Toxic Effects of Lead Exposure on Freshwater Climbing Perch, Anabas testudineus, and Bioremediation Using Ocimum sanctum Leaf Powder

The acute and chronic toxicity of lead to <i>Anabas testudineus</i> was determined in this study using static replacement bioassay testing. During the chronic toxicity studies, an experiment on the bioremediation of lead toxicity using <i>Ocimum sanctum</i> leaf powder was conducted. The 96 h LC₅₀ values of lead for <i>Anabas testudineus</i> was 1.08 mg/L. Different biomarkers, such as the hepatosomatic index, gonadosomatic index, and fecundity, were significantly lower in fish subjected to 10% and 20% of the 96 h LC₅₀ values of lead, compared to controls. The 45-day chronic exposure of fish to lead concentrations of 0.2 mg/L and above significantly lowered the number of total RBC, hemoglobin content, HCT (%), plasma protein, and cholesterol while decreasing the level of total WBC, plasma glucose, creatinine, serum AST and serum ALT. The leaf powder of <i>Ocimum sanctum</i> plays a significant role in ameliorating lead toxicity.