Aquaculture Reports (Aug 2023)
Elucidating the effects of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) fruit and stem as feed additives on growth, antioxidant capacity, liver and intestinal health, and gut microbiome of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Abstract
Cuminum cyminum L., commonly known as cumin, which belongs to the family Apiaceae and the order Apiales, is a widely grown spice and medicinal plant in Xinjiang province, China. The fruit of cumin is primarily edible and is also consumed for its medicinal properties. However, after the cumin fruits harvest, a large amount of plant stem waste is often produced, resulting in resource waste. In this study, fruits and stems of cumin were used at 1% and 3% concentrations (F1 and F3; S1 and S3, respectively) as feed additives to investigate the effects of their dietary supplementation on the growth, antioxidant capacity, liver, and intestinal health, and gut microbiota of Oreochromis niloticus. A total of 375 fish were fed, and their mean initial weight was 9.22 ± 0.17 g. After 8 weeks of feeding, the F1, S1, and S3 treatments significantly increased the weight gain rate and specific growth rate of O. niloticus. At the same time, S1 and S3 increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. S1 and S3 also reduced the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum, reducing lipid droplet formation. Moreover, S1 and S3 significantly increased the length of intestinal villus and the abundance of Proteobacteria, reduced the abundance of Fusobacteriota and Bacteroidota in the gut, and increased the expression levels of metabolic pathways of the gut microbiome. The cumin stems and the fruits, at the lower 1% concentration, improved the growth performance of O. niloticus, accelerated growth rate, enhanced antioxidant capacity, improved intestinal morphology, and alleviated fatty liver disease. In particular, the stems of cumin have the potential to be used as feed additives for O. niloticus, providing a novel solution for the full utilization of agricultural waste.
