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This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) essential oil (TVO) on growth performance, digestive enzymes, biochemical parameters, hematological indices, liver enzymes, and pathogen resistance in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Triplicate groups of fish (15.36 ± 0.10 g) were fed daily with diets supplemented with TVO at 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 percent for 60 days then challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. The results determined that supplementation of thyme resulted in significantly higher final body weights (FBW) and lower feed conversion ratios (FCR). Furthermore, no mortality was observed in the thyme-supplemented treatments. Regression analysis showed that fish growth parameters were polynomially related to dietary TVO levels. The optimum dietary TVO level, based upon the varied growth parameters, was 1.344 to 1.436%. Digestive enzymes activity, including amylase and protease, significantly increased in fish fed the supplemented diets. The thyme-supplemented diets also significantly increased the biochemical parameters, including total protein, albumin, and acid phosphatase (ACP), compared to the control group. We also observed significant increases in hematological indices, including red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), hematocrit (Hct), and hemoglobin (Hb) in common carp fed diets containing thyme oil ( P < 0.05 ). Liver enzymes activity including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was also reduced ( P < 0.05 ). Immune parameters, including total protein and total immunoglobulin (total Ig) levels, alternative complement pathway hemolytic (ACH50), lysozyme, protease, and ALP in the skin mucus, and lysozyme, total Ig, and ACH50 in the intestine were higher ( P < 0.05 ) in TVO-supplemented fish. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver were also elevated ( P < 0.05 ) in TVO administered groups. Lastly, thyme-supplementation resulted in higher survival rates after the A. hydrophila challenge compared to the control ( P < 0.05 ). In conclusion, dietary inclusion of thyme oil (1 and 2%) effectively improved fish growth, immune systems, and resistance to A. hydrophila.

Brassicaceae familyare traditional, medicinal and nutritional value plants. Brassicaceae family produced valuable components to provide different types of beneficial effects for humans and animals such as anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-scurvy, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-tumor, anti-diabetes, anti-stomach diseases, and anti-cardio, This review mainly focus to observeBrassicaceae family response in aquatic animalsandprovides some information collected from literature analysis regarding the development of aquaculture applications like Brassicaceae family plants used as a supplement to enhance nutritional value, replacement of fish meal, antimicrobial activity against pathogens, immunomodulatory effects, antioxidant, and growth activity of aquatic animals. This literature review analysis is helpful to enlighten for future research and development on the application in the aquaculture sector.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a mixture of three medicinal plants extracts (COP: common mallow (Malvae sylvestris), oregano (Origanum vulgare), and Persian shallot (Allium hirtifolium boiss)) on growth, hematological indices, immunological parameters, liver antioxidant, and digestive enzyme activity of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Accordingly, 540 common carp fingerlings were randomly allotted to 18 fiberglass tanks, including six treatments each in triplicate. Fish were fed with experimental diets supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 5% of the herbal mixture. After 60 days, the effects on growth performance, antioxidant, and immunological parameters were evaluated. According to the results, the highest final weight was observed in the fish fed 2 and 3% of the herbal mixture. Also, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed a significant decrease in fish treated with the herbal mix, so that the lowest FCR was observed in the treatment 1%. Hematological examinations such as red blood cells (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), and hemoglobin showed significant changes between different parameters compared to the control group. The highest protein content was observed in the fish supplemented with 2, 3, and 5% herbs. Besides, in contrast to glucose, the cortisol level showed a significant decrease compared to the control group. The digestive enzymes (Amylase, Lipase, and Protease) were significantly higher in 2 and 3% treatments than in the control group. Also, a significant difference was found in Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content between the experimental and control treatments. Examination of liver enzymes (and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) showed a significant difference in herbal mixture treatments with the control group, according to which the lowest amount of these enzymes was recorded in 2 and 3% herb supplemented fish. Herbal mix resulted in higher mucosal and intestinal immunity parameters, including total immunoglobulin (total Ig), lysozyme, alternative complement activities (ACH50), protease, and ALP. According to the results, supplementing the diet with a mixture of the COP can significantly improve growth parameters, stimulate the innate immune system, and improve antioxidant defenses and liver health of common carp.

