Title : Reproductive and hormonal performance of Heterobranchus bidorsalis Geoffroy St. Hilairy (1809) broodstock fed varying inclusion levels of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts
Abstract:
Adequate nutrition is essential for broodstock development and the production of quality offspring in aquaculture. The addition of synthetic dietary supplements has a positive influence on gonad maturation and spawning in fish. However, these synthetic supplements are scarce and expensive. Previous studies have identified the potential of plant-based supplements, such as those obtainable from Moringa oleifera leaves, in fish feed. However, information on the efficacy of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts on the reproductive performance and progeny of commonly cultured fish such as Heterobranchus bidorsalis (Hb) is limited. This study aimed to assess the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract-based diets on the broodstock and progeny qualities of Heterobranchus bidorsalis.
Cold maceration was used to obtain extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves using water, ethanol, methanol, and diethyl ether. Flavonoid concentration (mg/g) was determined in each extract using phytochemical analysis. Extracts from the two solvents with the highest flavonoid concentrations were selected for inclusion in the fish diet. Four isonitrogenous diets (crude protein = 40%) were prepared with each extract at 0.0% (control), 1.0%, 2.0%, and 3.0% inclusion levels. In a feeding trial, Heterobranchus bidorsalis (n = 216; 800.00 ± 150.00 g) were randomly distributed in triplicates in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. Fish were fed the experimental diets at 5.0% body weight twice daily for 16 weeks. Milt motility (%), milt concentration (MC × 10?/mL), egg diameter (ED, mm), and fecundity were determined using standard procedures. Fertilization rate (FR, %), hatching rate (HR, %), and hatchling survival rate (HSR, %) were calculated across treatments. Testosterone (mIU/mL) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH, mIU/mL) levels were assessed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α = 0.05.
Extracts obtained using water had the highest flavonoid concentration (6.27 ± 0.01), followed by ethanol extract (5.36 ± 0.00), while diethyl ether extract was the lowest (2.16 ± 0.01). Milt motility and MC were significantly lowest (80.00 ± 2.89 and 169.66 ± 0.01, respectively) in the control and highest (92.00 ± 2.31 and 225.33 ± 0.02, respectively) in the 3.0% ethanol extract treatment. Egg diameter significantly varied from 1.12 ± 0.29 mm in the control to 1.75 ± 0.20 mm in the 2.0% ethanol extract treatment, while fecundity ranged from 2,791.67 ± 23.70 in the control to 6,118.00 ± 200.70 in the 3.0% ethanol extract treatment. FR, HR, and HSR were lowest in the 3.0% water extract treatment (74.23 ± 0.62, 70.26 ± 0.30, and 68.45 ± 0.60, respectively) and highest in the 2.0% ethanol extract treatment (79.48 ± 0.29, 84.98 ± 0.29, and 78.07 ± 0.17, respectively). Testosterone significantly varied from 0.70 ± 0.06 in the control to 1.88 ± 0.15 in the 2.0% ethanol extract treatment. The lowest (1.17 ± 0.03) and highest (1.57 ± 0.09) FSH levels were obtained in the 2.0% water extract and 2.0% ethanol extract treatments, respectively. The optimal inclusion level of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE) that produced the maximum levels of testosterone and progesterone for male and female H. bidorsalis broodstocks fed ethanolic extract-based diets was 2.10 g/100 g, while the optimal inclusion levels for progesterone and testosterone were 2.10 g/100 g and 1.92 g/100 g, respectively, for broodstocks fed water-extracted MOLE.
Inclusion of ethanol-extracted Moringa oleifera leaf supplements in the diets of Heterobranchus bidorsalis enhanced the reproductive performance of broodstock and its progeny quality.
Keywords: Miracle tree; phytogenic feed supplements; reproductive hormones; African catfish
