An update about beneficial effects ofmedicinal plants inaquaculture: Areview.

Abstract

Aquaculture isanessential and growing component ofagricultural and global ecosystems worldwide. Aquaculture provides more than 25% ofthe total aquatic food consumption byhumans. The development oftheaquaculture industry should befollowed insuccessive industrial years, and therefore itisnecessary topay attention tothe management and type offarming system that iscompatible with the environment. The use ofantibiotics for disease control has been criticised for their negative effects, including the emergence ofantibiotic-resistant bacteria, the suppression ofthe immune system and the environment, and the accumulation ofresidue inaquatic tissues. The use ofthese products reduces the need for treatments, enhances the effect ofvaccines, and, inturn, improves production indicators. Medicinal plants have increasingly been used inrecent years asadisease control strategy inaquaculture, boosting the immune system ofaquatic animals and helping todevelop strong resistance toawide range ofpathogens. Therefore, this review aims toprovide anoverview ofthe recent evidence onthebeneficial use ofmedicinal plants topromote growth and strengthen the immune system infarmed aquatic animals.