Global aquaculture development increased rapidly in recent years, and the sector has become one of the fastest-growing industries in the animal-derived food production system. However, disease outbreak remains a major challenge that hinders sustainable production through an advanced level of intensification. Recently, antibiotics applied have been restricted globally against aquatic disease outbreaks due to their apparent accumulation in the tissues, which imposes on the development of resistant bacteria. Naturally available medicinal plants were tested to combat some pathogens affecting humans and animals, as they contain a wide range of active substances that can induce biological functions. Currently, medicinal plants are being tested in aquaculture as a safe and eco-friendly substance to modulate immune status, enhance growth performance and prevent fish disease. Moreover, different parts (e.g. leaf, flower and rhizome) and forms (e.g. crude, extract and active ingredient) of plants are used to modulate specific biological functions (e.g. growth promoter, anti-stress, immunostimulants, appetite stimulation, antibacteria, anti-parasite and anti-virus).Medicinal plants are also used to defend the aquaculture animal from external stressors, such as poor water quality, high environmental temperature and overcrowding.This paper aims to provide information on the role of currently used medicinal plants on aquaculture animals and their action mechanisms. In conclusion, the current review suggested that the utilisation of medicinal plants remained untapped in uncovering the biological activities of active substances against a variety of diseases across diverse species of aquaculture animals.
An 8-week study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different feeding patterns with dietary Clostridium butyricum supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant and non-specific immune responses in freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (0.39 ± 0.001 g). There were four feeding methodologies: feeding basal diet continuously (P1); feeding diet with 500 mg/kg C. butyricum continuously (P2); feeding diet with 500 mg/kg C. butyricum 5 days after 2 days of basal diet (P3) and feeding diet with 500 mg/kg C. butyricum 2 days after 5 days of basal diet (P4). The results revealed that prawns in P3 had the highest weight gain rate (WGR) and lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the other groups. Haemolymph total protein levels and superoxide dismutase activity increased significantly in P2, P3 and P4 groups, while malondialdehyde content and anti-superoxide anion levels decreased significantly compared to control. The mRNA expression of intestinal dorsal and Toll in P2 and P3 groups decreased significantly compared to control. Prawns in P3 exhibited improved growth performance, increased antioxidant capacity and enhanced immune function. We concluded that feeding diet with 500 mg/kg C. butyricum for 5 days after 2 days of basal diet was recommended for M. rosenbergii.
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