Channa punctatus is a common fresh water fish in India and regularly consumed because of its high nutritional value. Heavy metals are common pollutants of the aquatic environment because of their persistent and tendency to concentrate in aquatic organisms. This freshwater fish is continuously exposed to arsenic toxicity as this metalloid enters the body through gills and arsenic contaminated food. Fresh water murrel, C. punctatus were exposed to different sub-lethal concentrations of sodium arsenite for varied span of time in controlled laboratory condition to assess the impact of metalloid toxicity on marker enzymes in gill. Arsenic-induced stress can specifically achieved in fish through elevated level of reactive oxygen species which is responsible for biochemical, cell metabolism and physiological activities. Arsenic induced changes in Acid phosphatase and Alkaline phosphatase activity in gill of freshwater murrel after one week of exposure. Results revealed reduction of Superoxide dismutase and Glutathione-S-transferase activity after 7 days of exposure in sub lethal concentration of sodium arsenite in gill. Result revealed that enzyme assays determination is relevant tool to monitor stress in freshwater ecosystem. The present study is also indicative of immune alteration in C. punctatus that may lead to decline population size in its natural habitat.

Arsenic, Channa punctatus, SOA, ACP, ALP, SOD, GST