| Medicinal plants as a safe and environmentally friendly approach to sex control in tilapia |
| Paper ID : 1111-ICIAQUA |
| Authors |
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Mohammad Akhavan Bahabadi1, Seyed Pezhman Hosseini Shekarabi *2 1National Research Center of Saltwater Aquatic Animals, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bafq, Iran 2National Research Center of Saltwater Aquatic Animals, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bafq, Iran. |
| Abstract |
| One of the critical success factors in tilapia farming is to prevent early sexual maturation and unwanted reproduction. All-male tilapia population is the desired sex in the aquaculture industry due to superior growth rate compared to the females and/or mixed-sex populations. Androgen hormone therapy (17α-methyltestosterone; MT) is a common practice in many parts of the world to induce sex reversal in farmed tilapias, although the subsequent effects of synthetic hormones are related to the host immune system, human health, and environmental concerns. Recently, derived-biochemical compounds from medicinal plants have received the core of attention in tilapia aquaculture as cost-effective, safe, and eco-friendly alternative to MT. Plant extracts and their derivatives can control prolific breeding in tilapia through endocrine system modulation (act as endocrine disrupting compounds or aromatase enzyme inhibitors) and induction of gonadal histological changes. In this regard, saponins and flavonoids are the main biomolecules in medicinal plants, which can effectively induce sex reversal in tilapia. However, herbs as anti-prolific reproduction agents in tilapia production systems have faced a lack of information on the extract preparations, optimal dosages, mechanism of action, and financial feasibility. Despite the growing interest in using these natural compounds to prevent frequent spawning in tilapias, the available information is not comprehensively discussed to achieve practical guidelines. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the existing knowledge on the use of bioactive compounds for sexual control in tilapia farming and identifies the limitations to their commercial applications. Future studies should address these technical and fundamental limitations for the commercial use of medicinal plants in tilapia aquaculture. |
| Keywords |
| Mono-sex tilapia, Hormonal treatment, Medicinal herbs, Endocrine disrupting compounds |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |