Determination of Total Protein, Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase Activity and Lipid Peroxidation in Soil Macro-fauna (Earthworm) from Onitsha Municipal Open Waste Dump

Aims: Oxidants are substances toxic in high concentration, but at low doses can stimulate biological activities of living organisms. The effect of oxidants on cells is modulated by multiple interacting antioxidant defence mechanism. The present study evaluated the individual role of interaction of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in estimating the level of toxicity of municipal solid waste on soil organisms, and the rate of lipid peroxidation by the action of reacting oxygen species.
Study Design: Earthworm samples were collected from four different locations grouped into A, B, C, and D.
Place and Duration of the Study: Analysis was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, Anambra State University, from March 2014 to May 2014.
Methodology: Total protein estimation was determined by Lowry method while superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), catalase activity (CAT) and lipid peroxidation concentration was determined spectrophotometrically using Shimadzu UV-160 spectrophotometer.
Results: A high increase in superoxide dismutase and catalase activity as a result of corresponding increase in lipid peroxidation was observed in earthworms of groups C and D (21.22±0.54 and 23.74±0.51 respectively) compared to groups A and B (4.88±0.54 and 7.24±0.31 respectively). Based on the above observation, groups A and B can be classified as samples from the dormant portion while groups C and D can be classified as samples from the active portion of the site.
Conclusion: The increased level of superoxide dismutase and catalase activity may be a result of increased concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in waste dumps which can cause damage to soil organisms or even death and hence render the soil from the dump site unfit for agricultural purposes.