The Impact of Dietary Curcumin on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Antibacterial Capacity, and Haemato-Biochemical Parameters of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata)

The effects of dietary Spirulina platensis or curcumin nanoparticles on performance, body chemical composition, blood biochemical, digestive enzyme, antioxidant and immune activities of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings

CONTEXT

Recently, prioritize has been given to using natural phytogenic or nano compounds as growth promoters and immunostimulants in fish diets as an alternative to antibiotics.

AIMS

The main propose of this trial was to determine the impact of supplementing diets with spirulina or curcumin nanoparticles on the performance and health indicators of Nile tilapia fingerlings.

METHODS

In a 56-day feeding trial, 180 tilapia fingerlings were assigned into three main groups, as follows: 1st, control group, 2nd, Spirulina platensis (SP; 5 g kg-1 diet) and 3rd, curcumin nanoparticles (CUR-NPs; 30 mg kg-1 diet).

KEY RESULTS

Incorporating tilapia diets with SP or CUR-NPs significantly improved performance, body chemical analysis, blood biochemical and hematological indices, digestive enzyme activities, and antioxidant and immunostimulant features compared to the control.

CONCLUSION

Fortified tilapia diets with CUR-NPs or SP efficiently boost the productivity and health of Nile tilapia fingerlings.

IMPLICATIONS

The research introduces new practical solutions for applying safe feed additives as alternatives to antibiotics in tilapia farming.

Dietary Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) Improves Nonspecific Immune Response of Chinese Rice Field Eel (Monopterus albus)

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been recognized as a potential additive for aquafeeds due to its beneficial biological functions. In order to evaluate the potential application of EGCG in Chinese rice field eel (Monopterus albus), six isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets containing 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg EGCG were formulated and were fed to Monopterus albus (M. albus) for 9 weeks. The results showed that M. albus fed diets containing 0 and 100 mg/kg EGCG presented higher weight again and specific growth rate than the other groups. Fish fed with 25, 50, and 400 mg/kg EGCG displayed lower whole-body lipid content. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentration significantly decreased in EGCG treated groups with the exception of 100 mg/kg group. Hepatic catalase (CAT) activity and glutathione (GSH) concentration decreased as EGCG level increased while malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration showed an opposite trend. EGCG supplementation resulted in a promoted lysozyme (LZM) activity and immunoglobulin M (IgM) level in the liver of M. albus. Furthermore, transcription of three immune related genes including major histocompatibility complex (mhc-2α), hepcidin, and interleukin-8 (il-8) mRNAs was upregulated by EGCG treatment; while transcription of interleukin-6 (il-6) and nuclear factor kappa-B (nf-kb) genes was downregulated. Results also showed a linear relation between EGCG inclusion level and parameters of AST, CAT, GSH, MDA, LZM, IgM, and immune-related genes transcriptions. In summary, it could be suggested that EGCG supplementation enhanced the nonspecific immune response of the Chinese rice field eel. Based on the broken-line regression analysis of IgM, the optimal dietary EGCG supplementation for M. albus was estimated to be 109.81 mg/kg.

The Optimal Dosage of Fermented Herbal Extract on Growth and Feed Efficiency of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Owing to their availability, cost effectiveness and environmental-friendly nature, plant extracts are promising additives for fish farming. This study aims to determine the optimal dosage of fermented herbal extract (FHE)-composed of Morus alba (33.3%), Curcuma xanthorrhiza (33.3%), and Boesenbergia rotunda (33.3%)-for growth enhancement and feed utilisation efficiency of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings. Fermentation was conducted using probiotics Lactobacillus casei (Yakult®, Tokyo, Japan) and Saccharomyces cereviceae (commercial baker's yeast). The FHE was high in flavonoid and alkaloid, vitamin C, potassium, natrium, lipase and protease. Four doses of FHE treatments, namely treatment A (0 mg/kg of feed); treatment B (100 mg/kg of feed); treatment C (300 mg/kg of feed); treatment D (500 mg/kg of feed) were compared. After subjected to 35 days of culture, tilapias subjected to FHE-coated feed exhibited better weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed efficiency (FE) compared to control. The best dosage that gave the highest growth and feed efficiency was treatment C (300 mg/kg of feed). Furthermore, the feed efficiencies of FHE-incorporated treatments were positively influenced by the increased in length and density of intestinal villi, number of goblet cells, lymphocytes, as well as nutrient retention to support growth. The results of this study indicate that FHE is a promising functional feed additive to stimulate growth and improve feed efficiency in tilapia farming.

