Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of methanolic extract of nettle (Urtica dioica) on growth, reproduction, biochemical and immunological parameters of female convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata). For this purpose, 54 fish were distributed in 3 treatments included: without supplementation (control), 0.1 g (NE0.1), and 0.5 g (NE0.5) nettle extract per kilogram feed over 56 days. The highest final weight (4.2 ± 0.1 g), weight gain (2.8 ± 0.1 g), and specific growth rate (2.0 ± 0.0% day−1) were recorded in NE0.1 group. Higher and lower feed conversion ratio were obtained in control and NE0.1 treatments, respectively. Hepatosomatic and viscerosomatic indices in NE0.1 treatment were significantly lower compared with control treatment. Fish fed NE0.1 showed significantly lower glucose (55.2 ± 6.5 mg g−1), cholesterol (28.4 ± 3.3 mg g−1), and triglyceride (211.5 ± 39.0 mg g−1) levels. Total protein (36.3 ± 3.4 mg g−1) and albumin (2.7 ± 0.1 mg g−1) showed a marked increase in NE0.1 treatment. Same trend was observed in C3, C4, and IgM concentrations. NE0.1 showed the highest number of eggs per female (183.7 ± 10.2), hatching rate (97 ± 0.7%), and larval survival rate at 3 days post hatch (86.3 ± 0.6%) compared with the other treatments. These findings indicated that 0.1 g methanolic extract of nettle kg feed−1 could enhance growth, improve metabolic, and immune function of convict cichlid. Moreover, this study confirmed that appropriate dose of nettle can positively promote reproductive performance which makes it as a valuable and cost-effective herb in aquaculture industry.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Code availability
Not applicable.
References
Ahmadipour B, Khajali F (2019) Expression of antioxidant genes in broiler chickens fed nettle (Urtica dioica) and its link with pulmonary hypertension. Anim Nutr 5:264–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2019.04.004
Awad E, Austin B (2010) Use of lupin, Lupinus perennis, mango, Mangifera indica, and stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, as feed additives to prevent Aeromonas hydrophila infection in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum). J Fish Dis 33:413–420. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2761.2009.01133.x
Awad E, Austin D, Lyndon AR (2013) Effect of black cumin seed oil (Nigella sativa) and nettle extract (Quercetin) on enhancement of immunity in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum). Aquaculture 388:193–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2013.01.008
Barham D, Trinder P (1972) An improved colour reagent for the determination of blood glucose by the oxidase system. Analyst 97:142–145.https://doi.org/10.1039/an9729700142
Beazley KE, Nurminskaya M (2016) Effects of dietary quercetin on female fertility in mice: implication of transglutaminase 2. Reprod Fertil Dev 28:974–981. https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14155
Bilen S, Ünal S, Güvensoy H (2016) Effects of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) and nettle (Urtica dioica) methanolic extracts on immune responses and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Aquaculture 454:90–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2015.12.010
Binaii M, Ghiasi M, Farabi SMV, Pourgholam R, Fazli H, Safari R, Alavi SE, Taghavi MJ, Bankehsaz Z (2014) Biochemical and hemato-immunological parameters in juvenile beluga (Huso huso) following the diet supplemented with nettle (Urtica dioica). Fish Shellfish Immunol 36:46–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2013.10.001
Bisht M, Kumar A, Shah TK (2020) Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on skin mucosal immune responses and growth performance of guppy, Poecilia reticulata (Peter, 1860). Aquac Res 51:4984–4990. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.14834
Bnouham M, Merhfour FZ, Ziyyat A, Mekhfi H, Aziz M, Legssyer A (2003) Antihyperglycemic activity of the aqueous extract of Urtica dioica. Fitoterapia 74:677–681. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(03)00182-5
Boes M (2000) Role of natural and immune IgM antibodies in immune responses. Mol Immunol 37:1141–1149. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0161-5890(01)00025-6
Borchers AT, Keen CL, Stern JS, Gershein ME (2000) Inflammation and native American medicine: the role of botanicals. Am J Clin Nutr 72:339–347. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/72.2.339
Bulfon C, Volpatti D, Galeotti M (2015) Current research on the use of plant-derived products in farmed fish. Aquac Res 46:513–551. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.12238
Chakraborty SB, Horn P, Hancz C (2014) Application of phytochemicals as growth-promoters and endocrine modulators in fish culture. Rev Aquacult 6:1–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12021
