Effects of dietary curcumin on growth performance, lipopolysaccharide-induced immune responses, oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in snakehead fish (Channa argus)

In the present study, we evaluated the effects of dietary curcumin (CUR) on growth performance, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immune responses, oxidative damage, cell apoptosis, and the expression of the related genes of the NF-kappa B signaling pathway in snakehead fish (Channa argus). A total of 300 Channa argus (initial body weight, 9.81 +/- 0.03 g) were randomly distributed into five groups (three replicates each group), fed five diets with a basal diet supplemented with CUR at 0, 100, 200, 400, 800 mg/kg for 8 weeks. After the feeding trial, fifteen fish per tank were challenged with LPS. Results showed that CUR supplementation at 200 mg/kg diet improved the growth performance of C. argus. After the LPS challenge, dietary supplementation with 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg CUR promoted serum immunity and tissue antioxidant capacity and inhibited cell apoptosis of C. argus. At the genetic level, dietary with 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg inhibited LPS-induced inflammation response via NF-kappa B signaling pathways. Therefore, our results indicate that optimum dietary curcumin could attenuate LPS-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis in C. argus. Furthermore, optimum dietary CUR could improve the growth performance in C. argus, and the optimum CUR requirement in diets was estimated to be 388.125 mg/kg based on the analysis of the quadratic regression of WG. This study provides a theoretical reference for promoting the healthy culture of C. argus and the scientific application of CUR in aquaculture.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the effects of curcumin on growth performance, immune responses, oxidative damage, apoptosis, and gene expression in snakehead fish. Results showed that dietary curcumin improved growth performance, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and inhibited cell apoptosis. Optimum curcumin intake was estimated to be 388.125 mg/kg for promoting healthy culture of snakehead fish.