Comparative physiological and immunological impacts of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed water supplements on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus): effects on disease resistance and health parameters

Abstract This study evaluated the differential effects of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed powders (0.8 g/L) as water supplements on the physiological and immunological responses of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) over six weeks. Leaf supplementation enhanced growth performance (final weight: 120...

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Main Authors: Howyda G. Gaber, Nehal A. Younis, Sohair Y. Saleh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Veterinary Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04717-9
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author Howyda G. Gaber
Nehal A. Younis
Sohair Y. Saleh
author_facet Howyda G. Gaber
Nehal A. Younis
Sohair Y. Saleh
author_sort Howyda G. Gaber
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study evaluated the differential effects of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed powders (0.8 g/L) as water supplements on the physiological and immunological responses of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) over six weeks. Leaf supplementation enhanced growth performance (final weight: 120.5 ± 0.7 g & gain% 65.2) and disease resistance, while seed supplementation elicited adverse physiological outcomes. Fish treated with seed powder exhibited reduced growth performance (gain % 11.2), elevated stress markers (glucose: 113.3 ± 3.8 mg/dL; cortisol: 27.4 ± 1.3 μg/dL), and compromised liver function (ALT: 30.2 ± 1.1 U/L; AST: 53.0 ± 1.6 U/L), evident through histological changes. Both treatments modulated immune responses, significantly upregulating pro-inflammatory serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL- 1β, IL- 6) and increasing gene expression in kidney and spleen tissues, with seeds group showing more pronounced elevations (TNF-α: 4.15-fold, IL- 1β: 3.15-fold in spleen) compared to moderate increases in leaves group (TNF-α: 2.48-fold, IL- 1β: 1.62-fold). Oxidant/antioxidant analysis revealed contrasting effects: leaf treatment enhanced superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and reduced lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), while seed treatment compromised SOD defense and increased oxidative biomarker (MDA). Upon challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila, leaf-treated fish maintained 100% survival, while seed-treated and control groups showed 85% and 60% survival rates, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of M. oleifera leaf powder as an effective water supplement for enhancing growth and disease resistance in aquaculture, while cautioning against the use of seed powder due to its adverse physiological effects.
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spelling doaj-art-f964f6e78b264883b0a635088c031b5f2025-08-20T01:49:40ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482025-05-0121111410.1186/s12917-025-04717-9Comparative physiological and immunological impacts of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed water supplements on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus): effects on disease resistance and health parametersHowyda G. Gaber0Nehal A. Younis1Sohair Y. Saleh2Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo UniversityDepartment of Aquatic Animal Medicine and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo UniversityDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo UniversityAbstract This study evaluated the differential effects of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed powders (0.8 g/L) as water supplements on the physiological and immunological responses of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) over six weeks. Leaf supplementation enhanced growth performance (final weight: 120.5 ± 0.7 g & gain% 65.2) and disease resistance, while seed supplementation elicited adverse physiological outcomes. Fish treated with seed powder exhibited reduced growth performance (gain % 11.2), elevated stress markers (glucose: 113.3 ± 3.8 mg/dL; cortisol: 27.4 ± 1.3 μg/dL), and compromised liver function (ALT: 30.2 ± 1.1 U/L; AST: 53.0 ± 1.6 U/L), evident through histological changes. Both treatments modulated immune responses, significantly upregulating pro-inflammatory serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL- 1β, IL- 6) and increasing gene expression in kidney and spleen tissues, with seeds group showing more pronounced elevations (TNF-α: 4.15-fold, IL- 1β: 3.15-fold in spleen) compared to moderate increases in leaves group (TNF-α: 2.48-fold, IL- 1β: 1.62-fold). Oxidant/antioxidant analysis revealed contrasting effects: leaf treatment enhanced superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and reduced lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), while seed treatment compromised SOD defense and increased oxidative biomarker (MDA). Upon challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila, leaf-treated fish maintained 100% survival, while seed-treated and control groups showed 85% and 60% survival rates, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of M. oleifera leaf powder as an effective water supplement for enhancing growth and disease resistance in aquaculture, while cautioning against the use of seed powder due to its adverse physiological effects.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04717-9Natural immunostimulantAntioxidant capacityCytokine expressionLiver enzymesBacterial challenge
spellingShingle Howyda G. Gaber
Nehal A. Younis
Sohair Y. Saleh
Comparative physiological and immunological impacts of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed water supplements on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus): effects on disease resistance and health parameters
BMC Veterinary Research
Natural immunostimulant
Antioxidant capacity
Cytokine expression
Liver enzymes
Bacterial challenge
title Comparative physiological and immunological impacts of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed water supplements on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus): effects on disease resistance and health parameters
title_full Comparative physiological and immunological impacts of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed water supplements on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus): effects on disease resistance and health parameters
title_fullStr Comparative physiological and immunological impacts of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed water supplements on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus): effects on disease resistance and health parameters
title_full_unstemmed Comparative physiological and immunological impacts of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed water supplements on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus): effects on disease resistance and health parameters
title_short Comparative physiological and immunological impacts of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed water supplements on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus): effects on disease resistance and health parameters
title_sort comparative physiological and immunological impacts of moringa oleifera leaf and seed water supplements on african catfish clarias gariepinus effects on disease resistance and health parameters
topic Natural immunostimulant
Antioxidant capacity
Cytokine expression
Liver enzymes
Bacterial challenge
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04717-9
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AT nehalayounis comparativephysiologicalandimmunologicalimpactsofmoringaoleiferaleafandseedwatersupplementsonafricancatfishclariasgariepinuseffectsondiseaseresistanceandhealthparameters
AT sohairysaleh comparativephysiologicalandimmunologicalimpactsofmoringaoleiferaleafandseedwatersupplementsonafricancatfishclariasgariepinuseffectsondiseaseresistanceandhealthparameters