Dietary Mexican Chenopodium ambrosioides L. improved cholesterol level, bactericidal activity, humoral and antioxidant defence parameters in Pacific red snapper ( Lutjanus peru )

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary incorporation of a medicinal plant (Mexican Chenopodium ambrosioides L.) on growth parameters, cholesterol level, immune and antioxidant parameters in serum and antioxidant enzyme gene expressions in intestine of Pacific red snapper before and upon Aeromonas hydrophila challenge. Fish were fed diets supplemented with 0.5%, 1% and 2% C. ambrosioides L. for five weeks. Samples were taken at weeks 2 and 4, and upon bacterial challenge (week 5). Dietary incorporation with 1% medicinal plant promoted fish growth. Serum cholesterol was reduced in fish fed 1% and 2% C. ambrosioides L. whereas in the group fed 0.5% plant incorporated diet bactericidal activity was the highest against A. hydrophila. Immune (antiprotease, protease, lysozyme and myeloperoxidase activities) and antioxidant (superoxide dismutase and catalase) parameters were enhanced in serum and antioxidant enzyme gene expressions (icCu/Znsod, ecCu/Znsod, Mnsod and cat) up-regulated in intestine. In conclusion, dietary incorporation of C. ambrosioides can modulate the inmmunostimulant and antioxidant activities in Pacific red snapper. This research provides a new perspective for using C. ambrosioides L. as an option to possibly reduce the usage of antibiotics in farmed fish.