SpringerLink
Log in

Exploring the potential of the marine red alga (Hypnea cornua) hydroalcoholic extract in beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) diet: Growth, immuno-antioxidant responses, and growth-related gene expression

  • Research
  • Published:
Journal of Applied Phycology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of different levels of hydroalcoholic extract of the marine red alga (Hypnea cornua) on growth performance, hematological indices, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and expression of growth-related genes in beluga sturgeon (Huso huso). A total of 120 juvenile beluga sturgeon (425.62 ± 26.32 g) were randomly divided into four treatments with three replicates and reared for 8 weeks. The fish were fed diets incorporating varying amounts of the algal extract (0 [control group], 5, 10, and 20 g kg-1). The inclusion of the dietary algal extract significantly improved final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate (P < 0.05), while reducing the feed conversion ratio. The red blood cell count, hematocrit level, total protein level, and lysozyme activity were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the fish group treated with 10 g algal extract kg-1 compared to the control and other treatments. The highest superoxide dismutase activity was observed in fish fed a diet with 10 g algal extract kg-1. The serum catalase activity was significantly higher in all fish treated with algal extract compared to those fed with the control diet (P < 0.05). The serum glutathione activity was markedly higher in the fish fed diets containing 10 and 20 g kg-1 compared to those fed with the control diet (P < 0.05). The malondialdehyde level was lower in the treated fish compared to those fed with the control diet (P < 0.05). The highest mRNA levels of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 were observed in the fish fed a diet containing 10 g algal extract kg-1 (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that an optimal dietary inclusion level of 11.22 g kg-1 of the marine red algal extract is recommended for improving growth performance, feed utilization, and overall well-being of beluga sturgeon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data will be made available on reasonable request.

References

  • Abdulrahman NM, Abid SH, Koyun M (2019) Effect of microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa as feed additive on common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) nutritional performance, proximate composition and organoleptic evaluation. Biol Appl Env Res 3:118–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Abtahi B, Yousefi M, Kenari AA (2013) Influence of dietary nucleotides supplementation on growth, body composition and fatty acid profile of Beluga sturgeon juveniles (Huso huso). Aquacult Res 44:254–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adel M, Yeganeh S, Dadar M, Sakai M, Dawood MA (2016) Effects of dietary Spirulina platensis on growth performance, humoral and mucosal immune responses and disease resistance in juvenile great sturgeon (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1754). Fish Shellfish Immunol 56:436–444

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmadifar E, Pourmohammadi Fallah H, Yousefi M, Dawood MA, Hoseinifar SH, Adineh H, Yilmaz S, Paolucci M, Doan HV (2021) The gene regulatory roles of herbal extracts on the growth, immune system, and reproduction of fish. Animals 11:2167

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Amrkolaie AK, Yansari AT, Khalesi M (2013) Calculation of protein and energy requirements in beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) using a factorial approach. Journal of Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 97:485–494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banavreh A, Soltani M, Kamali A, Yazdani-Sadati MA, Shamsaie M (2019) Effects of olive pomace on growth performance, digestibility, body composition and fatty acid profile in yearling Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii (Brandt 1896). Aquacult Nutr 25:333–342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bernal J, Mendiola J, Ibáñez E, Cifuentes A (2011) Advanced analysis of nutraceuticals. J Pharmaceut Biomed Anal 55:758–774

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chandra G, Fopp-Bayat D (2021) Trends in aquaculture and conservation of sturgeons: A review of molecular and cytogenetic tools. Rev Aquacult 13:119–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Council NR (2011) Nutrient requirements of fish and shrimp. National Academies Press, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Daliri MK, Firouzbakhsh F, Deldar H (2020) Effect of oral administration of red alga (Laurencia caspica) hydroalcoholic extract on growth performance, hematological indices and serum biochemistry in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). J Vet Res 75:328–340 (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawood MA, Basuini MFE, Yilmaz S, Abdel-Latif HM, Kari ZA, Abdul Razab MKA, Ahmed HA, Alagawany M, Gewaily MS (2021) Selenium nanoparticles as a natural antioxidant and metabolic regulator in aquaculture: a review. Antioxidants 10:1364

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fleurence J, Morançais M, Dumay J (2018) Seaweed proteins. In: Yada Y (ed) Proteins in food processing, 2nd edn. Woodhead Publishing, Duxford, pp 245–262

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ghiasi S, Falahatkar B, Arslan M, Dabrowski K (2017) Physiological changes and reproductive performance of Sterlet sturgeon Acipenser ruthenus injected with thiamine. Animal Reprod Sci 178:23–30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holdt S, Kraan S (2011) Bioactive compounds in seaweed: Functional food applications seaweed Ulva rigida C. Agardh. Int Immunopharmacol 7:879–888

