Exploring the Multimodal Role of Yucca schidigera Extract in Protection against Chronic Ammonia Exposure Targeting: Growth, Metabolic, Stress and Inflammatory Responses in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)

Abstract

Ammonia is a critical hazardous nitrogen metabolic product in aquaculture. Despite trials for its control, ammonia intoxication remains one of the most critical issues to overcome. In this study, we explored the modulatory effect and potential mechanism by which Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) can ameliorate ammonia intoxication-induced adverse effects on tilapia health and metabolism. A total number of 120 Nile tilapia were evenly assigned into four groups with three replicates each. The first group served as normal control group; the second group was exposed to ammonia alone from the beginning of the experiment and for four weeks. The third group was supplied with YSE in water at a dose of 8 mg/L and exposed to ammonia. The fourth group was supplied with YSE only in water at a dose of 8 mg/L. YSE supplementation succeeded in improving water quality by reducing pH and ammonia levels. Moreover, YSE supplementation markedly alleviated chronic ammonia-induced adverse impacts on fish growth by increasing the final body weight (FBW), specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake and protein efficiency ratio (PER) while reducing the feed conversion ratio (FCR) via improvements in food intake, elevation of hepatic insulin-like growth factor (ILGF-1) and suppression of myostatin (MSTN) expression levels with the restoration of lipid reserves and the activation of lipogenic potential in adipose tissue as demonstrated by changes in the circulating metabolite levels. In addition, the levels of hepato-renal injury biomarkers were restored, hepatic lipid peroxidation was inhibited and the levels of hepatic antioxidant biomarkers were enhanced. Therefore, the current study suggests that YSE supplementation exerted an ameliorative role against chronic ammonia-induced oxidative stress and toxic effects due to its free radical-scavenging potential, potent antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects.

Toxic Effects on Bioaccumulation, Hematological Parameters, Oxidative Stress, Immune Responses and Tissue Structure in Fish Exposed to Ammonia Nitrogen: A Review

“…As ammonia has high affinity for blood hemoglobin, it displaces oxygen and influences some hematological properties [ 35 ]. Hematological properties are significant indicators to assess fish health status after exposed to different environmental stresses and chemical toxicity [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Ammonia enters the fish circulatory system and causes metabolic disturbances and fatal responses, such as oxidative stress, immune response and genetic expression [ 40 ].…”

Dietary Artemisia, Artemisia annua , supplementation improves common carp welfare under high stocking density

“…It has been suggested that lower growth rate at high stocking densities may be attributed to disturbed physiological activities of fish in relation to social stress and water quality deterioration. The lower water dissolved oxygen and higher ammonia levels explains the inferior growth and feed efficiency in the HD treatments, as they are two important factors in aquaculture productivity (Abdel‐Tawwab et al, 2019; Elbialy et al, 2021). Application of Artemisia in the fish diet created no beneficial effects on the fish performance at high stocking density, in the present study.…”

“…It has been reported that decrease in the blood WBC counts and lymphocyte percentage, and increase in neutrophil percentage are haematological responses to stress in fish (Elbialy et al, 2021; Zebral et al, 2015). Decreased WBC counts due to stress may compromise the ability of fish to cope with pathogens and other stressors.…”

Growth performance and survival rate of striped eel catfish (Plotosus lineatus) in the domestication

“…Additionally, of the 80% nitrogen component from the secretion, 90% is ammonia and 10% is uric acid (Ebeling et al 2006). Ammonia is toxic for aquatic organisms as it reduces dissolved oxygen and generates unwanted changes in the aquatic ecosystem (Elbialy et al 2021). Ammonia is especially toxic for fish culture at a concentration of >1.5 mg N/l.…”