The protective effect of stevia extract on the gastric mucosa of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) fed dietary histamine

Stevia extract was made from stevia stem by extraction with boiling water and fermentation. The protective effect of a Stevia extract on rainbow trout (average weight, 12 g) fed 1% of dietary histamine for 4 weeks was investigated. Administration of dietary histamine to trout did not result in a reduction in growth rate or feed consumption but caused a gastric abnormality, e.g. exfoliation of the mucosal epithelium and atrophy of mucosal lamina propria. Stevia extract protected gastric tissue from histamine-induced damage. Pepsin activity in gastric fluid increased and liver -tocopherol content was reduced after histamine treatment, but Stevia treatment prevented these abnormalities. The results suggest that the stevia extract might protect the rainbow trout stomach from histamine toxicity.