Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Elucidating the protective influence of dietary Juniperus communis extracts on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) growth, intestinal health, immune-antioxidant, gene expression responses, and resistance to infection

  • Research
  • Published:
Aquaculture International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to assess the effect of dietary supplements of either aqueous (AE) or ethanolic (EE) (Juniperus communis) leaf extracts on growth performance, intestinal health, hemato-biochemical indices, antioxidant, inflammation cytokine responses, and resistances against infection in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Fish groups were controlled with no extract (J1) and fed diets (J2, J3, J4, and J5) containing 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg aqueous and ethanolic extract for 60 days. Fish were given an intraperitoneal injection (IP) of Aeromonas hydrophila for 10 days after the feeding trial; then, the fish mortality was recorded. Growth, feed efficiency, and activity of endogenous enzymes (lipase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and amylase) were significantly improved in all dietary J. communis groups, especially in J5, compared to other groups. Also, J5 showed the highest absorption area, muscularis, goblet cells, villi width, and fewer gut bacterial counts than the other groups. In addition, the J4 and J5 groups of tilapia fish exhibited a significant increase in the levels of total protein, serum albumin, globulin, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and hematocrit (P < 0.05), as well as a significant decrease in the levels of serum alanine, aspartate aminotransferases, glucose, and cholesterol compared to the J1 groups. Moreover, the J4 and J5 fish showed a significant decline in the levels of MDA with improvements in antioxidant (SOD, CAT, and GPX) and immunological (lysozyme, immunoglobulin M, and complement C3) indices compared to the J1 group. Fish in J4 and J5 exhibited downregulated levels of il-8, il-10, il-1β, tnf-α, ifn-γ, and hsp70 genes compared to other groups. In contrast, hepatic catalase (cat), superoxide dismutase (sod), and interleukin (il-10) gene expressions were upregulated. The lowest fish mortality after the bacterial challenge was recorded in the J5 group. These findings suggest that 2.0 g/kg feed ethanolic extract of J. communis-fed Tilapia fish fingerlings improved their growth and intestinal health, boosted their immune systems and antioxidant responses, and increased their resistance to A. hydrophila.

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
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Code availability

Not applicable.

References

  • Abdel-Razek N, El-Sabbagh N, Khalil RH, Abdel-Tawwab M (2023) Prophylactic effects of dietary caper (Capparis spinosa) extracts on the control of Streptococcus agalactiae infection, growth, immune-antioxidant, and inflammation cytokine responses of Nile tilapia fingerlings. Fish Shellfish Immunol 142:109126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2023.109126

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abdo SE, Gewaily MS, Abo-Al-Ela HG, Almeer R, Soliman AA, Elkomy AH, Dawood MA (2021) Vitamin C rescues inflammation, immunosuppression, and histopathological alterations induced by chlorpyrifos in Nile tilapia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28:28750–28763. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12711-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abdo SE, El-Nahas AF, Abdelmenam S, Elmadawy MA, Mohamed R, Helal MA, El-Kassas S (2022) The synergetic effect of Bacillus species and Yucca shidigera extract on water quality, histopathology, antioxidant, and innate immunity in response to acute ammonia exposure in Nile tilapia. Fish Shellfish Immunol 128:123–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2022.07.058

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aebi H (1984) [13] Catalase in vitro. In: Methods in enzymology (Vol. 105, pp. 121–126). Academic press.

  • Ahmadifar E, Yousefi M, Karimi M, Fadaei Raieni R, Dadar M, Yilmaz S, Dawood MA, Abdel-Latif HM (2021) Benefits of dietary polyphenols and polyphenol-rich additives to aquatic animal health: an overview. Rev Fish Sci Aquac 29(4):478–511. https://doi.org/10.1080/23308249.2020.1818689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akkol EK, Güvenç YE (2009) A comparative study on the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of five Juniperus taxa. J Ethnopharmacol 125(2):330–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2009.05.031

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Algandaby MM, El-Kenany ET, El-Darier SM (2014) Management of Chenopodium album L. through the allelopathic effect of Mangifera indica L. J Life Sci 8(3):230–237

