The effects of dietary administration of Astragalus membranaceus nanoparticles (ANP) on immune and antioxidative responses, growth performance and disease resistance of Oreochromis niloticus were evaluated in the
present study. Fish were divided into three groups and received the ANP at rates of 0 (control), 1, and 2%/kg diet
for four weeks. After the four-week feeding trial, three fish from each replicate were sampled for immune and
anti-oxidative responses evaluation, ten fish from each group were challenged with A. veronii, and nine fish from
each group were subjected to cold and hypoxia challenges. It was obvious from the results that ANP significantly
enhanced lysozyme activity and nitrous oxide (NO) activities, as well as improved superoxide dismutase (SOD),
catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Also, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, glucose, and cortisol measurements showed significantly lower levels in incorporated groups compared
to the control. Growth performance; and amylase and lipase digestive enzymes activities also showed markedly
improved results. Expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and interleukin 1, beta (IL-1β) genes were significantly upregulated throughout the entire experimental period. When challenged with A. veronii, the mortality
of treated groups was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the control. Current results proofs that dietary ANP
had a synergistic effect on immune and anti-oxidative responses, growth performance and disease resistance of
Oreochromis niloticus. |
