Withania coagulans fruit extract: a possible useful additive in ameliorating growth and immunity of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822)

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the Withania coagulans fruit extract's effects on growth and haematological parameters of Labeo rohita. Healthy fish (n = 120) were divided in four groups. Experimental diet was prepared with different extraction of W. coagulans (0%, 1%, 1.5% and 2%). Diet was provided for eight weeks to all groups except the control group which fed on basal diet. The 1.5% and 2% W. coagulans extracts lead improvement in feed conversion ratio and specific fish growth rate; haematological parameters in fish group fed with 2% of W. coagulans showed increased in WBC, RBC, Hb, MCHC, PCV. The values of plasma proteins and lysozyme activity were higher in the experimental group compared control group. Fish fed with W. coagulans extracts showed increased of immunity and less mortality respect to others. It suggested that W. coagulans could be considered valuable support for the improve growth and immunity in Labeo rohita.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Plant additives
• haematological parameters
• Labeo rohita
• growth performance
• Withania coagulans

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to the staff of the Fisheries Department Chashma, Mianwali district Punjab, Pakistan to cooperate in the experimental work.

Ethical statement

The experimental procedure was performed according to the ethical consideration of the European Legislation (Animal rights). This experiment is registered under the trial number FSH/T3202020 with the Department of fisheries Chashma Mianwali.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Authors’ contribution

All authors have made substantial contributions to each step of experimental procedure and article preparation. FF wrote and revised the last version of the article; SSH, SN, MA and ZI designed the study, performed the experiment and analyzed the data; GP revised the data analysis; FA revised the last version of the article.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Data availability statement

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.