Effects of dietary baicalein on growth, serum anti-oxidation indicators and flesh quality of Ctenopharyngodon idella

To investigate the effects of dietary baicalein on the growth performance, anti-oxidation indicators and flesh quality of grass carp, five diets were prepared with the baicalein addition at 0 (control diet), 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 g/kg, and fed to grass carp with an initial body weight of (75.8±0.24) g. After 60 days of feeding, the weight gain showed quadratic relationship with dietary baicalein level, and the supplementation of 0.2 g/kg baicalein improved weight gain by 8.63% and decreased feed conversion ratio by 0.14 when compared to the control group. Serum SOD activity increased and MDA level decreased by the addition of 0.2−0.6 g/kg baicalein. Serum CAT activity also increased by the addition of 0.4 g/kg baicalein, while AKP and lysozyme activity showed no significant difference among groups. The addition of 0.4 and 0.6 g/kg baicalein increased the total amino acids and the total essential amino acids in flesh, and the total nonessential amino acids increased by the addition of 0.6 g/kg baicalein. There were no significant differences in the proximate composition and water-holding capacity of flesh, and muscle fiber density and diameter also showed no difference among groups. In conclusion, dietary baicalein could improve the growth and anti-oxidant ability of grass carp, and the recommended supplemental level of baicalein was 0.2 g/kg.