Effects of ethanol and aqueous Soursop leaf extracts on growth and hematology of Sharptooth Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>)

A 56-day nutrition experiment was carried out to assess the effects of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Soursop (Annona muricata) leaf on the growth and hematology indicators in African Sharptooth Catfish (Clarias gariepinus). A basal diet made up of 40% crude protein (Diet SS1) was supplemented with either 0.5% or 1.0% ethanol extracts (Diets SS2 and SS3, respectively) or 0.5% or 1.0% aqueous extracts (Diets SS4 and SS5, respectively). The five diets, replicated thrice, were fed at 5% body weight of Clarias gariepinus (initial weight: 1.22 ± 0.03 g) with 20 fish per 20 L rectangular plastic tank. The phytochemical analysis showed that apart from saponins, other biomolecules were more concentrated in the ethanol extract than in the aqueous extract. However, final weight, mean-weight gain (MWG), and specific growth rate (SGR) in fish fed aqueous extracts (SS4 and SS5) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those receiving 1.0% ethanol extract (SS3). Feed consumed and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were statistically similar (p > 0.05) across treatments. The following hematological parameters: hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), and red blood cell counts (RBC) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the control than in fish fed the extract-supplemented diets. The enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels did not differ (p > 0.05) across treatments; however, alkaline phosphate (ALP) was highest (p < 0.05) in the 1.0% ethanol extract diet while SS1 had the lowest (p < 0.05). In conclusion, in spite of higher concentrations of bioactive compounds in ethanol extracts from Annona muricata leaves, aqueous extract-based diets demonstrated better growth performance in Clarias gariepinus and fish health was not adversely affected by the dietary treatments.