Effective role of dietary curcumin nanoparticles and Spirulina platensis supplementation on growth, digestive enzymes, hematological, serum biochemical parameters, antioxidant status, immune responses, and histological examination in Nile tilapia fingerlings

Abstract

The positive effects of feeding nano-curcumin and Spirulina platensis on O. niloticus's growth performance, hepatoprotective ability, antioxidant response, immunity, digestibility, and organ histopathology were predicted by this study. Nile tilapia fingerlings (n = 180 fish; 10 ± 0.5 g) were divided into three groups (three replicates/group) and fed diets containing zero percent (control), 30 mg kg-1 curcumin nanoparticles (Cu-NPs group), and 5 g kg-1 Spirulina platensis (SP group). Growth performance, haematological, antioxidant, biochemical, and immunological markers plus histological changes were evaluated after the feeding study lasted 56 days. Our results revealed that Cu-NPs and SP have favorable effects on carcass composition, growth performance, hematological, and biochemical parameters. Moreover, Cu-NPs and SP supplementation significantly elevated serum Ig M level (p < 0.01, p < 0.05), lysozyme (p < 0.001), amylase (p < 0.05, p < 0.01), lipase (p < 0.05) and protease (p < 0.01) activities unlike the control group. Additionally, significant elevation of SOD (p < 0.001) and GPx (p < 0.01, p < 0.05) activities with diminished MDA (p < 0.001, p < 0.01) production was noticed in SP and Cu-NPs groups compared to control one. Overall, diets supplemented with Cu-NPs and SP effectively improved the growth performance, hepatic function, immune response, and antioxidant impacts in Nile tilapia fingerlings.