Modulatory effects of longan seed powder on growth performance, immune response, and immune-antioxidant related gene expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) raised under biofloc system

Non-edible fruit seeds: nutritional profile, clinical aspects, and enrichment in functional foods and feeds

Nowadays, fruits are gaining high demand due to their promising advantages on human health. Astonishingly, their by-products, that is, seeds and peels, account for 10-35% of fruit weight and are usually thrown as waste after consumption or processing. But it is neglected that fruit seeds also have functional properties and nutritional value, and thus could be utilized for dietary and therapeutic purposes, ultimately reducing the waste burden on the environment. Owing to these benefits, researchers have started to assess the nutritional value of different fruits seeds, in addition to the chemical composition in various bioactive constituents, like carotenoids (lycopene), flavonoids, proteins (bioactive peptides), vitamins, etc., that have substantial health benefits and can be used in formulating different types of food products with noteworthy functional and nutraceutical potential. The current review aims to comprehend the known information of nutritional and phytochemical profiling of non-edible fruits seeds, viz. apple, apricot, avocado, cherry, date, jamun, litchi, longan, mango, and papaya. Additionally, clinical studies conducted on these selected non-edible fruit seed extracts, their safety issues and their enrichment in food products as well as animal feed has also been discussed. This review aims to highlight the potential applications of the non-edible fruit seeds in developing new food products and also provide a viable alternative to reduce the waste disposal issue faced by agro-based industries.

A detailed look at the impacts of biofloc on immunological and hematological parameters and improving resistance to diseases

The innate immunity of invertebrates serves as a critical trait that provides a valuable foundation for studying the common biological responses to environmental changes. With the exponential growth of the human population, the demand for protein has soared, leading to the intensification of aquaculture. Regrettably, this intensification has resulted in the overuse of antibiotics and chemotherapeutics, which have led to the emergence of resistant microbes or superbugs. In this regard, biofloc technology (BFT) emerges as a promising strategy for disease management in aquaculture. By harnessing the power of antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics, BFT offers a sustainable and eco-friendly approach that can help mitigate the negative impacts of harmful chemicals. By adopting this innovative technology, we can enhance the immunity and promote the health of aquatic organisms, thereby ensuring the long-term viability of the aquaculture industry. Using a proper carbon to nitrogen ratio, normally adding an external carbon source, BFT recycles waste in culture system with no water exchange. Heterotrophic bacteria grow along with other key microbes in the culture water. Heterotrophs play a major role in assimilating ammonia from feed and fecal waste, crucial pathway to form suspended microbial aggregates (known as 'biofloc'); while chemoautotrophs (e.g. nitrifying bacteria) oxidize ammonia into nitrite, and nitrite into nitrate promoting a healthy farming conditions. By using a highly aerated media and an organic substrates that contain carbon and nitrogen, protein-rich microbes are able to flocculate in culture water. Several types of microorganisms and their cell components have been studied and applied to aquatic animals as probiotics or immunostimulants (lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, and 1-glucans) to enhance their innate immunity and antioxidant status, thereby enhancing their resistance to disease. In recent years, many studies have been conducted on the application of BFT for different farmed aquatic species and it has been observed as a promising method for the development of sustainable aquaculture, especially due to less use of water, increased productivity and biosecurity, but also an enhancement of the health status of several aquaculture species. This review analyses the immune status, antioxidant activity, blood and biochemical parameters, and level of resistance against pathogenic agents of aquatic animals farmed in BFT systems. This manuscript aims to gather and showcase the scientific evidences related to biofloc as a 'health promoter' in a unique document for the industry and academia.

Modulation of growth, immune response, and immune-antioxidant related gene expression of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared under biofloc system using mango peel powder

This study aimed to investigate the effects of mango peel powder (MGPP) on growth, innate immunity, and immune-antioxidant related gene expression of Nile tilapia reared under biofloc system. Three hundred Nile tilapia (average weight 14.78 ± 0.05 g) were distributed into 15 fiber tanks (300 L per tank) assigned to five treatments in triplication. Fish were fed basal diet containing different levels MGPP as follows: 0 (MGPP0: control), 6.25 (MGPP 6.25), 12.5 (MGPP 12.25), 25 (MGPP 25), and 50 (MGPP 50) g kg^-1 diet for 8 weeks. Specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain (WG), final weight (FW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), skin mucus of lysozyme (SMLA), and peroxidase activities (SMPA), serum of lysozyme (SL) and peroxidase (SP) were measured every for weeks; while immune-antioxidant-related gene expressions were determined after 8 weeks post-feeding. The results indicated that MGPP 25 diet resulted in higher SGR, WG, FW, and FCR but no significant differences among treatments were noticed. In terms of immune responses, lysozyme and peroxidase activities in mucus and serum were significantly higher in MGPP 12.5 and MGPP 25 diets against the control. Similarly, significant up-regulation of IL-1 and IL-8 gene expressions was observed in fish fed MGPP 25 against the control. However, no significant differences in LBP, GSTa, GPX, and GSR among treatments were observed. Overall, dietary inclusion of MGPP 25 significantly enhanced immune response and immune related gene expressions but not growth performance and antioxidant gene expressions. The results implied that MGPP can be potentially used as an immunostimulants in Nile tilapia culture.

Influence of black rice (Oryza sativa L.) bran derived anthocyanin-extract on growth rate, immunological response, and immune-antioxidant gene expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultivated in a biofloc system

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with anthocyanin extracted from black rice bran (AR) on the growth rate, immunological response, and expression of immune and antioxidant genes in Nile tilapia raised in an indoor biofloc system. A total of 300 Nile tilapia fingerlings (15.14 ± 0.032 g) were maintained in 150 L tanks and acclimatized for two weeks. Five experimental AR diets (0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 g kg^-1) with various anthocyanin doses were used to feed the fish. We observed that the growth and feed utilization of fish fed with different dietary AR levels increased significantly after eight weeks (p < 0.05). In addition, the serum immunity of fish fed AR diets was much greater than that of those fed non-AR diets (p < 0.05). However, there were little or no difference in between fish fed AR enriched diets and the control AR-free diet (p > 0.05). After eight weeks, fish fed AR-supplemented diets had significantly higher mRNA transcript levels in immune (interleukin [IL]-1, IL-8, and liposaccharide-binding protein [LBP]) and antioxidant (glutathione transferase-alpha [GST-α] and glutathione reductase [GSR]) genes compared to control fish fed the AR-free diet, with the greatest enhancement of mRNA transcript levels (in the case of IL-8 by up to about 5.8-fold) in the 4 g kg^-1 AR diet. These findings suggest that dietary inclusion of AR extract from black rice bran at 4-8 g kg^-1 could function as a herbal immunostimulant to enhance growth performance, feed consumption, and immunity in Nile tilapia.