Alsajjad H. Alghaya¹ , C. Manjulatha¹ , Aziza A. Mohamed²

1 Department of Zoology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India
2 Department of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Aquaculture, 2025, Vol. 15, No. 6   
Received: 15 Aug., 2025    Accepted: 30 Oct., 2025    Published: 15 Nov., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Garlic (Allium sativum), a bulbous flowering plant in the Allium genus, is celebrated for its diverse culinary and medicinal uses. It's a natural wonder, garlic’s proximate composition records an average of 65% water (compared to over 85% of fresh vegetables), 27.5% carbohydrates, 4.7% fber, 2%~3% organosulfurated compounds, and 2% protein. Scientific studies have revealed garlic's astonishing impact on aquatic life, especially fish. It's shown to significantly boost fish growth, reduce mortality rates, and fortify their antioxidant defenses. Allicin, the standout bioactive compound in garlic, is the driving force behind this transformation. It possesses formidable anti-parasitic properties, confirmed effective against notorious foes like freshwater Ich and marine white spot. This revelation holds promise for revolutionizing aquaculture practices. But garlic's prowess extends further through a treasure trove of organosulfur compounds, including diallyl sulfide, allicin, γ-glutamylcysteine, S-allyl cysteine (alliin), and ajoene. These compounds are associated with various health benefits, from calming inflammation and combating oxidative stress to regulating blood pressure, ameliorating hyperlipidemia, and enhancing endothelial function. In the world of aquaculture, research findings unveil the potential of garlic to be a game-changer. This comprehensive review consolidates existing knowledge on the impact of garlic on fishes. It sheds light on crucial aspects such as growth performance, nutrient utilization, body composition, and survival rates, underscoring garlic supplements' potential to reshape the aquaculture industry. In reviewed studies, garlic supplementation improved weight gain in Nile tilapia by up to 22%, enhanced feed conversion ratio (FCR) by approximately 15%, and increased survival rates to over 95% under bacterial challenge conditions. In rainbow trout, diets containing 2%~3% garlic extract increased body protein content by 6%~8% while reducing lipid deposition by nearly 10%. Similarly, juvenile sturgeon fed 0.5% garlic extract showed a rise in lipid levels from 4.8% to 6.1%, while tilapia fed 3% garlic powder achieved the highest protein levels and the lowest body fat compared to controls. These quantitative outcomes confirm garlic’s measurable role in boosting growth, nutrient utilization, and survival in aquaculture species.

Garlic; Growth performance; Nutrient utilization; Molecular insight; Survival rate; Fishes