The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is a species of significant economic importance in global aquaculture. However, its cultivation faces challenges, including disease outbreaks caused by pathogens such as Vibrio alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus, prolonged larval development, and high production costs. This study explored the potential of Centella asiatica as a natural feed additive to enhance larval performance, resilience, and production outcomes. The antimicrobial activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of C. asiatica was assessed using in vitro tests. Results indicated a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 500 µg/mL for ethanolic extracts against V. alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus, while aqueous extracts showed limited efficacy
Dietary feeding trials were conducted using diets supplemented with varying levels of C. asiatica powder (0%–0.4%). The 0.2% supplementation yielded the best results, significantly improving survival rates (61.3%), production, and growth metrics, while reducing the rearing period to 21.0 ± 0.3 days compared to 25.3 ± 0.6 days in the control group. The challenge with Vibrio alginolyticus was conducted by exposing M. rosenbergii post-larvae to a bacterial concentration of 6.8 × 10⁶ CFU/mL under laboratory conditions. Cumulative mortality was monitored every 3 hours over 72 hours. Larvae fed C. asiatica-supplemented diets demonstrated improved resilience and reduced mortality compared to the control group.
Histopathological analysis of hepatopancreatic tissue revealed that larvae fed C. asiatica-supplemented diets exhibited enhanced tissue integrity, reduced hemocyte infiltration, and lower histopathological damage compared to the control. These findings suggest that C. asiatica supplementation mitigates the adverse effects of V. alginolyticus infection and supports larval health. This research highlights C. asiatica as a cost-effective and sustainable feed additive for freshwater prawn aquaculture. By reducing reliance on synthetic antimicrobials and enhancing larval growth and resilience, the study demonstrates the potential of plant-based additives to advance sustainable aquaculture practices. The application of C. asiatica can contribute to improved production efficiency, lower mortality rates, and more economically viable prawn farming systems