Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modulation of digestive enzymes, GH, IGF-1 and IGF-2 genes in the teleost, Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) by dietary curcumin

  • Published:
Aquaculture International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aquaculture is faced with the challenges of the use of synthetic compounds as growth enhancers and the presence of several contaminants in water. These factors severely deteriorate the quality and quantity of aquaculture products. Phytochemicals play a major role by working as antioxidant agents of which curcumin has become the gold standard. Curcumin, from Curcuma longa shows a wide spectrum of biological activities which include anticancerous, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antidiabetic, antistress, hepatoprotective and gastroprotective effects. Curcumin in 0.5 and 1 % doses were given as feed additive to Oreochromis mossambicus for 35 days. After feeding trial, activities of digestive enzymes such as α-amylase, protease and lipase were analysed. There was a significant increase in the activities of α-amylase, protease and lipase with 0.5 and 1 % curcumin supplementation in feed. Real-time quantification of GH in brain, and IGF-1 and IGF-2 genes in muscle revealed that curcumin significantly increased the expression of these genes. This is the first study to report that curcumin supplementation at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 % in the feed improved the activities of digestive enzymes and also modulates the expression of GH in brain and growth factors such as IGF-1 and IGF-2 in muscle of O. mossambicus.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

References

  • Allen PC, Danforth HD, Augustine PC (1998) Dietary modulation of avian coccidiosis. Int J Parasitol 28:1131–1140

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • AL-Sultan SI (2003) The effect of Curcuma longa (turmeric) on overall performance of broiler chickens. Int J Poult Sci 5:351–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernfeld P (1955) Amylases α and β. Methods Enzymol 1:49–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradford MM (1976) A rapid and sensitive method for the quantification of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal Biochem 72:248–254

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cek S, Turan F, Atik E (2007) The effects of gokshura, Tribulus terrestris on sex differentiation of guppy, Poecilia reticulata. Pak J Biol Sci 10:718–725

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chakraborty SB, Horn P, Hancz C (2014) Application of phytochemicals as growth-promoters and endocrine modulators in fish culture. Rev Aquac 6:1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Citarasu T (2010) Herbal biomedicines: a new opportunity for aquaculture industry. Aquac Int 18:403–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cui H, Liu B, Ge X, XiE J, Xu P, Miao L, Sun S, Liao Y, Chen R, Ren M, Zhou Q, Pan L (2013) Effects of dietary curcumin on growth performance, biochemical parameters, HSP70 gene expression and resistance to Streptococcus iniae of juvenile Gift Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Isr J Aquac 66:986–996

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Souza HP, Prabhu HR (2006) In vitro inhibition of lipid peroxidation in fish by turmeric (Curcuma longa). Indian J Clin Biochem 21(2):138–141

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan DB (1955) Multiple range and multiple F test. Bio metrics 11:1–42

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Bakary NER, El-Gammal HL (2010) Comparative histological, histochemical and ultrastructural studies on the proximal intestine of flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) and sea bream (Sparus aurata). World Appl Sci J 8:477–485

    Google Scholar 

  • Elizabeth K, Rao MNA (1990) Oxygen radical scavenging activity of curcumin. Int J Pharm 58:237–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO/WHO (2014). State of world fisheries and aquaculture. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Rome

  • Fernandez-Navarro M, Peragon J, Amores V, De La Higuera M, Lupianez JA (2008) Maslinic acid added to the diet increases growth and protein-turnover rates in the white muscle of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Comp Biochem Physiol C 147:158–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis G, Kerem Z, Makkar HPS, Becker K (2002) The biological action of saponins in animal systems: a review. Br J Nutr 88:587–605

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Furne M, Hidalgo MC, Lopez A, Garcia-Gallego M, Morales AE, Domezain A, Domezaine J, Sanz A (2005) Digestive enzyme activities in Adriatic sturgeon Acipenser naccarii and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. A comparative study. Aquaculture 250:391–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gabillard JC, Kamangar BB, Montserrat N (2006) Coordinated regulation of the GH/IGF system genes during refeeding in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). J Endocrinol 191:15–24