  • Al-Harbi AH, Uddin N (2005) Bacterial diversity of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in brackish water in Saudi Arabia. Aquaculture 250(3–4):566–572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2005.01.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amend DF (1981) Potency testing of fish vaccines. Dev Biol Stand 49:447–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Bahabadi MN, Banaee M, Taghiyan M, Haghi BN (2014) Effects of dietary administration of yarrow extract on growth performance and blood biochemical parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Int J Aquatic Biol 2(5):275–285. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v2i5.138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailone RL, Martins ML, Mouriño JLP, Vieira FN, Pedrotti FS, Nunes GC, Silva BC (2010) Hematology and agglutination titer after polyvalent immunization and subsequent challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Archivos De Medicina Veterinaria 42(3):221–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benzie IF, Strain JJ (1996) The ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as a measure of “antioxidant power”: the FRAP assay. Anal Biochem 239(1):70–76. https://doi.org/10.1006/abio.1996.0292

  • Bernfeld P (1986) Amylases, A and B methodology. Enzymology 1:149–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhat AA, Shakeel A, Rafiq S, Farooq I, Malik AQ, Alghuthami ME, Alharthi S, Qanash H, Alharthy SA (2023) Juglans regia Linn.: a natural repository of vital phytochemical and pharmacological compounds. Life 13(2):380. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13020380

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bhosale SV, Bhilave MP, Nadaf SB (2010) Formulation of fish feed using ingredients from plant sources. Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences 1(3):284–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd CE (1990) Water quality in ponds for aquaculture. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn university. Alabama P462.

  • Chen YB, Hu J, Lyu QJ, Liu LJ, Wen LF, Yang XK, Zhao HH (2016) The effects of Natucin C-Natucin P mixture on blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant activity and non-specific immune responses in Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fish Shellfish Immunol 55:367–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2016.06.016

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coles EH (1974) Plasma proteins. Veterinary clinical pathology, 2nd edition. WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, pp.558–560.

  • Darwish RS, Hammoda HM, Ghareeb DA, Abdelhamid AS, Harraz FM, Shawky E (2020) Efficacy-directed discrimination of the essential oils of three Juniperus species based on their in-vitro antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. J Ethnopharmacol 259:112971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112971

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dawood MA, Kari ZA (2024) Editorial special issue: Friendly nutritional strategies for sustainable aquaculture. Aquaculture and Fisheries 9(1):1–2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaf.2023.01.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dawood MA, Zommara M, Eweedah NM, Helal AI (2020) Synergistic effects of selenium nanoparticles and vitamin E on growth, immune-related gene expression, and regulation of antioxidant status of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Biol Trace Elem Res 195:624–635. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01857-6

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dawood MA, El Basuini MF, Yilmaz S, Abdel-Latif HM, Alagawany M, Kari ZA, Abdul Razab MKA, Hamid NKA, Moonmanee T, Van Doan H (2022) Exploring the roles of dietary herbal essential oils in aquaculture: A review. Animals 12(7):823. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12070823

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Deguara S, Jauncey K, Agius C (2003) Enzyme activities and pH variations in the digestive tract of gilthead sea bream. J Fish Biol 62(5):1033–1043. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1095-8649.2003.00094.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Denev S, Beev G, Staykov Y, Moutafchieva R (2009) Microbial ecology of the gastrointestinal tract of fish and the potential application of probiotics and prebiotics in finfish aquaculture. International Aquatic Research 1(1):1

    Google Scholar 

  • EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP), Bampidis, V., Azimonti, G., Bastos, M. D. L., Christensen, H., Durjava, M., ... & Dusemund, B. (2023). Safety and efficacy of feed additives consisting of an essential oil and tincture from the berries of Juniperus communis L.(juniper oil and juniper tincture) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl). EFSA J 21(4): e07977. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7977

  • Ellis AE (1990) Lysozyme assays. Techniques Fish Immunol 1:101–103

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Sayed AFM, Fitzsimmons K (2023) From Africa to the world—the journey of Nile tilapia. Rev Aquaculture 15:6–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12738.10.1111/raq.12738

