Nutraceutical Role of Honey and Garlic (Allium sativum) on Haematological and Plasma-Antioxidant Profile of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Aims: This work aimed to evaluate the nutritional benefits of honey and garlic (Allium sativum) in five different dietary inclusions on the blood and plasma-antioxidant profile of Clarias gariepinus. Methodology: Five treatments; control T1 (0%), T2 (0.5% honey), T3 (1% honey), T4 (0.5% garlic), and T5 (1% honey) were designed for a 30-days study. The garlic (powder form) and honey were incorporated into the feed by firstly mixing it with water in a 2:1 ratio and sprayed over the feed (kg) and sundried before feeding it to the fish. Results: The results indicated a significant difference (P < .05) in the haematological profile of the T2-T5 treatment groups compared to the T1 control group, except for neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. It was noted that the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels showed a significant difference (P < .05). However, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), showed an insignificant variation (P > .05). Conclusion: The results indicated that honey and garlic increased the haematological and antioxidant indices of the supplemented groups (T2-T5) compared with the control group (T1). As a result, the study suggests the use of honey and garlic in aquaculture should be adopted to boost fish well-being.