Effects of propolis enriched diet on growth performance and plasma biochemical parameters of juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labraxL.) under acute low-temperature stress

Abstract

To study the effect of propolis in crude form (CPP), prepared without any chemical refinement (CPP) on Dicentrarchus labrax under low-temperature stress, sea bass juveniles were randomly divided into three groups: a control group fed with basal diet and two treatment groups fed with basal diet supplemented with 1.25 and 2.5 g kg À1 of propolis. At the end of a 10-week feeding trial, sea bass were exposed to low-temperature stress at 12°C for 24 h. The growth performance, RNA/DNA ratio and changes in serum biochemical parameters were investigated. Dietary intake of propolis stimulated the specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion efficiency (FCE), RNA/DNA ratio and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme activity, while decreasing plasma triglycerides and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity. Supplement of 2.5 g kg À1 CPP in diet significantly increased the mean SGR and FCE up to 9% and 13.4%, respectively, in comparison with the control group. Low-temperature stress elevated serum triglycerides, glucose and cortisol levels in all groups; however, glucose and cortisol reached significantly lower end values in group receiving highest amount of propolis in diet. This study suggests that ingestion of basal diet supplemented with 2.5 g kg À1 of propolis could prevent adverse effects of low-temperature stress and promote the growth of sea bass.

New emerging fields of application of propolis

“…The test subjects have been different animal species, including poultry (chickens, laying hens, quails) [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48], lambs [49,50], cattle [51], sheep [52], pigs [53], and fish: sea bass [54], rainbow trout [55][56][57], Nile tilapia [58][59][60], and carp [61] (Table 2). In general, propolis has a positive effect on the biochemical parameters, growth and productivity of the test animals, and is regarded as a possible alternative to antibiotics in animal feed.…”

“…[35] Ross 308 Broiler Chick (heat stressed) 70% Ethanol extract Eastern Anatolia [36,37] Broiler chicks (male Ross 708) -Brazilian green type [38] Broiler chickens 70% Ethanol extract Poplar type, Iran [39] Broilers (Ross 308) 70% Ethanol extract Poplar type, China [40] Broiler chickens 50% Ethanol extract Adquirió en Maringá-PR, Brazil [41] Chickens Hubbard JV 80% Ethanol extract Slovak Republic [42] Chicken hybrid combination Ross 308 80% Ethanol extract Slovak Republic [43] Meat-type chicken Nanbu Kashiwa Propolis residue after alcohol extraction Iwate, Japan [44] Broiler chick Alcoholic extract Brazilian green type [45] Local quails Raw propolis Duhok, Iraq [46] Laying hens, heat stressed 70% Ethanol extract Eastern Anatolia [47] Hens' egg incubation -Central zone of Republic of Moldova [48] Ungulate domestic animals Lambs 70% Ethanol extract Brazilian green propolis [49] Lambs (Santa Inês x Dorper) 70% Ethanol extract Brazilian red propolis [50] Crossbred (½ Angus vs. ½ Nellore) bulls Ethanol extract Maringá PR, Brazil [51] Castrated male sheep 70% Ethanol extract Pernambuco State, Brazil. [52] Growing pigs 70% Ethanol extract Poplar propolis [53] Fish Juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) at low temperature stress Water extract Dalmatia region, middle Croatia [54] Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 95% Ethanol extract Kunming, China [55] Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 96% Ethanol extract Iran [56] Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 80% Ethanol extract Urmia, Iran [57] Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Water extract Egypt [58] Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Cereal alcohol extract Brazilian brown propolis [59] Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings Ethanol extract Dakahlia province, Egypt [60] Carp (Cyprinus carpio) 70% Ethanol extract Poplar type [61] Preservative effect in food industry Beverages Unpasteurized fruit juices (apple, orange, white grape and mandarin) Ethanol extracts Turkey [62] Unpasteurized juices 30% Alcohol extract Kozie Kąty apriary (southern Polan...…”

Effect of propolis ethanol extract on myostatin gene expression and muscle morphometry of Nile tilapia in net cages

“…Research has correlated its capacity as a growth enhancer to its antimicrobial, anti-parasitic, and immune-stimulant properties (Meurer et al, 2009;Segvic-Bubic et al, 2013;Uczay et al, 2014), although to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the effect of propolis on fish morphology and muscle gene expression.…”

Climate change and aquaculture: considering adaptation potential

“…Increased dietary protein at elevated temperatures improved blood serum immune parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and heat shock protein gene expression in juvenile mirror (common) carp Cyprinus carpio (Huang et al 2015). Propolis, a resinous antioxidant honeybee product, improved sea bass resistance to low-temperature stress (Šegvić-Bubić et al 2013). There may also be a role for dietary immunostimulants to enhance environmental protection (Wang et al 2017) under a changing climate.…”