Effects of Moringa oleifera aqueous ethanolic ethanolic extract on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities and antioxidant enzymes activities in nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

In the present study, it is aimed to investigate the effects of 30% aqueous ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera on growth parameters, digestive enzymes, and antioxidant enzyme activities in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A total of 240 juvenile Nile tilapia, with an average weight of 10.05 ± 0.87 g, were randomly distributed to the aquariums in three replicates. Fish were fed with feeds containing M. oleifera aqueous ethanolic extract at different levels (0% (control), 1% (MO1), 2% (MO2), and 3% (MO3)) during the 75-day trial period. At the end of the study, it was determined that the use of 1% M. oleifera aqueous ethanolic extract significantly increased fish growth parameters such as final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed efficiency ratio, and condition factor compared to the control and other experimental groups (P < 0.5). Viscerosomatic index (VSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) increased in the group fed with 2% M. oleifera extract compared to the other experimental and control groups (P < 0.5). Moreover, antioxidant enzyme activities such as SOD, CAT, GPx, and G6PDH were significantly increased (P < 0.5) when supplemented with M. oliefera extract. MDA activity in MO2 group decreased compared to the control and other experimental groups (P < 0.5). Additionally, when the results of digestive enzyme activities were examined, it was determined that trypsin activity increased in the MO3 group in the first stage of the study (P < 0.5). At the same time, lipase activity levels increased in the MO1 group compared to the control group at different sampling times (P < 0.5). At the end of the study, amylase activity increased significantly in the MO2 group (P < 0.5). Pepsin activity level increased significantly in the MO3 group on the 60th day of the study (P < 0.5). All these results showed that M. oliefera supplementation as 30% aqueous ethanolic extract could increase growth performance, feed utilization, and digestive enzyme activities. Additionally, it has been determined that including M. oliefera ethanolic extract in the diet can stimulate antioxidant enzyme activities in Nile tilapia.