The study of naturally occurring compounds from herbal plants has progressed at a significant level. Plants have been used for the purpose of healing and in treatment of various diseases from time immemorial. Even when modes of medicines have changed from time to time, plants continue to be the mainstay of medicines
(Kumar et al., 2007). Plants play an important role in drug discovery and many approved therapeutics as well as drugs has been derived from natural sources. They have been the source of most of the active ingredients in medicines. The valuable therapeutic impacts of plant materials normally result from the mixes of optional items present in the plant. These secondary metabolites constitute the medicinal value of a drug plant, which produces a definite physiological action on the human body and also finds application in fisheries and aquaculture
(Wal et al., 2013). The World Health Organization encourages using medicinal herbs and plants to substitute or minimize the use of chemicals and go back to nature (
Kaur and Shah 2017). The excess use of antibiotics in the management of disease in aquaculture has resulted in serious health and environmental problems. Consequently, the need for safe and effective alternatives to antibiotics is required (
Shakya 2015). Phytobiotics can be defined as plant derived products used to progress the presentation of an animals. The phytobiotics have a wide variety of properties such as: antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, insecticidal, anti- parasitic, anti-coccidial, growth promoter appetite enhancement and s stimulant of secretion of bile and digestive enzyme activity (
Kaur and Shah 2017). The assessment of phytobiotics in aquaculture is a generally new zone of research demonstrating promising outcomes. Expansion of various single herbal extracts (
Massa medicata,
Crataegi fructus,
Artemisia capillaries and
Cnidium officinale) or a combination of all the herbs promoted increase and improved a few non-specific immunity indicators of fish (
Kaur and Shah 2017). Although interest in the use of medicinal plants and plant extracts in aquaculture has been explored recently, medicinal plants have long been used by rural fish farmers. In maximum cases, fresh plants had been without delay introduced into the rearing water and used to improve water quality, reduce fish stress, increase fish resistance to pathogens and treat fish diseases. Plants have been accounted for to deliver different impacts,such as anti-stress, growth promotion, appetite stimulation, immunostimulation, aphrodisiac and to have anti-pathogen properties in fish and shrimp aquaculture due to their varied active principles such as alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids
(Reverter et al., 2017). Commonly used medicinal plants in Aquaculture are present in Table 1.
Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.
Aloe vera under the family of Asphodelaceae. Aloe has very good anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, wound healing and anti-oxidant properties (
Joseph and Raj 2010). It has several health benefits,
viz., it improves digestion, energy levels, builds immunity and detoxifies the body
(Rajeswari et al., 2012b). It was effective against
V. alginolyticus in juvenile rockfish (
Sebastes schlegeli) at 0.5% level. Aloevera showed only 1.7% of the mortality
(Kim et al., 1999). It has anti-bacterial properties. It was active and effective against the
A. hydrophila in goldfish (
Carassius auratus).This increased the growth and survival rate was 80% at 1.5% concentration, 75% at 1.0% concentration (
Ahilan and Jeyaseelan 2010). It improves the specific and non-specific defence mechanism through increasing the lysozyme activity, serum bacterial power, total protein and IgM levels in common carp and also it shows disease resistance against
A.hydrophila (Alishahi
et al., 2010).
Aloe vera leaf extract helped to improve the respiratory activity of leuckocytes in
Brycon amazonicus during
(Zanuzzo et al., 2012). It has good antibacterial and disease healer against
A. hydrophila especially EUS in Striped murrel
(Haniffa et al., 2013). It acts as a good protective agent against WSSV and
V. parahaemolyticus in cultured shrimps
(Trejo-Flores et al., 2016). Aloe vera in fish diets at 4%, showed higher sex reversal rate in GIFT Nile tilapia,
Oreochromis niloticus (Gabriel
et al., 2017).
Phyllanthus niruri L.
