Enhancing Growth Performance and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Composition of the Nile Tilapia through Dietary Supplementation of Andrographis paniculata Leaves Extract

Abstract

The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is a globally important aquaculture species valued for its rapid growth and high consumer demand. However, improving its nutritional quality particularly the content of omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) remains a major challenge in sustainable fish farming. Natural phytogenic additives have emerged as promising alternatives to synthetic growth promoters, since they enhance nutrient absorption, immunity, and feed efficiency while minimizing environmental impact.. Among them, Andrographis paniculata (sambiloto) is known to contain andrographolide and flavonoid compounds with bioactive potential for improving fish metabolism and health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of A. paniculata leaves extract at different inclusion levels on the growth performance, feed utilization, and lipid composition of the Nile tilapia. The experiment was conducted for 60 days using a completely randomized design with four treatments (0, 2, 4, and 6 mg/kg feed) and three replicates each. Juvenile tilapia (10 ± 0.3 g) were stocked at a density of 10 fish per 20 L aquarium and fed to apparent satiation three times daily. The results showed that A. paniculata supplementation significantly improved final body weight, feed conversion ratio, protein content, and tissue EPA and DHA levels, with the best outcomes at 6 mg/kg feed. These findings confirm the potential of A. paniculata as a natural, multifunctional additive for enhancing tilapia productivity and product quality in sustainable aquaculture systems.