Evaluation of pre-clinical safety and toxicology of Althaea officinalis extracts as naturopathic medicine for common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The current study was done to investigate the preclinical safety and toxicology of Althaea officinalis extract as naturopathic medicine in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Specimens were treated with 0 (control), 2.5, 5 and 10 g of marshmallow extract for 45 days. Plasma biochemical parameters were measured after 15 and 45 days. Total protein, albumin and globulin levels (p0.05). During the experimental period, triglyceride levels noticeably decreased in fish fed with 2.5 g of A. officinalis extract (p<0.05). Although, administration of marshmallow extract up to 5 g per kg of feed did not show any side effect on fishes, the use of the A. officinalis extract (10 g) led to cytotoxicity and modifications in blood biochemical parameters of fish. Therefore, we recommend the use of the lower concentrations than 10 g A. officinalis extract in prospective clinical studies

Short communication: Jellyfish of Khuzestan coastal waters and their impact on fish larvae populations

One of the most valuable groups in the food chain of aquatic ecosystems is zooplankton. A large portion of them are invertebrate organisms with great variety of forms and structure, size, habitat and food value. The term ‘jellyfish’ is used in reference to medusa of the phylum Cnidaria (hydromedusae, siphonophores and scyphomedusae) and planktonic members of the phylum Ctenophora (Mills, 2001). Jellyfish medusa is a zooplankton which is frequently present in coastal ocean waters and all marine habitats. They are also primary predators of other zooplanktons which have significant impact on abundance and diversity of zooplankton communities that are one of the key parts of the marine food web. Most jellyfish include Hydromedusae, Siphonophora and Scyphomedusae and planktonic Ctenophora, especially in the productive warm months (Brodeur et al., 1999). In recent years, the frequency of the jellyfish in many ecosystems has increased (Xian et al., 2005; Lynam et al., 2006)