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Essential oils, also known as aetheroleum, have a variety of therapeutic properties, including analgesic, adaptogen, and astringents, among others. Essential oils have potential growth-promoting, antibacterial, and immunostimulant effects for several fish species. Furthermore, they potentiate the antioxidative capacity and the resistance of aquatic animals against infectious diseases. This article spotlights on the essential oils derived from selected medicinal plants, and their roles in the improvement of the performances of aquatic animals.

The aquaculture sector is one of the main activities contributing to food security for humanity around the globe. However, aquatic animals are susceptible to several farming stressors involved in deteriorated growth performance, reduced productivity, and eventually high mortality rates. In some countries still, antibiotics and chemotherapies are comprehensively applied to control biotic stressors. Aside from the apparent benefits, the continuous usage of antibiotics develops bacterial resistance, deteriorates bacterial populations, and accumulates these compounds in the aquatic environment. Alternatively, environmentally friendly additives were used to avoid the direct and indirect impacts on the aquatic ecosystem and human health. In aquaculture, medicinal herbs and extracts are extensively used and approved for their growth-promoting, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative properties. Herbal essential oils contain many bioactive components with powerful antibacterial, antioxidative, and immunostimulant potentials, suggesting their application for aquatic …