Effects of berberine supplementation in high starch diet on growth performance, antioxidative status, immune parameters and ammonia stress response of fingerling black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii)

Abstract

Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline alkaloid with hepatoprotective, anti-obesity, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study investigated berberine supplementation in high starch diet on growth performance, antioxidative status, immune parameters, and ammonia stress response of black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii). Three isonitrogenous diets were prepared as Con: control diet (14% starch), HS: high starch diet (23% starch), and HSB: high starch diet with 50 mg/kg berberine. After the 8-week feeding trial, HS and HSB groups had similar specific growth rate and weight gain, but they were significantly lower than that of the Con group (P < .05). Fish fed HS diet had excessive lipid deposition and nuclear polarization in hepatocytes, as well as higher serum activities of aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase. In contrast, fish fed HSB diet showed significantly reduced serum aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase activities and alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation. Significantly lower serum glucose and lactate contents were observed in the HSB group. After the ammonia stress test (0.5 mg/L unionized ammonia), serum acid phosphatase and lysozyme activities, and total antioxidant capacity decreased significantly in all groups. Additionally, the highest hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity was found in fish fed HSB diet both before and after the ammonia stress test, whereas the HS group obtained the highest malondialdehyde in liver. In conclusion, berberine supplementation in high starch diet could reduce hepatic lipid accumulation, improve liver health and antioxidative status.