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Plant Archives Vol. 12 No. 1, 2012 pp.

1-4 ISSN 0972-5210

Review Article
MEDICINAL PLANTS USEFUL IN FISH DISEASES

Govind Pandey1*, Madhuri Sharma2 and A. K. Mandloi3


1
Officer-In-Charge, Rinder Pest (Animal Husbandry Deptt., Govt. of MP), Jabalpur Division, Jabalpur (M.P.), India.
2
Department of Zoology and Biotechnology, Govt. Model Science College, Jabalpur (M.P.), India.
3
Department of Fisheries, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Jabalpur (M.P.), India.

Abstract
In fish, the parasitic outbreak acts as an important limiting factor for aquaculture. The heavy infection of Trichodina parasites
has caused gigantic financial losses. Diseases caused by Aeromonas hydrophila bacterium are some of the most widespread
in freshwater fish culture. Nowadays, a large portion of the world population, especially in developing countries depends on
the traditional system of medicine for a variety of diseases. The medicinal plants (herbal drugs) can be used not only against
diseases but even more so, as growth promoters, stress resistance boosters and preventatives of infections. Additionally,
phytomedicines provide a cheaper source for treatment and greater accuracy than chemotherapeutic agents without causing
toxicity. The phytochemicals, e.g., tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids present in medicinal plants may have antimicrobial
activity. The herbs can also act as immunostimulants, conferring the non-specific defense mechanisms of fish and elevating
the specific immune response. In the present article, some herbs acting against fish diseases, especially parasites, bacteria
and immuno-suppression have been discussed.
Key words : Fish pathogens, herbs, medicinal plants (herbal drugs), treatment of fish diseases.

Introduction Chitmanat et al. (2005) pointed out that the heavy


infection of Trichodina sp. in small fish has caused
Although herbal remedies have been with us for
gigantic financial losses. Infected fish are lethargic,
human therapy for millennia, there has been relatively
generate excessive mucus and become off-feed
little research on the medicinal plants to be used against
eventually, resulting into considerable deaths. There is
fish diseases. Herbal drugs can be used not only as
now a fast growing interest in screening antiparasitic
remedies but even more so, as growth promoters, stress
substances from plants to replace chemical and antibiotic
resistance boosters and preventatives of infections.
alternatives.
Hence, herbal drugs in disease management are gaining
success, because they are cost effective, eco-friendly Diseases caused by A. hydrophila bacterium are
and have minimal side effects. A large portion of the some of the most widespread in freshwater fish culture.
world population, especially in developing countries Septicaemia caused by motile aeromonads is a ubiquitous
depends on the traditional system of medicine for a variety problem that affects fishes found in warm, cool and cold
of diseases. Several hundred genera are used medicinally fresh water around the world. A. hydrophila has been
and plants are vital sources for potent and powerful drugs. associated with diseases in fishes like carp, eels, milkfish,
Plants are rich in a wide variety of secondary metabolites channel catfish, tilapia and ayu. This microorganism can
of phytochemical constituents such as tannins, alkaloids also be an opportunist in stress-related diseases in
salmonids. Antibiotics are frequently used to control
and flavonoids, which act against different diseases
disease caused by this bacterium, but there is an
(Pandey and Madhuri, 2010; Ravikumar et al., 2010).
increasing risk of developing antibiotic resistant (Yin et
Unfortunately, the parasitic outbreak acts as an al., 2008). A. hydrophila is also responsible for skin
important limiting factor for aquaculture businesses. infections, septicemia and gastroenteritis in human,
Pinkate et al. (2003) reported that every tilapia fish besides the fish (Castro et al., 2008). The continuous
(Oreochromis niloticus) raised by farmers in Chiang use of antimicrobial agents in aquaculture has resulted in
Mai, Thailand has a Trichodina parasite infection. more resistant bacterial strains. Since ancient times,
*Author for correspondence : drgovindpandey@rediffmail.com medicinal plants have been used for the treatment of
2 Govind Pandey et al.