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gatlin DM III (2002) Nutrition and fish health. In: Halver JE, Hardy RW (eds) Fish nutrition. Academic Press, New York, pp 671–702

    Google Scholar 

  • Goda AMA-S (2008) Effect of dietary Ginseng herb (Ginsana G115) supplementation on growth, feed utilization, and hematological indices of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L., fingerlings. J World Aquac Soc 39:205–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hardy R (1980) Fish feed formulation. Lectures presented at the FAO/UNDP Training course in fish feed technology, University of Washington, Seattle, 1980, pp 233–240

  • Harikrishnan R, Balasundaram C, Heo M-S (2011) Diet enriched with mushroom Phellinus linteus extract enhances the growth, innate immune response, and disease resistance of kelp grouper, Epinephelus bruneus against vibriosis. Fish Shellfish Immunol 30:128–134

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Houlihan DF, Hall SJ, Gray C, Noble BS (1988) Growth rates and protein turn over in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhu. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 45:961–964

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu ZZ, Yang JF, Tan ZJ, Hao JL (2003) Effect of curcumin on the growth and activity of digestive enzyme in grass carps (Ctenopharyngodon idells). Cereal Feed Ind 11:29–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Humbel RE (1990) Insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2. Eur J Biochem 190:445–462

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson C (2004) Influence of certain plant extract on growth and metabolism of teleosts (Anabas testudineus and Labeo rohita) and a mammal (Rattus norvegicus). PhD thesis, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

  • Jones JI, Clemmons DR (1995) Insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins: biological actions. Endocr Rev 16:3–34

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keay L, Moser PW, Wildi BS (1970) Proteases of the genus Bacillus II Alkaline proteases. Biotechnol Bioeng 12:213–249

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelloff GJ, Crowell JA, Steele VE, Lubet RA, Malone WA, Boone CW (2000) Progress in cancer chemoprevention: development of diet-derived chemopreventive agents. J Nutr 130:467S–471S

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kurhekar J (2013) Curcuma longa and Allium sativum as prebiotics. Bionano Front 6:327–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee KJ, Dabrowski K, Sandoval M, Miller MJS (2005) Activity guided fractionation of phytochemicals of maca meal, their antioxidant activities and effects on growth, feed utilization, and survival in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles. Aquaculture 244:293–301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemieux H, Blier P, Dutil JD (1999) Do digestive enzymes set a physiological limit on growth rate and food conversion efficiency in the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)? Fish Physiol Biochem 20:293–303

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Livak KJ, Schmittgen TD (2001) Analysis of relative gene expression data using real-time quantitative PCR and the 2−△△CT method. Methods 25:402–408

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manju M, Sherin TG, Rajeesha KN, Sreejith P, Rajasekharan KN, Oommen OV (2008) Curcumin and its derivatives prevent hepatocyte lipid peroxidation in Anabas testudineus. J Fish Biol 73:1701–1713

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manju M, Sherin TG, Rajasekharan KN, Oommen OV (2009) Curcumin analogue inhibits lipid peroxidation in a freshwater teleost, Anabas testudineus (Bloch): an in vitro and in vivo study. Fish Physiol Biochem 35:413–420

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manju M, Akbarsha MA, Oommen OV (2012) In vivo protective effect of dietary curcumin in fish Anabas testudineus (Bloch). Fish Physiol Biochem 38:309–318

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manju M, Vijayasree AS, Akbarsha MA, Oommen OV (2013) Protective effect of dietary curcumin in Anabas testudineus (Bloch) with a special note on DNA fragmentation assay on hepatocytes and micronucleus assay on erythrocytes in vivo. Fish Physiol Biochem 39:1323–1330

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park EJ, Jeon CH, Ko G, Kim J, Sohn DH (2000) Protective effect of curcumin in rat liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. J Pharm Pharmacol 52:437–440