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elshibani F, Alamami A, Alshalmani S, El Naili EA, Gehawe HA, Sharkasi MA, Elremali N (2020) Estimation of phenolic content, flavonoid content, antioxidant properties and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities of Capparis spinosa L. J Pharmacogn Phytochem 9(4):24–28

  • Emam MA, Shourbela RM, El-Hawarry WN, Abo-Kora SY, Gad FAM, Abd El-latif AM, Dawood MA (2024) Effects of Moringa oleifera aqueous extract on the growth performance, blood characteristics, and histological features of gills and livers in Nile tilapia. Aquac Fish 9(1):85–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaf.2021.12.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fierascu I, Ungureanu C, Avramescu SM, Cimpeanu C, Georgescu MI, Fierascu RC, Ortan A, Sutan AN, Anuta V, Zanfirescu A, Dinu-Pirvu CE (2018) Genoprotective, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory evaluation of hydroalcoholic extract of wild-growing Juniperus communis L. (Cupressaceae) native to Romanian southern sub-Carpathian hills. BMC Complement Altern Med 18:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-2066-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furné M, García-Gallego M, Hidalgo MC, Morales AE, Domezain A, Domezain J, Sanz A (2008) Effect of starvation and refeeding on digestive enzyme activities in sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii) and trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Comp Biochem Physiol a: Mol Integr Physiol 149(4):420–425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2008.02.002

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gewaily MS, Kassab M, Farrag FA, Almadaly EA, Atta MS, Abd-Elmaksoud A, Wakayama T (2020) Comparative expression of cell adhesion molecule1 (CADM1) in the testes of experimental mice and some farm animals. Acta Histochem 122(1):151456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acthis.2019.151456

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glišić S, Milojević S, Dimitrijević S, Orlović A, Skala D (2007) Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and different fractions of Juniperus communis L and a comparison with some commercial antibiotics. J Serbian Chem Soc 72(4):311–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hajirezaee S, Rohanizadehghadikolaei F, Afzali-Kordmahalleh A, Khanjani MH (2024) Effects of dietary common juniper (Juniperus communis) essential oil on growth, immunity, antioxidant status, and disease resistance in rainbow trout. Oncorhynchus Mykiss Aquaculture Reports 34:101895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2023.101895

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haziri A, Faiku F, Mehmeti A, Govori S, Abazi S, Daci M, Haziri I, Bytyqi-Damoni A, Mele A (2013) Antimicrobial properties of the essential oil of Juniperus communis (L.) growing wild in east part of Kosovo. Am J Pharmacol Toxicol 8(3):128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hemamalini N, Shanmugam SA, Kathirvelpandian A, Deepak A, Kaliyamurthi V, Suresh E (2022) A critical review on the antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic residue and metagenomics-assisted antimicrobial resistance gene detection in freshwater aquaculture environment. Aquac Res 53(2):344–366. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.15601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henry RJ (1974) Clinical chemistry: principles and technics, 2nd edn. Harper and Row, Hagerstown, MD

  • Höferl M, Stoilova I, Schmidt E, Wanner J, Jirovetz L, Trifonova D, Krastev L, Krastanov A (2014) Chemical composition and antioxidant properties of Juniper berry (Juniperus communis L.) essential oil. Action of the essential oil on the antioxidant protection of Saccharomyces cerevisiae model organism. Antioxidants 3(1):81–98. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox3010081

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hoseini SM, Yousefi M (2019) Beneficial effects of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) extract on oxytetracycline-induced stress response, immunosuppression, oxidative stress and enzymatic changes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Aquac Nutr 25(2):298–309. https://doi.org/10.1111/anu.12853

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hossain A, Habibullah-Al-Mamun M, Nagano I, Masunaga S, Kitazawa D, Matsuda H (2022) Antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and resistance genes in aquaculture: risks, current concern, and future thinking. Environ Sci Pollut Res: 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17825-4

