Antioxidants activities and lipid profile in the haemolymph of black and white-skinned giant African land snail (Archachatina marginata)

Antioxidants are compounds that eliminate oxidative stress in biological systems. The activities of antioxidants in black and white-skinned snails have not been compared in literature. This study was carried out to compare the antioxidants (glutathione peroxidase – GPx, superoxide dismutase – SOD, malondialdehyde – MDA, catalase) activities in the haemolymph of the white and black-skinned snails (Archachatina margin-ata) as well as their lipids profiles. Twenty (20) giant African land snails (10 black-skinned and 10 white-skinned snails) were used in the experiment. The lipid profile of white-skinned snails was higher than that of black-skinned snails. White-skinned snails have higher SOD activities than black-skinned snails. However, MDA, catalase and GPx activities in black-skinned snails were higher than that of white-skinned snails. The black-skinned snails were more endowed to cope with environmental disturbances than their white-skinned counterparts.