Astragalus membranaceus Extract (AME) Enhances Growth, Digestive Enzymes, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immunity of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus Juveniles

Abstract

The present study evaluated the impacts of powdered Astragalus membranaceus extract (AME) on the growth, physiological responses, and serum immunity of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus juveniles. Four test diets were formulated to include varying AME levels as 0.0 (control), 1.5 (AME1.5), 3.0 (AME3.0), and 4.5 (AME4.5) g/kg. Fish weighing approximately 11.50 g were stocked into four triplicate groups and hand-fed on the test diets three times daily for two months. At 60 days post-feeding, the growth performance, including weight gain and the specific growth rate, was increased quadratically (R2 > 0.90) with increasing AME inclusion levels. An improvement in the feed intake and feed conversion ratio were also noticed in groups fed at different AME levels. The whole-body and amino acid composition were unaffected by the test diets. A significant quadratic trend in the digestive enzymes (lipase, α-amylase, and protease) was found along with increasing AME inclusion levels. Liver enzymes associated with liver functions were improved by AME dietary inclusion levels. Meanwhile, the blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, and creatinine values were unaffected by AME dietary inclusion. On the other hand, serum immunity (lysozyme and total Igs) was elevated with a significant quadratic trend along with increasing AME dietary inclusion levels. Liver MDA levels decreased with increasing AME levels. Liver CAT, GPx, and SOD enzyme activities demonstrated a significant increasing trend along with dietary AME inclusion. The aforementioned effects of dietary AME on P. hypophthalmus health underpinned the potentiality of AME to be used as a phyto-additive to improve the functionality of aquafeed.

Plants from Northwestern Anatolia Display Selective Cytotoxicity and Induce Mitotic Catastrophe: A Study on Anticancer and Genotoxic Activities

“…No study has been conducted to investigate the phenolic compounds present in A. sibthorpianus . Earlier research on the aerial parts of A. membranaceus identified various phenolic acids including chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic, and protocatechuic acids, as well as varying levels of catechins [24,30,31] . Our study revealed that A. sibthorpianus contains a higher concentration of catechins than A. membranaceus .…”

“…Earlier research on the aerial parts of A. membranaceus identified various phenolic acids including chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic, and protocatechuic acids, as well as varying levels of catechins. [24,30,31] Our study revealed that A. sibthorpianus contains a higher concentration of catechins than A. membranaceus. The presence of several catechins in ASE may explain its selective cytotoxicity, as catechins have been documented to have selective properties.…”

Dietary supplementation with Moringa oleifera leaves extract reduces the impacts of sub-lethal fipronil in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

“…Fish (in each group) was individually weighed to evaluate the growth and feed efficiency indexes following the calculations published in 46 – 48 . WG = weight gain, FBW: final body weight, IBW: initial body weight, FI = feed intake, FCR = feed conversion ratio, SGR = specific growth rate, SR = survival rate, and T = feeding period.…”

Antimicrobial activity of some plant extracts against Kosakonia sacchari causing diseases on a Vietnamese climbing perch (Anabas testudineus)

“…Fish requirements: Before performing the trial or treatment, each fish in each treatment was recorded for size and weight [16]. End of trial or treatment: All fish in the treatments were collected, and Weight gain was determined by the formula [29]:…”