Nanoencapsulated Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil exerts anesthetic effects in the brachyuran crab using Neohelice granulate

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of several anesthetics in the brachyuran crab Neohelice granulata, an emergent experimental model. The essential oils (EOs) of Lippia alba, Aloysia tryphilla, and Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil; TTO), the isolated compounds eugenol, menthol, terpinen-4-ol, and the nanoencapsulated form of TTO, were administered in one or more of the following ways: added to the water (immersion), through an arthrodial membrane (injected), or by oral gavage. Unexpectedly, most EOs did not produce an anesthetic effect after immersion. Only TTO and eugenol induced anesthesia by immersion, with very long induction and recovery times compared to anesthesia of other crustaceans. However, a good anesthetic effect was observed with the injection of terpinen-4-ol and nanoencapsulated TTO in N. granulata; both demonstrated ideal induction and recovery times. These substances appear to be promising anesthetic alternatives for crustaceans.

Methods to Induce Analgesia and Anesthesia in Crustaceans: A Supportive Decision Tool

“…In freshwater daphniids, Cladocera, or copepods, adding crystals of menthol to their culture media for 1 h had either no effect or caused unfavorable movements before the anesthetic took effect [ 44 ]. In the marine crab, Neohelice granulata , immersion in concentrations of up to 10 mg·L −1 of menthol had no effect [ 73 ], whereas in the freshwater crayfish, C. destructor , menthol was lethal [ 65 ]. In the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium spp., time of induction to anesthesia was prolonged and therefore was not recommended by authors [ 60 , 71 ].…”

Anesthetic potential of different essential oils for two shrimp species, Farfantepenaeus paulensis and Litopenaeus vannamei (Decapoda, Crustacea)

“…In the present study, chromatographic analysis identified linalool, eugenol, citral and terpinen-4-ol as the major constituents of EOLA, EOOG, EOC and EOO, respectively. These isolated compounds have demonstrated anesthetic activity in several crustaceans, including L. vannamei, M. rosenbergii, P. sinensis, Neohelice granulata and Nephrops norvegicus (PARODI et al, 2012;COWING et al, 2015;LI et al, 2018b;SOUZA et al, 2018).…”

Anaesthesia of decapod crustaceans

“…2011 Ketamine-HCl Pseudocarcinus gigas Lamarck, 1818 0.025 mg kg −1 0.05 mg kg −1 0.1 mg kg −1 0.2 – 0.7 Short – medium term 15 25 40 Cheliped rigidity; excitatory phenomena; IV Gardner, 1997 Morphine-HCl Neohelice granulata Dana, 1851 50 µg g −1 100 µg g −1 150 µg g −1 6 † 18.8 † 27 † Short term (when compared to vertebrates) 45 61.4 69.8 Cephalothorax-abdominal membrane injection Lozada et al. 1988 Nano encapsulated Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel,1924 EO Neohelice granulata Dana, 1851 40 µl 8 Short term 9 Undiluted; Arthrodial membrane injection Souza et al. 2018 Procaine Carcinus maenas Linnaeus, 1758 Cancer paguros Linnaeus, 1758 25 mg kg −1 0.3 – 0.5 Long term 120 - 180 Excitatory phenomena (10 sec); IV Oswald, 1977 Terpinen-4-ol (major compound of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel,1924 EO) Neohelice granulata Dana, 1851 20 µl 39 Medium term 30 Undiluted; Arthrodial membrane injection Souza et al.…”

“…1988 Nano encapsulated Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel,1924 EO Neohelice granulata Dana, 1851 40 µl 8 Short term 9 Undiluted; Arthrodial membrane injection Souza et al. 2018 Procaine Carcinus maenas Linnaeus, 1758 Cancer paguros Linnaeus, 1758 25 mg kg −1 0.3 – 0.5 Long term 120 - 180 Excitatory phenomena (10 sec); IV Oswald, 1977 Terpinen-4-ol (major compound of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel,1924 EO) Neohelice granulata Dana, 1851 20 µl 39 Medium term 30 Undiluted; Arthrodial membrane injection Souza et al. 2018 Tiletamine-zolazepam Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 30 mg kg −1 0.3 – 1.0 Short term 5 – 7 Bradycardia; IV Quesada et al.…”