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The effect of dietary supplementation of corn husk meal (CHM) on growth performance, liver antioxidant status and intestinal microbiota in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings was evaluated. Four experimental groups of fish with initial weight 0.47 ± 0.7 g in triplicate tanks were used; three of them were fed CHM incorporated diets (12.5 g/kg, DH12; 25 g/kg, DH25; and 50 g/kg, DH50), whereas a CHM-free basal diet served as control (DH0). No significant differences were observed in growth performance or feed efficiency in fish fed experimental diets (P > 0.05); however, fish fed the DH50 diet had a significant higher proportion of crude protein of whole-body composition (P

The hypoxia conditions in intensive farming systems generate oxidative stress related to oxidative damage and mortality of fish. Corn husk meal (CHM), as a source of antioxidants, might modulate the antioxidant response and prevent the damage elicited by hypoxia. This study evaluated CHM’s ability to modulate a hepatic response in Nile tilapia exposed to hypoxia. A control and a test diet supplemented with 25 g CHM/kg feed were formulated. Ninety Nile tilapias (5.09 ± 0.55 g initial weight) were fed for 36 days to evaluate growth, feed efficiency, and hepatic antioxidant response (CAT, catalase, SOD, superoxide dismutase, and GPx, glutathione peroxidase) in normal oxygen conditions (normoxia). After the feeding trial (36 days), fish were exposed to hypoxia (1.5 ± 0.2 mg/L dissolved oxygen), and the hepatic antioxidant response was determined. There was no significant effect of CHM on growth and feed efficiency. The CAT activity was significantly increased in tilapias exposed to hypoxia and fed the test diet compared to the control group exposed to hypoxia. The SOD and GPx activities were unchanged in tilapias in normoxia and hypoxia conditions. Results suggest that CHM dietary supplementation promotes the antioxidant response in Nile tilapia exposed to hypoxia through CAT modulation.

Oxidative stress in aquatic organisms might suppress the immune system and propagate infectious diseases. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of polyphenolic extracts from spent coffee grounds (SCG) against oxidative stress, induced by H2O2, in C. viridis brain cells, through an in vitro model. Hydrophilic extracts from SCG are rich in quinic, ferulic and caffeic acids and showed antioxidant capacity in DPPH, ORAC and FRAP assays. Furthermore, pretreatment of C. viridis brain cells with the polyphenolic extracts from SCG (230 and 460 µg/mL) for 24 h prior to 100 µM H2O2 exposure (1 h) significantly increased antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and reduced lipid peroxidation (measured by MDA levels). These results suggest that polyphenols found in SCG extracts exert an antioxidative protective effect against oxidative stress in C. viridis brain cells by stimulating the activity of SOD and CAT.

The fruit, vegetable, legume, and cereal industries generate many wastes, representing an environmental pollution problem. However, these wastes are a rich source of antioxidant molecules such as terpenes, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, and bioactive peptides with potential applications mainly in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and they exhibit multiple biological properties including antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antihypertensive, anticancer, and antibacterial properties. The aforementioned has increased studies on the recovery of antioxidant compounds using green technologies to value plant waste, since they represent more efficient and sustainable processes. In this review, the main antioxidant molecules from plants are briefly described and the advantages and disadvantages of the use of conventional and green extraction technologies used for the recovery and optimization of the yield of antioxidant naturals are detailed; finally, recent studies on biological properties of antioxidant molecules extracted from plant waste are presented here.

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of the partial replacement of fish meal (FM) by either soybean meal (SBM) or soybean protein concentrate (SPC) on growth, feed utilization, apparent digestibility (AD), and digestive capacity in the white snook, Centropomus viridis. Seven experimental diets were formulated by replacing 0, 15, 30, or 45% of FM protein with either SBM or SPC; the control diet contained FM as the primary protein source. Juvenile fish (3.35 ± 0.24 g average initial body weight) were fed the experimental diets (n = 45 per diet) twice a day for 109 days. Fish fed the SBM-30 diet showed the highest weight gain, while those fed the SPC-45 diet showed lower body weight compared to the control group. Fish fed the SBM diets showed higher protein efficiency ratio and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) than fish fed the SPC diets. Body fat content of fish fed the SBM or SPC diets was higher than the control group. Moreover, a reduction in pepsin activity in SPC-15 group, as well as a decrease in intestinal α-amylase activity and total alkaline proteases of pyloric caeca from SBM-30 and SPC-45 groups compared to control diet was observed. These results confirm those obtained in the AD assay, where apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) in the experimental groups were higher than in the control group. Our results indicate that a 15–45% replacement of FM by SBM can be made in aquafeeds for juvenile C. viridis without affecting its growth, digestibility, or digestive capacity.

Essential oils of oregano are widely recognized for their antimicrobial activity, as well as their antiviral and antifungal properties. Nevertheless, recent investigations have demonstrated that these compounds are also potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and cancer suppressor agents. These properties of oregano essential oils are of potential interest to the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The aim of this manuscript is to review the latest evidence regarding essential oils of oregano and their beneficial effects on health.

Inflammation is a biological defense mechanism caused by the interruption of the tissue homeostasis caused by the presence of a biological, chemical, or physical agents in the body; immune system produces a series of pro-inflammatory mediators, however their overproduction, as occurs in chronic inflammation, might lead to the occurrence of several chronic diseases. For this reason, slowing down the inflammation process becomes very important, and with this purpose non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs are generally used with the subsequent occurrence of adverse side effects. As an alternative in inflammation treatment, folklore medicine has used several plants and herbs with minimal or null side effects, with the phenolic compounds being one of their principal components. Phenolic compounds are able to inhibit either the production or the action of pro-inflammatory mediators, resulting in anti-inflammatory capacity.

High levels of cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6, are associated with chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer; therefore cytokine inhibition might be an important target for the treatment of these diseases. Most drugs used to alleviate some inflammation-related symptoms act by inhibiting cyclooxygenases activity or by blocking cytokine receptors. Nevertheless, these drugs have secondary effects when used on a long-term basis. It has been mentioned that flavonoids, namely quercetin, apigenin and luteolin, reduce cytokine expression and secretion. In this regard, flavonoids may have therapeutical potential in the treatment of inflammation-related diseases as cytokine modulators. This review is focused on current research about the effect of flavonoids on cytokine modulation and the description of the way these compounds exert their effect.