The need to produce food under strict quality standards and reduce the impact on the environment, leads to development of food industry, particularly aquaculture practices. Minimizing the impact of this industry, implies the use of non-chemical antimicrobials and better practices for a sustainable management. The use of natural antimicrobials is essential to minimize the harmful effects of chemicals and minimize losses due to bacterial and viral pathogens. Medicinal plants offer a natural and sustainable alternative with high antimicrobial capacities, particularly if native species are used. Its use and administration in aquaculture systems must be evaluated for effective use.
Basil, Ocimum basilicum L. and oregano, Origanum vulgare, are plants with a wide distribution in Mexico and their antimicrobial potential, particularly of steam-entrained extracts of oregano, against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, an important pathogen in aquaculture practice, was demonstrated. In addition to the above, it was sought to take advantage of the potential of a native plant, so the antimicrobial potential of the chicalote Argemone mexicana L. was also verified to inhibit the growth of V. parahaemolyticus.
Plant tissue extracts were obtained by freeze-drying, alcoholic extraction and steam dragging of the dry leaves of each species. V. parahaemolyticus was obtained from a collection of the Center for Biological Research of the Northwest CIBNOR at La Paz, México.
The use of medicinal plants as antimicrobials in aquaculture systems requires the evaluation of the dose and method of application, since direct application can result in a certain degree of toxicity to organisms, as was verified by adding basil and oregano in experimental shrimp farming. Therefore, the feasibility of administering medicinal plant extracts in the form of microencapsulates supplied with pelletized food was verified.
The use of plant extracts in brine shrimp was evaluated to identify the lethal dose, L50, obtaining that a high dose of the plants is necessary to achieve lethality in the organisms, so its use is convenient to reduce the pathogenic bacterial load. Of crops.
The use of a bacterial mixture was evaluated for the increase in production in terms of weight and survival in white shrimp, obtaining better results than when using the bacterial isolates evaluated separately.
This research can be replicated with other medicinal plants native to the different regions producing marine farming organisms. This research provides a practical solution to viral and bacterial pathogens, avoiding the use of antibiotics, providing an efficient but more environmentally friendly solution. A strategy is proposed to improve the administration method of natural antimicrobials to minimize losses due to pathogens in aquaculture