Evaluation of dietary curcumin nanospheres as phytobiotics on growth performance, serum biochemistry, nutritional composition, meat quality, gastrointestinal health, and fecal condition of finishing pigs

Curcumin is a bioactive functional feeding stimulant that is widely used as an additive in cuisine and animal feeds. Owing to its hydrophobic nature and low bioavailability, the nanoformulation of curcumin has recently received special attention from researchers. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin nanospheres (CN) on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, meat quality, intestinal immunohistochemistry, fecal malodors and microbes in finishing pigs. A total of 90 crossbred pigs (Duroc × [Yorkshire × Landrace]) with an average initial body weight of 73.77 ± 0.08 kg were randomized into 3 dietary groups in triplicate pens (10 pigs in each pen): control (CON) without supplementation of CN and the pigs in the remaining two groups were supplemented with CN at 1.0 (CN1) and 2.0 (CN2) mL/kg diet for a 40-day long experiment. The results showed that pigs fed the higher CN supplemented diet (CN2) had significantly higher final weight (FW) and weight gain (WG) than those fed the CON diet, and no significant differences were observed in the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) after 28 days. At the end of the experiment, pigs fed the CN supplemented diet showed no significant difference in WG, ADFI or FCR compared to those on the CON diet. Overall, at the termination of the 40-day feeding trial, dietary CN had a significant effect on FW and WG, except for ADFI and FCR, in finishing pigs. After 40 days of the feeding trial, serum biochemical parameters such as glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in pigs fed the CN supplemented diet. However, high density lipoprotein levels were significantly increased in pigs fed the CN diets. Protein and lipid contents, as well as yellowness and lightness of the neck and longissimus dorsi muscles were not significantly affected by CN supplementation; however, there was a tendency to increase the redness of the longissimus dorsi muscle in pigs fed the CN2 supplemented diet compared to the CON diet. Meat grading and carcass weight significantly increased in pigs fed a higher CN supplemented diet. Fecal Escherichia coli and ammonia gas were significantly depleted in pigs fed CN diets. Histomorphological parameters, such as villus height, crypt depth and goblet cells in the jejunum of the intestine were significantly increased in pigs fed CN diet. Immunohistochemical staining showed that pro-inflammatory cytokine like tumor necrosis factor-α expression was reduced in pigs fed CN supplemented diets compared to the CON diet; however, antibodies such as immunoglobulin A and tight junction proteins such as claudin 3 were highly expressed in the intestine of pigs fed the CN diets. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of dietary curcumin nanospheres as a nanobiotechnology tool as well as an effective feed additive for improving the performance and health status of finishing pigs.

Dietary Strategies to Modulate the Health Condition and Immune Responses in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Juveniles Following Intestinal Inflammation

Simple Summary

Feed additives are known to have biological proprieties that can improve fish health. This work assessed the effect of two feed additives (Phaeodactylum tricornutum extracts rich in β-glucans and curcumin) on the gilthead seabream health condition, and its modulatory effects following dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) administration as a chemical inducer of intestinal inflammation. While minor immune-enhancing changes were observed among fish fed dietary treatments at the end of the feeding trial, after the inflammatory stimulus, the feed additives were able to alleviate, to some extent, the DSS-induced effects at both the intestinal and systemic levels.

Abstract

Several feed additives have proved to be beneficial in eliciting fish health. Β-glucans and curcumin are compounds with immunomodulatory capacities known to increase growth performance, stimulate immunity, improve general health, and enhance disease resistance in fish. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary Phaeodactylum tricornutum extracts rich in β-glucans and curcumin on gilthead seabream health status prior to and following an intestinal inflammatory stimulus. Three experimental diets were formulated: a practical commercial-type diet (CTRL), a CTRL diet supplemented with 1% microalgae-derived β-glucans extract (BG), and a CTRL diet supplemented with 0.2% of curcumin (CUR). After 30 days of the feeding trial, fish were sampled and subjected to an oral administration of 1% dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) to induce intestinal inflammation. Four groups were considered: a group of fish continued to be fed on the CTRL diet while the remaining groups were exposed to DSS, including CTRL-D (CTRL + DSS), BG-D (BG + DSS), and CUR-D (CUR + DSS), for 6 days. Growth, plasma and gut humoral immunity, liver and gut oxidative stress biomarkers, and intestinal gene expression were evaluated. No significant differences were found in growth after 30 days of feeding; however, seabream fed BG had decreased anti-protease activity and nitric oxide concentration in plasma while those fed CUR had increased mRNA levels of the tnfα, csf1r, and hep genes compared to those fed CTRL. After the inflammatory stimulus, hematocrit was enhanced in fish fed BG-D and CUR-D while red blood cell counts increased in those fed CTRL-D. Superoxide dismutase activity decreased in the intestine of all DSS groups while lipid peroxidation increased in the gut of fish fed CTRL-D and BG-D compared to CTRL. Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of csfr1 and sod decreased in fish fed CTRL-D and BG-D compared to CTRL, respectively. Despite the mild intestinal inflammatory condition induced by DSS, CUR was able to partially ameliorate its effects, improving the hematological profile and assisting against the oxidative stress.

