Oxidative damage

Oreochromis

Biology

Nile tilapia

Pesticide

Fish <Actinopterygii>

Animal science

Fishery

Biochemistry

Moringa

Botany

Food science

Immunology

Immune system

Toxicology

Agronomy

Oxidative stress

Antioxidant

Aquaculture

Camellia oleifera

DNA damage

Chlorpyrifos

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most highly prevalent insecticides in freshwater ecosystems and has been widely detected in fishery and agricultural products worldwide. Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) is a well-known medicinal plant with many pharmacological properties. Hence, the present study was designed to explore the probable beneficial effect of M. oleifera on CPF-induced health disturbances in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Two hundred and seventy fish were allocated into six groups in triplicate. For 30 days, the first group was fed a basal diet; the second group was exposed to 1/10 of the LC50 of CPF (0.007 mg/L) and fed the basal diet; the third and fourth groups were fed basal diets supplemented with 7% M. oleifera seeds and 10% M. oleifera leaves, respectively; and the fifth and sixth groups were exposed to 1/10 of the LC50 of CPF and fed basal diets supplemented with 7% M. oleifera seeds and 10% M. oleifera leaves, respectively. CPF exposure significantly altered growth performance, haematologic profiles, immune defence mechanisms, liver functions, and oxidant/antioxidant status. Additionally, CPF exposure resulted in prominent genotoxic and lipid peroxidative impacts. Interestingly, dietary supplementation with 7% M. oleifera seeds or 10% M. oleifera leaves significantly counteracted the CPF-induced adverse impacts on O. niloticus growth performance and health. These outcomes show that dietary supplementation with M. oleifera seeds or leaves can safeguard the commercially valuable freshwater fish species O. niloticus against CPF-induced health disorders and may be a candidate feed additive for Nile tilapia in aquaculture.

Ameliorative effects of Moringa oleifera seeds and leaves on chlorpyrifos-induced growth retardation, immune suppression, oxidative stress, and DNA damage in Oreochromis niloticus