Using the essential oil of Aloysia triphylla (L'Her.) Britton to sedate silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) during transport improved the chemical and sensory qualities of the fish during storage in ice.
Exposure of silver catfish to 40 μL/L of the essential oil of Aloysia triphylla (AT) during in vivo transport delayed the onset and resolution of rigor mortis as well as the degradation of IMP into HxR compared to the control. The fish that were treated with 30 or 40 μL/L of AT received lower sensory demerit scores after 10 d of storage in ice compared to the control, and the fish that were treated with 40 μL/L of AT had a longer sensory shelf life than did the control. These results indicated that using AT as a sedative in the water in which the silver catfish were transported extended their freshness and increased their shelf life during refrigerated storage.


CONCLUSIONS
Interest in natural anesthetics, such as Aloysia triphylla, has increased in the field of commercial aquaculture because they reduce the number of fish lesions acquired during capture, handling, and transportation. Fish sedated with the essential oil of A. triphylla at 40 μL/L during transport before slaughter exhibited a delay in the loss of freshness and an increased shelf life in ice. In addition to improving animal welfare before slaughter, the essential oil appears to be a promising product for improving fish conservation in the food industry.
Colégio Politécnico, Univ. Federal de Santa Maria, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Núcleo Integrado de Desenvolvimento em Análises Laboratoriais (NIDAL), Dept. de Tecnologia e Ciência dos Alimentos, Centro de Ciências Rurais, Univ. Federal de Santa Maria, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.
Ana Paula
AP
Daniel
Ana Paula L
AP
Veeck
Bruna
B
Klein
Lauren F
LF
Ferreira
Mauro A
MA
da Cunha
Thaylise V
TV
Parodi
Carla C
CC
Zeppenfeld
Denise
D
Schmidt
Braulio O
BO
Caron
Berta M
BM
Heinzmann
Bernardo
B
Baldisserotto
Tatiana
T
Emanuelli
D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods*; D002397:Catfishes; D005519:Food Preservation; D061353:Food Storage; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007053:Ice; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012298:Rigor Mortis; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D014186:Transportation; D029648:Verbenaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D000777:Anesthetics; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007053:Ice; D009822:Oils, Volatile
Aloysia triphylla (L'Her.) Britton; essential oil; fish; quality; sensory