Deltamethrin Induced Alteration of Biochemical Parameters in Channa punctata, Bloch and its Amelioration by Quercetin.

We tested the impacts of pyrethroid pesticide deltamethrin and its amelioration by a flavonoid, quercetin, using tissue macromolecules (protein, amino acid, carbohydrate and glycogen) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase) as biomarkers, on fish, Channa punctata, gill and liver. Our study proved that quercetin supplement alone, in the absence of pesticide, might be detrimental to fish health, in terms of depletion of major tissue macromolecules, but, such supplement may be beneficial to fish with pesticide associated oxidative stress. Multivariate analyses predicted that the antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation were closely associated biomarkers; whereas tissue macromolecules formed a different cluster. Hence, oxidative stress biomarkers in fish can be considered a valuable tool in assessment of deltamethrin stress and its amelioration by quercetin. The work can pave the way for further research in establishing quercetin as a probable curative agent.