Keywords:
Copper sulphate, Bioaccumulation, Transaminase activity, Eichhornia crassipesAbstract
Phytoremediation is an effective, cheap and eco-friendly method of heavy metal removal from polluted aquatic environments. To analyse the efficacy of water hyacinth in copper removal, and its ability to mitigate the copper-induced stress to fish, an Indian major carp, Catla catla, fingerlings were treated with a sub-lethal concentration of copper sulphate alone (0.09 ppm) (Treatment-1) and a sub-lethal concentration of copper sulphate treated along with water hyacinth (Treatment-2). Bioaccumulation in vital organs and transaminase activity in fish were analysed upon completion of the 5th, 10th, and 15th day from each treatments. The trend of copper accumulation was as follows: Treatment-1: gills > kidney > liver, and Treatment-2: kidney > gills > liver. In treatment-2, higher copper accumulation in kidney may be due to depuration process and translocation of metallothionein-bound copper from the liver. Likewise, lesser copper accumulation in gills up to the fifth day than in treatment-1 may be due to hyperaccumulation in plant roots via phytochelatin synthesis by glutathione synthase present in the root. Accumulation of copper in tissues disrupts the transaminase activity. Elevated GOT and decreased GPT activity in treatment-1 may be due to damage to the integrity of hepatic cells and cell organelles, leading to enzyme leakage into the blood. In contrast, in treatment-2, enzyme activity did not vary significantly relative to the control. The present study reveals that prudent use of Eichhornia crassipes can effectively remove copper and reduce its bioaccumulation in tissues, which in turn can mitigate copper-induced stress in fish.
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