Effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) immune status and growth performance. Issue 2 (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Awad, Elham; Cerezuela, Rebeca; Esteban, M. Ángeles
• Is Part Of: Fish & shellfish immunology. Volume 45:Issue 2(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 454
• Page End: 464
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Fenugreek -- Growth performance -- Immune status -- Gene expression -- Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.); Fishes -- Immunology -- Periodicals; Shellfish -- Immunology -- Periodicals; Poissons -- Immunologie -- Périodiques; Crustacés -- Immunologie -- Périodiques; 571.9617
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2015.04.035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-4648

Abstract

Abstract: The possible effect of dietary administration of fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum graecum ) on gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata L.) immune status and growth performance was studied. Fish were divided into 4 groups before being fed with commercial diet supplemented with 0% (control), 1%, 5% and 10% of fenugreek seeds for 4 weeks. The effects of the diets were analysed on the cellular (respiratory burst activity and leucocyte peroxidase content) and humoral (complement activity, antiprotease, total protein, peroxidase, and IgM level) immune parameters, as well as growth and haematological parameters (WBC and RBC counts). The results recorded enhancement in all the assayed parameters in fish fed fenugreek diets comparing to control fish. The expression of several immune-related genes in head-kidney (MHC1, CSF-1R, IL-8, and IgM) and different antioxidant enzyme genes in liver (GR, CAT and SOD) of seabream specimens were also investigated. Again, the highest fenugreek doses tested provoked significant up-regulation in most of immune-related genes and antioxidant enzyme genes (p < 0.05). No adverse effects were observed on intestine and liver morphology on fish fed fenugreek diets. The present results suggest that the fenugreek seed, specially the highest dosage used in the present work could be considered a good food supplement to improve the immune status and increase the production of gilthead seabream. Highlights: Effects of fenugreek supplement on the immune response and growth performance of gilthead seabream. Fenugreek seeds enhance the immune and haematological parameters compared to controls. The highly significant increase in growth rates was accompanying with increase in fenugreek dose. Fenugreek provoked significant up-regulation in most of immune-related and antioxidant enzyme genes. No adverse effects were observed on intestine and liver morphology on fish fed fenugreek diets.