common infectious diseases and treatments with plants Madhuri, 2010; Kolkovski and Kolkovski, 2011) of which
having antibacterial activity are a potentially beneficial more than a dozen have been evaluated in fish and
alternative in aquaculture. Additionally, phytomedicines shrimp. Several plant products seemed to be potent
provide a cheaper source for treatment and greater antiviral agents against fish and shrimp viruses (Kolkovski
accuracy than chemotherapeutic agents in fish (Abdul and Kolkovski, 2011).
Kader Mydeen and Haniffa, 2011; Turker et al., 2009). Therefore, the herbal plants may be used as potential
A. hydrophila, the most common bacterial pathogen in and promising source of pharmaceutical agents against
freshwater fish, has been recognized to be the aetiological fish pathogens in organic aquaculture (Abdul Kader
agent of several distinct pathological conditions, including Mydeen and Haniffa, 2011; Ravikumar et al., 2010). In
tail rot, motile Aeromonas septicemia (MAS) and view of the above context, the usefulness of some
epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) as a primary medicinal plants (herbal drugs) against fish diseases has
pathogen. EUS is a globally distributed disease and has been elucidated in the present article.
become an epidemic affecting a wide variety of wild and
Some on medicinal plants acting against fish
cultured fish species in South-east Asia, including India.
diseases
Ability of herbs to inhibit activity of bacteria having
potential interest as fish pathogens has been documented. To preserve and protect the environment as well as
Heavy antibiotics in aquaculture should be reduced and human health as a best alternative, different parts of
replaced with alternative processes in fish diseases to Azadirachta indica (Neem) tree have been studied by
avoid the emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic Chitmanat et al. (2005). Neem leaves containing nimbin,
and environmental bacteria (Abdul Kader Mydeen and azadirachtin and meliantroil have been reported to possess
Haniffa, 2011). The phytochemicals, e.g., tannins, alkaloids a variety of properties, including insecticidal and antiviral
and flavonoids present in the medicinal plants have been from ancient times. Indian almond (Terminalia catappa)
found in vitro to have antimicrobial properties. Many of and garlic (Allium sativum) have been said as an
the spices and herbs have been valued for their alternative to chemicals to treat fish ectoparasites,
antimicrobial effects and medicinal powers in addition to Trichodina sp. infections in tilapia (O. niloticus)
their flavour and fragrance qualities. Recently, research fingerlings. Both Indian almond and garlic had low acute
has been initiated to evaluate the feasibility of using herbal toxicity to tilapia fingerlings, treating the trichodiniasis
medicines in fish disease management. Moreover, the caused by Trichodina. The authors further cited that the
bacterial infections are considered the major cause of Indian almond, commonly used as herb in Taiwan,
mortality in aquaculture and in the recent years, medicinal prevents the fish diseases. It is claimed to be a wound
plants and their products play significant role in fish culture healing substance for Siamese fighting fish hurt after
(Ravikumar et al., 2010). matches in Thailand as well. The immunostimulant effects
of the dietary intake of 3 plants (viz., Viscum album,
Herbs can act as immunostimulants, conferring early
Urtica dioica and Zingiber officinale)-extracts on
activation to the non-specific defense mechanisms of fish
rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have also been
and elevating the specific immune response. Chinese herbs
narrated by the authors. Christybapita et al. (2007)
have been used an medicine to treat different fish diseases
observed the immunostimulatory effect of aqueous extract
in China for many years. Herbs have also been used in
(AqE) of Eclipta alba (Bhangra) leaf (oral administration
other countries for control of shrimp and fish diseases,
as feed supplement) in tilapia fish, Oreochromis
and successful results have been reported in Mexico,
mossambicus. It was noted that the E. alba extract
India, Thailand and Japan (Yin et al., 2008). Traditional
enhances non-specific immune responses and disease
herbal medicines seem to be the potential
resistance of O. mossambicus against A. hydrophila
immunostimulator. Thus, the use of medicinal plants is an
infection. According to Winkaler et al. (2007), A. indica
alternative to antibiotics in fish health management. The
extract can be used successfully in aquaculture to control
herbs are not only safe for consumers, but they also have
fish predators.
a significant role in aquaculture. Many studies have proved
that herbal additives enhanced the growth of fishes and Castro et al. (2008) screened the methanolic extracts
protected from diseases. The non-specific immune system of 46 Brazilian plants and found only 31 to have the
of fish is considered to be the first line of defense against antibacterial activities against fish pathogenic bacteria,
invading pathogens (Ahilan et al., 2010). Many plant- viz., Streptococcus agalactiae, Flavobacterium
compounds have been found to have non-specific immuno- columnare and A. hydrophila. Yin et al. (2008) added
stimulating effects in humans and animals (Pandey and the extracts of 2 Chinese herbs (viz., Lonicera japonica
Medicinal Plants Useful in Fish Diseases 3

