Chinese herbal medicines mixture improved antioxidant enzymes, immunity and disease resistance to infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus infection in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

• Published in: Aquaculture international 2024-06, Vol.32 (3), p.3217-3232
• Main Authors: Wang, Qi, Huang, Jinqiang, Li, Yongjuan, Wu, Shenji, Zhao, Lu, Pan, Yucai, Kang, Yujun, Liu, Zhe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Antiviral agents; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Disease resistance; Enzymatic activity; Enzyme activity; Enzymes; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Freshwater fishes; Herbal medicine; Immunity; Infections; Life Sciences; Necrosis; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Phosphatase; Salmon; Trout; Zoology
• ISSN: 0967-6120; 1573-143X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10499-023-01319-w

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has attracted widespread attention due to its natural, non-toxic, and low side-effect properties. Furthermore, Chinese herbal medicines mixture (CHMM) is often considered to have more beneficial effects than a single CHM. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of CHMM (0, 10, 20, 30 g/kg) on antioxidant enzymes, immunity and disease resistance to infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) infection in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). The results showed that the total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), acid phosphatase (ACP), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activities in rainbow trout were enhanced and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was reduced after feeding with all CHMM groups. Meanwhile, the expression of immune-related genes ( NF-KB , TNF-α , IL-1β , IL-8 , MDA5 , LGP2 , IRF-3 , IRF-7 , IFN1 , JAK1 , STAT1 , TLR3 , TLR7 , MYD88 , and TGFβ ) in rainbow trout were down-regulated after feeding with all CHMM groups. After IHNV infection, the results showed that the antioxidant and immune-related enzyme activities (T-SOD, CAT, ACP, AKP) were increased and the MDA content significantly reduced in all CHMM groups. The expression of NF-KB , TNF-α , IL-1β , IL-8 , MDA5 , LGP2 , IRF-3 , IRF-7 , IFN1 , JAK1 , STAT1 , TLR3 , TLR7 , MYD88 , and TGFβ was altered in all CHMM groups. In summary, this study reveals that the CHMM effectively boosts the antioxidant, immune and disease resistance of rainbow trout and provides scientific basis for the CHMM to improve the antiviral immunity of rainbow trout.