Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture,P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria.
The study was carried out to investigate the acute toxicity of Tetrapleura tetraptera aqueous bark extract on Clarias gariepinus juvenile following static bioassay procedures. A preliminary test was carried out and five concentrations was ascertained as 0mg/L, 120mg/L, 140mg/L, 160mg/L,180mg/L, 200mg/L. The 96hour LC50 was 154.76mg/L with lower and upper confidence limit of 147.08mg/L and 162.83mg/L respectively. Fish exposed to aqueous bark extract exhibited some abnormal behavioural changes including eventual death but was not observed in the control fish. Water quality parameters showed significant difference (p>0.05) with exception in pH and Temperature but were within tolerable limits for fish culture. Phytochemical analysis of aqueous bark extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera revealed the presence of saponin strongly than other constituents. Results investigated revealed aqueous bark extract exert piscicidal property and can be used as biological control to disinfect ponds.
Keywords: Acute toxicity, Clarias gariepinus, Tetrapleura tetraptera