A Review on Medicinal Plants and Immune Status of Fish

Abstract

Aquaculture is a rapidly growing economic sector and a plethora of protein sources for human consumption (Hayatgheib et al., 2020). However, diseases cause a 50% production loss of this industry (Gabriel, 2019). Antibiotics and 'traditional' chemical therapeutics are administered to minimize the economic impact (Van Doan et al., 2019; Lieke et al., 2020). However, the recurrent use of antibiotics in aquaculture system is not only hampering fish metabolism but also the environment and public health. This harmful effect allows horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes among diverse species with the collaboration of bacterial population, which leads to drugresistant pathogens (Watts et al., 2017). Vaccine is also used to treat the aquaculture diseases; however, it is relatively expensive and not effective for broad-spectrum use (Plant & LaPatra, 2011). As a result, alternative sustainable strategies followed by substitutes for antibiotics, vaccines, or other chemical therapeutics, are highly needed that are characterized as immunostimulants by a broad-spectrum activity, which contribute to ARTICLE INFO

Microencapsulated essential oils influence the growth and foregut histomorphometry of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings

“…Cinnamaldehyde, a component of MEOs, acts on serotonin receptors in the fish gastrointestinal tract, increasing both the number and size of intestinal folds and thereby improving absorption ( Mohamed et al., 2014 ; Lieder et al., 2020 ; Gupta et al., 2021 ). The greater intestinal fold surface area facilitates more nutrient digestion and absorption.…”

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) Essential Oil at Optimized Dietary Levels Prompted Growth, Immunity, and Resistance to Enteric Red-Mouth Disease in the Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

“…Compared to chemicals, medicinal plants and their derivatives have more stable therapeutic effects and the pathogenic resistance to them is relatively less. In addition, no negative impacts on the environment and organisms and lowcost production are other advantages of using this group of materials [15]. Plant-based materials have shown antimicrobial and antioxidant activities in fish [16,17].…”

Botanical Control of Multiple Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in Clarias gariepinus

“…Administration of medicinal plants to fishes is mainly done by three established methods: oral, immersion or bathing and injection. Previous studies, 4,5,6 have shown that medicinal plants can be used as promising antibiotic alternative for fish species, and they mainly act by increasing immune capacity of the fishes to resist infection. Plants such as: Ocimum sanctum, 7 Azadiraetha indica, 8 Sargassum dupilactum 9 inter alia, have been reported.…”