Because the cumulative effect of chemical components has a deterrent effect on consumer health, the use of natural food additives instead of traditional chemical food additives is becoming more and more useful for fish feed. The present research was conducted in common carp with the mean initial weight of 63.16 ± 0.72 g to assess the effect of dietary basil (Ocimum basilicum) powder (DBP) on some oxidative biomarkers in tissues and plasma biochemical parameters. Four formulations of experimental diets were prepared; group 1: control diet (in the absence of DBP), groups 2 (2% DBP), groups 3 (4% DBP), and groups 4 (6% DBP). Fish were fed experimental diets three times a day for 60 days and the blood as well as tissue sampling was done from 10 fish in each group for measurement of oxidative and biochemical indices. The values of liver glutathione peroxidase (1307.11 ± 84.4 U/g), superoxide dismutase (1473.27 ± 82.5 U/g), and catalase (1331.51 ± 85.3 U/g) were significantly enhanced in the 6% DBP group, in comparison with the control (P < 0.05). Significantly lower levels of plasma, liver and kidney malondialdehyde, and renal and hepatic protein carbonyl contents were observed in fish receiving 6% DBP. Liver and kidney ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and glutathione (GSH) values increased significantly as compared to group 1 and the most increase was observed in the group receiving 6% DBP. There was no substantial variation in plasma values of total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, and aspartate aminotransferase among the experimental groups. The obtained results indicate that 6% DBP supplementation is more effective than other doses in improving the antioxidant system and attenuating lipid and protein redox biomarkers at several tissues of common carp. Moreover, no alterations in plasma biochemical indices of tissue damage could promise no damaging effects of applied doses of basil (Ocimum basilicum) in the current work.

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