Hydroalcoholic extract of jabuticaba peel in the diet of betta fish

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora) peel extract on the diets of female blue Betta splendens concerning the level of digestive enzymes, liver metabolism, and antioxidant activity. The sample constituted 150 individuals subdivided into five groups in tripli-cate, totaling 10 fish per 20-liter experimental unit. Commercial diets (40.88% crude protein (CP) and 4374.8 Kcal•kg-1v) were added to hydroalcoholic jabuticaba peel extract (EHJ) at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g•kg-1. The diets were provided twice a day, until apparent satiety, for 21 days. Fish mortality was not observed during the study. Growth indices did not show any significant differences, apart from feed conversion. The use of the extract promoted an increase in the luminosity of the fish; however, there was no statistical difference in chromaticity a* and b*. A decrease in the activity of SOD on the skin of fish fed with diets of 1.5 and 2 g kg-1 EHJ was observed in comparison to the other diets. There was no change in catalase (CAT) activity among the experimental treatments. It is concluded that the use of 2 g•kg-1 EHJ has an antioxidant effect that reflects the greater luminosity of blue female Betta splendens.