Ameliorative Effect of Selenium on Cadmium Induced Biochemical Alterations in Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.)

Heavy metal pollutants are generally discharged in the aquatic environment as a result of industrial processes and are causing major problems in the food chain. Pollution due to heavy metals is of serious concern and among them cadmium deserves special attention. Cadmium, a heavy metal has been recognized as one of the most toxic environmental and industrial pollutant due to the ability to induce severe alterations in various organs following either acute or chronic exposure. The present study was carried out to evaluate the protective influence of selenium against cadmium induced biochemical alterations in lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total sulfhydryl group (TSH) and total protein in gill, liver, kidney and muscle tissues of Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings for 30 days. A significant increase in the level of lipid peroxidation and concominant decrease in the activity of GSH, GPx, TSH and total protein levels were observed in all the tissues of cadmium (0.85 mg/l) treated group. Administration of cadmium along with the equimolar dose of selenium (0.34 mg/l), the above mentioned biochemical parameters were reverted near to their normal levels that showed the protective effect of selenium against cadmium induced toxicity.