Comparison of the anesthetic effect of lemongrass and clove oil on two-year old common carp (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus, 1758)

Vasilka Krasteva, Angelina Ivanova, Maria Yankova

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to examine the efficacy of lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon schoenanthus)
and clove oil (Eugenia caryophyllata) by establishing the time needed for induction and recovery
from anesthesia of two-year old common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). The fish treated with lemongrass
oil have an average body weight (BW, g) of 614.20 ± 162.18 g and an average total length (TL,
cm) of 36.10 ± 3.77 cm. The fish used in the experiment with clove oil have an average body weight
of 572.32 ± 191.32 g and average total length of 36.19 ± 4.0 cm. For both experiments, five treatments
are conducted with five experimental concentrations: 0.02 ml/l-1, 0.04 ml/l-1, 0.06 ml/l-1, 0.08 ml/l-1 and
0.10 ml/l-1. The method of individual treatment is applied. For each concentration, 10 fish are used to
ensure statistical significance of the results. For both essential oils the fastest anesthetic effect is registered
at the highest concentration of 0.10 ml/l-1 with a significant difference between the variants (P
≤ 0.05). Based on the results, it can be concluded that the time required for anesthesia of two-year old
common carp with lemongrass oil is significantly longer compared to the time required using clove
oil. At the highest experimental concentration of lemongrass (0.10 ml/l-1) anesthesia occurs after more
than 10 min, which makes the use of this essential oil as an anesthetic ineffective in commercial or
scientific activities.
During the experiment, it has been established that clove oil is significantly more effective as anesthetic
agent for two-year old common carp compared to lemongrass oil.

Keywords: anesthesia; clove oil; common carp; Cyprinus carpio; lemongrass oil

Date published: 2022-08-29