Effects of Glyphosate-Based Herbicide (Excel Mera 71) on Digestive Enzymes and Recovery Pattern in Teleostean Fishes

Present study was aimed to note the effects of glyphosate-based herbicide, Excel Mera 71 (17.20 mg/L) on digestive enzyme activity in teleostean fishes, Anabas testudineus (Bloch) and Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) and their subsequent recovery responses under Liv.52 for a period of 30 days. Amylase activity was raised highly in intestine of A. testudineus (674.07%) and was lowest in liver of H. fossilis (180.14%). Lipase activity showed highest elevation in liver of H. fossilis (182.14%) and lowest in intestine of A. testudineus (70.77%). Highest elevation of protease activity was observed in intestine of H. fossilis (376.92%) but was lowest in liver of A. testudineus (138.46%). During depuration phase, these enzyme activities significantly came down towards the control value which indicated compensatory responses against herbicidal toxicosis. Therefore, it can also be inferred that these responses of A. testudineus and H. fossilis to Excel Mera 71 and Liv.52 exposures could be considered as biomarkers against herbicidal toxicosis in aquatic ecosystem, although it needs further studies on mechanistic pathway to investigate the detailed mechanism involved in recovery responses.