Tocopherol and phytol possess anti-quorum sensing mediated anti-infective behavior against Vibrio campbellii in aquaculture: An in vitro and in vivo study

Abstract Phytocompounds have long been well recognized in medicine and pharmacy. The natural compounds are frequently utilized as the fundamental resource in the development of novel therapeutic agents to treat bacterial infections. The rapid emergence of bacterial infections, particularly caused by Vibrio species, is seen as a serious concern for the development of aquaculture industries, resulting in substantial economic losses throughout the world. Notably, the presence of Vibrio campbellii in aquatic environments will be extremely problematic, leading to significant mortality in aquatic organisms. As a result, novel therapeutic agents are desperately needed to treat such diseases. This is the first research to demonstrate that plant-derived active compounds, tocopherol and phytol, are effective against V. campbellii infection in tomato clownfish. The findings showed that tocopherol and phytol significantly decreased the production of biofilm and virulence factors such as hemolysin, protease, lipase, hydrophobic index, and swimming motility in V. campbellii, without influencing the bacterial growth. In vivo experiments with tomato clownfish also proved that these phytocompound treatments significantly increased the survival rates of infected fishes by hindering the intestinal colonization of V. campbellii in tomato clownfish. Further, the disease protection efficacy against the pathognomonic sign of V. campbellii-infection was verified by histopathological investigation of the gills, gut, and kidney. Altogether, the results suggest that tocopherol and phytol could be promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of V. campbellii infections in aquaculture.