Characterization of the Major Essential Elements in the Haemolymph of the Giant African Land Snail (Achatina achatina) during Aestivation

Colin B. Lukong¹*, Fortunatus Chidolue Ezebuo² and Andrew W. Verla³

¹Department of Biochemistry, Anambra State University, Uli, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

³Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Madonna University, Okija, Elele Campus, Nigeria.

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1035

ABSTRACT:

The gaint African snail Achatina achatina is farmed in many countries of West Africa and is much appreciated all over the world for its nutritional values. A. achatina employs aestivation to survive environmental stress such as lack of food and water. To assess some of the biochemical processes associated with aestivation, this study investigated the effect of prolonged aestivation on the composition of the major elements (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe and Zn) in the haemolymph of A. achatina using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. During the aestivation period, divalent elements (Ca, Mg) showed the highest increase followed by trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe) and monovalent elements (Na, K). The increases were significant (p £ 0.01) for Na, Ca, Mg, Cu and Fe while K and Zn showed no significant (p £ 0.01) increase when compared between and within the weeks of aestivation. Increases in ion balance may have resulted from the need to compensate for the aestivation-induced decline in extracellular pH. The shell and some metallomacromolecules may have acted as a reservoir of ions that could be mobilized under extreme conditions hence making available minerals required for human health.

KEYWORDS: Giant African snails; aestivation;Achatina achatina; haemolymph; elements; nutrition

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