This study examined the effects of black cumin seed (BCS) on growth performance, whole-body proximate and fatty acid composition, and blood biochemistry of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Six hundred shrimp (7.5 ± 0.2 g) were assigned into five treatments in three replicates. Five diets containing BCS at 0, 5, 15, 30 and 50 g/kg were prepared and named BCS0, BCS5, BCS15, BCS30 and BCS50, respectively. Shrimp were fed at a rate of 5% body weight three times daily for 90 days. Shrimp fed BCS5, BCS15 and BCS30 showed no adverse effects on growth, whereas shrimp fed BCS50 showed retarded growth parameters. Consistently, cortisol was significantly increased in BCS50 group. Moreover, cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly lower in shrimp that fed diets containing BCS compared to the control (p < .05). The highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) was significantly higher in the control diet compared to other diets, but it was significantly higher in shrimp that fed BCS30 and BCS50 than in control shrimp with no significant increase in Δ6 fatty acyl desaturase transcript. Considering the growth parameters, the highest body HUFA contents, and the lowest haemolymph cholesterol and triglyceride levels, the supplementation of BCS in shrimp diet is suggested at 30 g/kg.
