The fishmeal replaced with Spirulina platensis, Chlorella vulgaris and Azolla pinnata and the formulated diet fed to Macrobrachium rosenbergii postlarvae to assess the enhancement ability of non-enzymatic antioxidants (vitamin C and E), enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)) and lipid peroxidation (LPx) were analysed. In the present study, the S. platensis, C. vulgaris and A. pinnata inclusion diet fed groups had significant (P < 0.05) improvement in the levels of vitamins C and E in the hepatopancreas and muscle tissue. Among all the diets, the replacement materials in 50% incorporated feed fed groups showed better performance when compared with the control group in non-enzymatic antioxidant activity. The 50% fishmeal replacement (best performance) diet fed groups taken for enzymatic antioxidant study, in SOD, CAT and LPx showed no significant increases when compared with the control group. Hence, the present results revealed that the formulated feed enhanced the vitamins C and E, the result of decreased level of enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT and LPx) revealed that these feeds are non-toxic and do not produce any stress to postlarvae. These ingredients can be used as an alternative protein source for sustainable Macrobrachium culture.

No abstract

The proximate composition of biochemical constituents was analyzed in the muscle of adult male and female prawns of Macrobrachium rosenbergii collected from two different natural culture sites. This was in the order of moisture > protein > amino acids > carbohydrate > nucleic acids (RNA > DNA) > lipid > fatty acids > ash. The prawns collected from both natural culture sites showed reasonably good proximate composition. This indicates that the wild has provided adequate food source to the prawns. The proportion of total protein, amino acids, lipid, fatty acids, carbohydrate and RNA were found to be higher in female prawns than in the males. In contrast, the proportions of moisture and ash contents were higher in male prawns when compared with females. The level of DNA was found to be unchanged in both male and female prawns. HPTLC analysis of amino acids revealed higher levels of essential amino acids, such as phenylalanine, leucine, tyrosine, isoleucine, tryptophan, methionine, valine, threonine, arginine, histidine, lysine in female prawns when compared to the male prawns. Similarly, GC analysis of fatty acids showed both polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids levels were found to be higher in female prawns when compared to the males. The variation in muscle constituents between male and female prawn reflects the differences in sex development and their energy requirements for body maintenance during the adult stage. In the present study, nutrition wise, the adult female prawn was as good or better

No abstract

The medicinal herbs such as Alternanthera sessilis, Eclipta alba and Cissus quadrangularis were used to assess the growth promoting ability, enhancement of muscle biochemical constituents and profiles of amino acid in the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium malcolmsonii. The herbal powders were separately incorporated with basal diet, and these diets were fed to M. malcolmsonii postlarvae for a period of 90 days. At the end of experiments, the survival of prawn significantly improved in herbal incorporated feed. In addition, the growth parameters, such as weight gain, specific growth rate and protein efficiency rate were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in herbal diets fed groups when compared with control. The activities of digestive enzyme, biochemical constituents, profile of amino acid, energy utilization parameters, concentrations of vitamin C and E were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in experimental diets fed groups when compared with control. The profiles of essential amino acids were also found elevated in herbal incorporated diets fed PL. Among the three herbs tested, C. quadrangularis incorporated diet fed group showed better performance followed by the E. alba and A. sessilis. The present study suggests that these herbs can be incorporated in artificial feed formulations for Macrobrachium culture.