Influence of Black Cumin Seeds (Nigella sativa) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.) Mixture on Performance and Serum Biochemistry of Asian Sea Bass, Lates calcarifer

A total of 270 fingerlings of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) were allotted into three equal treatments with three equal replicates for each to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of two levels of Black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa) mixture (BTM) on growth performance and blood chemistry throughout the experimental period (98 days). Fish of the first treatment fed on basal diet and served as a control while fish of the second and third treatments kept on BTM (1:1 w wG ) constitute either 5g kgG or 1 1 10g kgG basal diet. The examined doses of BTM were weak growth promoters. Carcass analysis revealed 1 unchanged composition in all treatments. Hematological and examined parameters of protein, lipid and mineral metabolism were not altered in all treated fish. Furthermore, the examined BTM doses were safe to fish as both liver and kidney functions were not disturbed. The present study can conclude that, inclusion of Black cumin seed and Turmeric combination in Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) diets relatively improved the growth performance and did not affect blood chemistry. Both medicinal plants were safe to liver and kidney at the examined dose as reflected on their biomarkers.