IRANIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES SCIENCES, cilt.14, sa.4, ss.896-907, 2015 (SCI-Expanded)
The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of propolis on biochemical and microbiological parameters in muscle tissues of carp (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus 1758) exposed to arsenic. A sublethal concentration of arsenic (0.01 ppm) and/or 0.01 ppm propolis were administered to fish for seven days. Biochemical parameters [pH, lactic acid, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), and malondialdehyde (MDA) values] and microbiological changes (mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria count) were determined in fillet of carp in control, arsenic only, propolis only and arsenic+propolis treatment groups. Results showed that the levels of MDA, lactic acid and TVB-N increased (p<0.05) while there were decreases total counts of psychrophilic, mesophilic bacteria and level of pH in arsenic group compared to the control group. Additionally, levels of pH, lactic acid, TVB-N, counts of psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria in arsenic (0.01 ppm)+propolis (10 ppm) group significantly reduced compared to arsenic group (p<0.05). In conclusion, propolis can affects some biochemical and microbiologic functions and quality in the fillet of carp exposed to arsenic.