Impacts of Medicinal Plant-Derived Compounds on Aquatic Animal Physiology

Aquatic physiology investigates how organisms such as fish, crustaceans, and mollusks adapt to and thrive in the fluctuating conditions of their watery environments. These animals continually encounter variations in salinity, temperature, dissolved gases, hydrostatic pressure, and other environmental stressors, challenging their ability to maintain homeostasis and physiological function. Recently, plant-derived bioactives—including phytochemicals, purified compounds, and standardised botanical extracts—have emerged as promising modulators of physiological processes in aquatic species. Accumulating evidence demonstrates the potential of these compounds to influence stress responses, redox and immune balance, metabolism, digestion, and host–microbiota interactions. However, despite growing interest, the detailed cellular and molecular mechanisms by which plant-based compounds affect key physiological responses remain unclear, and further research is needed to elucidate species-specific and context-dependent effects.This Research Topic aims to advance mechanistic understanding of how plant-derived compounds regulate physiological functions and adaptive responses in aquatic animals. The primary goal is to clarify how these bioactives affect endocrine signaling, antioxidant defenses, metabolic regulation, digestive and immune physiology, as well as the homeostatic processes underpinning osmotic, ionic, and acid–base balance, especially under environmental or husbandry-derived stressors. By integrating cellular, molecular, and systems-level approaches—including omics and functional assays—this Research Topic seeks to define species-, tissue-, and life-stage-specific physiological responses, characterize dose-dependent effects (beneficial, neutral, or adverse), and establish the translational relevance of plant-derived compounds in promoting adaptation and resilience in aquatic environments.This Research Topic will focus on fundamental regulatory mechanisms, rather than product development or commercial application, thus emphasizing experimental, comparative, and integrative studies of aquatic animal physiology. Broader ecological or chemical studies beyond physiological regulation fall outside the core boundaries. To gather further insights in the physiological impacts and adaptive roles of plant-derived bioactives, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Plant-derived bioactives and stress physiology in aquatic animalso Redox regulation, antioxidant defenses, and oxidative stress responseso Immunophysiology and inflammatory signaling pathways modulated by plant-derived compoundso Energy metabolism, nutrient sensing, and metabolic homeostasiso Feeding, digestion, and gut physiological function, including host–microbiota interactionso Osmotic, ionic, and acid–base regulation influenced by plant-derived compoundso Endocrine and hormonal regulation of physiological processeso Comparative and developmental physiology, including species- and life stage-specific responseso Physiological responses to salinity change, thermal stress, hypoxia, pollution, and other environmental challenges, and the role of plant-derived compounds in these responseso Multi-omics and integrative approaches linked to functional physiological outcomeso Dose-response relationships, safety, and adverse physiological effects of defined compounds or well-characterized extracts Topic editors: Li Huatao, Qihui Yang, Ibrahim Adeshina, Rakesh Kumar Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80564/impacts-of-medicinal-plant-derived-compounds-on-aquatic-animal-physiology