Neotropical Ichthyology ()

Anesthetic activity of Brazilian native plants in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

  • Lenise de Lima Silva,
  • Daniela Thomas da Silva,
  • Quelen Iane Garlet,
  • Mauro Alves Cunha,
  • Carlos Augusto Mallmann,
  • Bernardo Baldisserotto,
  • Solon Jonas Longhi,
  • Ana Maria Soares Pereira,
  • Berta Maria Heinzmann

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-62252013000200014
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 2
pp. 443 – 451

Abstract

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There is an increasing demand for inexpensive and safe anesthetics that can reduce fish stress caused by some procedures such as capture and handling. In this context, the present study evaluated the potential of essential oils (EO) of three Brazilian native plants (Hesperozygis ringens, Lippia sidoides and Ocotea acutifolia) as anesthetics for the silver catfish - Rhamdia quelen. Moreover, an analysis was made of the chemical composition of these oils and their influence on stress parameter. EO of H. ringens and O. acutifolia were effective as anesthetics, without behavioral side effects. EO of O. acutifolia (150 µL L-1) promoted an increase in blood glucose level. Regarding to the composition, pulegone accounts for 96.63% of the EO of H. ringens, and caryophyllene oxide amounts to 56.90% of the EO of O. acutifolia. Two chemotypes, thymol and carvacrol (68.40% and 67.89%, respectively) were verified for EO of L. sidoides. Both samples of EO of L. sidoides showed anesthetic activity in silver catfish, but exposure also caused loss of mucus and mortality. Thus, only the EO of H. ringens and O. acutifolia are advised for anesthetic use

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