Biochemical changes in the selected tissues of Channa punctatus exposed to Arsenic and its possible revival with turmeric.

Arsenic (As) is a pollutant widely distributed in nature and released into the environment through both geogenic process and anthropogenic disturbances. High concentration of arsenic has been found in many areas of Assam. Fishes are ideal organism for studying the toxicological effects and since they respond to toxicants in a similar way as higher vertebrates including human, hence Channa punctatus was taken as a laboratory animal model. In fishes, arsenic (As) is absorbed via the gills and through contaminated food which is capable of causing disturbance to the antioxidant system. Fish liver is the target organ of arsenic toxicity as it can uptake accumulate and excrete the arsenic. Enzymes are biochemical macromolecule which control metabolic processes of organisms. Since a slight variation in enzyme activities would affect the organism, hence by estimating the enzyme activities in an organism, metabolic disturbances in its body can be easily found. Significant alterations in the total protein and in the marker enzymes AST and ALT were observed in arsenic treated fishes. But when the arsenic treated fishes were exposed to phytochemical products of turmeric extract, a well marked revival from arsenicosis has been observed.