Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

Aims: The present study evaluated the efficacy of Achyranthes aspera extract on immunological parameters and disease resistance against Pseudomonas fluorescens infection in Indian major carp, Rohu, Labeo rohita.

Study Design: One hundred and eighty (180) fish with average weight (28.1±1.2 g) were acclimatized and stocked in (6) indoor aquariums (100 L) for three days.

Place and Duration of Study: This experiment was performed in the Laboratory of Fisheries and Marine Bioscience (FMB) and Department of Microbiology, Jessore University of Science and Technology (JUST), on November to April 2014-2015.

Methodology: Fish and management, A. aspera extract preparation, herbal diet preparation with four (4) different doses 0%, 2%, 4% and 6% of A. aspera extract, nonspecific immune response assay, blood and serum collection for hematology and immunology, phagocytic activity and challenges test were performed.

Results: Among the entire dose the 6% doses of A. aspera showed highest significant responses in phagocytic activity, specific and non-specific immune responses on week 4 compared to control diet whereas the changes did not manifest on first week. Further the A. aspera enriched diet at 6% level resulted in lowest mortality (20%) indicating highest protection (relative percent survival 80%) from Pseudomonas fluorescens infection than 0%, 2% and 4% doses t that resulted 73.33%, 46.67% and 33.33% mortalities respectively.

Conclusion: The results are suggested that the dietary supplementation of Achyranthes aspera extract acts as immunostimulants, reduce mortality and increase disease resistance in Labeo rohita against Pseudomonas fluorescens infection.