LAUSR

Abstract The current study aimed to assess the effect of the dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf on growth performance, serum lipid profile, and intestinal morphometric analysis along with relative mRNA levels of growth and lipid metabolism related genes in mono-sex Nile tilapia. A total of 180 mono-sex Nile tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus; average body weight, 27.98 ± 0.75 g) were used. Juvenile fish were randomly allocated into three groups with three replicates in each (20 fish/tank). For 8 weeks, groups 1, 2 and 3 were fed experimental diets containing 0%, 5%, and 10 % moringa leaf powder, respectively. We observed that the dietary inclusion of moringa leaf powder at 5 % significantly improved growth performance, evidenced by an increase in final body weight and improved feed conversion ratio. Moreover, lower serum cholesterol and triglycerides levels were reported in fish fed the moringa containing diet compared with those fed the basal diet (0% moringa). The increased body weight was accompanied with changes in intestinal morphometric parameters, including increased villus length and width as well as the inter-villus space. In addition, the improved growth performance and hypolipidemic effect following moringa leaf dietary inclusion were associated with a relative increase in mRNA levels of growth hormone receptor (GHR), insulin like growth factor (IGF), lipoprotein Lipase (LPL), and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Hence, moringa leaf powder can be included in the Nile tilapia diet as an alternative feed ingredient to promote growth and induce a hypolipidemic effect.