Incorporating Lycium barbarum residue in diet boosts survival, growth, and liver health in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Xuewen Jia; Hongyan Yu; Biao Du; Yubang Shen; Lang Gui; Xiaoyan Xu; Jiale Li

doi:10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109573

Incorporating Lycium barbarum residue in diet boosts survival, growth, and liver health in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2024 Apr 16:149:109573. doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109573. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xuewen Jia¹, Hongyan Yu¹, Biao Du¹, Yubang Shen¹, Lang Gui¹, Xiaoyan Xu², Jiale Li³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.
² Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: xyxu@shou.edu.cn.
³ Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: jlli@shou.edu.cn.

PMID: 38636742
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109573

Abstract

This research elucidates the potential of Lycium barbarum residue (LBR), a by-product rich in bioactive substances, as a dietary supplement in aquaculture, especially for herbivorous fish like grass carp. In a detailed 120-day feeding trial, the impacts of varying LBR levels on juvenile grass carp were assessed, focusing on growth performance, survival rate, biochemical markers, and liver health. The study identified a 6% inclusion rate of LBR as optimal for enhancing survival and growth while mitigating hepatic lipid accumulation. Composition analysis of this diet revealed high concentrations of polysaccharides and flavonoids. Notably, the intake of LBR was found to enhance the antioxidant and immune-related enzymatic activities in the liver. Furthermore, it contributed to a reduction in hepatic fat deposition by decreasing the levels of triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (T-CHO) both in the liver and serum. Transcriptomic analysis of the liver highlighted LBR's substantial influence on lipid metabolism pathways, including the PPAR signaling pathway, primary bile acid biosynthesis, cholesterol metabolism, bile secretion, fat digestion and absorption, fatty acid degradation and fatty acid biosynthesis. Further, the expression level of genes pinpointed significant downregulation of fasn and dgat2, alongside upregulation of genes like pparda, cpt1b, cpt1ab and abca1b, in response to LBR supplementation. Overall, the findings present LBR as a promising enhancer of growth and survival in grass carp, with significant benefits in promoting fat metabolism and liver health, offering valuable insights for aquacultural nutrition strategies.

Keywords: Grass carp; Lipid metabolism; Lycium barbarum residue; PPAR signaling pathway.