It comes under the Euphorbiaceae family. It has anti-viral and hepato-protective properties. When fed in the goldfish (
Carassius auratus) it increased the specific growth rate and the survival rate also increased. 1.0% concentration increased the survival rate to 75% and at 1.5% concentration increased the survival rate to 70 (
Ahilan and Jeyaseelan 2010). This
Phyllanthus showed a good antibacterial activity against the bacteria strains
V. harveyi (JR4)
, V. harveyi (JR7),
V. harveyi ATCC 35084,
V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802,
V. alginolyticus ATCC 17749,
Y. ruckeri ATCC 29473,
E. tarda ATCC 15947,
P. fluorescence ATCC 13252,
A. hydrophilla ATCC 7965
, A. caviae ATCC 15468 (
Albert and Ransangan 2013).
Phyllanthus niruri incorporated diets had high growth rate, higher blood parameters (lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes) efficiencies compared to control (
Haniffa and Margaret 2014). 5% incorporation in feed reduced the stress of the
Oreochromis niloticus by reduction of glucose level in blood
(Ibrahim et al., 2015). It improved the primary and secondary antibody response of the
Oreochromis mossambicus (Muthulakshmi
et al., 2016). In
cyprinus carpio,
Phyllanthus niruri incorporated diets increased the specific growth rate, food consumption, assimilation rate and efficiency, metabolic rate, serum protein, glucose and cholesterol level and immune-stimulatory effect against
A. hydrophila (Sunitha
et al., 2017).
Azadirachta indica A. Juss.
It comes under the family Meliaceae. The Neem has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antipyretic, anti-malarial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and ant-iviral properties. (
Mukherjee 1996) reported that application of neem extract to the pond soil reduced the virulence in White Spot Syndrome (WSD). Aquaneem commercial product of neem extracts effectively suppressed the growth of
A. hydrophila, P. fluorescenes, E. coli and
myxobacteria. 10 ppm of this extract controlled the fin rot, tail rot, bacterial gill disease, haemorrhagic septicaemia and dropsy when reared in a pond
(Das et al., 1999). Neem possesses a triterpenoid called Azadirachtin which is derived from neemseed, it enhances the enhanced respiratory burst activities, the leukocyte count and the primary and secondary antibody response against SRBC (sheep erythrocytes) in tilapia (
Oreochromis mossambicus) (
Logambal and Michael 2000). 90 mg/l of neem oil effectively reduced the Total Ammonia Nitrogen level of 0.45 mg/l in 96 hours in brackishwater and application of commercial neem products (neemazal, neemgold) showed reduction in the TAN level respectively as 69% and 79% in brackish water
(Krishnani et al., 2002). Neem leaf extract was used as bio pesticide to control the unwanted organisms in the pond and is eco-friendly
(Mousa et al., 2008). 100% neem juice incorporation proved higher antibacterial activity and inhibition of Vibrio against shrimp
(Banerjee et al., 2013). Neem leaf extract added per kilogram of feed used in
Lates calcalifer showed increase in the specific growth, survival rate and improved the non- specific mechanism of seabass against
V. harveyi (Talpur
et al., 2013). Neem seed oil and neem leaf extract showed better recovery against EUS and red spot disease
(Alam et al., 2014).
Curcuma longa L.
Turmeric supplemented diet fed gold fish exhibited yellow pigmentation, enhanced growth rate, alkaline protease, lipid activity and had highest acid protease (
Pransin 2006). It showed better anti-bacterial effect, anti-microbial peptides (Crustin and lysozyme) and survival rate against
Vibrio alginolyticus in
Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Alambra
et al., 2012). Turmeric extract incorporated at 25% had antibacterial activity against
Vibrio harveyi in black tiger shrimp
Penaeus monodon and normally turmeric incorporated diets increased the total haemocyte count, phenol oxidase activity, phagocytic activity and bacterial activity against the control (
Malar and Charles 2013).
(Mahmoud et al., 2014) reported that 0.5% of turmeric powder increased the immunity against
Pseudomonas fluorescens in Nile tilapia (
Oreochromis niloticus). It also increased the survival rate and growth performance in tilapia. 200 ml/kg of garlic extract effectively controls the Acanthocephala in
Clarius batrachus (Rosny
et al., 2016). Turmeric powder improved the growth rate, survival rate and immunity in common carp (
Cyprinus carpio) when challenged with
F. Columnaris (
Al-Faragi and Hassan 2017). 2 g/kg of turmeric in fish diets stimulates the growth parameters, long intestinal fold length and lower bacterial counts in the intestine of Nile tilapia
Oreochromis niloticus (Yusuf
et al., 2017). 2% incorporation in fish diet improved the growth, haematological indices, immunity and antioxidant capacity of
O. mykiss (Yonar
et al., 2019).
