Effect of Echinacea purpurea extract on some hematological parameters of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Objective: Emergence of microbial disease in aquaculture industries implies serious financial lose. Usage of commercial antibiotics for disease treatment produces undesirable side effects. Certain herbal drugs are having potent effect on growth and survival as well as immunostimulating of antimicrobial properties of aquatic organisms. In this study, effects of administration of Echinacea purpurea in oral and intraperitoneal routs on some hematological factors of grass carp were investigated Method & Materials: 200 grass carps (weighing=20±3.43g) were divided into 4 groups: 1- received 400 mg/kg Echinacea in interaperitoneal route (i.p). 2- received 0.5% Echinacea powder in their daily food (oral). 3-received normal saline in i.p route (control i.p). 4- without any treatment (control oral). Blood samples were taken from i.p treatments in 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 days after injection, versus in 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 days after administration in oral treatments. Samples were assayed for Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Hemoglobin (Hb), White Blood cells Count (WBC), Red Blood cells. Results & Conclusion: Results showed no significant differences in PCV, Hb and RBC values at each sampling period, not only in oral treatment but in injection treatment compare to controls (P>0.05). WBC values showed different results in injection and oral treatments, in such a manner that in oral treatment no significant differences observed compare to control (P>0.05) but, WBC (Mean±SD) in 6 and 9 days after injection were 5000±1369.6 and 4650±831.2 in injection treatment versus 3916±1223 and 3583±982.6 in control, respectively. Also, results showed significant differences in WBC values in injection treatment and control (P<0.05). Differentiation count of leukocytes revealed that despite of lake of significant changes in oral and control treatments, heterophil ratio in injection treatment increased at 6, 9 and 12 days after injection compare to control group (P<0.05). Administration of Echinacea purpurea in grass carp in oral routes did not change the PCV, Hb, RBC and WBC values but increased WBC value and heterophil ratio in injection treatments. Effect of Echinacea purpurea in WBC supports hypothesis of immunostimulatory effects of this plant in fish, and it can be used as an immunostimulant in aquaculture.

کلیدواژه ها:

Echinacea purpurea ، Ctenopharhyngodon idella ، hematological parameters