Effects of Dietary Doum Palm Fruit Powder on Growth Antioxidant Capacity Immune Response and Disease Resistance of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (B.)

摘要

In aquaculture, medicinal plants and their by-products can be effectively used as natural immune-stimulants, growth promoters, anti-stress agents, and antimicrobials. However, very few studies have been conducted to evaluate the possible use of doum palm fruit powder (DPFP) in diets for African catfish. In this study, four experimental diets with four levels of DPFP (0, 5, 10, and 15 g kg diet) in African catfish were evaluated. The findings suggested that DPFP is a good dietary supplement in the aquaculture, which can positively influence fish growth, intestinal histomorphology, hepatic antioxidant activity phagocytic percent and index, lysozyme activity, nitric oxide (NO) production, and disease resistance against challenge.