Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) on Growth, Survival and Gut Histology of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The present study investigated the dietary influence of Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) on the growth performance, survival, and gut histology of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) over a 90-day experimental period. Four isonitrogenous test diets were formulated, each containing 30% protein. Gotu kola powder was incorporated at different inclusion levels: 5 g/kg in T1, 10 g/kg in T2, and 20 g/kg in T3, while the control diet (T0) had no Gotu kola supplementation. Each treatment was replicated three times. Results demonstrated a significant improvement (P < 0.05) in growth parameters, including weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER), particularly in fish fed with the 20 g/kg Gotu kola diet (T3). Furthermore, dietary supplementation with Gotu kola markedly influenced gut histological features, with the most pronounced structural enhancements observed in the T3 group when compared to the control. These findings suggest that the inclusion of Gotu kola, especially at 20 g/kg, can effectively promote growth performance and gut health in Cyprinus carpio, highlighting its potential as a functional feed additive in aquaculture.