Effect of Bisphenol-A Exposure on Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes in Channa punctatus and Alleviation with Vitamin C

Abstract

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a high volume industrial chemical that is widely employed in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins, flame retardants and other industrial products. The release of BPA into the environment far exceeds its removal from the different environmental matrices. Alarming levels of BPA have been reported in air, water, soil and biological fluids like serum, urine and even amniotic fluid. As waterbodies serve as the ultimate sink for toxicants, the effect of BPA on aquatic fauna needs to be investigated. BPA and other similar xenobiotics are known to induce oxidative stress by disturbing the redox balance of the body. In this study we looked into the activity of antioxidant enzymes of the liver in Channa punctatus following BPA exposure. As vitamins are also known to reduce oxidative stress, the effect of co-exposure of vitamin C and BPA was also studied. We observed significant   changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes as a result of BPA exposure and alleviation of theseeffects due to vitamin C.