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoseinifar SH, Mirvaghefi A, Merrifield DL, Amiri BM, Yelghi S, Bastami KD (2011a) The study of some haematological and serum biochemical parameters of juvenile beluga (Huso huso) fed oligofructose. Fish Physiol Biochem 37:91–96

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoseinifar SH, Mirvaghefi A, Mojazi Amiri B, Rostami HK, Merrifield D (2011b) The effects of oligofructose on growth performance, survival and autochthonous intestinal microbiota of beluga (Huso huso) juveniles. Aquacult Nutr 17:498–504

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez-González C, Agrasar AMT, Mallo F, Rúa ML, Fuciños C (2023) Red seaweed proteins: Valuable marine-origin compounds with encouraging applications. Algal Res 75:103262

  • Khanzadeh M, Hoseinifar SH, Beikzadeh B (2024) Investigating the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of red algae (Laurencia caspica) on growth performance, mucosal immunity, digestive enzyme activity and resistance to Streptococcus iniae and Aeromonas hydrophila in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Aquacult Rep 35:101984

  • Kiadaliri M, Firouzbakhsh F, Deldar H (2020) Effects of feeding with red algae (Laurencia caspica) hydroalcoholic extract on antioxidant defense, immune responses, and immune gene expression of kidney in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) infected with Aeromonas hydrophila. Aquaculture 526:735361

  • Magnadóttir B (2006) Innate immunity of fish (overview). Fish Shellfish Immunol 20:137–151

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Magouz FI, Radwan IA, Soltan HO, El-Keredy A (2023) Synbiotic Lactic Dry enhanced the growth performance, growth-related genes, intestinal health, and immunity of Nile tilapia reared in inland brackish groundwater. Ann Anim Sci 23:495–504

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendes R, Cardoso C, Pestana C (2009) Measurement of malondialdehyde in fish: A comparison study between HPLC methods and the traditional spectrophotometric test. Food Chem 112:1038–1045

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohseni M, Hamidoghli A, Bai SC (2021) Organic and inorganic dietary zinc in beluga sturgeon (Huso huso): Effects on growth, hematology, tissue concertation and oxidative capacity. Aquaculture 539:736672

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mzengereza K, Ishikawa M, Koshio S, Yokoyama S, Yukun Z, Shadrack RS, Seo S, Duy Khoa TN, Moss A, Dossou S (2021) Effect of substituting fish oil with camelina oil on growth performance, fatty acid profile, digestibility, liver histology, and antioxidative status of red seabream (Pagrus major). Animals 11:1990

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pourkazemi M (2006) Caspian Sea sturgeon Conservation and fisheries: Past present and future. J Appl Ichthyol 22:12–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prabu DL, Sahu NP, Pal AK, Dasgupta S, Narendra A (2016) Immunomodulation and interferon gamma gene expression in sutchi cat fish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus: effect of dietary fucoidan rich seaweed extract (FRSE) on pre and post challenge period. Aquacult Res 47:199–218

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sa**a K, Sahu NP, Varghese T, Jain KK (2019) Fucoidan-rich Sargassum wightii extract supplemented with α-amylase improve growth and immune responses of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) fingerlings. J Appl Phycol 31:2469–2480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saleh HA, Gaber HS, El-Khayat HMM, Abdel-Motleb A, Mohammed WA-A, Okasha H (2021) Influences of dietary supplementation of Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis on growth-related genes expression and antioxidant enzymes in Oreochromis niloticus fish exposed to heavy metals. Aquacult Stud 22:793

    Google Scholar 

  • Sargazi F, Sheidai M, Riahi H (2014) The ecology and morphological variation of Hypnea (Red Algae) species in Iran. J Bio Environ Sci 5:312–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Sattanathan G, Liu W-C, Padmapriya S, Pushparaj K, Sureshkumar S, Lee J-W, Balasubramanian B, Kim IH (2022) Effects of dietary blend of algae extract supplementation on growth, biochemical, haemato-immunological response, and immune gene expression in Labeo rohita with Aeromonas hydrophila post-challenges. Fishes 8:7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saurabh S, Sahoo P (2008) Lysozyme: an important defence molecule of fish innate immune system. Aquacult Res 39:223–239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmittgen TD (2007) Quantitative gene expression by real-time PCR: a complete protocol. In: Dorak M (ed) Real-time PCR. Taylor & Francis, London, pp 155–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Siwicki AK, Anderson DP (1993) Nonspecific defense mechanisms assay in fish II; Potential killing activity of neutrophils and monocytes, lysozyme activity in serum and organs and total immunoglobulin (Ig) level in serum. In: Siwicki AK, Anderson DP, Waluga J (eds) Fish Diseases Diagnosis and Prevention Methods. Wydawnictwo Instytutu Rybactwa Strodladowego, Olsztyn, pp 105–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Soler-Vila A, Coughlan S, Guiry MD, Kraan S (2009) The red alga Porphyra dioica as a fish-feed ingredient for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): effects on growth, feed efficiency, and carcass composition. J Appl Phycol 21:617–624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Souza BW, Cerqueira MA, Martins JT, Quintas MA, Ferreira AC, Teixeira JA, Vicente AA (2011) Antioxidant potential of two red seaweeds from the Brazilian coasts. J Ag Food Chem 59:5589–5594

