Effect of herbal supplements of caraway (Carum carvi) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) on antibacterial activity and soluble protein of mucus in Cyprinus carpio fingerlings

In this study, we investigated the effects of herbal supplements of Carum carvi and Trigonella foenum graecum on soluble protein and antibacterial activity of mucus in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings. Fish with a mean weight of 2.457±0.057 g were divided randomly into 7 treatments (one control group and the experimental groups treated with diets that contained different percents of caraway and fenugreek (0.5, 1 and 1.5%) with 3 replicates and a density of 15 fish per replicate. After 8 weeks feeding, the epidermal mucus protein level and antimicrobial activity against two gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Seratia marcescens) were measured. Results showed that protein levels of mucus significantly increased in fish fed diets that contained 1% herbal supplements compared to the control and other treatments (P>0.05). In addition, we observed significant differences in antibacterial activity of mucus in fish fed with caraway and fenugreek compared with the control group (p<0.05). The highest antibacterial activity of mucus was observed in fish fed 1% caraway and 1% fenugreek. These results revealed that caraway and fenugreek beneficially affected the protein level and antibacterial activity of skin mucus of common carp fingerling.