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Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) in fish feed: scientific rationale for the use of bioactive flavono lignans to enhance fish productivity and resilience

A comprehensive, scientifically based assessment was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of incorporating milk thistle seeds into the composition of the complete commercial compound feed Fishery Tech Barbel Pro Plus Float 42/12 for feeding African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) reared in a recirculating aquaculture system. The experiment, lasting a total of 56 days, was conducted in October–December 2025 in the tanks of the recirculating aquaculture system at the “Som z Pavlysh” fi sh farm. The study was conducted in two stages. The growth rate of the catfish was assessed based on individual absolute, average daily and relative body weight gain. The feed conversion ratio in the control group was calculated by converting the weight of the larvae into the weight of the compound feed, using a coefficient of 1.645, calculated as the difference between the metabolizable energy values of the compound feed (13.830 MJ/kg) and live Hermetia illucens larvae (8.409 MJ/kg). For the ichthyopathological study of the African catfish, based on the results of the second stage of the experiment, eight specimens were selected from both the experimental and control groups. It was found that during the first and second stages of the study, water temperatures decreased and were below the optimal range (27-30°C). Thus, during the first, acclimatisation stage, the decrease was recorded at 1-3°C (average daily value 24.9°C), whereas during the second, experimental stage, the decrease was signifi cant and the average daily water temperature was 22.4°C. African catfish from the experimental group showed the same survival rate (99.03%), but the fish from the control group outperformed them in terms of growth rate (by 11.24 % in absolute terms and by 9.26 % in relative terms). At the same time, the difference between the mean final body weights of the fish in both experimental groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Feed conversion efficiency in the experimental group was 6.32 % higher than the corresponding figure for the control group. The slowest growth rate of the clariid catfish was observed during the final week of the second stage, when the average water temperature dropped to 22.0°C. The results of ichthyopathological studies revealed a significant reduction in the incidence of gastric and intestinal lesions (acute and chronic inflammation, presence of haemorrhages), from 75 % prior to the start of the study to 12.5% upon its completion. Similarly, a positive trend was observed in the absence of inflammatory processes in the gallbladder, compared to 25% prior to the start of the experiment. Monitoring of morphological changes in the liver following the experimental period indicates that the organ has an elastic consistency and dense structure, a glossy capsule, and no exudative inclusions. However, in 25% of the studied fish, slight marbling and the presence of haemorrhages beneath the capsule in the caudal part of the organ were observed. Taking into account a number of pathological changes, a significant difference was observed in the condition of all internal organs, namely their compliance with the morphological norm (75%), following the experiment.

Keywords: herbal supplement, milk thistle seeds (Silybum marianum), commercial compound feed, feed conversion ratio, recirculating aquaculture system, African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens).

KOVALENKO V. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7452-4331


HRYNEVYCH N. http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7430-9498


ILCHUK I. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0961-6613


NOVOKHATKO O. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3980-1441


KOVALENKO B. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0719-2063


SLUSARENKO A.


SHVAB V. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5823-9095


PRYSYAZHNYUK N. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4737-0143


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BTF №1 2026