EFFECTS OF EXTRACTS OF STOCHEOSPERMUM MARGINATUM AND ULVA LACTUCA ON THE HAEMATOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS ON AEROMONAS HYDROPHILA INFECTED CYPRINUS CARPIO

Objective: Marine algae are the rich source of natural products with pharmacological and biological activities. In the present study the seaweeds Stocheospermum marginatum and Ulva lactuca extracts were used as a immuno stimulants of non-specific immune response in common carp were studied. Methods: The seaweeds Stocheospermum marginatum and Ulva lactuca chosen for the study and were extracted with ethanol. The fishes common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (weight 10±5g)] were divided into five groups. They were infected with A. hydrophila (1.6 × 104 CFU/fish). The infected fishes were injected with seaweeds extracts (0.30 mg) suspended in saline solution. One group was injected only saline (control) and one group was injected with ciprofloxacin (0.30 mg) (standard) suspended in saline. The experiment was carried out for 28 d. In every seven days interval the fishes were injected with seaweed extract and blood parameters of RBC, WBC, HB, Ht, MCV, MCH, and MCHC were recorded. Results: RBC was recorded on 28th day in group 3 (2.86±0.11×106 cells/mm3) followed by group 4 (2.13±0.04×106 cells/mm3). Similarly the WBC values also increase from initial day to final day. The phagocytic assay was same on 28th day in group 3 and group 4 (58.89±1.68). The lysozyme activity was more in group 3 on 28th day 1285±90.92 but the lowest activity recorded in group 4on 28th day 1205±34.35. The respiratory burst activity was higher in group 3 on 28th day 0.184±0.012. Overall results group 3 had the best activity when compared to others. Conclusion: From this study we can understand that the fish injected with seaweed extracts Stocheospermum marginatum and Ulva lactuca seweed as a good immunostimulant. The seaweeds Stoechospermum marginatum had alkaloids, phenol, quinone, saponin, steroid and terpenoid. Ulva lactuca containedalkaloids, sugar, flavenoid, phenol, quinone, steroid and terpenoid. These secondary metabolites were responsible for the immunostumilant activity