Anesthetic efficacies of green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) and ginger root (Zingiber officinale) essential oils as potential anesthetic agents in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Anesthetic efficacies of green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) and ginger root (Zingiber officinale) essential oils as potential anesthetic agents in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) In recent years, herbal essential oils have emerged as natural anesthetics as an alternative to chemical anesthetic agents applied in fish. Studies on the anesthetic effect of many different essential oils in various fish species are in progress. In this study, cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) essential oils having analgesic effect were tested at different concentrations on guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata) which is one of the most common and popular aquarium fish species in the world. 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE) was applied as control group. In the study, at different concentration levels, the anesthetic effects of cardamom essential oil (EcEO), ginger essential oil (ZoEO) were investigated at the level of 800, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600 μl/lt and 2-PE was investigated at the levels of 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 μl/lt. The most effective level of concentration is determined as 1600 µl/lt (AD ; RF→745 ± 14.3 sec ; 512 ± 10.3 sec) for EcEO, as 1600 µl/lt (AD ; RF→360 ± 3.4 sec ; 450 ± 7 ,2 sec) for ZoEO and as 1000 µl/lt (AD ; RF→94 ± 1.4 sec ; 196 ± 1.3 sec) for 2-PE (p<0.05). Although the findings show that EcEO and ZoEO are partially effective anesthetics, it has been determined that both essential oils are far from meeting up with the ideal criteria of anesthetic substance. It has been observed that the practitioners had difficulties in terms of smell and observation, and they didn't meet up with desired time period in terms of anesthesia and recovery. In addition, it is anticipated that studies of fish transfer can be carried out particularly with EcEO and in this regard, it's suggested that studies of physiological stress are needed.