International Journal of Aquaculture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 266-274 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ija 266 Research Insight Open Access Comprehensive Assessment of Garlic (Allium sativum) Supplement Diet Applications in Aquaculture and Its Effect on Growth Performance, Nutrition Utilization, Body Composition, Microbiome, and Survival in Different Type of Fishes Alsajjad H. Alghaya 1 , C. Manjulatha 1, Aziza A. Mohamed 2 1 Department of Zoology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India 2 Department of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan Corresponding author: alsajjadalghaya991@gmail.com International Journal of Aquaculture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6 doi: 10.5376/ija.2025.15.0026 Received: 15 Aug., 2025 Accepted: 30 Oct., 2025 Published: 15 Nov., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Alghaya et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Alghaya A.H., Manjulatha C., and Mohamed A.A., 2025, Comprehensive assessment of garlic (Allium sativum) supplement diet applications in aquaculture and Its effect on growth performance, nutrition utilization, body composition, microbiome, and survival in different type of fishes, International Journal of Aquaculture, 15(6): 266-274 (doi: 10.5376/ija.2025.15.0026) Abstract Garlic (Allium sativum), a bulbous flowering plant in the Allium genus, is celebrated for its diverse culinary and medicinal uses. It's a natural wonder, garlic’s proximate composition records an average of 65% water (compared to over 85% of fresh vegetables), 27.5% carbohydrates, 4.7% fber, 2%~3% organosulfurated compounds, and 2% protein. Scientific studies have revealed garlic's astonishing impact on aquatic life, especially fish. It's shown to significantly boost fish growth, reduce mortality rates, and fortify their antioxidant defenses. Allicin, the standout bioactive compound in garlic, is the driving force behind this transformation. It possesses formidable anti-parasitic properties, confirmed effective against notorious foes like freshwater Ich and marine white spot. This revelation holds promise for revolutionizing aquaculture practices. But garlic's prowess extends further through a treasure trove of organosulfur compounds, including diallyl sulfide, allicin, γ-glutamylcysteine, S-allyl cysteine (alliin), and ajoene. These compounds are associated with various health benefits, from calming inflammation and combating oxidative stress to regulating blood pressure, ameliorating hyperlipidemia, and enhancing endothelial function. In the world of aquaculture, research findings unveil the potential of garlic to be a game-changer. This comprehensive review consolidates existing knowledge on the impact of garlic on fishes. It sheds light on crucial aspects such as growth performance, nutrient utilization, body composition, and survival rates, underscoring garlic supplements' potential to reshape the aquaculture industry. In reviewed studies, garlic supplementation improved weight gain in Nile tilapia by up to 22%, enhanced feed conversion ratio (FCR) by approximately 15%, and increased survival rates to over 95% under bacterial challenge conditions. In rainbow trout, diets containing 2%~3% garlic extract increased body protein content by 6%~8% while reducing lipid deposition by nearly 10%. Similarly, juvenile sturgeon fed 0.5% garlic extract showed a rise in lipid levels from 4.8% to 6.1%, while tilapia fed 3% garlic powder achieved the highest protein levels and the lowest body fat compared to controls. These quantitative outcomes confirm garlic’s measurable role in boosting growth, nutrient utilization, and survival in aquaculture species. Keywords Garlic; Growth performance; Nutrient utilization; Molecular insight; Survival rate; Fishes 1 Introduction Fodder additives derived from medicinal plants or plant extracts are known as phytoadditives (Gabor et al., 2010). Essential nutrients for body metabolism are provided by feed additives. Dietary supplements are one of the most frequent strategies used in fish farms to increase weight gain, feed efficiency, and disease resistance in cultured fish. It is hoped that using them would provide the same results as using antibiotics (Gabor et al., 2010). Plant products such as herbs (Akrami et al., 2015). It contains huge amount of calcium, phosphorus, carbohydrates, as well as few other nutrients. Garlic (Allium sativum family Liliaceae) is known as a prophylactic as well as a therapeutic medicinal plant in different communities. Allicin (allyl 2-propenethiosulfinate or diallyl thiosulfinate) is the principal bioactive compound which is present in the aqueous extract of garlic or raw garlic homogenate. When garlic is chopped or crushed, allinase enzyme is activated and produce allicin from alliin (present in intact garlic). Other available compounds in garlic homogenate are included 1-propenyl allyl thiosulfonate, allyl methyl thiosulfonate, (E, Z)-4,5,9-trithiadodeca-l,6,11-triene 9-oxide (ajoene), and y-L-glutamyl-S-alkyl-Lcysteine (Bayan et al., 2014).
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