Feeding turmeric in combination with ginger or garlic enhances the digestive enzyme activities, growth and immunity in Labeo rohita fingerlings

Abstract

A 45-day feeding trial was conducted to screen the effective combinations of some commonly used phytogenic feed additives (turmeric, ginger, and garlic) on growth, body composition, digestive, metabolic, antioxidant enzyme activity and innate immune functions of Labeo rohita fingerlings. Five experimental diets were formulated viz., Control (no phytogenic additive), T1 (turmeric + ginger), T2 (turmeric + garlic), T3 (ginger + garlic) and T4 (turmeric + ginger + garlic) at 1% inclusion level keeping an equal proportion of each additive used in the combination. Two hundred and twenty-five fish (average weight 2.75 ? 0.01 g) were distributed randomly into five experimental groups in triplicates with 15 fish in each tank containing 400 L water. Significantly higher weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and low feed conversion ratio was found in the T1, T2 and T3 groups while the T4 group showed significantly lower growth performance (P < 0.05) in comparison to control and other treatments. Significantly higher digestive enzyme activities were found in all phytogenic additive fed groups while higher (P < 0.05) metabolic enzyme activities of liver and muscle were found only in the T1 group. Antioxidant enzyme activities were higher (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 groups. Serum glucose, triglyceride, and whole-body lipid content significantly decreased due to feeding of phytogenic additives. From the present study, it can be concluded that combination of turmeric with ginger or garlic with equal proportion at 1% inclusion level can be useful to improve growth, digestive, metabolic, antioxidant enzyme activities and health status of Labeo rohita fingerlings.