title: Effects of dietary peppermint (Mentha piperita) on growth performance, chemical body composition and hematological and immune parameters of fry Caspian white fish (Rutilus frisii kutum).
abstract: Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) is a very popular herb. While numerous effects have been described in mammals, its effects on fish have received so far limited attention. The effects of dietary administration of peppermint on fry Caspian white fish (Rutilus frisii kutum) were studied. Fish were divided into 4 groups before being fed diets supplemented with 0% (control), 1%, 2% and 3% of peppermint extracts for 8 weeks. Dose-dependent increases of growth parameters (WG and SGR), mucus skin (protein concentration, alkaline phosphatase and antimicrobial activity) and seric (lysozyme and IgM) and blood leucocyte respiratory burst activities and different hematological parameters (number of red and white cells, seric hemoglobin and hematocrit content) were recorded in fry fish fed supplemented diets. However, the dietary peppermint supplements have different effects on the number of blood leucocytes depending on the leucocyte cell type. While no significant differences were observed in the number of blood monocytes and eosinophils, the number of neutrophils and lymphocytes was increased and decreased, respectively, on fish fed peppermint enriched diets, respect to the values found in control fish. Present results corroborate that dietary administration of peppermint promotes growth performance and increases the main hematological and immune humoral (both mucosal and systemic) parameters of fry Caspian white fish. This study may provide new applications of peppermint and, at the same time, promote rational development and utilization of peppermint resources.
authors.affiliation: Iranian Fisheries Research Organization, 13185-116 Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Milad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adel
authors.affiliation: Iranian Fisheries Research Organization, 13185-116 Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abedian Amiri
authors.affiliation: Iranian Fisheries Research Organization, 13185-116 Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Jalil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zorriehzahra
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, 115 Shahrekord, Iran.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nematolahi
authors.affiliation: Fish Innate Immune System Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: aesteban@um.es.
authors.forename: Maria Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Esteban
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D001823:Body Composition; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D036142:Mentha piperita / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Caspian white fish (Rutilus frisii kutum); Fry; Growth performance; Immunity; Medical plants; Peppermint (Mentha piperita)