Impact of biosynthesized copper oxide nanoparticles using Thuthi Keerai <i>Abutilon indicum</i> on Dotted molly, <i>Poecilia sphenops</i>

Recently, nanoparticles have been widely used in various sectors, including agriculture, which can lead to environmental toxicity. Copper is a crucial trace element for fish, playing essential roles in various metabolic processes. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of biosynthesized copper oxide nanoparticles using Thuthi Keerai (Abutilon indicum) on the haematological and biochemical characteristics of Dotted Molly (Poecilia sphenops). Copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using Thuthi Keerai and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Various concentrations of CuO NPs, including 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 ppm, were used at 96 hours for sublethal analysis on Dotted Molly. The concentration at which 50% fish mortality occurred was taken as the median lethal concentration. In UV-Vis spectroscopy, the CuO NPs were measured at a wavelength of 340 nm. SEM image was observed at the wavelength range of 5µm. The EDAX spectrum recorded three peaks located between 1 and 8 keV. In XRD, the different peaks were indexed as 59.94 (110), 31.9 (202), and 24.14 (311). The FTIR spectrum was analyzed in the range between 400 and 4000-1. White blood corpuscles, haemoglobin, and red blood corpuscles were higher (7200 cells/cumm, 1 gm/dl, and 0.4 million/cumm) in fish exposed to 1 ppm of CuO NPs. Protein, carbohydrate, and lipid levels were decreased by 1 ppm. The results confirmed that CuO nanoparticles enhance blood parameters and affect the biochemical parameters of the Dotted Molly.