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It is suggested that dietary artichoke leaf extract is a potent restorative agent that can mitigate deltamethrin (a pyrethroid)-induced toxicity and enhance the physiological resilience of Nile tilapia in intensive aquaculture systems.
This study evaluated the protective role of dietary parsley seed powder (PSP) against acrylamide (ACR) toxicity in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A total of 200 juvenile fish (15.98 ± 0.01 g) were randomly assigned to four dietary groups (0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 g PSP/kg diet) and exposed for 56 days to a sublethal ACR concentration (3.46 mg/L). Throughout the experiment, growth performance, blood biochemical indices, immune responses, oxidative stress biomarkers, digestive enzyme activities, histopathology and hepatic gene expression were thoroughly assessed. The results revealed that PSP supplementation, particularly at 10.0 g/kg, significantly improved final body weight, body weight gained, daily weight gain and survival rate (p ≤ 0.05), while reducing feed conversion ratio significantly at 2.5 g/kg (p ≤ 0.001). Moreover, blood AST activity was significantly decreased in the 5.0 and 10.0 g/kg groups (p ≤ 0.01), accompanied by significantly elevated total protein and albumin (p < 0.01), and reduced uric acid and creatinine levels (p ≤ 0.001), indicating hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects. Additionally, PSP exerted anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, as evidenced by significantly reduced serum tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels (p ≤ 0.001) and increased glutathione (GSH) concentration (p ≤ 0.05), especially in the 10.0 g/kg group. Digestive enzymes (amylase and pepsin) exhibited a significant increase at all PSP levels (p ≤ 0.05 or 0.01), with the highest levels observed in the DP3 group (10.0 g PSP/kg diet). Histopathological evaluation indicated a dose-dependent attenuation of intestinal and hepatopancreatic alterations with increasing PSP levels, as evidenced by reduced lesion severity, decreased necrotic changes and better preservation of tissue architecture. Furthermore, gene expression analysis revealed significant downregulation of cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 (caspase-3) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha 2 (tnf-2α) genes (p ≤ 0.01) and upregulation of insulin-like growth factor 1 (igf-1) and growth hormone (gh) (p ≤ 0.01) genes in the 10.0 g/kg group, indicating enhanced growth and cellular resilience. In conclusion, dietary PSP at 10.0 g/kg significantly alleviates ACR toxicity by enhancing physiological, biochemical, immunological and molecular responses in Nile tilapia.
Fish health and the sustainability of aquaculture are seriously threatened by exposure to agricultural fungicides. Thus, the current study intended to assess how dietary roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) extract (ROS) protects Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from tebuconazole (TEB)-induced toxicity. Fish (n = 160; 20.16 ± 0.23 g) were distributed into four groups (40 fish/group; 10 fish/replicate) for 60 days. The control and ROS groups were fed on basal diets containing 0% and 1% ROS, respectively. The TEB and ROS + TEB groups were subjected to TEB (0.52 mg/L) and given diets identical to those of the control and ROS groups. TEB exposure reduced the growth by reducing the final weight, weight gain, feed intake, average daily weight gain, and specific growth rate (p < 0.001), while increasing the feed conversion ratio and mortality (37.50%) (p < 0.001) of Nile tilapia. TEB exposure lowered the activities of digestive enzymes (trypsin, lipase, and amylase) and the serum level of growth hormone (p < 0.001), while increasing the leptin level (p < 0.001). TEB toxicity triggered oxidative stress through the elevation of malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.001), the reduction of total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.001), and the inhibition of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities (p < 0.001). The intestinal expression of nutrient transporters (solute carrier 15a1a and solute carrier 4a4) was down-regulated (p < 0.001), while the expression of pro-inflammatory (interleukin-6 and interleukin-8) and apoptotic (Bcl-2-associated X protein) genes was elevated as a result of TEB exposure (p < 0.001). TEB toxicity induced histological lesions in the intestine of the fish such as necrosis of the mucosal epithelium and oedema with infiltration of inflammatory cells (p < 0.001), along with reduced villus length (p < 0.001) and villus surface area (p < 0.001). ROS dietary intervention improved Nile tilapia growth (p < 0.05) and digestive enzyme activities (p < 0.001). ROS improved the antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05) and restored the intestinal histomorphology and gene expression (p < 0.001). Overall, ROS fortification at a level of 1% is recommended for Nile tilapia especially during TEB exposure.