The present study evaluated the effects of dietary inulin on growth performance, body composition, serum, biochemical, and mucus immune factors; as well as innate immune responses of rainbow trout fry challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Four diets were prepared using a commercially available fish feed as a basal diet and different levels of prebiotic inulin incorporation; 0 (control), 1, 2, and 3%; referred to as C, T1, T2, and T3, respectively. The findings of the 60-day feeding trial showed that inulin inclusion affected final weight, food conversion rate (FCR), and specific growth rate (SGR) compared to that of the control group (P < 0.05), in which the lowest FCR was observed in T3. Body composition analysis revealed that inulin significantly increased protein content and decreased lipid levels, especially in the T1 and T2 groups. The lowest ash level was noticed in T2 (P < 0.05). Blood total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, and glucose were not affected by inulin supplementation (P > 0.05). Analysis of humoral immune responses showed that the inulin supplements significantly increased lysozyme and complement activities (P < 0.05), as well as higher red blood cell count (RBC) and hemoglobin (Hb) in fish, fed 2% inulin, while no significant differences were observed among other treatments (P > 0.05). The mucosal parameters; including lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase (excluding ACH50); protease activities; and total immunoglobulin (IgM) improved significantly (P < 0.05), particularly in the T2 group. The T2 group also demonstrated the highest survival rate among all groups. The present findings indicate that dietary administration of inulin promotes growth and biochemical parameters, as well as serum immunity and mucosal immune responses of rainbow trout, in which a 2% inclusion produced the best results.

The present study aimed to investigate the potential effects of dietary marjoram extract on growth performance, health, and disease resistance in common carp, Cyprinus carpio. To this purpose, the fish were assigned into four treatments and fed by diets supplemented with 0 (control), 100, 200, and 400 mg marjoram extract kg−1 over eight weeks and then challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. According to the results, 200 mg kg−1 dietary marjoram extract inclusion showed the highest final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate, and lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR). White blood cell number, Red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were markedly increased particularly at 200 mg kg−1 treatment. Marjoram extract significantly increased plasma superoxide dismutase activity and decreased malondialdehyde level compared to the control treatment. Plasma complement and lysozyme activities and total immunoglobulin levels, mucosal complement, lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase activities and immunoglobulin levels were significantly increased compared to the control group. The lowest post-challenge survival rate was observed in the control treatment, whereas the highest value was related to the 200 mg kg−1 marjoram treatment. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that, marjoram extract is a suitable feed supplements for common carp, as it stimulates the fish growth, antioxidant, and immune systems, which suppress the fish mortality during Aeromonas septicemia. According to the results, 200 mg marjoram extract kg−1 is recommended for carp feed formulation.

Prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics have been successfully used in dietary supplements to achieve aquatic animal health and therefore increase the quality and sustainability of fish production. In the present study, four hundred and twenty common carps, Cyprinus carpio ( 25.37 ± 0.22 g ; mean ± SE ) were randomly attributed to seven treatments, fed with diets containing PrimaLac (probiotic), inulin (prebiotic), and Biomin Imbo (synbiotic), 1 and 2 g/kg for each supplement. After 60 days of feeding, an increase in final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate (SR) was recorded in the treatment groups compared to that of the control ( P < 0.05 ). The food conversion ratio (FCR) in the treatment groups significantly decreased ( P < 0.05 ). The treated groups showed significant improvements in serum immune parameters: lysozyme (LYZ), alternative complement (ACH50), total immunoglobulin (total Ig), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) ( P < 0.05 ). Feeding fish with supplemented diets significantly showed enhanced antioxidant status: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Malondialdehyde (MDA) activity was significantly lower in fish fed dietary additives ( P < 0.05 ). Compared with the control group, enzyme parameters revealed that supplementation could significantly decrease alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate transaminase (AST) ( P < 0.05 ). The biochemical parameters including triglyceride (TRIG), cholesterol (CHO), glucose (GLU), and cortisol (CORT) decreased with dietary supplementation ( P < 0.05 ). Total protein (TP) increased in fish fed experimental diets ( P < 0.05 ). Fish fed pro, pre, and synbiotic exhibited significantly higher digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, and protease) ( P < 0.05 ). Skin mucus parameters (total Ig, ACH50, LYZ, protease, and ALP) were significantly enhanced in groups fed dietary additives ( P < 0.05 ). Thus, the best recommended inclusion level of supplementation is 2 g/kg for inulin and 2 g/kg for PrimaLac and doses of 1 or 2 g/kg for Biomin Imbo. Dietary PrimaLac, inulin, and Biomin Imbo could be recommended as beneficial feed additives to enhance growth performance, innate immune and antioxidant systems, and promoted biochemical parameters and digestion of common carp; also, the effect of dietary synbiotic was superior to that of prebiotic and probiotic.

