The study examined the effects of herbal extracts on juvenile barramundi, a popular farmed fish in Australia and Asia, as well as on other marine species including brine shrimps, according to a statement released Friday by Australia’s Flinders University, which co-led the joint project with the South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute in China’s Guangdong Province.
The increasing global demand for sustainable, antibiotic-free aquaculture is driving exploration of natural plant extracts as safe, effective alternatives to chemical additives for enhancing fish immunity, said Flinders University Professor of Aquaculture Qin Jian, the research’s lead author.
“Some of the herbal additives in this study benefited the biochemical and immune responses in juvenile barramundi, at a stage when they are more susceptible to disease or infections,” Qin said.
However, some bioactive substances also showed signs of ecological toxicity and could threaten other marine species, warned co-author Ma Zhenhua, director of the Tropical Fisheries Research and Development Center at the South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute.
Researchers tested four plant extracts: gallnuts, green chiretta, white mustard, and betel nut, and found some bioactive compounds displayed potential environmental toxicity, raising ecological concerns.
The study, published in the Netherlands-based journal Ecological Indicators, highlighted the potential of herbal additives in fish feed, while urging further investigation into their wider environmental impact before commercial adoption. (Xinhua)
