CARBENDAZIM INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND REDUCED BRAIN ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN ZEBRAFISH

Rakesh Kullayi Swamy, Bestha Lakshmi and *Gundala H. Philip

ABSTRACT

Carbendazim (CBZ) is a widely used broad spectrum fungicide applied during the pre- and post- harvest times of food crops. It is mainly applied to control the Ascomycetes, Fungi imperfecti and Basidiomycetes fungal diseases. WHO categorized CBZ under hazardous chemicals and classified as a human carcinogen. It exhibits fungicidal activity by binding to the spindle microtubules causing the nuclear division blockade. As it is considered as an effective fungicide it has been widely applied and humans are mostly exposed to it. Besides its antifungal activity CBZ has toxic effects on humans who use it. In the current experimental study prolonged exposure (42 days) effects of CBZ on liver, gill and brain tissues of zebrafish has been observed. The toxic effect of CBZ on first line defense mechanisms like antioxidant enzymes i.e., catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Reductase (GR), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Lipid Peroxidation (LPO) and brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been studied at intervals of 1, 21 and 42 days. The results show that the activity of antioxidant enzymes was increasing with the exposure time but it was always less than the control groups. Lipid peroxidation has showing a significant increase and AChE was decreased throughout the exposure time in the treated groups.

Keywords: Carbendazim, fungicide, zebrafish, Oxidative, Acetylcholinesteras.