<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This study evaluates how white mulberry (<italic>Morus alba</italic> L.) leaf extracts affect the growth, antioxidant activity, and immune response in Nile tilapia <italic>Oreochromis niloticus</italic>. Mulberry leaf extracts were obtained through aqueous extraction (AE) and ethanol extraction (EE). Powder of mulberry leaf (PML) was added directly to feed and compared with the effects of feeds supplemented with the different extracts. Fish were divided into eight groups for an 8-week feeding trial where they were fed the basal diet or supplemented with 10% PML, 10% AE, 20% AE, 40% AE, 10% EE, 20% EE, or 40% EE. The inclusion of mulberry leaf extract obtained with either method showed better effects on fish growth performance, antioxidant activities and acid phosphatase activity (ACP) in serum, immune cytokine expression, and intestinal morphology as compared with controls or fish fed the 10% PML diet. The specific growth rate was significantly higher in the 10% AE, 10% EE, and 20% EE groups compared with all other groups (P&lt;0.05). Catalase activity was significantly greater in most groups fed an extract, and in the 10% PML group, when compared with controls. Similarly, ACP, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-2 expression was significantly increased in groups fed an extract, and in the 10% PML group, when compared with controls (P&lt;0.05). IL- 1, IL-2, IL-10, and Toll-like receptor 2 expression was significantly greater in the 10% EE group than in the 10% PML and 10% AE groups (P&lt;0.05). Villus length in the middle intestine was significantly increased in the 10% AE and 10% EE groups compared with controls and the 10% PML group (P&lt;0.05). Thus, 10% mulberry leaf ethanol extract added to feed is recommended for enhancing the growth rate and health of cultured Nile tilapia.</p></abstract>

This study evaluates how white mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf extracts affect the growth, antioxidant activity, and immune response in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Mulberry leaf extracts were obtained through aqueous extraction (AE) and ethanol extraction (EE). Powder of mulberry leaf (PML) was added directly to feed and compared with the effects of feeds supplemented with the different extracts. Fish were divided into eight groups for an 8-week feeding trial where they were fed the basal diet or supplemented with 10% PML, 10% AE, 20% AE, 40% AE, 10% EE, 20% EE, or 40% EE. The inclusion of mulberry leaf extract obtained with either method showed better effects on fish growth performance, antioxidant activities and acid phosphatase activity (ACP) in serum, immune cytokine expression, and intestinal morphology as compared with controls or fish fed the 10% PML diet. The specific growth rate was significantly higher in the 10% AE, 10% EE, and 20% EE groups compared with all other groups (P<0.05). Catalase activity was significantly greater in most groups fed an extract, and in the 10% PML group, when compared with controls. Similarly, ACP, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-2 expression was significantly increased in groups fed an extract, and in the 10% PML group, when compared with controls (P<0.05). IL- 1, IL-2, IL-10, and Toll-like receptor 2 expression was significantly greater in the 10% EE group than in the 10% PML and 10% AE groups (P<0.05). Villus length in the middle intestine was significantly increased in the 10% AE and 10% EE groups compared with controls and the 10% PML group (P<0.05). Thus, 10% mulberry leaf ethanol extract added to feed is recommended for enhancing the growth rate and health of cultured Nile tilapia.

Effects of Mulberry (<italic>Morus alba</italic> L.) Leaf Extracts on Growth, Immune Response, and Antioxidant Functions in Nile Tilapia (<italic>Oreochromis niloticus</italic>)

Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation

College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Effects of Mulberry ( L.) Leaf Extracts on Growth, Immune Response, and Antioxidant Functions in Nile Tilapia ()

This study evaluates how white mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf extracts affect the growth, antioxidant activity, and immune response in Nile tilapia Oreochromis...

Effects of Mulberry (Morus alba L.) Leaf Extracts on Growth, Immune Response, and Antioxidant Functions in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Published Online: Feb 04, 2022

Page range: 349 - 369

Received: Mar 30, 2021

Accepted: May 20, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2021-0038

Keywords
mulberry leaf, Nile tilapia, growth, immune response, antioxidants

© 2022 Xuelian Tang et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Effects of Mulberry (Morus alba L.) Leaf Extracts on Growth, Immune Response, and Antioxidant Functions in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Published Online: Feb 04, 2022

Page range: 349 - 369

Received: Mar 30, 2021

Accepted: May 20, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2021-0038

Keywordsmulberry leaf, Nile tilapia, growth, immune response, antioxidants

© 2022 Xuelian Tang et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
mulberry leaf, Nile tilapia, growth, immune response, antioxidants