Modulatory role of dietary curcumin and resveratrol on growth performance, serum immunity responses, mucus enzymes activity, antioxidant capacity and serum and mucus biochemicals in the common carp, Cyprinus carpio exposed to abamectin

In this study, we investigate the potentials of dietary curcumin and resveratrol on blood biochemistry, immune responses and resistance to the toxicity of the pesticide, abamectin. 540 common carps (30.78 ± 0.17 g) were randomly distributed into 18 tanks (30 fish per tank), as six experimental groups (T1: non-supplemented and on-exposed fish, T2: 300 mg/kg curcumin, T3: 300 mg/kg resveratrol, T4: 12.5% LC₅₀ of abamectin, T5: 300 mg/kg curcumin +12.5% LC₅₀ of abamectin, T6: 300 mg/kg resveratrol + 12.5% LC₅₀ of abamectin). Use of 300 mg/kg resveratrol in the diet of non-abamectin exposed fish improved the growth performance (P < 0.05), while such effects were not observed for curcumin (P > 0.05). There were no differences in the final weight (FW), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and weight gain (WG) between control and fish of the treatments, resveratrol + abamectin and curcumin + abamectin (P < 0.05). The immune components in blood [lysozyme, complement activity, Total immunoglobulin (total Ig), protease, myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitro-blue-tetrazolium (NBT), peroxidase, albumin] and mucus [acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), esterase, antiprotease)] and antioxidant enzymes [(superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] exhibited various change patterns compared to the control group, however, these components were almost all higher in fish supplemented with curcumin and resveratrol in an abamectin-free medium than in control and other groups (P < 0.05). In most cases, the levels of immune and antioxidant components in the control did not show significant difference with the treatments, resveratrol + abamectin and curcumin + abamectin (P > 0.05). Abamectin induced oxidative stress in fish, as the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels significantly increased in the exposed fish compared to non-exposed groups (P < 0.05). It appears that neither curcumin nor resveratrol were as effective in preventing oxidative stress, because MDA levels were higher in exposed fish (abamectin, curcumin + abamectin, resveratrol + abamectin) than in control and non-exposed individuals (P < 0.05). Curcumin and resveratrol also showed protective effects on liver, since the levels of liver metabolic enzymes [aspartate transaminase (AST), ALP, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] were lower in the supplemented fish in a abamectin-free medium than in control (P < 0.05). Curcumin and resveratrol also mitigated the stress responses in the exposed fish, as cortisol and glucose levels showed significant decreases in the supplemented fish (P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study revealed that abamectin can depress the growth and immunity in the common carp. Although, both resveratrol and curcumin were mitigated the toxic effects of abamectin, it seems that resveratrol be more effective than curcumin.

The risk assessment of high-fat diet in farmed fish and its mitigation approaches: A review

In the era of intensification of fish farms, the high-fat diet (HFD) has been applied to promote growth and productivity, provide additional energy and substitute partial protein in fish feeds. Certainly, HFD within specific concentrations was found to be beneficial in boosting fish performance throughout a short-term feeding. However, excessive dietary fat levels displayed vast undesirable impacts on growth, feed efficiency, liver function, antioxidant capacity and immune function and finally reduced the economic revenue of cultured fish. Moreover, studies have shown that fish diets containing a high level of fats resulted in increasing lipid accumulation, stimulated endoplasmic reticulum stress and suppressed autophagy in fish liver. Investigations showed that HFD could impair the intestinal barrier of fish via triggering inflammation, metabolic disorders, oxidative stress and microbiota imbalance. Several approaches have been widely used for reducing the undesirable influences of HFD in fish. Dietary manipulation could mitigate the adverse impacts triggered by HFD, and boost growth and productivity via reducing blood lipids profile, attenuating oxidative stress and hepatic lipid deposition and improving mitochondrial activity, immune function and antioxidant activity in fish. As well, dietary feed additives have been shown to decrease hepatic lipogenesis and modulate the inflammatory response in fish. Based on the literature, previous studies indicated that phytochemicals could reduce apoptosis and enhance the immunity of fish fed with HFD. Thus, the present review will explore the potential hazards of HFD on fish species. It will also provide light on the possibility of employing some safe feed additives to mitigate HFD risks in farmed fish.

