J. Sci Engr. Tech. 17 (3) : 9744 – 9749 October 2010 STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF CRUDE OIL FRACTION
ON THE LIPID PROFILE OF Achatina achatina
F. N. Eke, B. C. Ikele, N. E. Ekechukwu, J. E. Eyo and
C. M. Ene
Department of Zoology,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Tel: 08064006569
ABSTRACTS
Molluscs are sensitive species to the toxic effects of crude oil fraction.
There is a considerable gap in current knowledge of lipid composition
of snails exposed to pollutants. A total of sixty three Achatina
achatina of nine each in three replicates per group were standardized
for 14 days given only water making them a physiological
homogenous group. They were treated with varied concentration of
diesel and kerosene (100 ml, 75 ml and 50 ml). Therefore the effect of
crude oil fractions (diesel and kerosene) to the lipid profile of
Achatina achatina revealed a significant P < 0.05 changes in the
triglyceride, high density lipids, low density lipids and total
cholesterol at 14 and 28 days compared to the control. The lipid
parameters decreased with increased concentrations of these
fractions. The alteration in the fatty acid composition in the snail
Achatina achatina is evident with crude oil fractions, thereby
affecting its nutritive values.
INTRODUCTION
Molluscs as a group have a unique sterol and fatty acid composition.
Achatina achatina an invertebrates animal which belongs to phylum
Mollusca possess a calcareous shell covering. It feeds on leaves of
pawpaw, water leaves as well as dead and rotten leaves (1). Achatina
achatina is rich in calcium with an exceptionally high content of iron
as 12.2 mg/100g and the calorific value of its meat as 80k/cal/100g.
Studies on the effect of crude oil 9745
Lipids are chemically diverse groups, biological substances made up
of non-polar groups (2). They are soluble organic substance that can
only be extracted from cell by organic solvent and it contains high
calorific value than carbohydrate. Essential fatty acids, apart from
insulatory function, are important in the maintenance of normal skin
condition. Lecithins, for example have both metabolic and structural
function (3). The knowledge of lipid biochemistry is important in
understanding the role of various unsaturated fatty acids in nutrition
and in health (4). Crude oil is a mixture of thousands of different
organic compounds with different properties. Each of these fractions
(refinery gas, gasoline, kerosene diesel oil, and residue fuel) has
specific uses. The illicit disposal, spilling of this fraction in the
aquatic environment has caused tremendous destruction in some
aquatic organism e.g. molluscs (5). The effect of petroleum pollution
on the marine microalgae had a significant effect on the lipids from
the cell membrane (5). There is a considerable gap in current
knowledge of the lipid composition of snail, therefore the effect of
crude oil fraction in the lipid profile of Achatina achatina was
studied.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Eighty one snails used in this study were bought from the Ogige
market in Nsukka. They were carried in a well-covered and perforated
basket to prevent escape of the snails from the basket and then were
transported to Zoological Garden University of Nigeria Nsukka. They
were acclimated for a week in a cage covered with mesh nets before
the study commenced.
Total of twenty seven cages were used and each containing
8kg of humus soil and three snails per cage in their replicate. Group A
were exposed to 50 ml, 75 ml and 100 ml concentration of diesel and
Group B were treated with 50 ml 75 ml and 100 ml of kerosene. The
control group was treated with distilled water and they were exposed
for a period of 21 days. The Achatina at the end of each period was
killed and the ovary excised, weighed and homogenised with 10 ml of
F. N. Ekeh, et al. 9746
normal saline. It was immediately transferred into a flat bottom flask
with addition of 30 ml and 20 ml of chloroform and methanol
respectively. The contents were thoroughly mixed by shaking and were
allowed to settle for some hours.
Extraction of Lipids
The total lipids were extracted by the method of Folch et al. (6). The
homogenated samples were transferred into the separating funnel and 50
ml of chloroform added which helps in washing more of the lipid in the
sample. The two layers are formed (upper aqueous phase and the lower
organic phase). The lower phase contains the solvent and was siphoned
into flat bottom flask, the residual parts (aqueous phase) discarded, and
the filterate heated in a hot water bath and the solvent evaporated and the
lipids was measured. Total cholesterol concentration, total triglyceride
and total lipids were quantitatively estimated.