This study evaluated the effects of dietary Prekese (Tetrapleura tetraptera) fruit extract (PFE) on the growth, haemato-biochemical profile, antioxidant status, and economic efficiency of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous (35% crude protein) and isolipidic diets were formulated with graded PFE levels: 0.0 (control), 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0 g/kg. Fish (5.20 ± 0.05 g) were fed twice daily to satiety for 60 days. Gas chromatography- mass spectral analysis of PFE identified 29 compounds, primarily linoleic (20.46%), myristic (14.53%), and oleic (12.49%) acids. Dietary PFE significantly enhanced growth in a dose-dependent manner (P< 0.05). The 20.0 g/kg inclusion yielded a higher final body weight (35.04 g) and weight gain (571.97%), a 121.9% increase over the control. Polynomial contrasts identified 20.0 g/kg as the upper limit for growth and feed efficiency in this study. Haematologically, PFE increased red and white blood cell counts, suggesting improved hematopoietic and immune function. Serum biochemistry showed elevations in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphate at 15.0 – 20.0 g/kg PFE, though within physiological ranges. Importantly, PFE supplementation significantly reduced oxidative stress, evidenced by decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde levels (P< 0.05), indicating enhanced systemic antioxidant capacity. Economic analysis revealed that despite a 96.73% increase in feed cost, 20.0 g/kg PFE increased net profit per fish by 136.8% and significantly improved the benefit-cost ratio. In conclusion, PFE is a viable nutraceutical for Nile tilapia. At a higher inclusion of 20.0 g/kg, PFE boosts growth, mitigates oxidative stress, and maximizes economic returns in sustainable aquaculture.
This study evaluated the effects of dietary folic acid supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant- and immune-related gene expression, and the response to acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). Juveniles (12 shrimp per tank; four replicate tanks per treatment) were fed diets containing nominal supplemental folic acid levels of 0, 2, 5, or 10 mg kg−1 for 35 days, and 30 shrimp per dietary treatment (three replicate aquaria; 10 shrimp per aquarium) were subsequently challenged with an AHPND-causing strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Among the supplementation levels evaluated, the 5 mg kg−1 diet produced the highest final weight (14.8 ± 0.5 g), weight gain (7.9 ± 0.3 g), a specific growth rate (2.14 ± 0.1% day−1), and the lowest apparent feed conversion ratio (1.3 ± 0.1), whereas the Control showed values of 12.3 ± 0.7 g, 5.4 ± 0.3 g, 1.6 ± 0.1% day−1, and 1.6 ± 0.1, respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Dietary folic acid modulated the relative expression of antioxidant-related genes (SOD, CAT, and GPX) in the gills and hepatopancreas and altered basal and post-challenge expression of the immune-related genes ALFP, CTL3, GILT, MNK, and SR in the gills. At 72 h post-challenge, final cumulative mortality differed among treatments (F3,8 = 5.405, p = 0.025), with lower mortality in T5 (36.7 ± 7.6%) than in the Control (53.3 ± 2.9%; Tukey, p = 0.022). These findings indicate that dietary folic acid supplementation influenced growth performance, challenge outcomes, and transcriptional responses in juvenile Penaeus vannamei. Among the supplementation levels evaluated, the 5 mg kg−1 diet consistently produced the most favorable combination of growth performance, lower final challenge mortality, and modulation of antioxidant- and immune-related gene expression.
The tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil (TTEO) exhibited in vitro antioxidant activities with an inhibition concentration (IC50) of 29.02 ± 0.57 µg/mL. This is due to its content of bioactive compounds; practically α-pinene (1.52%), eucalyptol (9.05%), 2-bornanone (57.94%), 1-dotriacontanol (1.82%), 1-decanol, 2-hexyl- (1.99%), and 1-heptatriacotanol (4.90%). Therefore, this research aimed to determine changes in growth, antioxidant capacity, immune functions, and disease resistance in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) when fed on a low-fishmeal (FM) diet enriched with TTEO. Nile tilapia juveniles (14.6–15.9 g) were fed on a low-FM diet containing 0.0 (the control), 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25 g TTEO/kg feed up to apparent satiety three times a day for 70 days. Following the feeding trial, fish were intraperitoneally injected with Aeromonas hydrophila, and fish mortality was recorded for an additional 10 days. It is noted that feeding the fish on 0.2 g TTEO/kg feed increased the feed intake as well as the growth indices. Marked declines in FCR values were seen in fish fed on 0.15–0.25 g TTEO/kg feed. However, fish fed on a diet with 0.2 g TTEO/kg feed exhibited highest enhancements in intestinal villi width/length and absorption area compared with other TTEO levels. No statistical (p > 0.05) differences were observed in glucose and cortisol levels among TTEO-fed groups, indicating no stress effects on fish. Conversely, ALT and AST activities in Nile tilapia declined significantly (p < 0.05), especially at 0.20 and 0.25 g TTEO/kg feed, with no difference (p > 0.05) between the two treatments. It is noted that high TTEO levels (0.2–0.25 g/kg feed) increased hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities as well as the mRNA expression of hepatic SOD, CAT, and GPx genes. Compared with other TTEO groups, feeding the fish with 0.2 g TTEO/kg feed showed higher alkaline phosphatase, lysozyme, complement C3, and ACH50 levels, along with marked increases in IL-8 and IL-10 genes expression and declines in the expression TNF-α, IL-1ß, HSP70, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9 genes. After A. hydrophila infection, fish fed on the control diet exhibited the highest mortality (76.7%), whereas fish fed on 0.2 and 0.25 g TTEO/kg feed were more resistant to bacterial infection, with mortality rates of 23.3% and 26.7%, respectively, with no difference (p > 0.05) between them. The results confirmed that dietary TTEO enhanced growth, antioxidant capacity, immunological biomarkers, and disease resistance in Nile tilapia when added to low-FM diets, with an optimum dose of 0.2 g TTEO/kg feed.
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