Dietary effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) and liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) on growth performance, antioxidant activities and stress resistance in Oreochromis niloticus

Basha, Sarah A.; Abd El-Gawad, Eman A.; Abd EL Latif, Ashraf A.; A. Abbass, Amany

doi:10.21608/bvmj.2018.47876

Dietary effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) and liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) on growth performance, antioxidant activities and stress resistance in Oreochromis niloticus

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Directorate of Veterinary Medicine Gharbiya Governorate, Egypt.

² Department of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Egypt.

³ Department of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha

10.21608/bvmj.2018.47876

Abstract

This work aimed to investigate the effect of dietary fenugreek seeds and liquorice roots on growth performance, immune status, antioxidant and stress resistance in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). For this, five groups of fish each in duplicate were used, the 1st 2 groups were fed daily on experimental diets 1% and 2% (wt/wt) fenugreek; the 2nd 2 groups were received 1% and 2 % (wt/wt) liquorice and the remaining group was fed on control diet for 90 days. Growth performance (ABW, WG, WGR, SGR, L and LGR) and intestino-somatic index of fish fed 2% fenugreek supplemented diet were significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared to control. Hematological parameters (RBCs, WBCs, PCV, hemoglobin concentration and DLC) revealed significant increase in groups fed 2 % fenugreek and 2% liquorice. Serum total protein and globulin were significantly increased in groups received 1 and 2 % liquorice supplemented diets. Liver enzyme (ALT) in fish fed 1 and 2 % liquorice diets was lower than control. Blood cortisol and glucose showed significant decrease with 1 % fenugreek. Liquorice treated groups exhibited significant decrease in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Hepatic antioxidant enzymes [(SOD), (CAT), and (GSH)] showed significant increase with 2 % dietary fenugreek and 2% liquorice, while Malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly decreased compared to control. Post feeding, sub-groups of fish were exposed to 6 days starvation and hypoxia stress and the results showed that, cortisol and glucose levels were significantly decreased in groups fed 2 % fenugreek and liquorice treated diets and the antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and GSH response were characterized by significant improvement with lower oxidative stress (MDA) level compared to control. Results suggested that dietary supplementation of fenugreek seeds and liquorice roots enhance growth performance and improve resistance against starvation and hypoxia in Oreochromis niloticus.

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