Piscicidal and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of Euphorbia royleana stem bark extracts against freshwater common predatory fish Channa punctatus.

The present paper deals with the piscicidal activity of different solvent extracts of Euphorbia royleana stem bark against freshwater predatory fish Channa punctatus, which is commonly present in shrimp and carp culture ponds. The rank of order of toxicity of different solvent extract was: diethyl ether (LC(50) (96h) 31.76mg DW/L) > chloroform (LC(50) (96h) 56.26mg DW/L) > methanol (LC(50) (96h) 56.80mg DW/L) > acetone (LC(50) (96h) 65.77mg DW/L). There was a significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation between LC values and exposure periods, thus increase in exposure time. The LC(50) values of diethyl ether extract of E. royleana stem bark decrease from 81.78mg DW/L (24h) to 31.76mg DW/L (96h). Similar trend were also observed in case of chloroform, methanol and acetone extracts. Exposure of sub-lethal doses (40% and 80% of LC(50)) of the diethyl ether extract for 24h or 96h caused significant inhibition in the activity of enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in liver and muscle tissue of fish C. punctatus. There was a significant recovery observed in the activity of enzyme acetylcholinesterase in both the tissues of fish after 7th day of the withdrawal of treatment. Thus, the diethyl ether extract of E. royleana stem bark can be used for control of unwanted predatory fish C. punctatus from fish culture ponds. Their toxicological action is due to their anti-acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity, reversibility in their action is advantageous factor for their use as environmentally safe piscicide in aquatic bodies.