Dietary pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel mitigated the adverse effects of silver nanoparticles on the performance, haemato-biochemical, antioxidant, and immune responses of Nile tilapia fingerlings

Abstract

The present study investigated the adverse effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on haemato-biochemical, oxidant/antioxidant, and immunological responses of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as well as the beneficial roles of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel (PP) powder to mitigate these effects. Fish (29.6–31.5 g) were fed on diets supplemented with PP at levels of 0.0% (control), 3%, and 5% and exposed to sub-lethal levels of AgNPs (0.0 and 2.0 mg/L) for six weeks. The results showed that AgNPs exposure alone significantly suppressed the fish growth and elevated stress biomarkers (blood glucose and cortisol), induced liver damage (alanine and aspartate aminotransferases), and renal failure (creatinine and uric acid). Additionally, AgNPs exposure significantly decreased serum immune parameters (lysozyme activity, respiratory burst activity, and total immunoglobulin) and affected hepatic and renal oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, malondialdehyde, and reduced glutathione). Dietary supplementation of PP powder alone reduced the fish performance but markedly enhanced antioxidant and immunological activities. Additionally, dietary PP powder significantly mitigated AgNPs-induced effects, attenuating hepato-renal damage, oxidative stress, and immunity biomarkers. In conclusion, AgNPs adversely affected the performance of Nile tilapia; however, dietary supplementation of 5% PP powder effectively mitigated the oxidative stress and immune suppression resulted from AgNPs exposure.