Using chlorophyll extract as a natural food source for Carassius auratus and adult male Wistar Hannover rats

Abstract

Chlorophyll is found in plants everywhere and it is a natural biological energy source. Because seaweed and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) are highly concentrated with chlorophyll, this study evaluated the effect of chlorophyll extracted from seaweeds and S. oleracea as a supplementary food source for goldfish (Carassius auratus) and adult male Wistar Hannover rats. Our results showed significant body weight gain in C. auratus treated with chlorophyll extracted from seaweeds; C. auratus also showed a brighter and more vibrant color. Our study also showed that chlorophyll extracted from S. oleracea caused a significant increase in the cholesterol, TG, and HDL levels in the treated rats compared to the control group. These results indicate that chlorophyll could be a more suitable alternative for feeding C. auratus than commercial foods, and an efficacious agent to improve the rise of lipid and cholesterol levels in people with vascular conditions.