Efficacy of eugenol and the methanolic extract of Condalia buxifolia during the transport of the silver catfish Rhamdia quelen

Abstract

This study evaluated extracts of Condalia buxifolia as anesthetics for the silver catfish Rhamdia quelen. The effectiveness of eugenol and of the methanolic extract (ME) of C. buxifolia during the transport of this species was also assessed. Fish of two different weights (1.50±0.02 g and 165.70±22.50 g) were transferred to aquaria containing water with the C. buxifolia ME or with fractions obtained from the ME, such as the n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butane and aqueous fractions, at concentrations from 0-300 °L L-1. The C. buxifolia ME in the 0.5-120 °L L-1range caused only light sedation, and the fractions did not have an effect on the fish. In the second experiment, another group of fish was transported for 12 h in 15 plastic bags. The fish were divided into five groups: control, 1 or 2.5 °L L-1 eugenol and 25 or 50 °L L-1C. buxifolia ME. The non-ionized ammonia levels were lower at the end of transport in the groups with the compounds than in that with water alone. Moreover, both compounds decreased the Na+, Cl-, and K+ net effluxes; therefore, their addition to the water during transport is advisable because they reduce fish mortality and ion loss.