Medicinal plants and their applications in shrimp culture

Aquaculture has increasingly focused on plants due to their ability to promote growth and combat diseases through their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Additionally, plants are highly nutritious, stimulate the immune system, and enhance appetite. Herbal compounds have been shown to inhibit or block virus transcription, reducing replication in host cells and improving nonspecific immunity. They also have the advantage of being derived from various parts of the plant and can be used in multiple forms, such as extracts, supplements, and powder. Combined with fishmeal or polysaccharides, these compounds can improve hematological parameters, performance metrics, and growth. Furthermore, plant species' active principles can stimulate digestive enzyme secretion, enhancing growth and survival. Medicinal plant compounds also include components that can induce the reproduction of crustaceans. Therefore, understanding the metabolic and immunological mechanisms of phytochemical-crustacean interactions is essential to clarify the organism's response and the effectiveness of the applied compounds.