Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris on Growth, Blood Biochemical Parameters, and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of defatted Chlorella on growth performance, body composition, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant enzyme activity in olive flounder. Four isonitrogenous (51% crude protein) diets were formulated to contain 0 (control), 5, 10, or 15% Chlorella meal (CM) (designated as Con, CM5, CM10, and CM15, respectively) and fed to triplicate groups of fish (104.4 g) to apparent satiation twice daily for 8 wk. At the end of the feeding trial, significant enhancement (P < 0.05) in growth performance was obtained at over 10% CM compared to fish fed the control diet. No significant changes in dorsal muscle and liver proximate composition were found following CM administration. The groups fed CM‐containing diets revealed significantly lower plasma cholesterol concentration than those fed the control diet. Dietary CM affected antioxidant enzyme activity; significantly higher plasma catalase activity was found in fish fed ≥10% CM and total antioxidant capacity increased in CM5 and CM10 groups compared to the control. However, plasma glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities were not significantly influenced by dietary CM. Also, significant enhancement in 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl radical scavenging activity was found in dorsal muscle of fish fed CM15 diet compared to the control. The findings in this study showed that dietary inclusion of 10–15% CM can enhance growth performance and affect antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid metabolism in olive flounder.

Optimum dietary level of Chlorella vulgaris powder as a feed additive for some blood parameters and digestive enzymatic activities of grey mullet, Mugil cephalus

“…In this study, significantly lower serum total cholesterol concentrations were detected in all levels of CP in comparison to those fed the control diet. In agreement with our results, Rahimnejad & Lee [11] reported the significant reduction of serum cholesterol level in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus fed diets containing 5-15% C. vulgaris. Also Xu et al [9] found the significant decrease of serum cholesterol level in gibel carp fed diets supplemented with 1.6-2% Chlorella powder.…”

“…Chlorella sp. as one of the most common microalgae used in aquaculture, have been reported to improve lipid metabolism, digestive enzymatic activities, growth, feed utilization in Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli [7], juvenile Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus [8], gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio [9,10], olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus [11].…”

Chlorella sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. Inclusion in Plant-Based Diets Modulate the Intestine and Liver Antioxidant Mechanisms of European Sea Bass Juveniles

“…or Nannochloropsis oceania biomass did not affect serum SOD and CAT activities (19,20). Furthermore, in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) dietary inclusion of 10-15% defatted Chlorella vulgaris did not affect plasmatic GPX and SOD activities but increased CAT activity (21).…”

“…In the aforementioned studies, the antioxidant potential of microalgae was mostly assessed with diets including high levels of FM and fish oil(FO) and focused on serum or liver antioxidant (18)(19)(20)(21). Up to now, little attention was given to the antioxidant potential of dietary microalgae when incorporated into PF-based diets, nor their effects at the intestine level, which is the first organ exposed to the diets.…”

Effects of Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris on the Immune System and Reproduction of Fish

“…However, further research on the growth effects of Chlorella should be carried out in various fish species and might not give the same positive effects. Its effect can be affected by the levels of supplementation, species-specific reactions to Chlorella, and the experimental period (Rahimnejad et al, 2016). Hence, the addition of C. vulgaris in feed for its carotenoid contents and property in stimulating the growth and immunity of fish is a promising idea as C. vulgaris is also known as a fast-growing microalga and can be a sustainable aquafeed ingredient in the future.…”