Toxicity assessment and anti-Vibrio activity of essential oils: Potential for application in shrimp aquaculture

Abstract

This present paper aimed to review the past 4 years (2019–2022), the inhibition of Vibrio spp. (including Vibrio's causing AHPND) by EOs, as well as the potential toxicity of the EOs towards crustaceans, with an emphasis on Artemia spp. In the present review, 27 EOs from terrestrial plants are reported regarding their anti-Vibrio activity. Among these 27 studies, Salvia officinalis and Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae family) were found to be the most numerous. Among the Vibrio spp., V. parahaemolyticus (non-AHPND strain) was mostly researched. There are in total 68 publications about the toxicity of EOs in Artemia spp. Based on the four categories of toxicity towards Artemia (strongly toxic: LC50 < 100 μg/ml, moderately toxic: LC50:100–500 μg/ml, weakly toxic: LC50: 500–1000 μg/ml, and non-toxic: LC50 > 1000 μg/ml), strong toxicity activity was found in 37 EOs, moderate toxicity in 15 EOs, weak activity for three EO plants and 13 non-toxic extracts. In fact, LC50 values as low as 10.25 and 11.48 μg/ml were described in Artemisia vulgaris and Euryale ferox, respectively, showing these two plant EOs are strongly toxic to Artemia. Overall, and despite being generally considered “eco-friendly and natural” products and safer than antibiotics, some of the EOs are toxic to target organisms. Thus, to establish an ecologically safe application of EOs in shrimp aquaculture, the correct use of these plant EOs (in terms of concentrations and duration) in aquaculture should be considered.