PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF PSIDIUM GUAJAVA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON GROWTH AND HEALTH PARAMETERS OF ETROPLUS SURATENSIS

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The present study was done to observe the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Psidium guajava (ALG) on growth performance, hematological parameters, serum parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity and histological changes of liver and intestine tissues of Etroplus suratensis. Qualitative analysis of ALG revealed the presence of 49 pharmacologically active compounds. Antibacterial property of ALG was also checked using the microdilution method and got a MIC value of 0.31mg/ml against A. hydrophila. The fish fingerlings (4±0.03g) were fed four experimental diets containing 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% ALG and one control diet having 0% ALG for 60 days in triplicates. At the end of the experiment, the result showed that there is a significant increase in growth parameters like weight gain, weight gain percentage, specific growth rate and a decrease in FCR in fishes fed with ALG incorporated diet. The activity of SOD and catalase in the liver showed significantly higher values in groups having 1.5% and 2% ALG (P<0.05). Blood parameters like RBC, WBC, HGB, HCT, MCH, MCV, MCHC and thrombocytes showed a significant increase among treatment groups (P<0.05) and the highest value was obtained with diet containing 2% ALG. The serum parameters like total protein, albumin, A/G ratio and alkaline phosphatase also showed significant increase with ALG (P<0.05). Serum glucose showed significant decrease when compared to control. The parameters like alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) showed no significant difference among treatment and control (P>0.05). Histological analysis of liver and intestine showed changes like increase in hepatocyte diameter and increase in villi length among treatment groups when compared to control. Therefore, ALG can be used as a growth promoter, immunostimulant, an antistress and antibacterial agent for E.suratensis. The results of this study confirm the positive effect of aquous leaf extract of P. guajava on the growth and health parameters of E. suratensis. Keywords: Etroplus suratensis, leaf extract, phytotherapy, Psidium guajava