Metabolic shifts in protein profile of Cirrhinus mrigala under Pirimicarb-induced stress

Abstract

Poison is not an absolute term but a quantitative one every substance can be harmful at some dose, while at lower levels it may be harmless or even beneficial. The spectrum of effects ranges from subtle, long-term chronic toxicity to immediate lethality. Vinyl chloride illustrates this well: at high concentrations it acts as a potent hepatotoxic; at moderate exposures it becomes a carcinogen with a long latency; and at very low doses, it shows virtually no effect. Many clinical drugs follow this same paradox. Life-saving at therapeutic doses, they carry side effects at moderate levels and can turn fatal at higher concentrations. This delicate balance underscores the importance of dose when considering toxicity. The aquatic environment, unfortunately, becomes a silent sink for toxicants introduced through wastewater, land runoff, and environmental discharges. These pollutants induce toxic effects in freshwater and marine organisms, making them reliable sentinels of ecological and human health risks. Acute lethal toxicity tests, though widely used, often capture only extreme scenarios. Sub-lethal and chronic approaches provide a more realistic picture of long-term ecological hazards. Complementing these, full life-cycle fish tests offer a broader window into chemically triggered alterations in behaviour, physiology, and metabolism. Against this backdrop, the present study focuses on Pirimicarb a carbamate insecticide and its impact on the protein metabolism of the freshwater carp, Cirrhinus mrigala. By examining protein profile alterations, this work aims to reveal how environmental toxicants disrupt fundamental biochemical processes in fish.