Fish anesthesia: effects of the essential oils of Hesperozygis ringens and Lippia alba on the biochemistry and physiology of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

Abstract

The anesthetic activities of the essential oils (EOs) of Hesperozygis ringens (EOHR) and Lippia alba (EOLA) and their effects in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) after anesthesia and recovery were investigated. Fish (32.19 ± 1.24 g) were submitted to one of the following treatments for each EO: basal group, control, or anesthesia (150, 300, or 450 μL L(-1) EO). After that the anesthesia was induced or simulated and the biometric measurements were completed, fish were transferred to anesthetic-free aquaria to allow for recovery. Fish were sampled at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 240 min after recovery. At time 0 of recovery, the ventilatory rate was lower in the groups anesthetized with either EO. In comparison with the basal group, control fish showed an increase in plasma glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Na(+) levels and a reduction in Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity at 0 min of recovery. Plasma levels of ammonia and Na(+) were lower in the fish anesthetized with EOLA (450 μL L(-1)) and EOHR (all concentrations), respectively, than in the control fish. Additionally, lactate, AST, alanine aminotransferase, K(+) plasma levels, and gill Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and H(+)-ATPase activities were higher in the fish anesthetized with either EOHR or EOLA than in the control fish. The EOs promoted slight changes in silver catfish that enabled both an adaptive response and the recovery of most of the measured parameters after 240 min regardless of concentration or EO that was used. These findings support the use of EOHR and EOLA as anesthetics for fish.

Physiological responses of Rhamdia quelen (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) to anesthesia with essential oils from two different chemotypes of Lippia alba

“…The anesthetic efficacy of several essential oils (EOs), such as Hyptis mutabilis (Silva et al, 2013a), Ocotea acutifolia (Silva et al, 2013b), Hesperozygis ringens (Silva et al, 2013b;Toni et al, 2014), Aloysia triphylla and Ocimum gratissimum , has been demonstrated in fish. The EO of Lippia alba has been highlighted in the last decade through studies reporting its potential as antioxidant, anesthetic and sedative for fish (Cunha et al, 2010;Becker et al, 2012;Heldwein et al, 2014;Toni et al, 2014;Hohlenwerger et al, 2016).…”

“…The EO of Lippia alba has been highlighted in the last decade through studies reporting its potential as antioxidant, anesthetic and sedative for fish (Cunha et al, 2010;Becker et al, 2012;Heldwein et al, 2014;Toni et al, 2014;Hohlenwerger et al, 2016).…”

Essential oils of Cunila galioides and Origanum majorana as anesthetics for Rhamdia quelen: efficacy and effects on ventilation and ionoregulation

“…In the case of EOC, linalool is the main compound, which has been reported as sedative and anesthetic for R. quelen (Heldwein et al, 2014). EO of linalool chemotype L. alba has similarly induced anesthesia in R. quelen (Cunha et al, 2010;Toni et al, 2014) and in L.vannamei .…”

“…In the Brazilian flounder (Paralichthys orbignyanus), the EO of Aloysia gratissima elicited paralysis and mortality during anesthesia (Benovit et al, 2012). Other undesirable effects have been reported in fish exposed to natural anesthetics: increased lactate content with N. megapotamica, L. alba and H. ringens EOs (Tondolo et al, 2013;Toni et al, 2014), elevated glucose levels with mentol (Simões, Gomes, 2009;Sanchez et al, 2014), increased plasma cortisol with clove oil (Bressler, Ron, 2004;Weber et al, 2011) and increased hematocrit and disturbances of hydromineral balance with A. triphylla EO (Gressler et al, 2014). Thus, as any other product used in fish farming, safety and efficacy of EOs should be carefully investigated for individuals of a given species.…”

“…Nevertheless, these synthetic drugs may act as chemical stressors and trigger undesirable side effects as weight loss, acidosis and osmotic stress as a result of the inadequate blood-water gas and ion exchange (Sladky et al, 2001;Bolasina, 2006;Zahl et al, 2012). Alternatively, a growing number of studies employing plant-derived compounds have been produced, including investigations with essential oils (EOs) of Lippia alba (Cunha et al, 2010;Parodi et al, 2014;Toni et al, 2014), Ocotea acutifolia (Silva et al, 2013b), Nectandra megapotamica (Tondolo et al, 2013), Aloysia triphylla (Gressler et al, 2014;Parodi et al, 2014;Zeppenfeld et al, 2014) and Hesperozygis ringens (Silva et al, 2013b;Toni et al, 2014). These natural EOs have been proven effective for sedation and anesthesia of fish with advantages over synthetic alternatives, e.g., lower cost and higher security (Silva et al, 2013b;Tondolo et al, 2013).…”