Textural quality, growth parameters and oxidative responses in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed faba bean water extract diet

Abstract

Texture is one of the key quality attributes used in the fresh and processed fish industry to assess product quality and consumer acceptability. To improve the textural quality of tilapia, we formulated the expanded pellet diet (EPD) and pellet diet (PD), both containing faba bean (Vicia faba, FB) water extract, a previously reported potential aquafeed additive to increase flesh texture. The common diet was used as a control. After Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were fed three kinds of experimental diet for 120 days, muscle textural quality, growth parameters, oxidative response and immune parameters were analyzed. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the growth parameters between the three groups (P > 0.05). The highest measure of textural quality (hardness and chewiness) was found for the PD group, followed by the EPD and the control (P < 0.05). Less oxidative damage to the hepatopancreas and intestine was found in the EPD compared with the PD group, as demonstrated by the decreased levels of reactive oxygen species and increased levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and intestinal digestive enzyme activity (amylase and lipase). Taken together, this study highlights the potential usefulness in commercial settings of FB water extract for improving the textural quality of tilapia, and EPD containing faba bean water extract could be more advanced substitute for faba bean in tilapia culture in term of both effectiveness in textural quality improvement and health status enhancement compared with PD.

Combined effects of dietary faba bean water extract and vitamin K3 on growth performance, textural quality, intestinal characteristics, oxidative and immune responses in grass carp

“…Among these, dietary faba bean water extract (FBW) at 12.69 g kg −1 effectively improved the textural quality and growth performance of ordinary grass carp ( Ma et al, 2020 ). A similar textural improvement was found in Nile tilapia fed FBW supplemented in the expanded pellet diet and pellet diet ( Li et al, 2022 ). Notably, vicine (a pro-oxidant), the active substances in FBW, may be responsible for the improvement in the textural quality of grass carp and tilapia ( Ma et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Our earlier studies revealed that FBW had no impact on the growth-related parameters of grass carp and tilapia at relatively low dietary levels (12.5% and 8% respectively) ( Ma et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2022 ). In the present study, diets enriched with FBW in 15% FBW and combined groups exerted no effect on the growth and feeding parameters of grass carp, including WGR, CF, VSI, HSI, FCR, AFI, and SR, which is consistent with our previous study ( Ma et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2022 ). In addition, previous study has reported that the vitamin K requirement and recommendations in fish were below 100 mg kg −1 ( Krossøy, Waagbo & Ørnsrud, 2011 ).…”

“…The improvement in muscle textural quality ( e.g ., hardness, chewiness, and gumminess) is the most notable feature of crisp grass carp which is closely associated with increased muscle fiber density and collagen content ( Yang et al, 2015 ; Yu et al, 2019 ). In a previous study, FBW was reported to improve muscle textural quality by enhancing muscle fiber density and collagen content in grass carp and tilapia ( Ma et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2022 ). Consistent with these previous findings, muscle textural quality (including hardness, chewiness, and gumminess), muscle fiber density, and collagen content were increased in the grass carp of the 15% FBW group.…”

“…Previous studies from our laboratory revealed that FBW could be used to improve the textural quality of grass carp and tilapia when employed as an aquafeed additive at dietary levels of approximately 100 g kg −1 ( Ma et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2022 ). Our initial studies also found that VK3 could contribute to the improvement in muscle texture of grass carp at dietary levels of 20 g kg −1 ( Chen et al, 2021 ).…”

The flesh texture of teleost fish: Characteristics and interventional strategies

“…The research team extended this result in Nile tilapia, where dietary inclusion of faba bean water extracts improved texture properties (hardness, chewiness, gumminess, and adhesiveness) without compromising fish growth. 202 Given the importance of both quality and production of farmed fish, further work is needed to clarify faba bean's active components responsible for its flesh-hardening effect, which would accelerate their application in aquafeeds for various fish species, and even for carnivores.…”