Species Specific Activity of Digestive Enzymes in Two Freshwater Prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Macrobrachium malcolmsonii Juveniles

Aim: The activity pattern of digestive enzymes (protease, amylase, lipase and cellulase) was studied in two species of freshwater prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Macrobrachium malcolmsonii juveniles.

Study Design: Digestive capacity of individual species may vary. In order to see whether the activities of protease, amylase, lipase and cellulase in two species of freshwater prawns are more or less similar or not under a prescribed methodology.

Methodology: The hepatopancreas of prawns was blended and suspended in 10 mM phosphate buffer. After centrifugation at 15,000 rpm for 5 min, the supernatant was collected and used as crude enzyme source for the assays of protease, amylase, lipase and cellulase activities by adopting the standard methods.

Results: The activity patterns of protease, amylase, lipase and cellulase were more or less similar in both the species studied. However, M. malcolmsonii showed little higher activities than that of M. rosenbergii.

Conclusion: There were no clear cut species specific activities of digestive enzymes observed between M. rosenbergii and M. malcolmsonii.