Effects of nutraceutical conglomerate on growth and antioxidant status of Labeo rohita fingerlings

Four month feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of a vitamin-mineral based nutraceutical conglomerate on Labeo rohita fingerlings (Hamilton, 1822) exposed to different stressors like crowding (normal stocking density NSD, 10 number of fish in 75 L water or high stocking density, HSD, 20 number of fish in 75 L water) and feed restriction (satiation feeding, SF or restricted feeding, RF, at 1% of body weight). One thousand and eighty (1080) fingerlings of Labeo rohita with an average size of 8.5 g +/- 0.5 were randomly distributed in 6 distinct experimental groups, viz, THR0 (HSD, RF and 0% nutraceutical), THR1 (HSD; RF; 0.1 % nutraceutical), THR5 (HSD, RF, 0.5 % nutraceutical), TNS0 (NSD, SF and 0% nutraceutical), TNS1 (NSD; SF; 0.1 % nutraceutical) and TNS5 (NSD; SF; 0.5 % nutraceutical). Feeding of nutraceuticals improved the overall growth of the fish both in stress exposed and non-exposed groups. The hepatic antioxidant genes (superoxide dismutase-1, SOD-1; glutathione peroxidase-1, GPx-1) and enzymes (SOD and GPx) showed significantly higher values in stress exposed group (THR0) during the experimental trial in all the four months while catalase gene and enzyme showed a higher activity from 2nd month onwards. Reduced glutathione was found lower at the end of 3- and 4-months trial. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS) was significantly reduced due to stress at the end of each trial period, whereas feeding of 0.1 % nutraceutical increased the TAS in stress exposed groups. Hence, it can be concluded that feeding of 0.1 % nutraceutical conglomerate containing zinc, selenium, vitamin E and methionine could mitigate the crowding and feed restrictionmediated oxidative stress in Labeo rohita fingerlings at the end of 3- and 4-months period. The result of this study will be highly applicable for the production of stunted carp fingerlings for short duration crop in seasonal ponds or water bodies.