Metabonomics Study on the Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicines Feed Addition on Growth Performance and Serum Metabolic Profile of Juvenile Chinese Softshell Turtle (Pelodiscus Sinensis Wiegmann) using UPLC–Triple /TOF–MS Analysis

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p><jats:bold>Background：</jats:bold>Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) had been proven to stimulate digestion, promote growth, boost immune response, and reduce inflammatory potential in aquaculture, but its action mechanism was still lack of holistic interpretation. <jats:bold>Results: </jats:bold>The UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS based platform was developed to investigate the serum metabolic profile associated with the growth performance and immunity in <jats:italic>Pelodiscus sinensis</jats:italic> fed with the diet added with TCMs feeding additive. The final weight and specific growth rate of TG2 groups was significantly the highest (p ˂ 0.05), and the feed conversion ratio of TG2 groups was significantly the lowest (p ˂ 0.05) compared to the CG group. In the metabolomics assay, a total of 795 (VIP &gt; 1) out of 3089 variable ions were significantly different between the TG2 group and CG group. 43 potential biomarkers between TG2 and CG groups were finally screened out on the basis of VIP &gt; 1 and p &lt; 0.05. Based on the analysis of MetPA, eleven potential biomarkers and six involved metabolic pathways were significantly regulated with treatment of TCMs. Phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis and Arginine and proline metabolism were the two most heavily affected pathways (Impact &gt;0.2), while Tyrosine metabolism, Cysteine and methionine metabolism and Arginine biosynthesis were relatively lightly affected pathways. <jats:bold>Conclusions：</jats:bold>The dietary supplementation nineteen TCMs as feed additives could influence the growth performance of the healthy juvenile <jats:italic>P. sinensis</jats:italic>, and the optimal dose of TCMs for juvenile turtles<jats:italic> </jats:italic>was 2% TCMs. The UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS based metabonomics may be a useful tool for elucidating the efficacy and mechanism of complex TCM prescriptions.</jats:p>