Plant-Based Additivities Improved the Growth Performance and Immune Response, and Mitigated the Inflammatory Signalling in Channel Catfish Fed a High-Fat Diet

Abstract

This study was conducted to understand the effects of glycyrrhetinic acid, berberine, and resveratrol on growth and inflammatory signalling in channel catfish fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Fish (average weight, 20 ± 0.15 g) were distributed randomly in 15 tanks (11 fish per tank). Fish were allocated randomly to five experimental diets: (control diet (ND); high-fat diet (HFD); high-fat diet + 0.3 mg/kg glycyrrhetinic acid (HFD + GA); high-fat diet + 50 mg/kg berberine (HFD + B); and high-fat diet + 400 mg/kg resveratrol (HFD + R). Each diet was tested in triplicates for eight weeks. The final body weight (FBW), body weight gain (BWG), specific growth rate (SGR), and condition factor (CF) were significantly lower in fish fed HFD. In contrast, opposite trends were observed in the feed conversion ratio (FCR), hepatosomatic index (HSI), visceralsomatic index (VSI), and mesenteric fat index (MFI). Fish fed HFD showed a higher trend ( P < 0.05 ) in plasma glucose, cortisol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), while opposite trends were found in total protein (TP) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). These parameters were all enhanced by feeding the additive-supplemented diets. Liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), plasma lysozyme (LYM), myeloperoxidase (MPO), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP) activities, and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were all lower in fish fed HFD as compared to the control group. However, supplementing GA, berberine, and resveratrol restored these parameters to similar levels to the control group. Upregulated gene expression of interleukin 1β (IL-1ß), nitric oxide (NOS), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), X box-binding protein 1 (XBP1s), coupled with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), was observed in fish fed HFD, whereas reverse trends were observed in the additive-supplemented groups as compared to the control group. Overall, glycyrrhetinic acid, berberine, and resveratrol could reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation and enhance the immune response in channel catfish fed HFD.

Effects of Berberine on Lipid Metabolism, Antioxidant Status, and Immune Response in Liver of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under a High-Fat Diet Feeding

“…Similarly, our findings demonstrated the remarkable antioxidative properties of berberine (50 and/or 100 mg/kg); it effectively mitigated oxidative damage induced by HFD feeding, maintained the normal levels of SOD (50 and 100 mg/kg) and GSH (100 mg/kg), and inhibited the formation of MDA (50 and 100 mg/kg) in liver tissues. This aligns with previously published findings that demonstrated the concomitant administration of berberine in HFD-fed M. amblycephala, I. punctatus, and rats significantly mitigated the reduction of antioxidant components (e.g., SOD and GSH) and the elevation of lipid peroxidation [23,59,60].…”

“…Activation of the TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway initiates a cascade of genes associated with inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α, thereby exacerbating hepatic injury [72]. Indeed, after HFD feeding, upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the livers of both mice and fish was observed [59,73]. Similarly, in this study, il-1β, il-8, and tnf-α exhibited high expression levels in the liver of tilapia subjected to HFD treatment.…”

“…In addition to inflammation, a suppression of immunity emerged as another consequence of liver injury induced by an HFD [59]. In fish, several innate immune parameters, such as LZM, HEP, and C3, play a key role in protecting against pathogens and contributing to the overall defense mechanisms [75,76].…”