Effect of dietary supplementation of Indian pennywort Centella asiatica leaf powder on the growth performance of Labeo rohita (Hamilton 1822)

Centella asiatica is considered a nutraceutical and its leaves are rich in carotenoids, vitamins B and C, amino acids, carbohydrates, phenols and terpenoids. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of C. asiatica leaf powder (CP) on the growth performance of Labeo rohita.

Centella asiatica leaf powder supplemented feeds in 2 doses (1 g and 5 g) were prepared by mixing the CP in 5 mL vegetable oil, and then admixed with 1 kg each of basal pellet feed and fed to fish for 30 days at 3% body weight twice daily. The parameters like specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER), serum glucose and creatinine, and the respiratory oxidative burst (ROB) activity were tested.

The results of the growth indices, serum biomarkers and ROB activities indicated that the CP supplementation at 1 g/kg feed was reasonably the best as it gave the higher SGR, PER and ROB activity and lower FCR. The fish fed 5 g CP/kg feed negatively affected the growth in days 30 of feeding.

Dietary supplementation of CP at 1g/kg feed provided a positive effect on the growth of L. rohita. No significant negative effects on the serum biomarkers of stress and kidney function were noted when fed at this level. Further studies are warranted to establish adequate doses of active novel molecules for dietary supplementation rather than using the dried powder.