Vernonia Amygdalina (Bitter Leaf) Extracts as Preservative for Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus)

Ethanol, hot water and cold water extracts of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) were used as a preservative for catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to determine how far it can extend its shelf life. It was observed that the Ethanolic extract of bitter leaf was able to extend the shelf life of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from the 24 hours as seen in the unpreserved sample to 36 hours post-slaughter after which it become unfit for consumption. The hot and cold water extracts could only preserved the fish for 20 hours post-slaughter. These two extract cannot thus be used to preserved catfish (Clarias gariepinus) as it could not even keep the fish fit for consumption for as long as it would have when unpreserved. Ethanol proved the best solvent of extracting bitter leaf because of its ability to liberate its phytochemical compounds unlike the hot and cold water extracts. This observation thus makes ethanolic extract of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) a useful natural fish preservative