Exploring the effects of supplementing monoterpenoids in Moringa oleifera based-diet in Oreochromis niloticus: Improving the growth performance, feed efficiency, digestibility and body composition

Monoterpenoids are interesting hydrocarbons typically found in essential oils and have a significant role in medicinal and biological purposes. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of two monoterpenoids, carvacrol (CAR) and menthol (MEN), supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) based diets on growth parameters, digestibility and body composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Alongside the basal diet (control-T1), nine experimental diets supplemented with categorized levels of CAR and MEN at 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg individually and their mixtures (MIX) (1:1) (CAR-T2, 200; T3, 300; T4, 400 mg/kg, MEN-T5, 200; T6, 300; T7, 400 mg/kg and MIX- (1:1) T8, 200; T9, 300; T10, 400 mg/kg) were fed to the fingerlings (6.55 ± 0.03 g) for the period of 60 days. Monoterpenoids supplementation led to significantly (p