Effects of dietary supplementation of <i>Achyranthes aspera</i> extract on growth performance, digestibility, innate immunity, antioxidant capacity, and disease resistance of juvenile Pacific white shrimp, <i>Penaeus vannamei</i>

Abstract A supplemental effect of Achyranthes aspera extract (200 mg/kg phytosterol) in diets was evaluated for Pacific white shrimp ( Penaeus vannamei ) on growth performance, digestibility, innate immunity, antioxidant capacity, and disease resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus . fish meal soybean meal‐based control diet (Con; protein 38.0% lipid 8.7%) formulated five other were prepared by adding A. into Con to be 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 mg phytosterol/kg concentration (designated as P05, P10, P20, P40, P80, respectively). Three replicate groups 30 (initial body weight, 0.40 ± 0.001 g) per randomly assigned 18 acrylic tanks (240 L) fed one the 53 days. The performance feed utilization efficiency significantly higher P20 P80 than P10 diets. dietary phytosterol supplementation improved non‐specific immune response, apparent digestibility coefficients dry matter shrimp. IGF‐binding gene expression also upregulated with supplementation. During challenge test, enhanced V. when diet. These results indicate that could used a functional additive improvements efficiency, optimum inclusion level seems 0.2–0.4