article · Annals of Animal Science
Widespread restrictions on antibiotics in finfish and shrimp aquaculture, driven by high costs, environmental persistence, and antimicrobial resistance, have generated strong demand for safe, natural alternatives. Plant-derived phenolic compounds and polyphenol-rich feed ingredients offer a promising strategy to support aquatic animal welfare and industry sustainability. These phytochemicals can function as natural immunostimulants, enhancing resistance in farmed fish and shrimp against diverse bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections, which could help replace conventional antimicrobial drugs. In addition to bolstering immune defences, phenolic additives show potential to enhance growth performance, intestinal health, and internal antioxidant capacity. However, realising their full potential requires deeper investigation. Fundamental research remains necessary to clearly define their specific biological modes of action and confirm their precise contributions to disease prevention, immunity, and overall production efficiency in commercial aquaculture settings.
Overreliance on antibiotics in fish and shrimp farming threatens aquatic ecosystems and accelerates antibiotic resistance in pathogens. Finding plant-based alternatives helps protect public health and the environment while maintaining the productivity of global aquaculture. Understanding how natural plant extracts support animal health can lead to safer seafood production without compromising animal welfare or farm yields.
This research informs the development of functional, antibiotic-free aquafeed formulations targeting commercial finfish and shrimp producers. Because fundamental work is still required to establish precise biological mechanisms and production impacts, the technology currently sits at an early stage of research. Feed manufacturers and biotechnology developers could eventually commercialise these plant extracts as natural growth promoters and prophylactic health supplements, pending targeted trials that clarify optimal dosage and specific modes of action.
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Abstract The use of most antibiotics has been restricted and banned in finfish and shrimp farms due to several reasons comprising their long-lasting persistence in aquatic environments, relatively high prices, and their ability to promote the existence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Hence, finding economical, natural, and environmentally safe alternatives is of great importance. The use of polyphenols, polyphenol-rich plants, and plant-derived phenolic compounds for promoting aquatic animal health and welfare could be from the effective strategies for developing aquafeed and maintaining the sustainability of the aquaculture industry. Several plants are gorgeous in various bioactive functional ingredients known as phytochemicals and polyphenols. Phenolic compounds could be successfully used as natural immunostimulants in order to raise the immunity of finfish and shrimp species against several bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections and thus may replace the use of antimicrobial agents. Besides their potential roles for improvement of the growth performance, intestinal health, and enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the treated animals. Even though the trend of using plant-derived phenolic compounds is a new and leading era for the improvement of the functionality of aquafeed and the development of the aquaculture industry, there are fundamental needs and necessities to describe a clear understanding of their modes of action and potential roles in the improvement of the production rates, antioxidant activity, immune status, and disease resistance of farmed fish and shrimp.
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DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2023-0007
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