• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2002

Effects of medicinal herb extract on nonspecific immune responses, hematology and disease resistance against Edwardsiella tarda in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus were evaluated. Wormwood, Artemisia asiatica NAKAI and barrenwort, Epimedium koreanum NAKAI were mixed at a ratio of 7 : 3 (w/w) for 2-herbs extract and wormwood, barrenwort, Korean forsythia, Forsythia koreana NAKAI, chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum KITAMURA, peppermint, Mentha arvensis L. var, piperascens MALINV., great burnet, Snaguisorba afficinalis L., Lizard tail. Saururus chinensis BAILL., mulberry, Morus alba L., and star anise, Illicium varum HOOK, f, at the same weight for 9-herbs extract. Two-herbs of 9-herbs extract were prepared by heating after adding 10㎖ of distilled water per g of the herb mixtures. Fish (10.3$\pm$2.5g) were fed the experimental diets supplemented with the 2-herbs or 9-herbs extract at the different concentrations of 0%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% per kg diet for 12 weeks. Lysozyme and bactericidal activities of serum, and hematological characteristics were examined during experimental period. After feeding test period, all experimental groups were challenged with E. tarda. Lysozyme activity from the fish fed the diet supplemented with 0.1% or 0.5% of 2-herbs extract was significantly higher than the control. But there was no difference both in bactericidal activity and hematology among each group. Sixty seven % of relative percent survival values (RPS) in the group fed the diet supplemented with 0.1% of 2-herbs was higher than the other group and the control. These results suggest that supplenmentation of 0.1% of 2-herbs extract to a commercial diet may enhance disease resistance in olive flounder. Although both 0.1% and 0.5% 9-herbs extract did not improve non-specific immune reponses, they could enhance disease resistance of 53% RPS, respectively.