Pomegranate peel and moringa-based diets enhanced biochemical and immune parameters of Nile tilapia with Aeromonas hydrophila.

This study aimed to evaluate and compare growth performance and immune potentiating activities of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves extract (Moringa LE) and pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract (Pomegranate PE) on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with Aeromonas hydrophila. A total of 150 Oreochromis niloticus were randomly divided into 5 groups to be fed at 3% of body weight with isonitrogenous/isoenergetic diets supplemented with Moringa LE at 0.15 and 0.25% kg^-1 or Pomegranate PE at of 0.3 and 0.5% kg^-1, separately. Growth performance was significantly affected by Moringa LE as compared with the control group without supplementation of plant extract, while Pomegranate PE levels did not affect growth performance. Maximum average daily gains, specific growth rate, albumin, globulin, total protein, A/G ratio, alanine amino transaminase (ALT), aspartate amino transaminase (AST), cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, urea, and lysozyme were analyzed. Antioxidant enzymes of catalase and superoxide dismutase were also evaluated in liver tissue. After feeding experiment, the results indicate that the addition of Moringa LE and Pomegranate PE improved lipid profile, liver and kidney functions, immune response towards the emerging diseases. Supplementation of Moringa LE at concentration 0.25% kg^-1 of feed diet showed the best growth performance, improved immunity and exhibited the highest protection against bacterial infection with the lowest mortality rate of 10% as compared to 80% of mortality rate at the control group.