Effect of Lippia grata essential oil as a feed additive on the performance of tambatinga juveniles

Lippia grata (formerly known as Lippia gracillis) is an aromatic plant native to Brazil, with leaves rich in essential oils that possess significant biological activities. We evaluated the effect of essential oil of L. grata (EOLG) as a dietary additive on the growth, somatic indices, and biochemical parameters of juveniles (5.25 +/- 0.26 g) of tambatinga, a hybrid fish obtained by crossing tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) with pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomum) of great economic importance in north and northeastern Brazil. We evaluated four dietary treatments, consisting of EOLG supplemented at 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mL kg(-1), over 60 days. Carcass yield was significantly higher in fish fed all EOLG diets compared to those fed the control diet (0.0 mL kg(-1)). Animals that received the 0.5 mL kg(-1) treatment gained significantly more weight and showed a higher specific growth rate than those treated with 1.0 and 2.0 ml kg(-1) EOLG, although none differed significantly from the control. The feed conversion rate was significantly lower in the 0.5 than in the 1.0 mL kg(-1) treatment. Compared with higher concentrations, the diet containing 0.5 mL kg(-1) EOLG increased the use of muscle glycogen, glucose, and lactate to meet energy demands, avoiding the use of muscle protein. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation with EOLG significantly improves carcass yield in tambatinga juveniles but that concentrations above 0.5 mL kg(-1) may compromise growth rates and carbohydrate metabolism in this fish.