Effect of feed supplementation with seaweed wracks on performance, muscle lipid composition, antioxidant status, digestive enzyme activities, and plasma biochemistry of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles

• Published in: Aquaculture reports 2023-08, Vol.31, p.101673, Article 101673
• Main Authors: Galindo, Ana, Pérez, José A., Martín, Virginia, Acosta, Nieves G., Reis, Diana B., Jiménez, Ignacio A., Rosa, Gonçalo, Venuleo, Marianna, Marrero, Manuel, Rodríguez, Covadonga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidant capacity; Beach-cast macroalgae; Blood parameters; Digestive enzymes; Fatty acid profile
• ISSN: 2352-5134; 2352-5134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aqrep.2023.101673

Macroalgal wracks are frequently considered as waste products. However, macroalgae are a rich source of protein and bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities whose inclusion in aquafeeds is receiving growing attention. The aim of this study was to assess the use of beach-cast macroalgae as dietary supplement for gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles. Fish were fed for 93 days with an extruded commercial diet (CD); a CD supplemented with 7% of a dried-powder from a multispecific macroalgal wrack (30.9% Lobophora sp., 21.9% Dictyota sp., 19.6% Asparagopsis taxiformis, 17.5% Cymopolia sp., 1.8% Hypnea sp., 0.2% Laurencia sp., 0.1% Stypocaulon sp., and 8% not determined) (CD+MU7); a CD supplemented with a monospecific macroalgal wrack of 85% Lobophora sp. (CD+MOL7); and a CD supplemented with a monospecific macroalgal wrack of 85% Dictyota sp. (CD+MOD7). Macroalgae were extracted with n-hexanes, ethyl acetate and ethanol, and the antioxidant capacity of extracts was assessed, with ethyl acetate leading to the most active extracts (p