Effect of Blood Orange (<i>Citrus sinensis</i> L. Osbeck) Peel Waste as a Feed Additive on the Growth Performance, Digestive Enzyme Activity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immune Response in Juvenile Black Rockfish (<i>Sebastes schlegelii</i>)

Abstract

This study evaluated bioactive compounds in blood orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) peel (BOP) as dietary additives. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation on the growth performance, body composition, digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant capacity, and immune response of juvenile black rockfish. A total of 1260 juvenile rockfish (1.4 +/- 0.01 g) were randomly distributed into seven treatment groups, each with 50 fish per circular tank. The groups were fed seven different diets containing graded levels of 0 (control, BOP0), 1 (BOP1), 2 (BOP2), 3 (BOP3), 5 (BOP5), 7 (BOP7), and 10 (BOP10) g kg-1, respectively. The BOP10 diet significantly enhanced the final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and protein retention in fish. The BOP treatments notably affected the fishes' whole-body crude protein and lipid contents. Plasma total cholesterol levels of fish fed the BOP0 and BOP1 diets were significantly higher than those fed the BOP7 and BOP10 diets. The activities of trypsin and lipase were significantly affected by dietary BOP levels. The antioxidant enzyme activity in the plasma of fish fed the BOP10 diet was significantly higher than those fed the BOP0 diet. The lysozyme activity and levels of immunoglobulin M and G in fish fed the BOP0 diet were significantly lower than those in fish fed the BOP10 diet. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of BOP at 10 g kg-1 improved the growth performance and overall health of juvenile black rockfish.