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thanigaivel S, Chandrasekaran N, Mukherjee A, Thomas J (2016) Seaweeds as an alternative therapeutic source for aquatic disease management. Aquaculture 464:529–536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thepot V, Campbell AH, Rimmer MA, Paul NA (2021) Meta-analysis of the use of seaweeds and their extracts as immunostimulants for fish: a systematic review. Rev Aquacult 13:907–933

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tulaby Dezfuly Z, Mesbah M, Peyghan R, Mohammadian T, Bita S (2017) Effect of feeding diets containing ethanol extract of algae, Sargassum angustifolium on some blood and immune factors in Macro (Labidochromis caeruleus). Iranian Vet J 13:68–77 (In Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Muiswinkel WB, Nakao M (2014) A short history of research on immunity to infectious diseases in fish. Develop Comparat Immunol 43:130–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan AH, Davies SJ, Soler-Vila A, Fitzgerald R, Johnson MP (2019) Macroalgae as a sustainable aquafeed ingredient. Rev Aquacult 11:458–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan AH, Soler-Vila A, O’Keeffe D, Casburn P, Fitzgerald R, Johnson MP (2016) The inclusion of Palmaria palmata macroalgae in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) diets: effects on growth, haematology, immunity and liver function. J Appl Phycol 28:3091–3100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wassef EA, El-Sayed A-FM, Sakr EM (2013) Pterocladia (Rhodophyta) and Ulva (Chlorophyta) as feed supplements for European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax L., fry. J Appl Phycol 25:1369–1376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wood TL, Rogler LE, Czick ME, Schuller AG, Pintar JE (2000) Selective alterations in organ sizes in mice with a targeted disruption of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 gene. Mol Endocrinol 14:1472–1482

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Song F, Fan X, Fang N, Shi J (2009) A novel bromophenol from marine red alga Symphyocladia latiuscula. Chem Nat Comp 45:811–813

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Younis E-SM, Al-Quffail AS, Al-Asgah NA, Abdel-Warith A-WA, Al-Hafedh YS (2018) Effect of dietary fish meal replacement by red algae, Gracilaria arcuata, on growth performance and body composition of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Saudi J Biol Sci 25:198–203

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yousefi M, Abtahi B, Kenari AA (2012) Hematological, serum biochemical parameters, and physiological responses to acute stress of Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso, Linnaeus 1785) juveniles fed dietary nucleotide. Comp Clin Pathol 21:1043–1048

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J-G, Zhou L, ** J-Y, Zhao Z, Lan J, Zhang Y-B, Zhang Q-Y, Gui J-F (2009) Antimicrobial activity-specific to Gram-negative bacteria and immune modulation-mediated NF-κB and Sp1 of a medaka β-defensin. Develop Comp Immunol 33:624–637

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou H, Ko WK, Ho WK, Stojilkovic SS, Wong AO (2004) Novel aspects of growth hormone (GH) autoregulation: GH-induced GH gene expression in grass carp pituitary cells through autocrine/paracrine mechanisms. Endocrinology 145:4615–4628

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We hereby thank Mazandaran Biotechnology Laboratory for hel** us in this research to perform the gene expression assay.

Funding

No funds, grants, or other financial support was received.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Ali Ghanadi, Mehdi Shamsaie Mehrgan & Houman Rajabi Islami

  2. Department of Animal Science, Varamin-Pishva Branch, Islamic Azad University, Varamin, Iran

    Seyed Abdolmajid Mousavi

Authors
  1. Ali Ghanadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mehdi Shamsaie Mehrgan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Houman Rajabi Islami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Seyed Abdolmajid Mousavi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

A.Gh.: Investigation, Writing—Original draft preparation. M.S.M.: Conceptualization, Supervision, Methodology, and Writing—Review & Editing. H.R.I and A.M.M.: Formal analysis and Writing—Review & Editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mehdi Shamsaie Mehrgan.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ghanadi, A., Mehrgan, M.S., Rajabi Islami, H. et al. Exploring the potential of the marine red alga (Hypnea cornua) hydroalcoholic extract in beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) diet: Growth, immuno-antioxidant responses, and growth-related gene expression. J Appl Phycol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-024-03275-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-024-03275-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation