Abstract

This study evaluated the wound healing effect of medicinal plants mixture (MPLM) fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum), stone breaker (Phyllanthus niruri), and garlic (Allium sativum) dietary supplementation on Clarias gariepinus. One hundred and forty male and female C. gariepinus were divided into 7 treatments, including the control and 6 treatment groups in two replications, 10 C. gariepinus per treatment (5 males and 5 females). Seven (7) experimental diets composed of Control (0%) MPLM2 (0.5%), MPLM3 (1.0%) MPLM4 (1.5%), MPLM5 (2.0%), MPLM6 (2.5%), MPLM7 (3.0%) was fed twice daily at 3% body weight of 40% crude protein for 14 days in 14 experimental tanks (1.8 m x 1.8 m x 1.2 m). The 1 cm2 incision was made on the C. gariepinus below the dorsal fin above the lateral line, and the wound closure percentage healing, and daily healing rate on the lateral parts of the male and female C. gariepinus were investigated at 0, 7, 10 and 14 days. The results of the study revealed that wound closure, percentage healing and daily healing rate were better in the treated groups compared to the control. Also, the results obtained showed that the male Clarias gariepinus had better healing compared to the female. The histology of the male and female muscle wound closure of C. gariepinus revealed that slight observable changes were observed in the control group and MPLM 2 and control group, MPLM 2 (0.5%) and MPLM 3 (1.0%) for male and female C. gariepinus, respectively. However, no visible structural changes were observed among the other dietary groups. Diets with medicinal plants had healing activity, and their inclusion in fish feed promotes wound healing in Clarias gariepinus.