Response of Clarias gariepinus juveniles to varied concentrations of Paullinia pinnata aqueous leaf extract.

Abstract

The study assessed Clarias gariepinus juveniles' response to Paullinia pinnata leaf aqueous extract. Four treatments (1.50, 3.00, 4.50, and 6.00 g/ mL) were made from the stock solution (50 g/ L) for a 96-h main experiment, following the range-finding test (0.00, 0.25, 0.375, and 0.50 g/ mL) whose highest treatment posed no toxic effect. The phytochemical screening indicated alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, and saponins. The in-situ water parameters significantly (p < 0.05) differed: temperature < 27 ◦C, E.C.: 809-1460 µS/ cm, and TDS: 460580 mg/ L, except pH: 8.73-9.00. The fish exhibited neither hyperactivity nor mortality every 24 h of the main experiment. The WBC, RBC, PCV, MCH, and MCHC differed significantly (p < 0.05). An increase in the WBC, RBC, and PCV led to a decrease in the MCH and MCHC by ≈75.86 %. The skin indicated moderate hyperplasia to club cell degeneration, the gill indicated lamellae fusion to pillar capillaries' congestion, and the liver indicated moderate venule congestion. The aqueous extracts influenced damage to the fish's health, suggesting cautious usage and disposal of the plant in the water body.