Allium sativum L.
Garlic comes under the family Alliacea. It has anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic properties (
Kyung 2012). Garlic incorporated diets increased the haematological parameters (leuckocyte, thrombocytes, haemoglobin, erythrocytes and hematocrit values) in fish
(Martins et al., 2002). It enhanced the feeding efficiency, survival rate, bacterial activity, lysozyme activity, haemoglobin content in
Labeo rohita affected by
A. hydrophila when compared to control
(Sahu et al., 2007). Garlic incorporated diets develop the immune response of Nile tilapia
(Aly et al., 2008). Significant changes in growth performance, antibacterial activity, serum total protein and globulin in rainbow trout -
Oncorhynchus mykiss were observed (
Nya and Austin 2009a). The garlic in extract or in powder form was used as an antibacterial compound which was used to control the black gill disease in
Penaeus indicus (Vaseeharan
et al., 2011). The literature review reveals that garlic can effectively eliminate principal pathogenic bacteria such as
Pseudomonas fluorescens, Myxococcus piscicola, Vibrio anguillarum, Edwardsiella tarda, Aeromonas punctata, Fibrobacter intestinalis and
Yersinia ruckeri in freshwater fishes. It also proved effective against different protozoans that include
Opalina ranarum, Opalina dimidicita, Balantidium entozoon, Entamoeba histolytica, Trypanosoma, Leishmania, Leptomonas and
Crithidia (
Shakya and Labh 2014). Garlic powder acts as a good growth promoter in common carp
(Manoppo et al., 2016).
Ocimum sanctum L.
Tulsi belongs to Family Lamiaceae. It has antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, radio-protective, adaptogenic activity, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hepato-protective, neuro-protective and reno-protective properties (
Devi 2001b;
Mohan et al., 2011). Diet contained 0.01 and 0.02% of tulsi and ashwagandha increased the immunological, growth performance and survival rate in
Epinephelus tauvina (Sivaram
et al., 2004). Tulsi enriched artemia had increased the growth, survival and moulting efficiencies in
Penaeus monodon (
Citarasu 2010). It increased the growth performance, survival rate of
Macrobrachium rosenbergii against control
(Bhavan et al., 2011). Leaves of
Ocimum sanctum contain water-soluble phenolic compounds and various other constituents, such as eugenol, methyleugenol and caryophyllene which act as immunostimulants, thereby increasing the specific and non-specific immune response, disease resistance against the
Aeromonas hydrophilla (
Shankar and Kiran 2013). It showed higher survival against
Aeromonas hydrophila in
Labeo rohita by improving the Immunological (NBT activity, lysozyme activity, immunoglobulin level) and haematological parameters (WBC count, RBC count and Haemoglobin level)
(Das et al., 2015). Ocimum sanctum leaves extract improves the Survival, growth performance, Immunological and haematological characters in
Clarius batrachus (
Nahak and Sahu 2014)
.
Zingiber officinale Roscoe
Ginger under the Zingiberaceae family has proved to exhibit anti-fungal activity, larvicidal activity, cytotoxic activity, anthelmintic activity, analgesic activity, anti-fungal activity, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-diarrhoea, anti-diabetic activity, hepatoprotective and nephron productive properties
(Kumar et al., 2011). Ginger increased the disease resistance against
V.harveyi in
Lates calcarifer. It also a showed higher survival rate at 5 and 10 g/kg.