Chen J, Li X (2007) Hypolipidemic effect of flavonoids from mulberry leaves in triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemic mice. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 16:290–294
Dada AA, Adeparusi EO (2012) Dietary effects of two medicinal plants (Sesamum indicum) and (Croton zambesicus) on the reproductive indices in female African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) broodstock. Egypt J Aquat Res 38:269–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejar.2012.12.012
Dada AA, Adeparusi EO, Alale OV (2010) Dietary dried Kigelia africana fruits meal as fertility enhancer in female Clarias gariepinus (BurchelI, 1822). Agric Biol J N Am 1:791–795. https://doi.org/10.5251/ABJNA.2010.1.5.791.795
Dada AA, Ajilore VO (2009) Use of ethanol extracts of Garcinia kola as fertility enhancer in female catfish Clarias gariepinus broodstock. Int J Fish Aquac 1:1–5
Daher CF, Baroody KG, Baroody GM (2006) Effect of Urtica dioica extract intake upon blood lipid profile in the rats. Fitoterapia 77:183–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2006.01.010
de Assis RWS (2020) Urbinati EC (2020) Physiological activity of Aloe vera in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) inoculated with Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish Physiol Biochem 46:1421–1430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-020-00800-0
Dhas SA, Selvaraj T, Citarasu T, Punitha SMJ, Babu MM (2015) Effect of supplemented diet with maturation plant extract on reproductive performance of Etroplus suratansis. Aquacult Rep 2:58–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2015.08.005
Dhas SA, Selvaraj T, Citarasu T, Punitha SMJ, Gopal P, Michael MB (2017) Effect of herbal maturation diets on biochemical composition of different organs of Etroplus suratensis. J Fish Livest Prod 5:1–6. https://doi.org/10.4172/2332-2608.1000243
Domola MS, Vu V, Robson-Doucette CA, Sweeney G, Wheeler MB (2010) Insulin mimetics in Urtica dioica: structural and computational analyses of Urtica dioica extracts. Phytother Res 24:S175–S182. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3062
Doukkali Z, Taghzouti K, Bouidida EH, Kamal R, Jemeli M, Bahia B, Zellou A, Cherrah Y, Alaoui K (2016) Toxicity and anxiolytic property of nettle in mice in light/dark test. Int J Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 3:1–6
Farzami B, Ahmadvand D, Vardasbi S, Majin FJ, Khaghani S (2003) Induction of insulin secretion by a component of Urtica dioica leave extract in perifused Islets of Langerhans and its in vivo effects in normal and streptozotocin diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 89:47–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(03)00220-4
Francišković M, Gonzalez-Pérez R, Orčić D, Sanchez de Medina F, Martínez-Augustin O, Svirčev E, Simin N, Mimica-Dukić N (2017) Chemical composition and immuno-modulatory effects of Urtica dioica L. (stinging nettle) extracts. Phytother Res 31:1183–1191. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5836
Gagliardi-Seeley JL, Itzkowitz M (2006) Male size predicts the ability to defend offspring in the biparental convict cichlid Archocentrus nigrofasciatus. J Fish Biol 69:1239–1244. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2006.01174.x
Gülçin I, Küfrevioğlu Öİ, Oktay M, Büyükokuroğlu ME (2004) Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic activities of nettle (Urtica dioica L.). J Ethnopharmacol 90:205–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2003.09.028
Hopperdietzel C, Hirschberg RM, Hünigen H, Wolter J, Richardson K, Plendl J (2014) Gross morphology and histology of the alimentary tract of the convict cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata. J Fish Biol 85:1707–1725. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12530
Hoseinifar SH, Jahazi MA, Nikdehghan N, Van Doan H, Volpe MG, Paolucci M (2020) Effects of dietary polyphenols from agricultural by-products on mucosal and humoral immune and antioxidant responses of convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata). Aquaculture 517:734790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.734790
Jain M, Ganju L, Katiyal A, Padwad Y, Mishra KP, Chanda S, Karan D, Yogendra KMS, Sawhney RC (2008) Effect of Hippophae rhamnoides leaf extract against Dengue virus infection in human blood-derived macrophages. Phytomedicine 15:793–799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2008.04.017
Jan KN, Singh S (2017) Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.): a reservoir of nutrition and bioactive components with great functional potential. J Food Meas Charact 11:423–433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-016-9410-4
