Effect of dietary medicinal plants on some biochemical hematological parameters of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus)

Abstract

In this study, sterlet fish weighing 250 ± 10 g were divided into 4 groups with 3 replicates of healthy fish in 10 segments. Medicinal plant essences of Satureja hortensis, Mentha longifolia, and Zataria multiflora at more than one percent were added to the daily ration for one month. At the end of the one-month testing period, 2 mL of blood was collected from the tail fin of each fish. According to the results, fish fed with Zataria multiflora showed increased HDL and cholesterol levels compared to other groups. The highest TG level was also obtained in fish fed with Mentha longifolia. The lowest amount of total protein belonged to the control group, while in other groups receiving medicinal plant essences this factor improved, and the increase in this factor in the groups receiving Satureja hortensis and Mentha longifolia compared with the control group was significant (p < 0.05). Most of the albumin (Alb) changes were observed in the Mentha longifolia essence group. The results of other blood parameters showed that Alb, cholesterol, HDL, and TG levels in experimental groups did not significantly differ between the control and treatment groups (p > 0.05). This study showed that up to 1% medicinal plants in the diet of sterlet had no negative impact on the blood factors of fish.