Effect of two medicinal herbs (Astragalus radixandLonicera japonica) on the growth performance and body composition of juvenile pikeperch [Sander lucioperca(L.)]

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of feeding juvenile pikeperch diets with medicinal herb adjuvants on the growth performance, proximate body composition, fatty acids profile (whole fish, muscle tissues, viscera) and cytological and histological indicators of the liver and middle intestine. The fish (mean body weight of ca. 110 g) were fed diets with a 0.1% supplement of Astragalus radix (group A), Lonicera japonica (group L) or a mixture of these herbs (A. radix+L. japonica; group A/L) for 8 weeks. The herbal supplementation was not noted to have had an impact on the analysed indicators of fish growth performance, condition or feed conversion ratio (P>0.05). Statistically significant intergroup differences were noted in the value of the hepatosomatic index, hepatocyte size, their nucleus and nucleus/cytoplasm diameter ratio (P<0.05). Significant intergroup differences were also noted in the appearance of the hepatic parenchyma. Statistically significant intergroup differences were also noted in the protein content of the whole fish body. The analysis of the proximal composition of the fish viscera, in turn, indicated significant differences in the fat content (P<0.05). Among the analysed group of fatty acids (saturated – SFA, monoenoic – MUFA, polyenoic – PUFA) contained in the whole fish, the fillets and the viscera, significant intergroup differences were noted with regard to SFA (viscera) and MUFA (whole fish) (P<0.05). The total PUFA content was stable, although significant intergroup differences were noted with regard to a few of the acids that belong to this group (P<0.05).

Integrative approach of histopathology and histomorphometry of common carp (Cyprinus carpioL.) organs as a marker of general fish health state in pond culture

“…Ten microphotographs were taken per fish and the nuclear and cytoplasmic profile areas of the hepatocytes were measured (mean area of 50 cells per fish), and the nucleus:cytoplasm ratio (N/C) was calculated (Ostaszewska, Dabrowski, Palacios, Olejniczak & Wieczorek ). The enterocyte size and absorptive area were determined on a mean height of 50 cells per fish (Zakęś, Kowalska, Demska‐Zakęś, Jeney & Jeney ). The number of goblet cells was counted on a 100 μm −1 length of the distal intestines.…”

Beneficial roles of feed additives as immunostimulants in aquaculture: a review

“…A better understanding of modes of action may lead to effective and appropriate applications of medicinal plants in aquaculture because effects of administration of herbal adjuvant may be species specific (Zakęś et al . ).…”

The use of medicinal plants as immunostimulants in aquaculture: A review

“…They can be administered as a whole plant or parts (leaf, root or seed) or extract compounds, via water routine or feed additives, either singly or as a combination of extract compounds, or even as a mixture with prebiotics or other immunostimulants. A better understanding of modes of action may lead to effective and appropriate applications of medicinal plants in aquaculture, because effects of administration of herbal adjuvant may be species specific (Zakęś et al, 2008). Unfortunately, the mode of action is not always addressed, especially in molecular mechanism levels.…”