Bioactive immunostimulants could be derived from different sources like plants, animals, microbes, algae, yeast, etc. Bioactive immunostimulants are the most significant role to enhance aquatic production, as well as the cost of this method, which is effective, non-toxic, and environment-friendly. These immunostimulants are supportive to increase the immune system, growth, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and disease resistance of aquatic animals' health and also improve aquatic animal feed. Diseases are mainly targeted to the immune system of aquatic organisms in such a way that different processes of bioactive immunostimulants progress are considered imperative techniques for the development of aquaculture production. Communicable infections are the main problem for aquaculture, while the mortality and morbidity connected with some outbreaks significantly limit the productivity of some sectors. Aquaculture is considered the mainly developing food production sector globally. Protein insists is an important issue in human nutrition. Aquaculture has been an exercise for thousands of years, and it has now surpassed capture fisheries as the most vital source of seafood in the world. Limited study reports are available to focal point on bioactive immunostimulants in aquaculture applications. This review report provides information on the nutritional administration of bioactive immunostimulants, their types, functions, and beneficial impacts on aquatic animals' health as well as for the feed quality development in the aquaculture industry. The scope of this review combined to afford various kinds of natural derived bioactive molecules utilization and their beneficial effects in aquaculture applications.

Pectins are a group of carbohydrates found in structural parts of terrestrial plants with wide industrial and biomedical applications. This study was designed to investigate the dietary effects of apple pomace-derived pectin (APDP) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Four formulated diets were provided with different inclusion levels of APDP for 30 days: 0, 5, 10, and 20 g kg−1, referred to as control, P1, P2, and P3, respectively. In this study, 300 fish (3.56 ± 0.007 g) were randomly distributed into twelve fiberglass tanks and fed 3% of their respective body weight four times a day. At the end of the experiment, growth parameters, including weight gain, specific growth rate, and food conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly improved in P1 and P2 treatments compared to those of the other treatments. Results from proximate composition analysis showed that protein content increased, and lipid decreased in the P2 and P3 groups. Serum lysozyme, complement activity, total immunoglobulin levels, and total protein were significantly enhanced in all treatments compared to those of the control group. Gene expression results showed no significant difference in regulation of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), however, up-regulation of lysozyme, interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was observed in both P1 and P2. Unlike lipase, the activity of protease and amylase significantly increased in fish receiving different levels of APDP compared to the control (p &lt, 0.05). In conclusion, the present findings suggest APDA as a promising feed additive for rainbow trout.

A 60-day feeding trial was performed to assess the dietary effect of Lactobacillus casei as a probiotic supplement on some serum biochemical parameters and liver histopathology in common carp fry after exposure to iron oxide nanoparticles (IoNPs). Six treatments were prepared as follows: control (no IoNP exposure and no dietary probiotic), P6: 106 CFU/g probiotic diet, P7: 107 CFU/g probiotic diet, NPs: 0.15 mg/l IoNPs, NPs + P6: 0.15 mg/l IoNPs with 106 CFU/g probiotic diet, and NPs + P7: 0.15 mg/l IoNPs with 107 CFU/gprobiotic diet. Based on the results, serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly increased in 0.15 mg/l IoNPs, P7, and NPs + P6 treatments compared to the control group. In addition, the examination of antioxidant enzymes showed a significant increase in the levels of cortisol and glutathione S-transferase as well as malondialdehyde level. IoNPs also caused significant histopathological changes in the fish liver during the experiment such as hyperemia in sinusoidal spaces, hepatocytes vacuolation and necrosis, pyknosis, and disruption of hepatic lobules and atrophy. Results revealed the protective effects of dietary L. casei to mitigate the adverse impacts of IoNPs on the physiological processes of common carp.

