Abstract
Abstract This study evaluates how white mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf extracts affect the growth, antioxidant activity, and immune response in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Mulberry leaf extracts were obtained through aqueous extraction (AE) and ethanol extraction (EE). Powder of mulberry leaf (PML) was added directly to feed and compared with the effects of feeds supplemented with the different extracts. Fish were divided into eight groups for an 8-week feeding trial where they were fed the basal diet or supplemented with 10% PML, 10% AE, 20% AE, 40% AE, 10% EE, 20% EE, or 40% EE. The inclusion of mulberry leaf extract obtained with either method showed better effects on fish growth performance, antioxidant activities and acid phosphatase activity (ACP) in serum, immune cytokine expression, and intestinal morphology as compared with controls or fish fed the 10% PML diet. The specific growth rate was significantly higher in the 10% AE, 10% EE, and 20% EE groups compared with all other groups (P<0.05). Catalase activity was significantly greater in most groups fed an extract, and in the 10% PML group, when compared with controls. Similarly, ACP, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-2 expression was significantly increased in groups fed an extract, and in the 10% PML group, when compared with controls (P<0.05). IL- 1, IL-2, IL-10, and Toll-like receptor 2 expression was significantly greater in the 10% EE group than in the 10% PML and 10% AE groups (P<0.05). Villus length in the middle intestine was significantly increased in the 10% AE and 10% EE groups compared with controls and the 10% PML group (P<0.05). Thus, 10% mulberry leaf ethanol extract added to feed is recommended for enhancing the growth rate and health of cultured Nile tilapia.
Highlights
Many factors threaten the health of cultured fish, especially disease outbreaks and environmental pollution
The content of total polysaccharides was higher in the mulberry leaf aqueous extract (AE) than in the mulberry leaf ethanol extract (EE), while the content of total polyphenols was lower in AE than in EE
The final weight, weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly increased in the 10 %AE, 10% EE, and 20% EE groups when compared with the controls (P
Summary
Many factors threaten the health of cultured fish, especially disease outbreaks and environmental pollution. Many studies have shown that mulberry leaf has good palatability and is rich in nutrients, with especially high crude protein content and a variety of fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, bioactive substances and phytonutrients (Chan et al, 2016; Chen et al, 2021; Liu et al, 2019). Mulberry leaf has been successfully used as a dietary protein supplement in aquaculture and in poultry and livestock farming (Ali et al, 2020; Kandylis et al, 2009; Kaviraj et al, 2013; Kong et al, 2019; Lin et al, 2017; Liu et al, 2019; Neamat-Allah et al, 2021 b). We investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with mulberry leaf extracts, obtained by either aqueous or ethanol extraction, on the growth, immune response and antioxidant functions, meat quality, and intestinal morphology of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Mulberry leaf added to a fish feed formulation is ecofriendly and environmentally sustainable; our results will be beneficial for the further development and application of mulberry leaf in aquaculture
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