Jiang J, Emont MP, Jun H, Qiao X, Liao J, Kim DI, Wu J (2017) Cinnamaldehyde induces fat cell-autonomous thermogenesis and metabolic reprogramming. Metabolism 77:58–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2017.08.006
Johnson AM, Rohlfs EM, Silverman, LM (1999) Proteins. In: Vurtis CA Ashwood ER (eds) Tietz book of clinical chemistry. 3rd edn. W.B. Sanunders Company, Philadelphia, pp 507–512
Karataş T, Korkmaz F, Karataş A, Yildirim S (2020) Effects of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) extract on growth, blood biochemistry, immunity, antioxidant, digestive enzymes and liver histopathology of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Aquac Nut 26:1533–1541. https://doi.org/10.1111/anu.13100
Kumar S, Sahu NP, Pal AK, Choudhury D, Yengkokpam S, Mukherjee SC (2005) Effect of dietary carbohydrate on haematology, respiratory burst activity and histological changes in L. rohita juveniles. Fish Shellfish Immunol 19:331–344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2005.03.001
Lass A, Zimmermann R, Oberer M, Zechner R (2011) Lipolysis–a highly regulated multi-enzyme complex mediates the catabolism of cellular fat stores. Prog Lipid Res 50:14–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plipres.2010.10.004
Lee KW, Everts H, Kapperst HJ, Yeom KH, Beynen AC (2003) Dietary carvacrol lowers body weight gain but improves feed conversion in female broiler chickens. J Appl Poult Res 12:394–399. https://doi.org/10.1093/japr/12.4.394
McMillan DN, Houlihan DF (1992) Protein synthesis in trout liver is stimulated by both feeding and fasting. Fish Physiol Biochem 10:23–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004651
Mehrabi Z, Firouzbakhsh F (2020) Short-term effects of feeding powdered Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) and nettle (Urtica dioica) on growth performance and stimulation of innate immune responses in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Comp Clin Pathol 29:441–449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-019-03068-w
Motlagh HA, Safari O, Selahvarzi Y, Baghalian A, Kia E (2020) Non-specific immunity promotion in response to garlic extract supplemented diets in female Guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Fish Shellfish Immunol 97:96–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2019.12.007
Moula N, Sadoudi A, Touazi L, Leroy P, Geda F (2019) Effects of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) powder on laying performance, egg quality, and serum biochemical parameters of Japanese quails. Anim Nutr 5:410–415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2019.05.002
Ngugi CC, Oyoo-Okoth E, Mugo-Bundi J, Orina PS, Chemoiwa EJ, Aloo PA (2015) Effects of dietary administration of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) on the growth performance, biochemical, hematological and immunological parameters in juvenile and adult Victoria Labeo (Labeo victorianus) challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish Shellfish Immunol 44:533–541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2015.03.025
Oke IO, Dada AA, Saliu OR, Kuyoro EB (2019) Dietary effects of Desmodium (Desmodium adscendens) leaves on the reproductive indices in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) broodstock. Aquacult Stud 19:133–137. https://doi.org/10.4194/2618-6381-v19_2_06
Papanikos N, Phelps RP, Williams K, Ferry A, Maus D (2003) Egg and larval quality of natural and induced spawns of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus. Fish Physiol Biochem 28:487–488. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:FISH.0000030636.08228.4e
Pês TS, Saccol EM, Ourique GM, Londero ÉP, Gressler LT, Golombieski JI, Glanzner SF, Llesuy WG, Gonçalves PBD, Neto J, Baldisserotto BM, Pavanato MA (2016) Quercetin in the diet of silver catfish: effects on antioxidant status, blood parameters and pituitary hormone expression. Aquaculture 458:100–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2016.02.020
Pourmorad F, Hosseinimehr SJ, Shahabimajd N (2006) Antioxidant activity, phenol and flavonoid contents of some selected Iranian medicinal plants. Afr J Biotech 5:1142–1145
Radhakrishnan S, Saravana Bhavan P, Seenivasan C, Muralisankar T, Shanthi R (2015) Effects of native medicinal herbs (Alternanthera sessilis, Eclipta alba and Cissus quadrangularis) on growth performance, digestive enzymes and biochemical constituents of the monsoon river prawn Macrobrachium malcolmsonii. Aquac Nut 21:496–506. https://doi.org/10.1111/anu.12180
Raisi A, Davoodi F, Afshar-Ghahremani S, Taheri S, Sharifi S, Adel M (2020) Evaluation of the anesthetic and tranquilizing effects of clove powder (Syzygiuma romaticum) and lavender oil (Lavandula officinalis) in convict cichlid fish (Cichlasoma nigrofasciata) Iran J Vet Surg 15:1–7. https://doi.org/10.30500/ivsa.2019.193913.1191
