UN SDG
Aquatic Food Studies 2025, Vol 5, Num, 2     (Pages: AFS344)
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Inclusion of Heen Bovitiya (Osbeckia octandra) Leaves Powder as an Additive in Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) Fry Fed to Regulate Liver Function and Its Effect for Pigmentation, Growth and Stress Tolerance

G.S. Champika Perera 1 ,M.C. Kithmini Swarnahansi Salgadu 2 ,Rashmika Sandaruwani Dinayadura 2 ,Dinusha Narendri Senanayake 3 ,A.D.R. Wasantha Rajapakshe 1 ,Nalini Yasoda Hirimuthugoda 4 ,Kumudu Radampola Gamage 2

1 National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Regional Research Center, Panapitiya, Waskaduwa, Sri Lanka.
2 University of Ruhuna, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Marine Sciences, and Technology, Matara, Sri Lanka.
3 University of Peradeniya, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
4 University of Ruhuna, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka. DOI : 10.4194/AFS344 - Fatty liver issues in aquafeeds threaten the health and economic viability of ornamental fish. A healthy liver supports digestion, detoxification, nutrient metabolism, and disease resistance, thereby enhancing pigmentation, growth, and longevity. Heen Bovitiya (Osbeckia octandra) leaf powder (HBP), an endemic Sri Lankan plant traditionally used for hepatoprotection, was incorporated into Poecilia reticulata fry diets at 0% (control), 1% (HB1.0), 2.5% (HB2.5), and 5% (HB5.0) levels to assess effects on liver function, growth, pigmentation, and stress tolerance over 8 weeks. In a completely randomized design with 12 aquaria (20 fry/aquarium, 3 replicates), liver histology (H&E staining), hepatosomatic index (HSI), MATLAB-based color analysis, growth parameters (SGR, WG), tail pigmentation, and stress tolerance (packaging simulation) were evaluated. Results showed reduced hepatic alterations with increasing HBP (eccentric nuclei, hepatocyte swelling, and melanomacrophage aggregates prominent in HB0.0 and HB1.0), with HB5.0 yielding the lowest HSI (1.7±0.4, P<0.05) and darkest liver color (200±5 MATLAB value, P<0.05), preserving normal hepatocyte structure. Growth remained unaffected up to HB2.5 but declined at HB5.0 (due to fiber increase, P<0.05 for WG and final weight); pigmentation and stress tolerance were unchanged. HBP at 2.5-5.0% is recommended as an aquafeed additive to optimize liver function in P. reticulata fry. Keywords : Ornamental fish, Fatty liver, Osbeckia octandra, Hepatoprotective feed, Histopathology