Analyses of Pigments, Antioxidants, Vitamins and Immunostimulatory Effect of Khasi Pine (Pinus kesiya) Pollen in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)

Abstract

The pigments, antioxidants, vitamins and immunostimulatory effect of Khasi pine (Pinus kesiya) pollen were evaluated. The result of laboratory analyses showed that P. kesiyapollen had a total carotenoid of 2.90 μg/g, β-carotene of 0.06 μg/g, Chlorophyll A of 409.41 μg/g and Chlorophyll B of 704.68 μg/g. Also, P. kesiyapollen exhibited an antioxidant property of 271.10 mg/L. Vitamins A and C contents were 0.103 μg/g and 0.500 μg/g, respectively. The treatments used in the study: T1 (Injected with Physiological Saline Solution + commercial feeds); T2 (Non-vaccinated + commercial feeds; T3 Non-vaccinated + fed with pine pollen supplemented feeds); T4 (Vaccinated with A. hydrophila+ pine pollen supplemented feeds); and T5 (Vaccinated with A. hydrophila+ commercial feeds). In the hematological analysis, T2, T3, T4, and T5 showedno statistical differences (P>0.05) except for the hematocrit count (P<0.05). Comparison of means showed that T3 with 26.33% was statistically different from T2 with 38.67% (P<0.05). The cell mediated immune response on differential count of spleen cells and spleen somatic index also showed no statistical differences among treatments (P>0.05). However, the immunostimulatory effect of P. kesiyapollen was observed in Microtiter Agglutination assay. Fish fed with pine pollen supplemented feeds showed positive agglutination in T3 at dilutions 1:2, 1:8 and 1:16; T4 at dilutions 1:8192 and 1:16834 and T5 at dilutions 1:32768 indicating production of antibodies. Findings showed that pine pollen is an effective immunostimulant as shown in Microtiter Agglutination test that can be used in aquaculture to control fish diseases.