Abstract: |
his study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with nano-curcumin
(NCur) and a nano-curcumin/chitosan blend (NCur/Ch) on growth performance, digestibility,
immune response, antioxidant status, intestinal morphometric characters, and gene regulation in
Nile tilapia. Fish ( n = 180, initial body weight = 12.0 ± 0.53 g) received supplementary NCur at rates
of 0 (control), 0.00625, and 0.0125, and NCur/Ch at rates of 0.00625 + 0.5 g/kg diet for 4 weeks.
Growth performance parameters (final weight and length, body mass gain, specific growth, and
length gain rates) were markedly increased, and the feed conversion ratio was significantly
decreased in the NCur- and NCur/Ch-supplemented groups. Digestive enzyme (amylase), immune
response markers (immunoglobulin M, nitrous oxide, and lysozyme activity), plasma albumin, and
total protein were increased significantly, mainly with a diet supplemented with 0.00625 g NCur/kg.
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glucose, and cortisol levels
decreased in the supplemented groups compared to the control. S
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