Effect of dietary lemon peel (Citrus limon) essential oil on growth performance, hematological, serum biochemical parameters and liver enzymes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juvenile

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary lemon peel (Citrus limon) essential oil on growth, hematological parameters, some of serum biochemical parameters and liver enzymes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles. 

Materials & Methods:

For this purpose, 144 rainbow trouts with an average initial weight of 95.05 ± 0.41 g were randomly stocked in four treatments containing different levels of lemon peel essential oil ( 0 (control), 200, 400 and 600 mg lemon peel essential oil/kg diet) and fed for eight weeks.

The results showed the highest growth factors in treatments of 400 and 600 mg lemon peel essential oil/kg diet (p<0.05). Inclusion of essential oil in diet increased hematological parameters as compared to the control except MCV, MCH, MCHC and increased serum biochemical parameters by contrast to the control except glucose, triglyseride and cortisol (p<0.05). liver enzymes of ALT and AST showed no significant differences among treatments containing essential oil and LDH exhibited  no significant differences among 400, 600 mg essential oil/kg diet and the control treatment (p>0.05), but ALP amount significantly increased in essential oil treatments in a comparison to the control (p<0.05).

Overall, these results indicated using 400 mg essential oil in rainbow trout diet could improve growth, hematological and some serum biochemical parameters of rainbow trout without any negative effects on liver.