Growth performance, haematology and intestinal histo‐morphology of Nile tilapia fed on Indian Lotus (Nelumbo nuciferaGaertn.) leaf powder at different concentrations

Abstract

Indian lotus, Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) is a valued medicinal plant that exhibits several pharmacological properties. The present work aimed to investigate the effect of Indian lotus as a feed supplement on the growth performance, haematological and biochemical indices, and intestinal histo‐morphology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.). The fish were randomly distributed into four groups and fed on a basal diet containing Indian lotus leaf powder at different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4%) for up to 60 days. The results elucidated that Indian lotus supplemented diets (0.2% and 0.4% followed by 0.1%) significantly improved weight gain, specific growth rate (%) and feed conversion ratio (p < .05). The feed intake was significantly increased in the fish fed on the Indian lotus supplemented diets in a dose‐dependent manner (p < .05). However, Indian lotus had no significant effect (p > .05) on survival rate, total erythrocytes (RBCs) count, haemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit value (PCV, %) except a significant reduction on Hb content of the fish fed on 0.2% Indian lotus and a significant increase in PCV (%) in the fish fed on 0.1% Indian lotus (p < .05). The total leucocytes (WBCs), neutrophils and lymphocytes counts displayed significant elevations in the fish fed on the Indian lotus diets especially at 0.2% and 0.4%, whereas significant reduction in neutrophils count in the fish fed on 0.1% Indian lotus (p < .05) was observed. The serum glucose was significantly decreased in the fish fed on Indian lotus (0.1% and 0.2%), whereas cholesterol and triglycerides were markedly increased in the fish fed on the Indian lotus supplemented diets (p < .05). Moreover, the intestinal villous heights and the numbers of goblet cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) were significantly boosted in all parts of the intestine in all Indian lotus diet groups as compared with the control group. However, as an exception, villous heights in the middle part of the intestine in the fish fed on 0.1% and 0.4% diets (p < .05) were not affected. In the proximal part, the villous heights and the numbers of goblet cells were markedly increased in fish fed on 0.2% and 0.4% diets followed by 0.1% diet. The fish fed on 0.2% lotus supplemented diet followed by 0.1% and 0.4% supplemented diets exhibited significant elevations in villous heights in the distal part and the numbers of goblet cells in the middle part of the intestine. There were no significant differences between the fish fed on the supplemented diets in the numbers of goblet cells in the distal part and the numbers of IEL in the proximal and middle parts (p > .05). In the distal part, the numbers of IEL revealed a significant elevation in 0.4% lotus supplemented diet followed by 0.1% and 0.2% lotus supplemented diet groups (p < .05). Therefore, this study indicates the advantageous effect of the Indian lotus leaves as a natural feed additive for improving growth, intestinal structure and hence, health status of Nile tilapia.

Dietary combination of pawpaw seed and onion peel powder: Impact on growth, haematology, biochemical and antioxidant status of Clarias gariepinus

“…POP) has the potency to enhance the basic elements of the innate immunity in C. gariepinus . A similar proliferation of lymphocytes and enhanced leucocyte counts was reported in Nile tilapia fed graded level of Indian lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera ) leaf powder (Abdelrahman et al, 2019). Also, Gultepe, Bilen, Yilmaz, Guroy, and Aydin (2014) showed that the monocyte level was higher in Oreochromis mossambicus fed diets supplemented with thyme, rosemary and fenugreek.…”

“…In aquatic vertebrate, haemato‐biochemical indices of blood are efficient indicators often used to examine the physiological condition and welfare of cultured fish (Abdel Rahman, Hassanin, & ElHady, 2019; Fawole et al, 2017; Hoseinifar, Mirvaghefi, & Merrifield, 2011). In the current study, the RBC, Hb and PCV values were similar among the group, and this signifies that the POP did not elicit any negative effect on the fish physiological status, and the values were within the normal range reported for Clarias gariepinus (Bello, Olaifa, & Emikpe, 2014).…”

Use of rice protein concentrates inOreochromis niloticusdiets and its effect on growth, intestinal morphology, biochemical indices and ghrelin gene expression

“…The fish were enumerated and weighed individually at the beginning as initial body weight (IBW) and at the end of the experiment as final body weight (FBW). The growth performance and feed utilization indices as weight gain (WG, g), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) as well as survival rate (SR) were calculated according to Ramezani (2009) and Abdel Rahman et al (2019) as follows:…”

“…Tissue sections (5 μm thick) were prepared and stained with haematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E). Slides were examined by Image J software version 1.45 (National Institutes of Health) for morphometric analysis (villus height and width and Goblet cells number) according to Pirarat et al (2015) and Abdel Rahman, Hassanin, et al (2019).…”

Effect of Duyun Compound Green Tea on Gut Microbiota Diversity in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Mice Revealed by Illumina High-Throughput Sequencing

“…Duyun compound green tea is a traditional folk formula composed of green tea and five other Chinese herbal medicines, which are broadleaf holly, sweet tea, lotus, wild mint, and honeysuckle. They can ameliorate intestinal conditions [ 25 – 27 ] or antiobesity [ 28 , 29 ]. In this study, it was used to change the composition of intestinal microbiota, providing a new treatment option for metabolic syndrome and providing new methods and new ideas for the development of personalized medicine and obesity treatment.…”