Article Sidebar

Submitted
Mar 10, 2026
Accepted
May 21, 2026
Published
May 25, 2026
Download
Fulltext Pdf
Statistic
Read Counter : 0 Download : 0

Main Article Content

Abstract

Phytobiotics have gained increasing attention in aquaculture as natural additives to improve the health and performance of cultured species, particularly crustaceans that are highly susceptible to oxidative stress. However, the identification of effective and safe herbal candidates remains limited due to the lack of integrative evaluation approaches. This study aimed to screen selected herbal extracts as potential phytobiotic candidates for crab aquaculture based on their phytochemical composition, toxicity, and antioxidant activity. Six herbal plants: Moringa oleifera, Amaranthus sp., Morus sp., Sargassum sp., Avicennia sp., and Apium graveolens were evaluated. Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard qualitative methods, toxicity was assessed using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT), and antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH assay. All extracts contained various secondary metabolites, with flavonoids and steroids/terpenoids being the dominant compounds. Toxicity analysis indicated LC₅₀ values of 786.69  μg/mL for M. oleifera, and 779.40  μg/mL for Morus sp., indicating safe to moderately toxic ranges. In comparison, Sargassum sp. (1355.56  μg/L) and Avicennia sp. (2199.20  μg/mL) exhibited the lowest toxicity.  Antioxidant activity varied among species, with A.graveolens (IC₅₀ = 324.24 ± 6.00  μg/mL), M. oleifera (234.14 ± 7.23 μg/mL), and Morus sp. (199.18 ± 1.58 μg/mL) showing strong activity. Scatter plot analyses and an integrative Phytobiotic Safety–Efficacy Map approach identified T. catappa, M. oleifera, and Morus sp. as the most promising phytobiotic candidates due to their strong antioxidant activity and acceptable safety levels. These findings highlight the potential of herbal phytobiotics to mitigate oxidative stress and support physiological processes in crab aquaculture.

Keywords

antioxidant activity crab aquaculture herbal extracts oxidative stress phytobiotics toxicity phytochemical screening

Article Details

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Indonesian Aquaculture Society

