Enhanced Growth Performance,Haemato-biochemical and Immune Parameters of Asian Seabass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch,1790) Fed Dietary Supplementation with Polygonum chinense

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effects of Polygonum chinense extract (PCE) on the growth performance, haemato-biochemical and innate immunity parameters of Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790). The fish with an average weight of 9.5 ± 0.2 g were fed for 60 days using three supplementation diets of PCE at 0.2 %, 0.5 % and 1.0 %, and a non-supplemented diet as a control. Fish fed on 0.5 % PCE diet revealed significant higher body weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, condition factor, and significantly lower feed conversion ratio. Dietary supplementation with 0.5 and 1.0 % showed a significant increase in red blood cell count and haemoglobin level, but the white blood cell count significantly increased only in 1.0 % diet. The alkaline phosphatase level significantly increased in fish group fed 0.2 and 0.5 % diets, but the aspartate transaminase level significantly decreases in 0.2 and 1.0 % groups. Meanwhile, all PCE supplemented diets showed significant increase in total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin: globulin ratio, total immunoglobulin, lysozyme, respiratory burst and phagocytic activities, and significantly reduced the alkaline transaminase level. These results suggest that dietary P. chinense supplementation at 0.5 % was found to be suitable to enhance the growth performance and immune status of Asian seabass.