  • Ibrahim D, Abd El-Hamid MI, Al-Zaban MI, ElHady M, El-Azzouny MM, ElFeky TM, Al Sadik GM, Samy OM, Hamed TA, Albalwe FM, Alenezi MA (2022) Impacts of fortifying Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diet with different strains of microalgae on its performance, fillet quality and disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila considering the interplay between antioxidant and inflammatory response. Antioxidants 11(11):2181. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11112181

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Inci H, Ozdemir G, Sengul AY, Sogut B, Nursoy H, Sengul T (2016) Using juniper berry (Juniperus communis) as a supplement in Japanese quail diets. Revista Brasileira De Zootecnia 45:230–235. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-92902016000500004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ismail IA, El-Hallous EI (2020) Protective role of Juniperus phoenicea L. leaves extract against gamma-irradiation-induced oxidative stress. Pakistan J Biol Sci: PJBS 23(7):922–930. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2020.922.930

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kesbiç OS (2019) Effects of juniper berry oil on growth performance and blood parameters in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Aquac Res 50(1):342–349. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.13908

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuntić V, Pejić N, Ivković B, Vujić Z, Ilić K, Mićić S, Vukojević V (2007) Isocratic RP-HPLC method for rutin determination in solid oral dosage forms. J Pharm Biomed Anal 43(2):718–721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2006.07.019

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis MN, Rose SP, Mackenzie AM, Tucker LA (2003) Effects of rationary inclusion of plant extracts on the growth performance of male broiler chickens. Spring Meeting of the WPSA UK Branch- Posters S43-44

  • Lin YL, Juan IM, Chen YL, Liang YC, Lin JK (1996) Composition of polyphenols in fresh tea leaves and associations of their oxygen-radical-absorbing capacity with antiproliferative actions in fibroblast cells. J Agric Food Chem 44(6):1387–1394. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf950652k

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Livak KJ, Schmittgen TD (2001) Analysis of relative gene expression data using real-time quantitative PCR and the 2−ΔΔCT method. Methods 25(4):402–408. https://doi.org/10.1006/meth.2001.1262

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manvi GP (2010) Screening and evaluation of pharmacognostic, phytochemical and hepatoprotective activity of J. communis L. Stems Int J Pharm BioSci 1(3):17–23

  • Martins ML, Nomura DT, Myiazaki DMY, Pilarsky F, Ribeiro K, de Castro MP, de Campos CFM (2004) Physiological and haematological response of Oreochromis niloticus (Osteichthyes: Cichlidae) exposed to single and consecutive stress of capture. Acta Sci Animal Sci 26(4):449–456. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v26i4.1719

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCord JM, Fridovich I (1969) Superoxide dismutase: an enzymic function for erythrocuprein (hemocuprein). J Biol Chem 244(22):6049–6055

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammadi G, Rafiee G, El Basuini MF, Van Doan H, Ahmed HA, Dawood MA, Abdel-Latif HM (2020) Oregano (Origanum vulgare), St John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum), and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) extracts improved the growth rate, antioxidative, and immunological responses in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) infected with Aeromonas hydrophila. Aquac Reports 18:100445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2020.100445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naiel MA, Ismael NE, Negm SS, Ayyat MS, Al-Sagheer AA (2020) Rosemary leaf powder–supplemented diet enhances performance, antioxidant properties, immune status, and resistance against bacterial diseases in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Aquaculture 526:735370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.735370

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Naito HK, Kaplan AQ (1984) High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Clin Chem Toronto Princeton 437:1207–1213

  • Nakandakare IB, Iwashita MKP, Dias DDC, Tachibana L, Ranzani-Paiva MJT, Romagosa E (2013) Growth performance and intestinal histomorphology of Nile tilapia juveniles fed probiotics. Acta Sci Animal Sci 35:365–370. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v35i4.18610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pepeljnjak S, Kosalec I, Kalođera Z, Blažević N (2005) Antimicrobial activity of juniper berry essential oil (Juniperus communis L., Cupressaceae). Acta Pharm 55(4):417–422

