Comparison of Chitosan Stabilised Ascorbic Acid with Ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate and Crystalline L-ascorbic Acid on Growth, Survival and Whole-body Ascorbic Acid Concentration in the Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Author: Hari B. and Jisha, S.

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Abstract

The effects of diet supplementation using chitosan stabilized ascorbic acid (CSAA), ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (ASPP), crystalline L-ascorbic acid (AA) at 250 mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE) kg-1 diet and a diet devoid of ascorbic acid (C) was studied using juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii prawns in a 50-day feeding trial. Ascorbic acid retention (%) after feed processing, leaching, and storage revealed that both CSAA and ASPP were significantly more heat and water stable than AA. Prawns had an initial weight of 64 ±0.02 mg. Prawns fed CSAA had a significantly higher survival rate (100%) compared to those fed ASPP (86.7%), AA (53.3%), or C (36.7%). Weight gain (%) and specific growth rate (SGR) of prawns fed with diets ASPP and CSAA were significantly higher than those fed with diets C and AA. Whole Body Ascorbic Acid (WBAA) concentration was significantly higher in prawns, fed diets supplemented with CSAA and ASPP compared to those received diet AA and C. The results indicated that chitosan stabilised ascorbic acid in a heat-stable, water-insoluble, and bioavailable form for M. rosenbergii juveniles provides a comparable growth performance, WBAA content, and better survival compared to the commercial stabilised ascorbic acid formulation: ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate.

Keywords

Ascorbic acid, Vitamin C, Feed evaluation, Freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Whole-body ascorbic acid

Conclusion

The dietary ascorbic acid sources CSAA and ASPP have a stronger influence on the growth and survival of M. rosenbergii compared to crystalline L-ascorbic acid. At the standard concentration (250 mg AAE kg-1 diet) used in all supplemented diets, the heat-labile and highly water-soluble nature of crystalline L-ascorbic acid resulted in low survival, low WBAA concentrations, and poor growth performance when compared to CSAA and ASPP supplemented diets. Under the present experimental conditions, we conclude that chitosan stabilised ascorbic acid developed by the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, India is heat stable, water-insoluble, bio-available and has an antiscorbutic activity similar to ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate in the diets for M. rosenbergii juveniles.

References

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How to cite this article

Hari B. and Jisha, S. (2023) Comparison of Chitosan Stabilised Ascorbic Acid with Ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate and Crystalline L-ascorbic Acid on Growth, Survival and Whole-body Ascorbic Acid Concentration in the Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(4): 926-935.