Experimental Evaluation of the Wound-healing and Antioxidant Activities of Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) Pulp and Leaf Meal in the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Abstract

DOI : 10.26650/actavet.2018.011 The fruits and leaves of Tamarindus indica have been widely used in traditional medicine for treating wounds and other diseases in Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the wound-healing property of T. indica pulp (TP) and leaf (TL) meal and the importance of antioxidant enzymes in the wound-healing process in the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Surgical incisions of 10 mm2 were made aseptically on the lateral part of the catfish, above the pelvic fin and toward the caudal region. The fish were fed experimental diets composed of basal diet fortified with each of TP or TL at concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 0.0% (untreated) and 0.2% oxytetracycline (treated) as controls in triplicate groups. Changes occurring in the wound area (mm2) were measured at 3-day-intervals for 15 days. The healing rates and the relative percentage of healing were calculated. Sera collected from the experimental fish were analyzed for oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant enzymes. The results showed that fish fed diets treated with TP or TL had significantly faster (p<0.05) daily healing rates at the lateral and caudal regions from the 6th to the 12th day compared with those in the control groups. Percentage wound-healing (PWH) at the lateral and caudal regions was significantly enhanced (p<0.05) from the 6th day in the tamarind-treated groups. The PWH reached the peak (100%) at the lateral region on the 12th day in fish fed 0.5–2.0% of TL and 1.5%–2.0% of TP diets. Dietary treatment with TP and TL resulted in a lower production of serum malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels, whereas the reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase levels increased. Fortifying diets of C. gariepinus with 1.0%–2.0% of TP and TL meal enhanced wound-healing significantly compared to that of natural healing and with oxytetracycline-fortified diet. The faster wound-healing rate might be a consequence of elevated levels of serum antioxidants in the fish fed tamarind-fortified diets.