TITLE:
Effects of Sesamum indicum Seed Oil on Reproductive Performances, Egg Antioxidant and Biochemical Status in Female African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Broodstock
AUTHORS:
Herman Victor Ngoumtsop, Dorice Azafack Kana, Ghislaine Tamdem Nguemmogne, Herve Tchoffo, Sorelle Nienga Deutcheu, Ferdinand Ngoula
KEYWORDS:
Sesamum indicum Seed Oil, Egg Stress Markers, Reproduction Parameters, Biochemical Parameters, Females Clarias gariepinus
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine,
Vol.16 No.4,
April
24,
2026
ABSTRACT: Fish, constantly exposed to environmental stressors due to their aquatic habitat and high metabolic rates, are susceptible to oxidative stress. This oxidative stress reduces reproductive performance and leads to economic losses for farmers. The Sesamum indicum seed oil, due to its bioactive molecules with various pharmacological properties, could mitigate the effects of these factors and enhance animal performance. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Sesamum indicum seed oil on the reproductive performances, egg antioxidant and biochemical reproductive parameters in Clarias gariepinus. A total of forty-eight (48) catfish broodstock (Clarias gariepinus) with an average weight of 150.35 ± 4.19 g were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatment groups in a completely randomised design. Males were used exclusively for fertility testing. In 90 days, fish in group 1 (control) received diet without S. indicum seed oil, while the other diets were incorporated at 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% (corresponding to 5, 10, and 15 g/kg of diet, respectively). To keep the diets iso-lipidic and iso-energetic, sesame oil was used as a direct substitute for an equal amount of the basal palm oil. At 13 weeks old, blood samples were collected from all fish of each treatment for reproductive hormone analysis. In addition, 8 grams of eggs were collected from each fish per treatment broken and homogenised, and egg samples were collected for oxidative stress markers and biochemical analysis. On the other hand, 16,000 eggs (2000/fish) were also collected per treatment for egg characteristics, fertility assessment, and hatchability traits. The Fecundity, Fertility, Hatchability and survival rate significantly increased (P S. indicum oil/kg diet compared to the control. The serum levels of LH, FSH and estradiol increased significantly (P S. indicum oil/kg diet compared to both the control and the treatment that received 5 grammes of Sesamum indicum seed oil. In addition, the egg level of total Protein, Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, and the egg level of SOD, CAT, and GPx significantly increased (P S. indicum seed oil. However, the egg level of MDA was significantly decreased (P S. indicum seed oil. It was concluded that administration of 15 g of S. indicum seed oil/kg diet enhances reproductive and biochemical parameters in female fish.