Rifai N, Bachorik PS, Albers JJ (1999) Lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins. In: Burtis CA Ashwood ER (eds) Tietz textbook of clinical chemistry 3rd edn. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, pp 809–861
Saeidi Asl MR, Adel M, Caipang CMA, Dawood MA (2017) Immunological responses and disease resistance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles following dietary administration of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Fish Shellfish Immunol 71:230–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2017.10.016
Saleh N, Allam T, El-Latif AA, Ghazy E (2014) The effects of dietary supplementation of different levels of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) essential oils on performance, hematological, biochemical and immunological parameters of broiler chickens. Glob Vet 12:736–744. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.gv.2014.12.06.83189
Shirani M, Heidari-Soureshjani S, Yavangi M (2016) Use of Iranian medicinal plants effective on male fertility indices. J Glob Pharma Technol 8:36–43
Sotoudeh A, Yeganeh S (2017) Effects of supplementary fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) essential oil in diet on growth and reproductive performance of the ornamental fish, Convict cichlid (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum). Aquac Res 48:4284–4291. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.13249
Swain P, Nayak SK (2009) Role of maternally derived immunity in fish. Fish Shellfish Immunol 27:89–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2009.04.008
Van Hai N (2015) The use of medicinal plants as immunostimulants in aquaculture: a review. Aquaculture 446:88–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2015.03.014
Wang J, Zhang C, Zhang J, Xie J, Yang L, Xing Y, Li Z (2020) The effects of quercetin on immunity, antioxidant indices, and disease resistance in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Fish Physiol Biochem 46:759–770. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-019-00750-2
Wisenden BD (1995) Reproductive behavior of free-ranging convict cichlids, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum. Environ Biol Fish 43:121–134. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002480
Wu ZX, Pang SF, Chen XX, Yu YM, Zhou JM, Chen X, Pang LJ (2013) Effect of Coriolus versicolor polysaccharides on the hematological and biochemical parameters and protection against Aeromonas hydrophila in allogynogenetic crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Fish Physiol Biochem 39:181–190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-012-9689-y
Yarnell E (1998) Stinging nettle: a modern view of an ancient healing plant. Altern Complement Ther 4:180–186. https://doi.org/10.1089/act.1998.4.180
Yeganeh S, Sotoudeh A, Movaffagh AN (2017) Effects of Tribulus terrestris extract on growth and reproductive performance of male convict cichlid (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum). Turkish J Fish Aquat Sci 17:1003–1007. https://doi.org/10.4194/1303-2712-v17_5_15
Yılmaz S, Ergün S (2012) Effects of medicinal herb extracts on egg hatching of the angel fish (Pterophyllum scalare). Kafkas Univ Vet Fak 18:185–189
Yılmaz S, Ergün S, Çelik EŞ (2013) Effect of dietary herbal supplements on some physiological conditions of sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax. J Aquat Anim Health 25:98–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/08997659.2013.768561
Zhang S, Wang Z, Wang H (2013) Maternal immunity in fish. Dev Comp Immunol 39:72–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2012.02.009
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge H.A. Zamani and Dr. M. Hadavi for their assistance in this study. We are also grateful to the staff at the Fisheries Department of University of Guilan for their supports.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Naghmeh Jafari: sampling, lab working, data analysis and writing. Hamed Abdollahpour: sampling, lab working and writing. Milad Karimzadeh: sampling and lab working. Bahram Falahatkar: project administration, supervision, draft-editing.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval
All the experimental animal procedures involved in this study were approved by the animal care and welfare and followed the experimental basic principles.
Consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Conflict of 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
About this article
Cite this article
Jafari, N., Abdollahpour, H., Karimzadeh, M. et al. A potential role of nettle (Urtica dioica) extract on growth, biochemical changes and reproductive performance of convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata). Fish Physiol Biochem 48, 133–144 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-021-01039-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-021-01039-z