Individual and Combined Effects of Moringa Leaf and Garlic Powder on Growth and Plasma Biochemical Indices of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles

The study was designed to compare the growth promoting and some plasma biochemical indices of moringa leaf powder (MLP) and garlic powder (GP) each at 15.00g/kg; treatments 1 and 2, treatments 3 and 4 contained a combination of 7.50g and 15.00g/kg each of the phytoaddivites respectively and a control diet without additive. These five diets were fed to juveniles of Clarias gariepinus (46.45±0.12g). Relative to the juveniles in control diet, growth and nutrient utilization indices, (except survival percentage) of juveniles in phytoadditive diets increased. Plasma transaminase enzymes reduced significantly (p< 0.05) except for juveniles in treatment 4, likewise there were significant (p<0.05) reduction in ALP activities, except for juveniles in treatments 1 and 3. Also, there was significant (p<0.05) reduction in plasma cholesterol of juveniles in the phytoadditive diets. However, juveniles in treatments 1 and 2 recorded significant (p<0.05) increase in plasma phospholipids and triglycerides concentration compared to juveniles in control diet. Likewise, all juveniles in phytoadditive diets had significant (p<0.05) increase concentration of total protein, creatinine increased in treatment 2 and bilirubin increased in juveniles in treatment 3 as well as an increase in urea concentration with juveniles in treatments 1 and 3. Contrarily, creatinine concentration of juveniles in treatments 1, 3 and 4, albumin of juveniles in treatment 3 and bilirubin of juveniles in treatments 1 and 4 significantly (p<0.05) reduced compared to the values obtained with juveniles fed the control diet. While the bilirubin of juveniles in treatment 3 increased significantly (p<0.05). The results of this study showed improvement in the performance of juveniles fed phytoadditive diets when compared to those in the control diet. However, the inclusion of garlic powder at 15.g/kg produced the best growth, nutrient utilization and improved plasma biochemical indices of Clarias gariepinus juveniles