The use of nano-sized materials is increasingly growing, while consequent health and environmental risks are still disputed. On the other hand, plant extracts have been reported to improve fish general health status and enhance antioxidant capacity. Thus, the present study was aimed to assess potential effects of Allium hirtifolium extract (AHE) to fortify antioxidant responses of Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to foodborne Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). Five hundred and forty fish were randomly allocated into 18 tanks and received six diets including a basal diet (as control), basal diet incorporated with either 13 mg/kg (ZnO-25) or 26 mg/kg (ZnO-50) of ZnO-NPs, 1.5% AHE (AHE-1.5), and similar concentrations of ZnO-NPs plus AHE (ZnO-25-AHE) and (ZnO-50-AHE) for a period of 30 days. Results revealed that blood indices, stress biomarkers (glucose and cortisol), and antioxidant parameters and genes in AHE-1.5 group were significantly modulated and improved when compared to other groups (P 0.05). In AHE-enriched groups, serum and liver tissue antioxidative parameters were enhanced as reflected in a noticeable decrease in malondialdehyde value and an increase in catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase. However, current results showed that diets incorporated with ZnO-NPs elevated the stress parameters besides a significant reduction for most measured biochemical parameters and AHE supplementation ameliorated these effects in terms of improving antioxidant parameters. In ZnO-25-AHE, and ZnO-50-AHE, the values for expression of GPx were found significantly (P 0.05) different from that of ZnO-25 and ZnO-50. On the contrary, SOD showed a non-significant difference (P 0.05) among control, ZnO-25, and ZnO-50-AHE, also in-between ZnO-25 and ZnO-25-AHE. The present results indicate that AHE supplementation could trigger antioxidant responses both at tissue and molecular levels suggesting its outstanding protective effects against foodborne toxicity of ZnO-NPs in Common carp.

Essential oils (EOs) due to their bioactive compounds can be considered suitable dietary supplements to achieve sustainable aquaculture. The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementation of Caspian roach fry (Rutilus caspicus) diet with different doses of savory essential oil (SEO) (Satureja hortensis) on growth performance, haematological parameters, serum and mucus immunological indices, serum antioxidant indices, and salinity stress resistance. Caspian roach fry (2.29 ± 0.07 g) were fed with four experimental diets including basal diet as control, and basal diet incorporated with 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg diet of SEO (SEO1, SEO2, and SEO3 respectively) for 60 days. At the end of the experiment, the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) as well as highest final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR) were observed in fish given the SEO2 diet (P

The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of the combination of medicinal herbs extracts (CMO: Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), common mallow (Malva sylvestris), and oak acorn (Quercus brantii)) on growth, digestive enzymes activity, immune parameters, and disease resistance in common carp, Cyprinus carpio. A total number of three hundred fish (20.80 ± 0.25 g) were randomly attributed to five treatments fed with diets containing 0 (control), 0.5%, 1%, 3%, and 5% of CMO for a period of 60 days then were challenged with A. hydrophila infection. Based on the results, there were significant differences in all growth parameters, including final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and food conversion ratio (FCR) between CMO supplemented fish and control with the maximum values in the 5% CMO treatment (P

Although several studies have reported co-occurrence of mycotoxins in fish feed limited information is available on the physiological effects. In the current study, the single and combined effect of added dietary AFB1 and ZEN in various concentrations for 60 days was tested in rainbow trout on growth parameters, mortality, intestinal digestive enzymes activity and on serum and intestinal oxidative stress and immunological parameters and on intestinal histopathology, versus untreated controls. Both mycotoxins groups irrespective of concentration, showed a significant deterioration of SGR and FCR as compared to control, whereas no consistent differences in mortality were present. The small intestinal enzyme activity was significantly reduced by ZEN in particular at the higher mycotoxin concentrations and when combined with AFB1. Serum and intestinal immunological parameters were significantly affected largely consistent with additive and synergistic negative effects on the (innate) immune system, in particular enhanced inflammation. The latter was also reflected in the serum and intestinal oxidative stress parameters. Histopathological examination showed decreasing villus length and Goblet cell density with increasing mycotoxin load. It is concluded that the combination of AFB1 and ZEN clearly increased the toxic effect on the fish as far as the serum and intestinal parameters are concerned. This is in some cases merely additive, but clear synergistic toxicity was seen too, in particular at the higher mycotoxin concentrations. Surprisingly, the increasing intestinal impairment did not translate into increased growth retardation and mortality since those were similar in all non-control groups. This may be consistent with anabolic effects of mycotoxin (metabolites) as has been described before.