and Ganoderma lucidum) in diets of tilapia fish (O. extracts supplementation diets restored the altered
niloticus) and found that these herbs act as haematological parameters and triggered the innate
immunostimulants and appear to improve the immune immune system of goldfish (C. auratus) against A.
status and disease resistance. Both herbs when used alone hydrophila infection.
or in combination increased the survival of fish after Ravikumar et al. (2010) observed that the chloroform
challenge with A. hydrophila. On the basis of several extract of Datura metal plant has wide range of
studies, Yin et al. (2008) reported that oral administration antimicrobial activity against many fish pathogens. D.
of ginger (Z. officinale) extract increases the phagocytic metel which collected from the Kanyakumari coast can
capability of cells in rainbow trout (fish), while the extracts be used as a putative antimicrobial drug in the aquaculture
of 4 Chinese herbs (Rheum officinale, Andrographis maintenance. The chloroform extract of D. metel can be
paniculata, Isatis indigotica and Lonicera japonica) effectively used as a potential antimicrobial agent to
increased the phagocytosis of white blood cells of carp. overcome the problem of mass mortality of ornamental
Turker et al. (2009) reported that the alcoholic and fish in aquarium so as to enable to enhance the market
aqueous extracts of Nuphar lutea, Nymphaea alba, revenue throughout the world. These authors also told
Stachys annua, Genista lydia, Vinca minor, Fragaria the antimicrobial activity of 5 Chinese herb extracts
vesca, Filipendula ulmaria and Helichrysum plicatum against 13 bacterial and 2 viral fish pathogens. Sharma
herbs of Bold (Turkey) have antibacterial activity against et al. (2010) observed the stimulatory effect of dietary
A. hydrophila, Yersinia ruckeri, Lactococcus doses of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root on
garvieae, Str. agalactae and Enterococcus faecalis immunity and disease resistance against A. hydrophila
bacteria isolated from fish. This observation provides the infection in Indian major carp, L. rohita fingerlings. Abdul
aquaculturists with a promising management tool for Kader Mydeen and Haniffa (2011) cited that A. indica
control or treatment of fish diseases. Nya and Austin leaf AqE could effectively control the A. hydrophila
(2009) observed the control of A. hydrophila infection infection in common carp (a fresh-water fish usually bred
after feeding with A. sativum (0.5 and 1 g/100 g of feed in ponds), Cyprinus carpio. Further, Enterobacter sp.
for 14 days) to rainbow trout (fish), O. mykiss (Walbaum). and Escherichia coli bacteria, isolated from marine fish
Ahilan et al. (2010) observed that the addition of (Amphiprion sebae) showed 15 mm zone of inhibition
Phyllanthus niruri and Aloe vera (Aloe) as herbal against neem extract. The antimicrobial activity of AqE
additives can positively enhance the growth performance of 3 medicinal plants, viz., A indica (leaf), Solanum
of goldfish, Carassius auratus as well as its resistance torvum (Sundakai fruit coat) and C. longa (rhizome)
to A. hydrophila infections. The authors further reported against the in vitro growth of A. hydrophila, isolated
that the herbal additives in diets often provide cooperative from infected fresh-water fish, Channa striatus was
action to various physiological functions. The synergistic noticed by Abdul Kader Mydeen and Haniffa (2011).
effect of herbs has been reported in other fishes, including Kolkovski and Kolkovski (2011) reported that some herbal
Japanese flounder and Clarias gariepinus. The growth extracts are very effective against gills and skin flukes
increase in Labeo rohita fish fed with herbal like Benedenia seriolae. Nargis et al. (2011) seen the
supplemented diet was due to improved food utilization immunostimulant effects of the dietary intake of A.
and high protein synthesis. The benefit of herbal growth sativum and Vitex negundo extracts on fingerlings of L.
promoters as an additive in the carp feed has also been rohita fish. Ravikumar et al. (2011) studied that among
found. Furthermore, the medicinal plants, viz., ginger, nettle 15 coastal medicinal plants/ parts of plants, A. indica,
and mistletoe as an adjuvant therapy in rainbow trout Cinnamomum verum and Eupatorium odoratum
through feed enhanced phagocytosis and cellular and exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against 10
humoral defense mechanisms against pathogens. The bacterial pathogens from diseased ornamental fishes.
traditional Chinese medicines in yellow croaker elevated
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