RESULTS
The results of the study revealed that crude oil fraction (diesel and
kerosene) had a serious effect on the lipid parameters of Achatina
achatina (Table I and II). The lipid profile of the control groups did not
alter significantly (P > 0.05) throughout the study period.
Table I. Effect of crude oil extract (diesel) on the Snail (Achatina
achatina) lipid profile
Duration of
exposure
(Days)
14
28
Lipid
parameters
0 ml(control)
50 ml
75 ml
100 ml
TGC
HDL
LDL
TC
211.10±0.14d
70.00±0.07 d
139.30±0.1 d
209.6±0.07 d
90.50±0.07a
26.35±0.07 a
39.55±0.07 a
115.9±0.07 a
199.5±0.07b
63.66±0.07 b
189.10±0.1 b
252.55±0.07
89.50±0.0c
52.70±0.1 b
52.50±0.1 b
131.8±0.3 b
TGC
HDL
LDL
TC
200.00±0.0 d
93.15±0.07 d
101.3±0.07 d
194.50±0.1 d
75.05±0.07 a
15.75±0.07 a
74.30±0.00 a
70.05±0.07 a
74.15±0.21
36.35±0.07
39.65±0.07
75.50±0.71
72.1±0.07 b
34.8±0.07 b
35.4±0.07 b
70.0±0.00 b
*Means within the same rows followed by different letters are
significantly different (P≤0.05).
9747
Studies on the effect of crude oil Table 2. Effect of crude oil extract (kerosene) on the snails
(Achatina achatina) lipid profile
Duration of
exposure
(Days)
14
21
Lipid
parameters
0 ml
50 ml
75 ml
100 ml
TGC
HDL
LDL
TC
211.1±0.14d
70±0.07 d
139.3±0.1 d
209.7±0.1 d
15.10±0.14 a
31.70±0.14 a
126.25±0.1 a
157.95±0.1 a
50.15±0.21b
52.65±0.1b
94.55±0.2 b
147.7±0.4 b
40.10±0.14c
39.45±0.1 c
55.50±0.1 c
94.65±0.1 c
TGC
HDL
LDL
TC
200±0.00 d
93.15±0.1d
101.4±0.1 d
194.5±0.1d
126.10±0.1 a
20.50±0.14 a
114.25±0.1 a
134.75±0.21a
36.10±0.1 b
40.20±0.1 b
87.50±0.3 b
127.7±0.4 b
28.10±0.1 c
30.45±0.1 c
50.40±0.1 c
80.85±0.2 c
*Means within the same rows followed by different letters are
significantly different (P ≤ 0.05).
Triglyceride
As the concentration increased, the TGC level decreased in snails
exposed to diesel (Group A) and kerosene (Group B) compared to the
control and they were statistically significantly (P < 0.05) in days 14
and 21 respectively (Tables I and II).
High density lipid
The HDL level of groups A and B decreased with increased
concentration of the crude oil fractions and there was a significant
difference P < 0.05 at days 14 and 28 respectively (Tables I and II).
Low density lipid
Groups A and B showed significant differences P< 0.05 in day 14 and
28. The LDL level decreased with increase in crude oil fractions
respectively (Tables I and II).
Total cholesterol
Groups A and B treated with diesel and kerosene respectively,
decreased with increasing concentrations of the crude oil fractions.
There was a significant difference at P < 0.05 at days 14 and 28
(Tables I and II).
F. N. Ekeh, et al. 9748
DISCUSSION
Lipids of living organism are known to be integral components of the
cellular membrane together with protein and other compounds both
their structure and functions (7). In the present study, the crude oil
fraction caused significant changes in the lipid concentration in the
snail. This is also in agreement of Nechev et al. (8) in the effect of
diesel treatment on the lipid profile of the snail Rapana thomasiana
which caused fatty acid decomposition. Angeliki et al. (9) also
reported effect of exposure of triphenyltin (TPT) on the ramshorn
snail Marisa cornuarietis and the percentage of lipids, fatty acid
content and fatty acid metabolism in the digestive gland/gonad
complex were significantly affected. Petroleum contamination of the
environment has been recognized as a serious pollution problem. This
was in agreement with the observation that some marine gastropods
could accumulate short-chain aliphatic hydrocarbon in there tissues
(10). The crude oil fraction was found in the study to affect the lipid
composition of Achatina achatina. Therefore caution should be taken
on the disposal or spilling of the crude oil fractions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
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(Accepted 29 September 2010)