In the present study, rainbow trout fingerlings, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were fed diets supplemented with 0% (C), 0.5 (T1), 1.5 (T2), 2.5 (T3), and 4% (T4) mistletoe extract (ME), Viscum album over eight weeks. At the end of feeding trial, growth performance, serum antioxidant and innate immune responses, and serum bactericidal activity against Aeromonas hydrophila were evaluated. According to results, the highest final wight and wight gain (%), and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in T2 and T3 treatments. Regression analysis showed that fish growth parameters were polynomially-related to dietary ME levels. The optimum dietary ME level, based upon the varied growth parameters, was 1.78 to 1.94%. The highest moisture content was observed in the control group followed by the T1 treatment, whereas the highest protein contents were observed in the T2 and T3 treatments. The lipid and ash contents were not affected by ME supplementation. Serum lysozyme, ACH50, total Ig, SOD, and bactericidal activity significantly increased in the ME-fed fish, with the highest values observed within the T3 treatment. The highest CAT and GPx values were recorded in the T2 and T3 treatments. ME treatment significantly decreased serum MDA levels, which was lowest in the T3 treatment. Serum ALT activities were similar in the T2, T3, and T4 treatments, and were significantly lower than those of T1 and control (C) treatments. Serum AST and ALP activities exhibited declines along with an increase in dietary ME levels; in which the lowest activities were occurred in the T4 treatment. In conclusion, dietary ME supplementation proved beneficial to rainbow trout, as it stimulated its growth performance, innate immune and antioxidant systems, and promoted bactericidal activity. Moreover, serum hepatic health indicators suggest that dietary ME may improve the fishes' hepatic health.

Phytogenics additives have gained considerable attention as efficacious and safe dietary interventions to reduce the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 contamination in aquatic animals. The present study was conducted to investigate the ameliorative efficacy of Thymus vulgaris essential oil on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in terms of growth performance, innate plasma immune indices and expression of immune related genes. Five experimental diets including a commercial diet as control, control diet +25 ppb AFB1, control diet +50 ppb AFB1, control diet +25 ppb AFB1 + 1% garden thymus essential oil (TEO), and control diet +50 ppb AFB1+ 1% TEO were tested. Triplicate groups of fish averaging 20.77 ± 0.08 g were fed the test diets at a rate of 3% body weight twice daily for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, fish fed TEO supplemented diets showed improved final weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and specific growth rates in comparison to groups received AFB1 with no dietary TEO supplementation (P

In the current paper reproductive strategy and growth rates of Luciobarbus esocinus were investigated from 2010 to 2012, in Gamasiab River, Kermanshah, Iran. Samples were collected seasonally by gillnet and electro-fisher device. Sex ratio was evaluated from 162 individuals and the percentage of male and female individuals were 54.76% and 45.24% respectively. Age structure was distributed between I and V and most frequency numbers for males and females belonged to II and IV age group, respectively. Length-weight relationship was computed as W=8E-05TL^2.6546 for all individuals. Mean total length and weight was 333.82±13.10 mm and 297.67±4.85 g for males, and 371.5±21.17 mm and 307.85±7.64 g for females. The von-Bertalanffy growth models of L. esocinus were described as Lt =357.14×[1-e^(-0.77×(t-0.090))] for males, Lt =367.02×[1-e^(-0.78×(t–0.094))] for females and Lt =363.57×[1-e^(-0.76×(t –0.087))] for both sexes. Results indicated that growth factors were highly similar in spring, summer and winter. CDA analysis revealed that the total and gonad weight are the main factors in discriminant analysis. The highest GSI values were found in spring for females and winter for males, however, it decreased rapidly after spring in females. Maximum growth rates were observed in early ages (I-II) and depleted with ages. K value and L∞ were determined as 0.77±0.09 Y^-1 and 357.14±10.38 mm for males and 0.78±0.24 Y^-1 and 367.02±24.15 mm for females, respectively. In conclusion this study provided basic information for stock assessment and management of L. esocinus in Gamasiab Reservoir.