author(s)
R Yogeswari, A Arivuchelvan, S murugesan, GA Balasubramaniam, P Selvaraj, A Jagadeeswaran and A Raja

abstract
Lead is ubiquitous, non-biodegradable and highly toxic heavy metal. Lead exposure is estimated to account for 0.06% of the global burden of disease. Garlic, Allium sativum L. is a member of the Alliaceae family, is a popular remedy for various ailments. Hence in this study, the developmental toxic effects of lead acetate and its amelioration by Garlic aqueous extract (GAE) was evaluated by using a recently evolved test species, zebrafish. During the period 2017-18, normally dividing 5 hpf embryos were allotted into different groups, in six well plates. Two control groups one with plain embryo water and the other with garlic aqueous extract. Lead acetate was exposed at three dose levels 0.1, 0.5 and 1 ppm to next three groups. The other three groups were exposed with lead acetate at three levels along with 1 µg garlic aqueous extract. Behavioural changes were analyzed by kinovea software at 6 days post-fertilization. Lead induces significant dose dependent effect on the locomotor behaviour of the larvae. GAE has partial protective effect on lead acetate treated embryos. The amelioration by GAE was better in 0.1 ppm lead acetate treated group followed by 0.5 and 1.0 ppm lead acetate treated groups in the above mentioned parameters.