(Hemapriya et al., 1997) reported ginger contained a polyphenol compound (6-gingerol and its derivatives) which have a high antioxidant activity. Zinger extract had increased the blood extracellular activity of phagocytic cells in rainbow trout (
Dügenci et al., 2003). It increased the weight and specific growth rate in
Penaeus monodon postlarvae
(Venkatramalingam et al., 2007). Ginger extract controls the growth of certain pathogenic organisms like
Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenesand
Salmonella (
White 2007). It showed an increase in the growth rate of grouper around 41% compared to control
(Punitha et al., 2008). Talpur et al., (2013) reported that when ginger was incorporated at 5 and 10g/kg of feed increased the specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio (FCR), erythrocytes (RBC), leucocytes (WBC), reduced the glucose level in blood. Ginger powder enhances the immuno-specific defence mechanism in Rainbow trout (
Haghighi and Rohani 2013) and it improves the immunity against
Aeromonas hydrophila (
Nya and Austin 2009b). Zinger powder incorporated feed improved diseases resistant and immunity against
Aeromonas hydrophila in
Oreochromis niloticus (Hassanin
et al., 2014;
Payung et al., 2017). The ginger extracts also effectively control the monogenean flatworms
Gyrodactylus turnbulli in guppy -
Poecilia reticulate (Levy
et al., 2015). The proximate composition of fresh ginger contains 80.9% moisture, 2.3% protein, 0.9% fat, 1.2% minerals, 2.4% fibre and 12.3% carbohydrates. It also contains minerals like iron, calcium and phosphorus and vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C. Gingerols are the major active components in the fresh ginger rhizome (
Shakya 2015). It also resulted in 100% survival rate, growth performance and improved the nutritional composition in
Cyprinus carpio body (Abbasi
Ghadikolaei et al., 2017). 2.5 g/kg and 5 g/kg of ginger extract increase the skin mucus, alkaline phosphate activity, weight gain, protein activities and total protein levels in rainbow trout
(Shaluei et al., 2017).
Eclipta alba L.
False daisy has anti-bacterial, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-hyperlipedemic, anti-oxidant, immunomodulatory, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, alopecia
properties(Mithun et al., 2011). Serum lysozyme activity of
O. mossambicus fed with
Eclipta leaf extract (1%) supplemented-diet increased 770-3000 units/ml. The incorporation of 1% of
Eclipta leaf extract in the supplemented diet gave highest protection against
A. hydrophila and it increased the survival
(Christybapita et al., 2007). Eclipta alba incorporated diets increased the growth rate and improved the immunological parameters and reduced the viral loads in
Peneaus monodon (Radhakrishnan
et al., 2015)
. Its root extracts help in improving the haematological characters (RBC, haemoglobin, white blood cells, PCV) in
Clarius batrachus (
Preeti and Seema 2014).
Cissus quadrangularis L.
Veld grape under the family Vitaceae has healing activity, analgesmic, anti-osteoporotic, anti-ulcer, anti-oxidant, para-sympathomimetic, anabolic androgenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hemorrhoidal and gastroprotective properties. It increased the glycogen content in
Oreochromis mossambicus (Aruldoss
et al., 2014). According to
(Radhakrishnan et al., 2014) it improved specific growth, food conversion ratio and survival in
Macrobrachium rosenbergii post larvae. It increased the growth performance and energy utilization in
Macrobrachium malcomsonii post-larvae.
Cissus quadrangularis contained feed fed
Macrobrachium malcomsonii had improved proximate and amino acid compounds in their body and it showed higher growth and survival rate, digestive enzyme activities and total haemocytes count
(Radhakrishnan et al., 2015).
Acalypha indica L.
Indian copperleaf under Euphorbiaceae family has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant properties
(Jagatheeswari et al., 2013). The leaf of the
Acalypha indica used for
asthma(Vaishnava et al., 1993). The leaf extract of
Acalypha indica, enhanced the antibody response in tilapia against sheep red blood cells
(Hemapriya et al., 1997). This plant extract control the
Aeromonas hydrophila in
in-vitro condition (
Bhuvaneswari and and Balasundaram 2006).
Acalypha indica contained diets enhance the immunity, haematological and growth performance in
Penaeus indicus against
Vibrio harveyi (Rajeswari
et al., 2012a).
(Yogeeswaran et al., 2012) has proved that
Acalyph aindica with
Cynodon dactylon, Withania somnifera, Zingiber officinalis and
Picrorrhiza kurrooa increased the survival rate, growth performance and immunostimulation against the WSSV in
P. monodon juveniles.
(Reverter et al., 2017) have also reported that
Acalypha has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and good immunostimulant activity.
