Feeding Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice) and Astragalus membranaceus (AM) alters innate immune and physiological responses in yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

• Published in: Fish & shellfish immunology 2016-07, Vol.54, p.374-384
• Main Authors: Elabd, Hiam, Wang, Han-Ping, Shaheen, Adel, Yao, Hong, Abbass, Amany
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alanine transaminase; amyloid; Animal Feed - analysis; Animals; antioxidants; aspartate transaminase; Astragalus; Astragalus membranaceus; Astragalus membranaceus - chemistry; Blood Chemical Analysis - veterinary; blood serum; catalase; complement; condition factor; cortisol; diet; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Supplements; feed conversion; fish; Gene expression; gene expression regulation; genes; glucose; glutathione peroxidase; Glycyrrhiza - chemistry; Glycyrrhiza glabra; Growth performance; Immune response; insulin-like growth factor I; licorice; lipids; lysozyme; Perca flavescens; Perches - growth & development; Perches - immunology; Perches - physiology; peroxidase; physiological response; specific growth rate; Starvation; Stress, Physiological - immunology; superoxide dismutase; Yellow perch
• ISSN: 1050-4648; 1095-9947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2016.04.024

The current work assessed the potential immunomodulatory and growth-promoting effects of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice) in Yellow perch (Perca flavescens). In this regard, fish with an average weight of 31 ± 1.0 g were divided into five groups, and fed daily with an additive-free basal diet (control); 1, 2, and 3% (w/w) Glycyrrhiza glabra, and the fifth diet was incorporated with a combination of 1% G. glabra-AM for a four-week period. Immunological, biochemical and growth parameters were measured; and sub-groups of fish were exposed to 1-week starvation. The results showed that incorporating AM and liquorice in the diet significantly improved Immunological [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), Lipid peroxidase (LPx) and lysozyme activities], biochemical [Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Transaminase (ALT) activities; and glucose and cortisol concentrations] and growth performance parameters [body mass gain (BMG), specific growth rate (SGR), length, condition factor (K) and feed conversion ratio (FCR)]. In addition, markedly up-regulated the expression of related genes [Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), Serum amyloid A (SAA), Complement Component C3 (CCC3), Alpha 2 Macroglobulin (A2M), SOD and GPx] in treated fish groups compared to the control. Conclusively, feeding AM and liquorice diets significantly increased (P