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Qiang J, He J, Yang H, Xu P, Habte-Tsion HM, Ma XY, Zhu ZX (2016) The changes in cortisol and expression of immune genes of GIFT tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) at different rearing densities under Streptococcus iniae infection. Aquacult Int 24:1365–1378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-016-9995-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Radwan M, Darweesh KF, Ghanem SF, Abdelhadi Y, Kareem ZH, Christianus A, Karim M, Waheed RM (2023a) El-Sharkawy MA (2023a) Regulatory roles of Pawpaw (Carica papaya) seed extract on growth performance, sexual maturity, and health status with resistance against bacteria and parasites in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Aquacult Int 31:2475–2493. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-023-01094-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Radwan M, El-Sharkawy MA, Alabssawy AN, Ghanem SF, Mohammadein A, Al Malki JS, Al-Thomali AW, Manaa EA, Soliman RA, Yassir S, Mekky AE (2023b) The synergy between serious parasitic pathogens and bacterial infestation in the cultured Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): a severe threat to fish immunity, causing mass mortality and significant economic losses. Aquac Inte: 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-023-01093-9

  • Raina R, Verma PK, Peshin R, Kour H(2019) Potential of Juniperus communis L as a nutraceutical in human and veterinary medicine. Heliyon 5(8). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02376

  • Reitman S, Frankel S (1957) A colorimetric method for the determination of serum glutamic oxalacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminases. Am J Clin Pathol 28(1):56–63

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt HHW Kelm (1996) Determination of nitrite and nitrate by the Griess reaction. Methods in nitric oxide research. New York, Wiley, pp.491–497.

  • Shawky A, Abd El-Razek IM, El-Halawany RS, Zaineldin AI, Amer AA, Gewaily MS, Dawood MA (2023) Dietary effect of heat-inactivated Bacillus subtilis on the growth performance, blood biochemistry, immunity, and antioxidative response of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). Aquaculture 739751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023.73975

  • Siwicki AK, Anderson DP (1993) An easy spectrophotometric assay for determining total protein and immunoglobulin levels in fish sera: correlation to fish health. Tech Fish Immunol 3:23–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang HG, Wu TX, Zhao ZY, Pan XD (2008) Effects of fish protein hydrolysate on growth performance and humoral immune response in large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea R.). J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 9:684–690

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Thabti I, Elfalleh W, Tlili N, Ziadi M, Campos MG, Ferchichi A (2014) Phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant and antibacterial activity of leaves and stem bark of Morus species. Int J Food Prop 17(4):842–854. https://doi.org/10.1080/10942912.2012.660722

  • Uchiyama M, Mihara M (1978) Determination of malonaldehyde precursor in tissues by thiobarbituric acid test. Anal Biochem 86(1):271–278

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Wyk BE, Wink M eds (2015) Phytomedicines, herbal drugs, and poisons. University of Chicago Press

  • Ved A, Gupta A, Rawat AKS (2017) Antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of phenol-rich fraction of Juniperus communis Linn leaves. Pharmacogn Mag 13(49):108

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wotton ID, Freeman H (1982) Microanalysis in Medical Biochemistry. Churchill, New York. USA. Wiegertjes GF, RJM Stet, Parmentier HK, Van Muiswinkel WB (1996) Immunogenetics of disease resistance in fish; a comparable approach Dev. Comp Immunol 20:365–381

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu HJ, Jiang WD, Feng L, Liu Y, Wu P, Jiang J, Kuang SY, Tang L, Tang WN, Zhang YA, Zhou XQ (2016) Dietary vitamin C deficiency depresses the growth, head kidney and spleen immunity and structural integrity by regulating NF-κB, TOR, Nrf2, apoptosis and MLCK signaling in young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Fish Shellfish Immunol 52:111–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2016.02.033

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yesilbag D, Cengiz SS, Cetin I, Meral Y, Biricik HAKAN (2014) Influence of juniper (Juniperus communis) oil on growth performance and meat quality as a natural antioxidant in quail diets. Br Poult Sci 55(4):495–500. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2014.932335

