Extracts of black cumin (Nigella sativa) as an immunostimulant Catfish infected with Aeromonas hydrophila Dumbo

Catfish (Clarias sp.) is a fish that is widely available in Indonesia. One of the catfish commonly found in Indonesia are fish African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Fish species of African catfish is a catfish that was first introduced in 1984, obtained from the cross between female parent and the parent Taiwan native catfish males who come from Africa. African catfish was first signed in Indonesia in 1986, imported from Taiwan.

Figure 1. Fish African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

African catfish has a lot of fish cultured in Indonesia. Fish cultivation are often affected by the disease are not rare fish and kelulusanhidupan thwart the growth of fish resulting in mass mortality in cultured fish (crop failure). Fish disease caused by the interaction between environment, organism and fish that are not balanced. Fish diseases can be caused by physical, chemical, and biological. Diseases caused by physical or chemical are generally not infectious (non-infectious). While diseases caused by biological causes most contagious (infection).

Aeromonas hidrophila is a bacteria that can infect fish. Susanto (1988), reported that Aeromonas hidrophila can cause mass mortality in African catfish fish, so that Aeromonas hidrophila a separate threat of fear to fish farmers or fish farmers African catfish.
One of the treatment of diseases caused by microorganisms (bacteria) on the cultivation of African catfish is an antibiotic. Antibiotics as therapeutic agent treatment has indeed been much help, but it also raises the negative excesses, which cause new diseases and bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Therefore, the need for environmentally sound handling and African catfish fish is able to recover from the bacterial infection, which is immunostimulatory.
Immunostimulants are chemicals, drugs, stressors, or action that increases non-specific immune response or innate (innate immune response) that interact directly with cells of the system that activates the innate immune response. Immunostimulants are substances that can increase resistance to infectious disease, not improve the specific immune response (acquired immune response), but increased non-specific immune response either through the defense mechanism of humoral and cellular defense (Sakai, 1999). Fish have been known to rely more on mechanisms of non-specific immune system or bahawan (innate immune system) of the specific or adaptive immune system (Anderson, 1992)...

Figure 2. Black cumin (Nigella sativa)

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is a plant that has the potential as an immunostimulant for being able to boost the immune system in the face of pathogens. Black seed contains several active ingredients including, Thymowuinone (TQ), Dithymoquinone (DTQ), Thymohidriquinone (THQ), and Thmol (THY). Tumar (2006) reported that extracts of black cumin (Nigella sativa) can inhibit or even to kill the bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila. In addition, Hendrik (2007) adds that the black seed extract can stimulate and strengthen the human body kekealan system through increased quantity, quality, and the activity of immune cells of the human body. El-Kadi and Kandil (1986) reported that extracts of black cumin influential strengthen immune function, where the levels of helper T cells increased compared to T suppressor cells with an average ratio of 72% and an increase in activity of natural killer cells average average 75%.
Endarti (2009) reported that extracts of black cumin (Nigella sativa) is a material potansial for use as immunostimulatory agents in African catfish fish infected with Aeromonas hydrophila since been able to increase white blood cell count and differential leukocyte dangat role in non-specific immune response . In addition, extracts of black cumin with a concentration of 9% indicated that the number of white blood cells (leukocytes) before the challenge test and registration 97243.33 25516.67 mm3 mm3 after challenge test.
Immunostimulator activity of extracts of black cumin seed fish in African catfish include increasing the number of white blood cells (leukocytes), especially neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila infection as indicated by the highest survival rate at 90%.
Reference
Endarti. 2009. Effect of Extracts of black cumin as an immunostimulant against Catfish Hematology Dumbo.
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