Effect of dietary supplementation with ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract on growth, biochemical and hemato-immunological parameters in juvenile beluga (Huso huso)

The study was performed to examine the efficacy of ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract on growth performance, biochemical and hemato-immunological parameters in juvenile beluga (Huso huso). Fish were divided into 4 groups before fed diet for 8 weeks with 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% ginger extract and with unsupplemented commercial diet as the control. Results showed that there was a significant different in weight gain in fish fed ginger extract diet compared to the control (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in condition factor, feed conversion ratios, specific growth rate and survival between juveniles fed control and ginger extract supplementation (P>0.05). In addition, there were no significant differences of RBC, WBC counts, Hct, monocyte, lymphocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil, glucose, TPP, triglyceride, lipid and globulin levels between the treatment groups (P>0.05). Furthermore, alternative complement activity (ACH50), serum total immunoglobulin (Ig) and lysozyme activity were significantly increased in 1.5% ginger fed fish (P<0.05); however, it did not change the SOD activity, significantly (P>0.05). Therefore, the results suggest that by using 1.5% this extract there will be an improvement in hemato-biochemical parameters and immune function of juvenile beluga.