At Novomed, we set out to tackle a major challenge in modern aquaculture: replacing harmful antibiotics and chemicals with safe, natural alternatives.
Drawing on our expertise in essential oils, natural compounds, and aquaculture research, we developed a novel product—NOF—that supports shrimp health and resilience against major pathogens while improving farming outcomes.
Our research focused on combating Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the causative agent of AHPND (Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease), as well as other viral threats including IMNV and WSSV. The NOF formulation, which includes anethole, anisylacetone, borneol, phenylethyl alcohol, and glycols, was shown through in-silico studies to inhibit critical pathogenic mechanisms such as PirAvp receptor binding and toxin complex formation.
In vitro, NOF exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against a range of bacteria and Candida albicans, while also significantly suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine production in immune cells—highlighting its potential as a dual antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent.
Bioassay trials confirmed NOF’s effectiveness. In an AHPND challenge, shrimp survival reached 86.7% at 40 ppm NOF, compared to only 43.3% in untreated controls. Similar success was observed in trials against IMNV and WSSV, where feed-incorporated NOF significantly improved survival rates under controlled infection conditions.
In commercial grow-out ponds, NOF-based essential oils improved final shrimp harvests by 15%, survival rates by 10%, and feed conversion ratios (FCR), offering not just health benefits but real performance gains.
This case demonstrates how nature-powered innovation can deliver safer, more sustainable solutions to global aquaculture challenges.