Qualitative study of medicinal plants and tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) cultivated in an aquaponic system

The production of aquatic animals and plants in an aquaponic system helps conserve water and soil while aligning with environmental sustainability and food security initiatives, as it eliminates the need for agricultural fertilizers and pesticides. This study investigates the quality of red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) and various medicinal plants, including peppermint (Mentha piperita), common mint (Mentha sativa), oregano (Mentha pulegium), green and purple basil (Ocimum basilicum), miniature basil (Ocimum basilicum minimum), and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), cultivated in an aquaponic system. In this system, which operated at water salinity levels of 1.1 ± 0.1 ppt, fish production reached 53.3 kg/m³ over a seven-month breeding period. The plant production ranged from 0.64 to 2.30 kg/m² monthly. The analyzed plants had iron levels ranging from 12.3 to 34.1 mg/100g, calcium levels between 1.3 and 24.6 mg/100g, and potassium levels from 3.3 to 30 mg/100g. Proline and chlorophyll concentrations were measured at 0.44-3.70 mg/g and 2.49-5.10 mg/g, respectively. Nitrite concentrations were found to be between 0.9 and 2.8 mg/kg, while nitrate levels ranged from 56.6 to 805.3 mg/kg of fresh plant weight, both significantly lower than permissible thresholds. The total essential oil percentage in the examined medicinal plants ranged from 0.11% to 0.82%, indicating the presence of beneficial compounds. Overall, aquaponic production can play a significant role in contributing to the development of healthy food products in both the agriculture and aquaculture sectors.