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

References

  1. Ababouch, L., Castro de Souza, M., Nguyen, K. A. T., and Fernandez-Polanco, J. 2023. Value chains and market access for aquaculture products. J. World Aquac. Soc., 54:527–553.
  2. Afreen, A. B., Rasool, F., and Fatima, M. 2023. Bioactive Properties of Brown Seaweed, Sargassum wightii, and Its Nutritional, Therapeutic Potential and Healthy Benefits: A Review. J. Environ. Biol., 44:146-158.
  3. Ahmad, F., Fujaya, Y., Trijuno, D. D., and Aslamyah, S. 2015. Acceleration of Blue Swimming Crab (Portunus pelagicus) Larval Development by Phytoecdysteroid. Aquacultura Indonesiana, 16(2):50-55.Bhanja, A., Payra, P., and Mandal, B. 2023. Phytobiotics: Response to Aquaculture as Substitute of Antibiotics and other Chemical Additives, South Asian J. Exp. Biol., 13 (5): 341-355.
  4. Dar, R. A., Shahnawaz, M., Ahanger, M. A., and Majid, I. U. 2023. Exploring the Diverse Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants: A Review. The Journal of Phytopharmacology, 12(3):189-195.
  5. Elina Apine, E., Ramappa, P., Bhatta, R., Turner, L. M., and Rodwell, L. D. 2023. Challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainable mud crab aquaculture in tropical coastal regions. Ocean and Coastal Management 242:106711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106711
  6. Fujaya, Y. 2011. Growth And Molting of Mud Crab Administered by Different Doses of Vitomolt. Jurnal Akuakultur Indonesia, 10(1):24-28.
  7. Fujaya, Y., Trijuno, D. D., Haryati, Hasnidar, Rusdi, M., and Usman, Z. 2018. Effectivity of mulberry leaf extract on stimulating ekdisteroid hemolimph content and molting of mud crab (Scylla olivacea). Torani, 2(1): 32-43.
  8. Hapsari, F.,Suprayudi, M.A.,Akiyama, D.M.; Ekasari, J.,Norouzitallab, P.,and Baruah, K. 2025. Decoding Stress Responses in Farmed Crustaceans: Comparative Insights for Sustainable Aquaculture Management. Biology,14:920. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14080920
  9. Hosamani, N., Reddy, S. B., and Reddy, R. P. 2017 Crustacean Molting: Regulation and Effects of Environmental Toxicants. J. Marine Sci. Res. Dev., 7: 236. https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9910.1000236
  10. Hu, X., Ma, W., Zhang, D., Tian, Z., Yang, Y., Huang, Y., and Hong, Y. 2025. Application of Natural Antioxidants as Feed Additives in Aquaculture: A Review. Biology,14:87. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14010087
  11. Jevas, C. O. 2016, The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidants in Oxidative Stress. International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biosciences, 3(6): 1-8
  12. Jomova, K., Raptova, R., Alomar, S. Y., Alwasel, S. H., Nepovimova, E., Kuca, K., and Valko, M. 2023. Reactive oxygen species, toxicity, oxidative stress, and antioxidants: chronic diseases and aging. Archives of Toxicology, 97:2499–2574
  13. Kolygas, M.N., Bitchava, K., Nathanailides, C., Athanassopoulou, F. 2025. Phytochemicals: Essential Oils and Other Extracts for Disease Prevention and Growth Enhancement in Aquaculture: Challenges and Opportunities. Animals, 15:2653. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15182653
  14. Li,H., Zhou, X., Huang, Y., Liao, B., Cheng, L., and Ren, B. 2021. Reactive Oxygen Species in Pathogen Clearance: The Killing Mechanisms, the Adaption Response, and the Side Effects. Front. Microbiol., 11:622534. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.622534
  15. Mykles, D. L. 2021. Signaling Pathways That Regulate the Crustacean Molting Gland. Front. Endocrinol., 12:674711. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.674711
  16. Paital, B. and Chainy, G. B. N. 2012. Effects of salinity on O2 consumption, ROS generation, and oxidative stress status of gill mitochondria of the mud crab Scylla serrata. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part C, 155: 228–237
  17. Pandey, A. K., Pandey, A. C., and Kumar, S. S. 2018. Sharpunkha (Tephrosia Purpurea) and Tuba Root (Derris elliptica) as alternative medicines for innumerable diseases and disorders in Ayurveda – A Review. International Journal of Advance Research in Science and Engineering. 7(3):168-173.
  18. Parasuraman S. 2011. Toxicological screening. Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics, 2(2):74-79.
  19. Redzuari, A., Hidir, A., Abualreesh, M. H., Fazhan, H., Waiho, K., Ma, H., and Ikhwanuddin, M. 2026. Evaluating the Impact of Spinach Supplementation in Enhancing the Growth of Blue Swimming Crab Larvae, Portunus pelagicus. Tropical Life Sciences Research, 37(1): 67–84.
  20. Rosmiati, Lante, S., and Suryati, M. 2016. The Effect of Phytoecdysteroid of Cycas revolua, Portulaca oleracea, and Morus Sp. on Molting Period, Growth, and Survival Rate of Tiger Shrimp, Penaeus Monodon. Indonesian Aquaculture Journal, 11 (2):69-74.
  21. Shahare, A. J. (2018). Induced Moulting Of Mud Crab By Spinach Extract For Producing Soft Shell. Thesis. College of Fisheries Shirgaon, Ratnagiri - 415629 (Maharashtra State, India).
  22. Sorach, K., Pratoomchat, B., Hanna, P. J., and Suksamrarn, A. 2013. Effects of Phytoecdysone on the Molting Period and Survival Rate of the Blue Swimming Crab, Portunus Pelagicus. Journal of Science, Technology, and Humanities, 11(2):87-94
  23. Spooner, R. and Yilmaz, Ö. 2011. The Role of Reactive-Oxygen-Species in Microbial Persistence and Inflammation. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 12: 334-352; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms12010334
  24. Sutrisno, B. G. R. A., Supriatna, Uzair, H. M., Ismail, A., and Asus Hertika, A. M. S. 2025. Effects of Spinach (Amaranthus sp.) Extract Supplementation on Molting Duration and Physiological Responses of Mud Crabs (Scylla sp.) Reared in Crab Apartment Systems. Jurnal Riset Akuakultur, 20(2):165-180
  25. Wang, X., Yao, Q., Zhang, D. M., Lei, X. Y., Wang, S., Wan, J. W., Liu, H. J., Chen, Y. K., Zhao, Y. L., Wang, G. Q., Wang, Q. J., and Guo, Z. X. 2022. Effects of acute salinity stress on osmoregulation, antioxidant capacity, and physiological metabolism of female Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis). Aquaculture, 552, 737989
  26. Xu, Z., Liu, A., Li, S., Wang, G.,and Ye, H. 2010. Hepatopancreas immune response during molt cycle in the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain. Scientific Reports , 10:13102. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-70139-2
  27. Yuan, H., Gao, Z., Cai, P., Zhang, W., Jin, S., Jiang, S., Xiong, Y., Gong, Y., Qiao, H., and Fu, H. 2023. Deciphering Molecular Mechanisms Governing the Reproductive Molt of Macrobrachium nipponense: A Transcriptome Analysis of Ovaries across Various Molting Stages. Int. J. Mol.Sci.,24:11056. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241311056