Biotechnology Journal International

Aim: To study the phytochemical profiles of Cynodon dactylon with three different solvent extractions, such as petroleum ether, acetone and ethanol, and their growth promoting ability on Macrobrachium rosenbergii PL.

Study Design:  Complete extraction of C. dactylon using non-polar, middle polar and polar solvents in order to see the quality of primary phytochemicals present, and the profiles of secondary phytochemical components. Further to see which solvent extraction has effectively promoting the survival, growth, and contents of total protein, carbohydrate and lipid in M. rosenbergii PL.

Methodology: Soxhlet extraction of C. dactylon was made with petroleum ether, acetone and ethanol, and concentrated/condensed by using rotary vacuum evaporator at 40-50°C and then dried at 40°C under hot air oven. These extracts were subjected to qualitative analysis of primary phytochemical substances and GC-MS analysis of secondary phytochemical compounds. Artificial feeds were formulated with incorporation of three solvents extracts of C. dactylon separately at three different concentrations (0.1%, 0.5% and 1% levels each). M. rosenbergii PL was fed with these feeds for a period of 90 days to assess the survival, growth and basic biochemical constituents.

Results: The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, polyphenols, cardiac glycosides and quinonines in petroleum ether, acetone and ethanolic extracted C. dactylon. GC-MS spectrum of C. dactylon revealed that presence of 19 active principle compounds overall, of which 7 compounds from petroleum ether extracted C. dactylon, 5 compounds from acetone extracted C. dactylon and 7 compounds from ethanolic extracted C. dactylon. Many of the phytochemicals identified are bioactive compounds and possesses biological properties. Incorporations of extractions of C. dactylon at 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0% (dry wt.) with artificial feed formulated revealed that among the three solvents extractions, ethanolic extracted C. dactylon incorporated feeds fed M. rosenbergii PL particularly at 1.0% showed enhanced (P < 0.05) growth performance including weight gain (WG), survival rate and contents of basic biochemical constituents (total protein, carbohydrate, lipid and ash) of muscle, followed by acetone and petroleum ether when compared with control PL fed without incorporation of C. dactylon.

Conclusion: The primary phytochemicals and secondary bioactive compounds present particularly in ethanolic extracts of C. dactylon produced the best survival, growth, nutritional indices and biochemical constituents in M. rosenbergii PL. Thus, the present work recommends incorporation of 1.0% of ethanolic extract of C. dactylon as feed additive to achieve better survival, growth and production of M. rosenbergii PL in the nursery.