Effect of <i>Excoecaria agallocha</i> leaves against <i>Aeromonas hydrophila</i> in marine ornamental fish, <i>Amphiprion sebae</i>

Abstract

Present study was performed to validate the potential of mangrove, <i style="">Excoecaria agallocha</i> leaves against <i style="">Aeromonas hydrophila</i> isolated from infected marine ornamental fish, <i style="">Amphiprion sebae</i>. Infected ten fish samples were collected from the marine ornamental fish hatchery and the bacteria was isolated and identified as <i style="">Aeromonas hydrophila</i>. Antibiotic resistance characterization was performed with commercial antibiotics. <i>In vitro</i> antibacterial activity of methanol and acetone extract of <i style="">Excoecaria agallocha</i> and their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were assessed. Healthy <i style="">Amphiprion sebae</i> when challenged with the <i>Aeromonas hydrophila</i>, resulted in the development of clinical signs, those observed in the hatchery. The methanol extract of <i style="">Excoecaria agallocha </i>leaf was administrated with live <i>A. hydrophila,</i> decreased the percentage of mortality in the experimental groups. The phytochemical screening of the extract showed the presence of alkaloids, phytosterols, fixed oils and fats, tannins, phenolic compounds, proteins, free amino acids, gums, mucilage, flavonoids and lignin. The results revealed that the <i style="">Excoecaria agallocha</i> leaves have the potential to control the <i style="">Aeromonas hydrophila</i> diseases in marine ornamental fish, <i style="">Amphiprion sebae</i>.