Effect of different dietary levels of curcumin (Curcuma longa) powder on growth performance, hematology, and non-specific immune parameters in Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii

This study was done to find the effect of different levels of curcumin on growth performance, immune response, and hematological markers in Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii. For this purpose, a total number of 120 Siberian sturgeons with an average initial weight of 55.05±0.03 g (means±SD) were distributed into 12 tanks with 10 fish per tank (4 treatments with 3 replications) and fed four diets supplemented with 0 (base group, (C0), 0.5 (C0.5), 1 (C1), and 1.5 (C1.5) g kg-1 curcumin at 2.5% of body weight three times a day for 8 weeks. The highest final body weight (83.10 g), specific growth rate (3.12% day -1), and body weight increase (51.1%) were obtained in the fish fed with 1 g kg−1 curcumin (p<0.05). The highest number of red blood cells and white blood cells were measured in C1 treatment. The immune responses were significantly influenced by different curcumin levels in the diets (p<0.05). The alternative complement pathway, lysozyme, and respiratory burst activity were significantly increased, especially in the fish fed with 1 g kg-1 curcumin. In conclusion, the results indicated that 1 g kg-1 curcumin notably enhances growth and non-specific immune responses in Siberian sturgeon.