Abstract:
To investigate the effects of chlorogenic acid on the growth, non-specific immune function and the meat quality of juvenile grass carp, the diets were improved with the addition of chlorogenic acid at the concentrations of 0.00% (control group), 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.06%, and 0.08%. Fish with an average weight of (3.190.03) g were selected and fed for 60 days. The results showed that the growth rate of the six diet groups were 283.1%, 305.7%, 307.3%, 329.6%, 308.3%, 303.0%, and the FCR was 1.45, 1.33, 1.33, 1.26, 1.30, and 1.36, respectively. The growth rate and FCR were significantly improved with the addition of 0.04% chlorogenic acid compared with the control group (P0.05). It was indicated that the growth yate was improved with the addition of chlorogenic acid at the concentrations of 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.06%. SOD activities of hepato-pancreas increased significantly with 0.04% chlorogenic acid (P0.05), and plasma AST activities decreased significantly with 0.08% chlorogenic acid (P0.05). However, hepato-pancreas lysozyme, ALP and ALT of plasma activities were not affected by dietary chlorogenic acid (P0.05). In terms of the muscle composition and the meat quality, there were no significant differences in muscle moisture and crude lipid contents among different diet groups. The muscle protein, Val, Ile, His, essential amino acids and total amino acids significantly increased (P0.05) with the addition of 0.04% chlorogenic acid. Hydroxyproline and the collagen content of muscle increased (P0.05) with the addition of 0.02% chlorogenic acid. In conclusion, the results above showed that the growth, non-specific immunity ability and the meat quality of juvenile grass carp could be improved with the addition of chlorogenic acid in diets. Therefore, the recommended level of chlorogenic acid in juvenile grass carp diet should be 0.04%.