Effect of Galangal (Alpinia galanga L.) Rhizome for the Health of Cultured Fish

For fish farmers, the disease are the biggest cause of loss. In an effort to control the disease is often done by using synthetic antibiotics. The continuous use of synthetic antibiotics with uncontrolled doses can lead to resistance of pathogenic microbes to these antibiotics, accumulation of antibiotics in the aquatic environment and fish bodies which is certainly dangerous for human health and other aquatic biota. The use of herbal ingredients is the right strategy for disease control in fish, because it is relatively safer and cheaper. Medicinal ingredients derived from plants have been used for thousands of years as traditional medicine by people in various parts of the world. This traditional medicine is widely used by the community not only for treatment (curative), but also as an alternative to prevent disease, to rehabilitation and also to increase immunity and health. Galangal rhizome contains several chemical compounds, namely phenols/tannins, quinones, steroids/triterpenoids, flavonoids. Based on the phytochemical content, galangal rhizome has several pharmacological property that are useful for human health, namely as antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, antioxidant, immunostimulant, anti-ulcerative, anti-tumor, and anti-allergenic activities. In addition, galangal (Alpinia galanga L.) rhizomes can improve growth and feed efficiency. The purpose of this article is to describe the extent to which galangal rhizomes can be used to maintain the health of cultured fish. Based on the previou studies, galangal rhizome is potential and effective for maintaining fish health, because the antibacterial properties of legkuas rhizome can treat several species of cultured fish Cyprinus carpio, Oreochromis niloticusand Clarias gariepinus which are infected with the pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas hydrophilla. In vitro test results of galangal rhizome are bacteriostatic against pathogenic bacteria in fish, namely Edwardsiella tarda. The antifungal properties of galangal rhizomes can treat Oreochromis niloticus, Kryptoterus bicirrhis, Osphronemus gouramy and Borbonymus gonionotus infested with fungus Saprolegnia sp. As an immunostimulant, galangal rhizome is able to prevent eggs and fry of C. gariepinus from being attacked by Saprolegniasp, Pseudomnas sp. and A. hydrophilla.