Respostas fisiológicas do híbrido tambatinga alimentado com dietas contendo quebra-pedra Phyllanthus niruri L.

Abstract

With the increasing search for sources of healthy food, fish farming is becoming more intensive and is showing promise. Use of plants as fish health promotors during farming has been growing worldwide. Characterization of the immunostimulant action of natural products is becoming a necessity, since this is a means for diminishing the use of synthetic products in animal farming around the world. In the present study, the action of Phyllanthus niruri as an immunostimulant in tambatinga was evaluated by means of analyses on zootechnical, hematological and biochemical analyses, after 15 and 30 days of dietary supplementation with P. niruri, in aqueous extract form and as the ground-up material encapsulated in sodium alginate. There was no mortality among the fish over the entire course of the experiment. Use of dry ground P. niruri in the diet did not present any significant immunological action, but use of the aqueous extract give rise to weight gains among the fish after 30 days. Thus, use of the aqueous extract can be recommended. From the results obtained, the form in which the plant was offered to the fish may influence its action, thereby increasing or decreasing its efficacy. Evaluation of other doses and forms of inclusion of P. niruri in the diet of the fish, along with the forms of stress applied to the fish, becomes necessary in order to make it possible to define its immunostimulant action on fish during farming