Rao, V. Y., Singh, M. R., Singh, A. and Chakrabarti, R. 2004. Potentiation of antibody production in Indian major carp Labeo rohita, rohu by Achyranthes aspera as a herbal feed ingredients. Aquaculture 238: 67-73

Labeo rohita, rohu (200±17 g), were fed with two types of diets; an experimental diet, containing root extract (0.5%) of Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae) as an ingredient and control diet without the root extract. After 4 weeks of feeding, fish were immunized with chicken RBC. Antigen-specific antibody response, total serum globulin and RNA/DNA ratio of spleen were determined for 4 weeks after immunization. Antigen-specific antibody and total serum globulin levels peaked on day 14 after immunization and gradually decreased towards day 28. Though hemagglutination antibody (HA) titers were always higher in the test group than the control group, total serum globulin level was significantly higher only on days 14 and 21. The sequential relationship between RNA/DNA ratio and protein level was found in the present study, as the RNA/DNA ratio was maximum on day 7 followed by higher serum protein level on day 14 in both groups. The RNA/DNA ratio was significantly (P<0.05) higher in test group of fish than the control group on days 7 and 14. These results showed the immunostimulatory activity of the prepared diet containing root extract of A. aspera.

Rao, V. Y. and Chakrabarti, R. 2004. Enhanced anti-proteases in Labeo rohita fed with diet containing herbal ingredients. Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry 19: 132-134.

Aqueous root extract of Achyranthes aspera was incorporated in the experimental diet of Labeo rohita (rohu). Control diet was prepared without root extract. Feeding of fishes with experimental diet has significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the serum anti-proteases level than fishes fed with control diet.

Rao, V. Y. and Chakrabarti, R. 2005. Stimulation of immunity in Indian major carp Catla catla with herbal feed ingredients. Fish & Shellfish Immunology 18: 327-334.

Catla catla, catla (150 ± 20 g) were fed a diet containing seed of Achyranthes aspera (0.5%) and control diet without A. aspera for four weeks prior to and after ip injection with chicken erythrocytes. Fish were sampled for four consecutive weeks after immunization. Hemagglutination antibody titers were significantly higher in the test group of fishes compared with the control group. Serum globulin levels were significantly (P_t-test<0.05) higher in the test group than control group on days 14 and 21. Anti-trypsin activity due to total serum protease inhibitors and a1-antiprotease was also significantly (P_t-test<0.05) higher in the test group of fishes than the control. RNA/DNA ratio of spleen and kidney was also significantly (P_t-test<0.05) higher in test group than the control group. All these results confirm that A. aspera enhances the immunity of catla.

Vasudeva Rao, Y. and Chakrabarti, R. 2005. Dietary incorporation of Achyranthes aspera seed influences the immunity of common carp Cyprinus carpio. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 75: 1097-1102.

Achyranthes aspera seed (0.5%) was incorporated in the diet for Cyprinus carpio (90±17 g); control diet was prepared without the seed of Achyranthes. After four weeks of feeding, fish were immunized with chicken RBC and were sampled for four weeks after immunization. Antigen-specific antibody response, total serum protein, serum albumin and globulin, lysozyme, serum a1-protease inhibitor and a2-macroglobulin, and RNA/DNA ratio of spleen and kidney were determined. The immune response of the fish was enhanced when fed with experimental diet containing Achyranthes aspera. Hemagglutinating antibody titres were significantly (P<0.05) higher in Achyranthes treated group than control group. Serum globulin level was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the test group than the control one on second week. Serum a2-macroglobulin level was also significantly higher in test group than control, but there was no significant difference in a1-protease inhibitor level. RNA/DNA ratio was higher in the test group than the control group. All these results confirm that Achyranthes aspera enhances the immunity of Cyprinus carpio.

Vasudeva Rao, Y., Das, B.K., Jyotyrmayee, P. and Chakrabarti R. 2005 Effect of Achyranthes aspera on the immunity and survival of Labeo rohita infected with Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish & Shellfish Immunology 20: 263-273 
 

Achyranthes aspera seed was incorporated in the diets (at 0.01%, 0.1% and 0.5%) of Labeo rohita, rohu fingerlings (3.0 ± 0.4 g). After 2 weeks, the fish were immunized with heat-killed Aeromonas hydrophila, and after a further 2 weeks the rohu were experimentally infected with Aeromonas hydrophila (ATCC 49140). After 7 days blood and serum were sampled to determine superoxide anion production, bactericidal activity, lysozyme, serum protein, albumin, globulin, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Superoxide anion production, serum bactericidal activity, lysozyme, ALP, serum protein, albumin:globulin ratio (A/G) were enhanced in Achyranthes treated groups compared to the control group. SGOT and SGPT levels were elevated in control group, but in Achyranthes treated groups the levels were similar to the uninfected-control group. Higher cumulative mortalities were observed in the control group (77%) up to day-9 after infection. This gradually decreased with increasing dose of Achyranthes, 66% mortality in 0.01% group, 57% mortality in 0.1% group and 28% mortality in 0.5% group. These results indicate that Achyranthes aspera stimulates immunity and increases resistance to infection in L. rohita.
 

Chakrabarti, R. and Vasudeva Rao. Y. 2006. Achyranthes aspera stimulates the immunity and enhances the antigen clearance in Catla catla. International Immunopharmacology 6/5, 782-790.

Achyranthes aspera, an Indian medicinal plant (family: Amaranthaceae) was incorporated in artificial fish diet, and fed to catla Catla catla. After 4 weeks of feeding, fish were immunized with bovine serum albumin (BSA), spleen and blood were sampled on weekly intervals for four times after immunization. Antigen-specific antibody level in serum was determined by ELISA. Antigen clearance was determined in spleen by immuno-electron microscopy. Achyranthes has significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the BSA-specific antibody titers than the untreated control group throughout the study period. The efficiency of antigen clearance was also enhanced in C. catla treated with Achyranthes.