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perez-Sanchez J, Calduch-Giner JA, Mingarro M, Vega-Rubin de Celis S, Gomez-Requeni P, Saera-Vila A, Astola A, Valdivia MM (2002) Overview of fish growth hormone family. New insights in genomic organization and heterogeneity of growth hormone receptors. Fish Physiol Biochem 27:243–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Platel K, Srinivasan K (2000) Influence of dietary spices and their active principles on pancreatic digestive enzymes in albino rats. Nahrung 44(1):42–46

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ramyrez-Tortosa MC, Mesa MD, Aguilera MC, Quiles JL, Baro L, Ramirez-Tortosa CL (1999) Oral administration of a turmeric extract inhibits LDL oxidation and has hypocholesterolemic effects in rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis 147:371–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinecke M, Collet C (1998) The phylogeny of the insulin-like growth factors. Int Rev Cytol 183:1–94

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reinecke M, Bjornsson BT, DickhoV WW, McCormick SD, Navarro I, Power DM, Gutierrez J (2005) Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factors in fish: where we are and where to go. Gen Comp Endocrinol 142:20–24

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruby JA, Kuttan G, Dinesh Babu KV, Rajasekharan KN, Kuttan R (1995) Anti-tumour and free radical scavenging activity of synthetic curcuminoids. Int J Pharm 131:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Shan X, Xiao Z, Huang W, Dou S (2008) Effects of photoperiod on growth, mortality and digestive enzymes in miiuy croaker larvae and juveniles. Aquaculture 281:70–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soudamini KK, Kuttan R (1989) Inhibition of chemical carcinogenesis by curcumin. J Ethnopharmacol 27:227–233

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Srimal RC, Dhawan BN (1973) Pharmacology of diferuloyl methane (curcumin), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. J Pharm Pharmacol 25:447–452

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tacon AGJ, Metian M, De Silva SS (2010) Climate change, food security and aquaculture: policy implications for ensuring the continued green growth and sustainable development of a much needed aquatic food sector. In: Subasinghe RP, Arthur JR, Bartley DM, De Silva SS, Halwart M, Hishamunda N, Mohan CV, Sororgeloos P (eds) Proceedings of the Global Conference on Aquaculture, Phuket, Thailand

  • Turan F, Akyurt I (2005a) Effects of androstenedione, a phytoandrogen, on growth and body composition in the African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Isr J Aquac 57:62–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Turan F, Akyurt I (2005b) Effects of red clover extract on growth performance and body composition of African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Fish Sci 71:618–620

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JB, Wu TX (2007) Effect of curcumin on the feed in large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaene crocea). Reserv Fish 6:105–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Winkler UK, Martina S (1979) Glycogen, hyaluronate, and some other polysaccharides greatly enhance the formation of exolipase by Serratia marcescens. J Bacteriol 138(3):663–670

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng ZL, Tan JYW, Liu HY, Zhou XH, Xiang X, Wang KY (2009) Evaluation of oregano essential oil (Origanum heracleoticum L.) on growth, antioxidant effect and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Aquaculture 292:214–218

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Central University of Kerala, Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment, Thiruvananthapuram, for Junior Research Fellowship. All the animal procedures used in this study were approved by Central University of Kerala Ethical Committee.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Central University of Kerala, Kanhangad, Kerala, India

    Sebastian J. Midhun, Damodaran Arun, M. V. Sruthi, V. V. Thushara & Lekha Divya

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Central University of Kerala, Kanhangad, India

    Lincy Edatt & V. B. Sameer Kumar

  3. Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Trivandrum, Kerala, India

    Oommen V. Oommen

  4. Department of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, India

    Oommen V. Oommen

Authors
  1. Sebastian J. Midhun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Damodaran Arun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lincy Edatt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. V. Sruthi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. V. V. Thushara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Oommen V. Oommen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. V. B. Sameer Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Lekha Divya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lekha Divya.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that we do not have any conflict of interests in the matter stated in this paper. All the authors approve on the presented material of this paper.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Midhun, S.J., Arun, D., Edatt, L. et al. Modulation of digestive enzymes, GH, IGF-1 and IGF-2 genes in the teleost, Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) by dietary curcumin. Aquacult Int 24, 1277–1286 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-016-9984-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-016-9984-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation