Dietary parsley seed powder attenuates acrylamide-waterborne toxicity hazards on growth, redox status, immunity and gene regulations in Oreochromis niloticus.

Dietary Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) Against Tebuconazole Exposure in Oreochromis niloticus: Growth, Digestive Enzymes, Intestinal Transporters, Inflammatory/Apoptotic Genes, and Histological Assays.

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.

Dietary Folic Acid Modulates Growth Performance, Expression of Antioxidant- and Immune-Related Genes, and Response to Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease in Pacific White Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

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.

Beyond self-recovery: dietary artichoke leaf extract accelerates tissue regeneration and redox homeostasis in deltamethrin-intoxicated Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

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.

Effects of dietary Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) supplementation on immune response, antioxidant status, and disease resistance in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Safety Assessment of Selenium-Biofortified Broccoli Seedlings: Insights from Repeated-Dose Toxicity and Genotoxicity Evaluation in Mice

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element; however, excessive exposure may cause adverse effects because of its narrow safety margin. This study evaluated the toxicological and genotoxic effects of Se-biofortified broccoli seedlings in male and female Swiss mice. Animals received control or Se-enriched broccoli seedlings orally for 40 days (15, 45, or 70 µg Se/kg body weight (BW)). General toxicity (body weight gain), hematological (complete blood count), biochemical (creatinine, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and urea), histopathological, and micronucleus evaluations were performed. No significant changes in body weight or hematological parameters were detected. Biochemical alterations were restricted to males, with increased urea (51.90 ± 2.14 mg/dL) and decreased aspartate aminotransferase (128.4 ± 14.45 U/L) after 45 µg Se/kg BW. The highest Se dose increased spleen (0.60 ± 0.04 g/100 g BW) and ovary (0.29 ± 0.03 g/100 g BW) weights in females, decreased liver weight (5.82 ± 0.10 g/100 g BW), increased testis weight (0.76 ± 0.04 g/100 g BW) in males, induced renal and splenic histological alterations, and increased micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (0.46 ± 0.04). These findings indicate that 15 µg Se/kg BW was the safest dose evaluated. Future studies should investigate Se speciation and sex-dependent toxicological responses.

Dietary Supplementation of Moringa Leaf Powder: Effects on Growth Performance, Survival and Stress Indicators in Rainbow Trout, Nepal

Rainbow trout culture can be constrained by stress and disease, creating interest in plant-based feed additives. This study evaluated the effects of dietary Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MLP) at 0, 20, 30 and 40 g/kg feed on growth performance, survival, hepatosomatic index (HSI) and plasma cortisol in rainbow trout under Nepalese raceway conditions. Three hundred fish with an average initial weight of 55.31±0.46 g/fish were allocated equally to four treatments, each with three replicates, and fed at 3% of body weight twice daily for 90 days. Water quality was monitored, growth and feed-utilisation indices were calculated, HSI was determined and plasma cortisol was analysed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MLP40 produced the highest final weight (110.83±1.82 g), specific growth rate (0.76±0.02%/day) and daily weight gain (0.61±0.02 g/fish/day), together with the lowest feed conversion ratio (2.13±0.02). Survival did not differ significantly among treatments. The HSI and water-quality parameters also showed no significant treatment effects. Plasma cortisol declined with increasing MLP supplementation and was lowest in MLP40 (13.89±3.86 ng/mL), compared with 44.01±1.97 ng/mL in the control. Under the conditions of this study, supplementation at 40 g/kg feed was associated with improved growth performance and feed utilisation and a lower plasma cortisol concentration, without significant changes in survival or HSI. Moringa oleifera leaf powder therefore shows potential as a functional feed additive for rainbow trout culture.