Nano-Curcumin/Chitosan Modulates Growth, Biochemical, Immune, and Antioxidative Profiles, and the Expression of Related Genes in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with nano-curcumin (NCur) and a nano-curcumin/chitosan blend (NCur/Ch) on growth performance, digestibility, immune response, antioxidant status, intestinal morphometric characters, and gene regulation in Nile tilapia. Fish (n = 180, initial body weight = 12.0 ± 0.53 g) received supplementary NCur at rates of 0 (control), 0.00625, and 0.0125, and NCur/Ch at rates of 0.00625 + 0.5 g/kg diet for 4 weeks. Growth performance parameters (final weight and length, body mass gain, specific growth, and length gain rates) were markedly increased, and the feed conversion ratio was significantly decreased in the NCur- and NCur/Ch-supplemented groups. Digestive enzyme (amylase), immune response markers (immunoglobulin M, nitrous oxide, and lysozyme activity), plasma albumin, and total protein were increased significantly, mainly with a diet supplemented with 0.00625 g NCur/kg. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glucose, and cortisol levels decreased in the supplemented groups compared to the control. Significantly increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed in the NCur/Ch group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was improved in the 0.0125 NCur group. Intestinal morphometric characters, including villus length, width, interspace, and goblet cell abundance, were increased to cope with improved growth performance and were associated with upregulation of insulin-like growth factor 1 (igf-1) and complement C-5 (cc5) compared to the control group. Therefore, NCur and an NCur/Ch blend could be supplemented in the Nile tilapia diets as a natural alternative to promote growth, digestion, immune status, liver function, antioxidant status, and related gene expression in O. niloticus.

Anti-Obesity Effect of a Tea Mixture Nano-Formulation on Rats Occurs via the Upregulation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase/Sirtuin-1/Glucose Transporter Type 4 and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Pathways

“…The AFM had a study area of 300 nm × 300 nm and used an Al tip in contact mode and vacuum conditions. Thin film formation needed to be performed first via the free precipitation of the samples on mica plates [ 28 ]. The size was measured using dynamic light scattering (DLS).…”

Effect of dietary chitosan on the growth performance, intestinal histology and growth‐related gene expression in stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) juveniles

“…discerned that synbiotic additions, combining Lactobacillus acidophilus with fructo oligosaccharides and mannan oligosaccharides, to the Nile tilapia diet amplified IGF-1 gene expression. Furthermore, In the research byElabd et al (2023), Nile tilapia that received dietary chitosan combined with nano-curcumin showed an up-regulation in the IGF-I expression level. Echoing these findings, our study also identified that GH and IGF-I gene expression levels in chitosan treatments surpassed that of the control.…”

“…IGF-1 can stimulate amino acid absorption and protein synthesis in muscles and also slow down protein breakdown in muscle fibers (Liu et al, 2008). While numerous studies have dissected growth stimulators' impact on fish growth-related gene expression (Elabd et al, 2023;Hassaan et al, 2015;Safari et al, 2020), a discernible knowledge gap persists concerning chitosan's specific influence.…”