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz S, Çelik EŞ, Ergün S, Ahmadifar E, Abdel-Latif HM (2023) Effects of dietary walnut (Juglans regia) leaves extract on immunity, gene expression responses, and disease resistance in Oreochromis niloticus. Fish Shellfish Immunol 135:108656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108656

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yousefi M, Ghafarifarsani H, Hoseinifar SH, Rashidian G, Van Doan H (2021) Effects of dietary marjoram, Origanum majorana extract on growth performance, hematological, antioxidant, humoral and mucosal immune responses, and resistance of common carp, Cyprinus carpio against Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish Shellfish Immunol 108:127–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2020.11.019

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zahran E, Abd El-Gawad EA, Risha E (2018) Dietary Withania sominefera root confers protective and immunotherapeutic effects against Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fish Shellfish Immunol 80:641–650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2018.06.009

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zamani A, Hajimoradloo A, Madani R, Farhangi M (2009) Assessment of digestive enzymes activity during the fry development of the endangered Caspian brown trout Salmo caspius. J Fish Biol 75(4):932–937. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2009.02348.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Taif University for funding this work. Also, the authors would like to thank the research staff of the Department of Zoology, Al-Azhar University for their scientific guidance.

Funding

Not applicable.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Biology Branch, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    Mahmoud Radwan & Mahmoud Mahrous M. Abbas

  2. Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Moussa Attia Moussa

  3. Animal and Poultry Production, Department of Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh, 13736, Qalyubia, Egypt

    Eman A. Manaa

  4. Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt

    Nehad A. Saleh

  5. Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    Metwally G. Metwally & Salah M. EL-Sharkawy

  6. Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia

    Wafa Mohammed Al-Otaibi & Amaal Mohammadein

  7. Aquatic Resources, Natural Resources Studies and Research Department, College of High Asian Studies, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt

    Mohamed M. M. El-feky

  8. Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Said M. A. Elraey

  9. Department of Fish Resources and Aquaculture, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, El-Arish, Egypt

    Lobna A. Badawy

Authors
  1. Mahmoud Radwan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Moussa Attia Moussa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eman A. Manaa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nehad A. Saleh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Metwally G. Metwally
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Salah M. EL-Sharkawy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Wafa Mohammed Al-Otaibi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Amaal Mohammadein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Mohamed M. M. El-feky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Said M. A. Elraey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Lobna A. Badawy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Mahmoud Mahrous M. Abbas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Mahmoud Radwan: Writing – original draft, Formal analysis, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization, review, and editing. Moussa Attia Moussa: Formal analysis, Statistical analysis, Methodology. Editing. Eman A. Manaa: Writing – original draft, Methodology, Conceptualization. Nehad A. Saleh: Formal analysis, Staistical analysis, Methodology, Editing. Metwally G. Metwally: Formal analysis, Statistical analysis, Methodology, Editing. Salah M. EL-Sharkawy: Formal analysis, Methodology, Conceptualization, Editing. Wafa M. Al-Otaibi: Formal analysis, Methodology, Conceptualization, Editing. Amaal Mohammadein: Formal analysis, Methodology, Conceptualization, Editing. Mohamed M. M. El-feky: Writing – original draft, Methodology, Conceptualization. Said M. A. Elraey:Formal analysis, Methodology, Conceptualization, Editing. Lobna A.badawy: Writing – original draft, Methodology, Conceptualization. Mahmoud Mahrous M. Abbas: Formal analysis, Methodology, Conceptualization, Editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript..

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mahmoud Radwan.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

The study was conducted according to the Ethics Committee of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee guidelines, Zagazig University, Egypt (No. ZU-IACUC/1/F/67/2024).

Consent to participate

All of the authors consent to participate in the study above.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Brian Austin

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

Radwan, M., Moussa, M.A., Manaa, E.A. et al. Elucidating the protective influence of dietary Juniperus communis extracts on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) growth, intestinal health, immune-antioxidant, gene expression responses, and resistance to infection. Aquacult Int (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-024-01486-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-024-01486-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation