Alcoholic extract of propolis in Nile tilapia post-larvae and fingerlings’ diets: effects on production performance, body composition and intestinal histology

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production performance of Nile tilapia post-larvae and fingerlings fed with increasing levels of alcoholic extract of propolis into diets. In Experiment 1, 1800 post-larvae were distributed in 30 tanks, in a completely randomized design with five treatments composed by the inclusion of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 g of dry propolis/kg of feed, and six replicates. In experiment 2, 1600 fingerlings were distributed in the same system and designed as experiment 1. No significant effect was observed between treatments, for final weight, total and standard length, survival, and intestinal villus height. However, the propolis extract inclusion of 1 g/kg in Nile tilapia post-larvae and fingerlings' feed resulted in a better body condition factor and higher body protein deposition (p<0.05). The condition factor is an estimate for the future growth of the animals, possibly the fish treated with propolis extract will present better growth, survival and greater reproductive potential rates. The results of the present study demonstrate that alcoholic extract of propolis improves the nutritional condition of Nile tilapia post-larvae and fingerlings, potentially leading to increased productivity in subsequent stages, as well as leading to improvement in fingerlings muscle deposition.

Apitherapy for Age-Related Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction (Sarcopenia): A Review on the Effects of Royal Jelly, Propolis, and Bee Pollen

“…Both in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that substances produced by honey bees such as royal jelly, bee pollen, and propolis can positively modulate basic cellular functions of myoblasts as well as mature myocytes. These products seem to be promising anti-sarcopenic agents because they can promote muscle protein synthesis [ 36 , 104 ], decrease mitochondrial oxidative stress [ 36 , 90 , 106 ], mitigate inflammation [ 38 , 90 , 101 , 108 , 115 ], improve muscular blood supply [ 102 , 110 ], enhance peripheral motor conduction [ 113 ], accelerate the removal of AGEs [ 38 ], counteract catabolism, and decrease markers of skeletal muscle atrophy [ 97 , 101 , 102 , 103 ].…”

“…The effects of bee products on muscle mass varied considerably: some studies reported that bee products increased muscle mass [ 36 , 54 , 90 , 96 , 100 , 105 , 113 ] and improved physical performance [ 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 ] while others could not or did not depict any significant change in muscle mass [ 38 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 110 , 117 ]. However, the latter revealed major beneficial effects related to the biology of skeletal muscle aging such as improved muscle protein deposition [ 104 ], enhanced activity of mitochondrial enzymes [ 106 ], decreased muscle infiltration by inflammatory cells, decreased muscle proteolysis, lowered lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation [ 102 , 103 ], increased microvascular blood supply, heightened production of antioxidants [ 110 ], and increased clearance of AGEs from skeletal muscle [ 38 ]. These findings suggest that bee products may prevent the development of sarcopenia if supplemented earlier before the occurrence of muscle atrophy.…”

“…A study reported no effect of propolis ethanolic extracts (4% of diet) on the size of muscle or their level of myostatin in Nile tilapia. However, another interesting study reported significant increases in body protein deposition and body condition factor—an estimate of future growth, survival, and reproductive potential—in Nile tilapia post-larvae and fingerlings receiving 2.6 g propolis/kg of feed [ 104 ]. Nonetheless, these findings seem to be bound to fish.…”

“…Although propolis improved various muscle-related parameters, its effect on muscle mass in rodents was limited—relative to royal jelly and bee pollen. However, it fostered muscle protein deposition in post-larva Nile tilapia [ 104 ]. Moreover, milk naturally enriched with PUFA and polyphenols from propolis remarkably increased the weight of the gastrocnemius muscle of growing obese rats while whole milk and milk enriched with PUFA only could not express any effect on skeletal muscle [ 105 ].…”

Effects of propolis on the immune enhancement of the formalin‐inactivated Aeromonas salmonicida vaccine

“…Alishahi et al showed that supplementation of food with 0.5% propolis-ethanolic extract could stimulate some innate immune responses and resistance against A. hydrophila infection (Alishahi, Dezfuly, & Mesbah, 2018). The similar results were also found in rainbow trout (Deng et al, 2011), Chinese sucker (Myxocyprinus asiaticus) (Zhang, Gong, Yu, & Yuan, 2009), gilthead seabream (Soltani et al, 2017) and Nile tilapia (Tilapia nilotica) (Santos et al, 2019), indicating propolis extracts have the ability to enhance the non-specific immune response and disease resistance of aquatic animals.…”