EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC Moringa oleifera LEAVES EXTRACT ON PLASMA BIOCHEMISTRY AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL INDICES OF Heterobranchus bidorsalis BROODSTOCK

Abstract

This study investigated effect of ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves (EMOLE) on the plasma
biochemistry and histopathological indices of Heterobranchus bidorsalis broodstock. Four isonitrogenous diets
(crude protein 40%) were prepared with EMOLE at treatment concentrations (grams): 0% (control), 1%, 2% and
3% inclusion levels. The H. bidorsalis (n=72; 800.00+150.00g) were randomly distributed in triplicate to
treatment diets in a completely randomized 2x4 factorial design representing the male and female broodstocks
and the four dietary inclusion levels respectively. They were fed at 5% body weight twice daily for 16 weeks. A
total of 24 broodstock samples per replicate tanks was used with 3 replicates to a treatment were used for the
analyses. The ALT (IU/L), AST (µL), Glucose (Glu) (mg/dl) as well as the liver and intestines of the fish samples
were investigated after the feeding trial following standard procedures. There was no significant difference in the
values of AST in the female fish fed inclusion levels of ENOLE diets. However, the female fish recorded
significantly highest ALT (37.33±3.2IU/L) and highest AST (27.42±2.4µL) in 3% EMOLE, compared to the least
(23.20±0.69 IU/L and 26.01±1.00 µL) obtained in control and 1%-EMOLE, respectively. While in the male fish,
the significantly highest ALT (24.93±0.64IU/L) and AST (28.48±3.46µL) were recorded in 3%-EMOLE and the
least (20.60±0.67IU/L and 23.12±2.18µL) were obtained in 1%-EMOLE, respectively. The male and female fish
sampled, revealed no visible lesions in the intestines and liver across various treatments except the 2% and 3%
inclusion levels which revealed mild villi/mucosal erosion, mild portal congestion in the intestine and liver
respectively. The results suggest improved biochemical composition of the fish by Moringa oleifera leave extract
necessary for boosting growth, immunity and health conditions, however, at greater than 1% additive inclusion
level, key organs like liver may be impacted.