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Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary lemon peel (Citrus limon) essential oil on growth, hematological parameters, some of serum biochemical parameters and liver enzymes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles. Materials & Methods: For this purpose, 144 rainbow trouts with an average initial weight of 95.05 ± 0.41 g were randomly stocked in four treatments containing different levels of lemon peel essential oil ( 0 (control), 200, 400 and 600 mg lemon peel essential oil/kg diet) and fed for eight weeks. Findings: The results showed the highest growth factors in treatments of 400 and 600 mg lemon peel essential oil/kg diet (p<0.05). Inclusion of essential oil in diet increased hematological parameters as compared to the control except MCV, MCH, MCHC and increased serum biochemical parameters by contrast to the control except glucose, triglyseride and cortisol (p<0.05). liver enzymes of ALT and AST showed no significant differences among treatments containing essential oil and LDH exhibited  no significant differences among 400, 600 mg essential oil/kg diet and the control treatment (p>0.05), but ALP amount significantly increased in essential oil treatments in a comparison to the control (p<0.05). Conclusion: Overall, these results indicated using 400 mg essential oil in rainbow trout diet could improve growth, hematological and some serum biochemical parameters of rainbow trout without any negative effects on liver.

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This study aims to evaluate the effect of active edible starch-based coating containing garlic and lemon peel essential oils with 0, 1, 2 and 3% levels as biopreservative to maintain the microbial quality of Barred mackerel (Scomberomorus commerrson) fillet during 12 days at 4 ºC. The relative influence of active starch coating on pH, peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), color parameters (L*, a and b), microbial characteristics (total viable count, psychrophilic bacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens and E. coli O157: H7) and sensory properties were assessed. Results revealed that using the starch-based coating containing essential oils led to the reduction of both pH changes and L* index, and the increase of b, PV and TBA indices. However, the treated samples with a higher levels of essential oils had less color changes during the storage time. The results of oxidative stability analysis showed that by increasing the level of essential oils and storage time, the PV and TBA indices decreased and increased, respectively. The tested microbial indices in all samples also increased during storage time. Moreover, by increasing the concentation of essential oils and storage time, the growth of microorganisms diminished and increased, respectively. Based on the sensory evaluation, using the high levels of essential oils increased the sensory properties. In conclusion, utilization of 3% garlic essential oil as biopreservative in the structure of active edible starch-based coating resulted in desirable physicochemical, microbial and sensory properties in Barred mackerel fillets.