Peroxiredoxin 6 mediates the protective function of curcumin pretreatment in acute lung injury induced by serum from patients undergoing one-lung ventilation in vitro

Background

Curcumin has attracted much attention due to its wide range of therapeutic effects. In this study, we used serum collected from patients undergoing one-lung ventilation (OLV) to establish an in vitro acute lung injury (ALI) model to explore the potential protective mechanism of curcumin on ALI. Our study provides a new reference for the prevention and treatment of ALI induced by OLV.

Methods

A549 cells were treated with 20% serum from patients undergoing OLV to establish an in vitro ALI model. Curcumin, at a dose of 40 μg/ml, was administered two hours prior to this model. The levels of inflammation and oxidative stress markers were observed by Western blot, qRT–PCR, ELISA and reactive oxygen species assay. Additionally, the expression of peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) and proteins involved in the NF-κB signaling pathway was evaluated.

Results

Twenty percent of serum collected from patients undergoing OLV downregulated the expression of Prdx6, leading to the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, which was associated with the subsequent overproduction of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species. Pretreatment with curcumin restored Prdx6 downregulation and inhibited NF-κB pathway activation by suppressing the nuclear translocation of P65, eventually reducing inflammation and oxidative stress damage in A549 cells.

Conclusions

Prdx6 mediated the protective function of curcumin by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB pathway in ALI in vitro.

The effects of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) seeds on the growth performance, growth hormone, antibacterial capacity, and immune response of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Coriander seeds are among the functional herbal supplements, but their effects on aquatic animals are still lacking. Herein we evaluated the effects of coriander seeds on the growth performance, growth hormone, antibacterial capacity, and immune response of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Fish with initial mean weights of 5.08 ± 0.12 g/fish were allocated in four groups (in triplicate) and fed dietary coriander at 0, 5, 10, and 20 g/kg for 150 days. The growth performance, feed utilization, and survival rate of fish-fed dietary coriander meaningfully increased (P<0.05). The protein efficiency ratio gradually increased (P<0.05) in fish-fed coriander seeds compared with the control. On the other hand, the feed conversion ratio was gradually decreased (P<0.05) in fish-fed coriander seeds comparing with the control. The survival rate was markedly increased (P<0.05) in European sea bass-fed dietary coriander regardless of the inclusion level. Further, no differences were seen among fish fed varying levels of coriander (P<0.05). The level of blood growth hormone was markedly higher (P<0.05) in European sea bass-fed dietary coriander at 20 g/kg than fish-fed 0 and 5 g/kg. The abundance of intestinal Vibrio spp. and Faecal Coliform were obviously lower (P<0.05) in fish fed 10 and 20 g/kg than fish fed the coriander-free diet. Further, fish fed 20 g/kg had lower (P<0.05) Vibrio spp. and Faecal Coliform counts than fish fed 10 g/kg. Fish fed dietary coriander had significantly higher (P<0.05) hematocrit, hemoglobulin, red blood cells (RBCs), and white blood cells (WBCs) than fish fed the control. The lysozyme and phagocytic activities were meaningfully increased (P<0.05) in fish fed 10 and 20 g/kg compared with fish fed 0 and 5 g/kg of dietary coriander. In conclusion, dietary coriander could be included in the diets at 10–20 g/kg to improve the growth performance, growth hormone, feed utilization, and immune response of European sea bass.

Effect of functional diets on intestinal microbiota and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

AIMS

The present study evaluated the effect of four functional diets and a reference diet on the survival and intestinal bacterial community of shrimp Penaeus vannamei infected with AHPND.

