In the field of aquaculture, various feed additives have been investigated. Panax ginseng Meyer, a traditional herbal supplement, has shown promising results across multiple farmed aquatic species. However, studies on its application in Penaeus vannamei, a major aquaculture shrimp species, are still scarce. This research examined the impacts of P. ginseng on P. vannamei, focusing on growth performance, innate immune parameters, and the intestinal microbiome. Juvenile shrimp received standard commercial diets supplemented with red ginseng extract at five levels (0.00%, 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.50%, and 1.00%) over a 6-week period. Body weight measurements were taken on days 21 and 42. On day 42, three shrimp from each group were sampled for additional assessments. In the growth trial, the 0.10% group demonstrated markedly better final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the 0.00% control group by day 42. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed significantly elevated IGF-BP gene expression in the 0.05%, 0.10%, and 1.00% groups relative to the control. For innate immunity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was notably higher in the 0.05% and 0.50% groups compared to the control. Microbiome profiling indicated that the 0.10% group had increased abundance of Flavobacteriaceae and reduced Vibrionaceae at the family level versus the control. At the genus level, this group showed higher levels of unclassified Flavobacteriaceae and lower Vibrio compared to the 0.00% group. Dietary inclusion of P. ginseng improved growth performance, immune function, and microbial community structure in P. vannamei. Additional investigations into optimal dosage and potential use of red ginseng by-products may further enhance productivity and economic viability in shrimp farming.
