EFFECT OF DIETARY PEPPERMINT Mentha piperita IN DISEASE RESISTANCE AND HEMATOLOGY OF INDIAN MAJOR CARP, ROHU Labeo rohita
In intensive aquaculture, use of antibiotics and chemotherapeutics for prophylaxis and treatment has been widely criticized for their negative impacts like bioaccumulation of drugs, development of microbial drug resistance and immunosuppression in fish. Therefore, development of an effective vaccine may be the best way to check disease outbreak. Hence, there is an urgent need to look for eco-friendly disease preventative measures to promote sustainable aquaculture. Natural immunostimulants are biocompatible, biodegradable, cost effective and safe for the environment. There has been growing interest in the immune stimulating functions of some herbs and other plants in aquaculture. Medicinal herbs contain potent bioactive substances, which may influence digestive process by enhancing or impairing enzyme activity and improving digestibility of nutrients too. Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a cross between water mint and spearmint. The active component is menthol and contains other components such as menthone and carboxyl esters, particularly menthyl acetate. Dried peppermint typically has 0.3-0.4% of volatile oil containing menthol (7-48%), menthone (20-46%), menthyl acetate (3-10%), menthofuran (1-17%) and 1,8-cineol (3-6%). The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of dietary peppermint on disease resistance and hematology of Indian major carp, rohu (Labeo rohita).
Four practical diets containing 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% dietary peppermint powder and 0% normal control feed were used for fish. After 90 days of feeding, fishes were injected with intraperitoneally with 0.1 ml of Aeromonas hydrophila (LD50=2.3×107 CFU/ml). Hematological parameters and biochemical indices were examined pre-challenge and post-challenge. Haemato-biochemical profiles such as total serum protein were significantly higher in the experimental groups compared to control group.
It could be concluded that the effect of dietary peppermint at 2% level enhanced disease resistance and hematological changes of Indian major carp, rohu (Labeo rohita) against Aeromonas hydrophila
