Effects of Addition of Instant Black Tea Powder in Feed on Growth, Muscle Lipids, and Non-specific Immunity of Cherax quadricarinatus

Objective Effects of adding an instant black tea powder in feed on the growth performance, muscle lipids, and antioxidant capacity of Cherax quadricarinatus were studied to improve the aquaculture through utilization of the tea byproduct.

Method A black tea powder was added in the forage at 1% to 6% to feed the shrimps in a confined pond. The body weight and carapace length of the shrimps were measured 84 d after the start of the feeding. Contents of muscle and hepatopancreas TP (total protein), muscle TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C as well as activities of antioxidants T-AOC, GSH-Px, CAT, SOD, and AKP in hepatopancreas were determined.

Result At the addition equal to or levels less than 2%, the black tea power significantly enhanced the growth performance, increased the TP and muscle HDL-C, raised the activities of T-AOC, GSH-Px, CAT, SOD, and AKP in the liver and pancreas, but reduced the contents of muscle TC, TG, and LDL-C of the shrimps. Although an addition beyond 2% significantly boosted the antioxidant enzyme activity, it suppressed the growth with a declined TP in the shrimps.

Conclusion Addition of the black tea powder at a level below 2% in the shrimp feed appeared to stimulate the antioxidants, immunity, and growth of C. quadricarinatus.