Growth Performance, Immune Response, Antioxidative Status, and Antiparasitic and Antibacterial Capacity of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) After Dietary Supplementation With Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria, Molina) Seed Powder

Medicinal plants are a potential safe source of bioactive compounds. Fish diet supplemented with the medicinal plant bottle gourd ( Lagenaria siceraria ) seed powder was evaluated in this study for effect on growth performance, antioxidative status, immunological response, and resistance to infectious pathogens Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus ). fingerlings mean weight ± SD)= (25.64 0.17 g), were fed four L. diets (LSSD) at 0.0, 1, 2, 3% 60 days. Specimens then challenged bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila 10 Also, three different concentrations (2.5, 5, ml/L) ethanolic extract (LSEE) tested their antibacterial antiparasitic efficacy selected bacterial one parasitic species. All parameters’ values generally improved elevating content diet. Dietary administration LSSD-3% enabled significant P < 0.05 higher feed utilization efficiency. It reduced mortality induced by A. infection, increased crude protein fish body exhibited highest vitro RBCs, WBCs, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, total serum pre- post-challenge groups significantly group. While MCHC, ALT, AST glucose levels lower than those other groups. Lysozyme antioxidant enzyme activities also group compared LSEE provided good against Gram-negative strains, mild Gram-positive an antagonistic parasite Cichlidogyrus Tilapiae . The ml/L concentration most effective followed 5 2.5 ml/L. Our findings suggest feasibility supplementation O. improve immunity, vital parameters.