METHODS AND RESULTS

After 42 days of feeding trail, shrimp were inoculated with a Vibrio parahaemolyticus (CIB-0018-3) carrying the plasmid encoding for the PirAB toxins responsible for AHPND. After 120 h post-infection (hpi), shrimp fed with a diet containing 2% of a mix with Curcuma longa and Lepidium meyenii (TuMa) and a diet containing 0.2% of vitamin C (VitC) showed a significantly higher survival (85%) compared to the remaining treatments (50-55%) (p<0.05). Infected shrimp fed with TuMa diet, showed a significant reduction of Vibrionales; and VitC diet promoted an increase of Alteromonadales.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the TuMa diet conferred protection against AHPND and could be attributed to a combined effect of antibacterial properties against Vibrionales, and promoting a desirable bacterial community in the shrimp intestine, while the VitC diet protection could be attributed to their antioxidant capacity and in a lower proportion to a bacterial modulation in shrimp gut.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) is a devastating disease that significantly affects aquaculture production of shrimps. Therefore, the use of functional diets that promotes resistance to AHPND, represents a valuable tool to reduce the mortality of farmed shrimp.

Interaction between Curcumin and β-Casein: Multi-Spectroscopic and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Methods

Effect of temperature and pH on the interaction of curcumin with β-casein was explored by fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation. The spectroscopic results showed that curcumin could bind to β-casein to form a complex which was driven mainly by electrostatic interaction. The intrinsic fluorescence of β-casein was quenched by curcumin through static quenching mechanism. The binding constants of curcumin to β-casein were 6.48 × 10⁴ L/mol (298 K), 6.17 × 10⁴ L/mol (305 K) and 5.73 × 10⁴ L/mol (312 K) at pH 2.0, which was greater than that (3.98 × 10⁴ L/mol at 298 K, 3.90 × 10⁴ L/mol at 305 K and 3.41 × 10⁴ L/mol at 312 K) at pH 7.4. Molecular docking study showed that binding energy of β-casein-curcumin complex at pH 2.0 (−7.53 kcal/mol) was lower than that at pH 7.4 (−7.01 kcal/mol). The molecular dynamics simulation study showed that the binding energy (−131.07 kJ/mol) of β-casein-curcumin complex was relatively low at pH 2.0 and 298 K. α-Helix content in β-casein was decreased and random coil content was increased in the presence of curcumin. These results can promote a deep understanding of interaction between curcumin and β-casein and provide a reference for improving the bioavailability of curcumin.

Dietary Cinnamon Successfully Enhanced the Growth Performance, Growth Hormone, Antibacterial Capacity, and Immunity of European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Simple Summary

Optimum aquafeed formulations should consider incorporating both nutritional and non-nutritional substances to fulfill the basal requirements and achieve the welfare of aquatic animals. In this context, medicinal plants are validated for their functionality as non-chemical derived materials. This study evaluated dietary cinnamon at varying levels on the growth performance and health status of European sea bass. The results showed the positive influence of the inclusion of cinnamon powder in the diets for European sea bass on the growth performance, feed utilization, blood analysis, and intestinal microbial community. Therefore, it can be concluded that 10–15 g/kg of cinnamon powder is suggested with no adverse effects for better performance of European sea bass.

Abstract

Dietary cinnamon has several bioactive compounds with growth-promoting and immunomodulation potential and is suggested for finfish species. This study evaluated the inclusion of cinnamon at 0, 10, 15, and 20 g/kg in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) diets. After 90 days, the highest final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and the lowest feed conversion ratio were seen in fish treated with 10 g/kg (p < 0.05). Further, the measured growth hormone in the blood indicated that fish treated with 10 g/kg had a higher level than fish 0 and 20 g/kg. After the feeding trial, fish treated with cinnamon at varying levels had higher lipid content than fish before the feeding trial (p < 0.05). Lower Vibrio spp. and Faecal Coliform counts were observed in fish treated with cinnamon than fish fed a cinnamon-free diet (p < 0.05). The hematocrit level was markedly (p < 0.05) increased in fish fed cinnamon at 10 g/kg compared to the control without significant differences with fish fed 15 and 20 g/kg. Hemoglobin was significantly increased in fish treated with cinnamon at 10, 15, and 20 g/kg compared to fish fed a cinnamon-free diet (p < 0.05). Red and white blood cells (RBCs and WBCs) were meaningfully (p < 0.05) increased in fish treated with cinnamon compared with the control. Markedly, fish treated with cinnamon had higher serum total lipids than the control with the highest value in fish treated with 15 g/kg (p < 0.05). The lysozyme activity was markedly higher in fish treated with 15 g cinnamon/kg than fish fed 0, 10, and 20 g/kg (p < 0.05). Moreover, phagocytic activity was significantly higher in fish treated with cinnamon at 10, and 15 g/kg than fish fed 0 and 20 g/kg (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary cinnamon is suggested at 10–15 g/kg for achieving the high production and wellbeing of European sea bass.