Abstract

  This research was examined the effects of dietary Limnophila aromaticaextract (LAE) on growth, intestinal histology, hematology, and serumbiochemistry of common lowland frog (Rana rugulosa). Frog (average initial weight 16.00±1.00 g) were fed with the diets supplemented with LAEat the concentrations of 0 (control), 1, 3, and 5%, daily, for 8 weeks. Thequalitative test analysis for phytochemicals showed the presence of glycosides, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, terpenoids, coumarins, and anthraquinones. After the feeding trial, frog fed different LAE dietssignificantly increased growth indices and feed conversion efficiency compared with the basal control (P<0.05). The survival rate did not differ among the groups (P>0.05). The improvement in intestinal morphology was observed in frog fed the diets containing LAE compared with the control (P<0.05). White blood cellswere significantly decreasedin frog fed 5% dietary LAE(P<0.05). There were no significant changes in red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean cell volume, mean cellular hemoglobin, and mean cell hemoglobin concentration among the groups (P>0.05). Glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, and alanine aminotransferase were significantly decreased in the treated frog compared withthe control frog (P<0.05). Aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, HDL-C, LDL-C, bilirubin-D, bilirubin-T, and albumin were not affected by the diet supplementations (P>0.05). This study indicated that LAEsupplementation produced a positive effect on growth, intestinal histomorphology, and serum biochemistry in frog with the optimal level of 2.66%.

Keywords:  Limnophila aromatica, Rana rugulosa, Growth Performance,Physiological Responses