Medicinal plant derivatives as immunostimulants: an alternative to chemotherapeutics and antibiotics in aquaculture

Aquaculture makes a significant contribution in the production of protein-rich food for human consumption. Aquaculture practices encounter many challenges, and one of the most devastating problems is disease outbreaks caused by microbial pathogens. To control disease outbreaks, several chemotherapeutics and antibiotics were used indiscriminately, which in turn leads to residual problems in the surrounding environment affecting higher animals and also humans. Immunostimulants are considered as an alternative for antibiotics, which will boost the immune system of the cultured organism, thus effectively countering the assault of pathogens. The use of plant materials as immunostimulant will be an ecofriendly approach for the control of pathogens. The botanicals present in the plants have a key role in enhancing the fish immunity. This review focuses on the importance of plant material as immunostimulant in the control of diseases in aquaculture.