Moringa oleifera as a sustainable fish feed ingredient: nutritional benefits and applications; a comprehensive review

Document Type : Review

Authors

1 Department of Life Sciences, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan

2 Department of Zoology, Cholistan Institute of Biological Sciences, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Abstract

Moringa oleifera exists as a wonder plant because of its multiple applications across both the food industry and healthcare field. Its cultivation is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in South Asia, due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. Its various parts offer significant food value, addressing nutrition-related issues, vitamin deficiencies, and mineral shortages. Its roots together with leaves, bark, pods and various other parts contain substantial phytochemical levels that demonstrate active biological properties including anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepato-protective and cardio-protective actions etc. In recent years, there has been a fast-growing trend to use M. oleifera as a dietary supplement for fishes. The nutrient composition highlights its high protein, vitamins and minerals content as well as the presence of bioactive compounds like glucosinolates, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. These bioactive compounds have potential to improve fish growth, health and disease resistance. Besides having great nutritional potential, it also contains many anti-nutritional components including saponins, phytates, oxalates and tannins, etc. Many studies reported that the effect of these anti-nutritional components can be lowered by using dehydration, socking, fermentation and other strategies. This review article gives an overview of the potential benefits and some drawbacks of incorporating M. oleifera in fish diet and highlights its use as potential supplement in fish feed.

Keywords

International Aquatic Research
Volume 17, Issue 3
September 2025
Pages 213-228

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