Aquaculture Europe 2014

October 14-17, 2014

Donostia–San Sebastián, Spain

DIETARY TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS EXTRACT ENHANCES GROWTH, AND BIOCHEMICAL VARIABLES OF NILE TILAPIA OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS

Ümit Acar¹*, Osman Sabri Kesbiç², Bihter Asena Yanar¹,  Fevziye Işıl Meydani², Nejdet Gültepe³, Ali Türker¹
¹Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, 48000, Kötekli, Muğla - Turkey
²Kastamonu University, Inebolu Vocational School, Sea and Port Management Program, Inebolu-37500, Turkey
³Kastamonu University, Engineering and Architecture Faculty, Department of Genetic and Bioengineering, 37200, Kastamonu, Turkey
*E-mail: umitacar@mu.edu.tr

Introduction
T. terrestris (Zygophyllaceae) is a ground-spreading herb widely distributed in India, China, Japan, Korea, the western part of Asia, the southern part of Europe, and Africa; it is traditionally used for liver diseases (Rakesh et al. 2009). It contains different substances including sapogenins, flavonoids and alkaloids which have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory activities (Kumar et al., 2006). Flavonoids are one of the most widespread groups of natural compounds reported to have antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties (Allan and Miller, 1996). These compounds have a broad spectrum of chemical and biological activities, including radical scavenging properties (Kavitha et al. 2011). T. terrestris is also consumed by people for alleged muscle building.
Materials and Methods
Nile tilapia (mean weight 2.61±0.35 g) were fed with four identical diets containing dietary T. terrestris 0, 200, 400, 600 mg/kg in triplicate groups and stocked 12 fish/aquarium. After day 88, blood sampling was conducted to assess the effects of dietary T. terrestris on biochemical variables of the fish were examined.
Results
The best growth performance and feed evaluation obtained in TT400 group (Figure 1). By the end of 88 day feeding the control had significantly lower values of glucose (GLU) (p<0.05). The dietary TT supplementation affect the globulin (GLO) level, the highest values obtained in TT200 groups (p<0.05). Dietary serum cholesterol (CHOL) level decreased by increasing TT level in the diets (p<0.05). Albumin (ALB), Total protein (TPROT) and Triglyceride (TRI) level were not affected by the TT supplementation (p>0.05).
Discussion and Conclusion
In the present study, the possible immunostimulants effects of T.terrestris in tilapia diets have been investigated. Dietary TT significantly affects the growth and feed utilization of O. niloticus. A dietary TT level of 332.5 mg/kg provided the best weight gain based on second order polynomial regression analyses. There is a paucity of specific information on the effects of TT in fish but the positive effects of other herbal extracts on growth performances of tilapia have been reported (Goda 2008; Yilmaz et al,. 2013).
GLU is one of the stress indicators in fish (Morgan and Iwama, 1997). The present study showed that GLU level increased with increasing dosage of TT extract. The same phenomena gas also been reported when a mixed herbal extract of Azadirachta indica, Osmimum sanctum and Curcuma longa were fed to goldfish (Harikrishnan et al. (2010).
Serum TPROT is an important non-specific immune parameter (Magnadóttir, 2006). TPROT enhances the immunity of fish to diseases yet in the present study, serum TPROT was not statistically different from the control group.
TT extract increased the serum ALB and GLO levels in Nile tilapia that are thought to be associated with a stronger innate immune response of fish (Wiegertjes et al. 1996).
In conclusion, TT extract at 400 mg/kg can be applied to Nile tilapia via diet. The present results suggests that supplemented TT extract in feeds  for Nile tilapia improves growth performance, nutrient utilization and some biochemical traits.
References
Allan L. and N.D. Miller, 1996. Antioxidant flavonoids: structure, function and clinical usage. Alternative Medicine Review 1: 111.
Goda A.M.A.S., 2008. Effects of Dietary Ginseng Herb (Ginsana ® G115) Supplementation on Growth, Feed Utilization and Hematological Indices of Nile Tilapia, Oreochormis niloticus (L.), Fingerlings. Journal of World Aquaculture Society 39(2):205-214.
Harikrishnan R., C. Belasundaram and M. Heo, 2010. Herbal supplementation diets on hematology and innate immunity in goldfish against Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 28:354-361.
Kavitha P., R. Ramesh, G. Bupesh, A. Stalin, and P. Subramanian, 2011. Hepatoprotective activity of Tribulus terrestris extract against acetaminophen-induced toxicity in a freshwater fish (Oreochromis mossambicus). In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal 47: 698-706.
Kumar M., K.A. Soni, S. Shukla, Kumar A., 2006. Chemopreventive potential of Tribulus terrestis against 7,12 dimethylbenz (a)anthracene induced skin papillomagenesis in mice. Asian Pacific Journal Of Cancer Prevention 7:289-294.
Magnadóttir B., 2006. Innate immunity of fish (overview). Fish and Shellfish Immunology 20: 137-151.
Morgan J.D. and G.K. Iwama, 1997. Measurements of stressed states in the field. Pages 247-270 in G. K. Iwama, A. D. Pickering, J. P. Sumpter, and C. B. Schreck, editors. Fish stress and health in aquaculture. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Rakesh P., S. Gyanendra, A.P. Anubhav, and A. Shubhini, 2009 Saraf. Demand of herbal hepatoprotective formulations in Lucknow-a survey. The Pharma Research.Vol: 01
Wiegertjes G.F., R.J.M. Stet, H.K. Parmentier, and W.B. Vas Muiswinkel, 1996. Immunogenetics of disease resistance in fish: a comparable approach. Developmental & Comparative Immunology 20:365-381.
Yılmaz S., S. Ergün, N. Soytaş, 2013. Herbal Supplements are Useful for Preventing Streptococcal Disease During First-Feeding of Tilapia Fry, Oreochromis mossambicus, 5 pages. Israeli Journal of Aquaculture- Bamidgeh IJA_65.2013.833.