Dietary Applications of Garlic in Aquaculture

Garlic (Allium sativum) has emerged as a multifunctional feed additive in aquaculture, valued for its rich array of organosulfur compounds such as allicin, diallyl sulfide and S-allyl cysteine. Inclusion of garlic or its concentrated derivatives in fish diets has been shown to enhance growth performance, feed utilisation and specific growth rate across a wide range of finfish and shellfish species. Concurrently, it promotes health by modulating the gut microbiome, stimulating non-specific immune defences and countering oxidative stress. Its antibacterial and antiparasitic properties offer a sustainable alternative to conventional antibiotics, addressing concerns over antimicrobial resistance and environmental residues. Moreover, garlic supplementation has been linked to improved digestive enzyme activities, enhanced intestinal morphology and resilience against abiotic stressors such as heavy metals and low pH. Collectively, these attributes underpin the global relevance of garlic as an eco-friendly strategy to bolster productivity and disease resistance in intensive and extensive aquaculture systems.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A recent feeding trial on Nile tilapia exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of heavy metals examined the protective effect of a diet supplemented with 1% garlic powder. Fish receiving the garlic regimen exhibited marked recovery of growth rates, optimised feed conversion and restored liver histology following metal-induced damage. Enhanced digestive enzyme activities and stabilisation of carcass composition were also observed, indicating that garlic bioactives can mitigate toxicant stress and support metabolic homeostasis. These findings underscore the potential of garlic as a dietary intervention to counter environmental pollutants in aquaculture and improve fish welfare under challenging production conditions.

Dietary Applications of Garlic in Aquaculture publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in dietary applications of garlic in aquaculture across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Allicin: An organosulfur compound in garlic responsible for antimicrobial and antioxidant effects.

Propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO): A sulphur-containing extract from Allium species with antibacterial properties.

Feed conversion ratio (FCR): The ratio of feed intake to body weight gain, indicating feed efficiency.

Specific growth rate (SGR): The percentage increase in body weight per day over the feeding period.

Gut microbiome: The community of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract.

Immunostimulant: A substance that enhances the non-specific immune response in fish.

References

1. Allium-Derived Compound Propyl Propane Thiosulfonate (PTSO) Reduces Vibrio Populations and Increases Body Weight of European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Juveniles. Antibiotics (2023).
2. Ameliorating effects of natural herbal supplements against water-borne induced toxicity of heavy metals on Nile tilapia, (Oreochromis niloticus). Scientific Reports (2024).
3. Antibacterial and Antiparasitic Activity of Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfinate (PTS) and Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfonate (PTSO) from Allium cepa against Gilthead Sea Bream Pathogens in In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. Molecules (2022).
4. The effects of microencapsulated garlic (Allium sativum) extract on growth performance, body composition, immune response and antioxidant status of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles. Journal of Applied Animal Research (2020).
5. The nutritional applications of garlic (Allium sativum) as natural feed additives in animals. PeerJ (2021).