Effects of isoquinoline alkaloids from Macleaya cordata on growth performance, survival, immune response, and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

PLoS One. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0251343. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251343. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Isoquinoline alkaloids (IQs) from Macleaya cordata are promising natural products for enhancing the growth performance and overall health condition of farmed animals. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of two formulas of IQ extract, provided in either a powdered formula (IQ-E) or a water-soluble, granulated formula (IQ-WS) and containing the main active component sanguinarine at a concentration of 0.5% and 1%, respectively, on the growth, survival, immune response, and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). In Experiment 1, the postlarvae were divided into five groups (four replicates/group and 100 shrimp/tank) and fed four times/day for 30 days with a control feed, IQ-E at 200 or 300 mg/kg of feed, or IQ-WS at 100 or 150 mg/kg of feed. In Experiment 2, the surviving shrimp from Experiment 1 were redistributed into six groups (four treatment groups as in Experiment 1 plus the positive and negative controls with four replicates/group and 30 shrimp/tank) and challenged with V. parahaemolyticus by immersion at a concentration of 103 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL and were fed with the same diets for another 14 days. The results revealed that all IQ-fed shrimp in Experiment 1 had significantly enhanced survival rates and immune parameters (total hemocyte count and phagocytic, phenoloxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities) compared to the control group, even though the growth performances were similar across all groups. In Experiment 2, all IQ-fed groups showed better growth performance and survival rates compared to the positive control. Other than in the positive control group, no histopathological lesions in the hepatopancreas and the intestine were found. In summary, the current study demonstrated the benefits of using IQs from M. cordata as feed additives for improving the growth performance, survival rate, immune responses, and resistance to vibriosis of Pacific white shrimp.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / therapeutic use*
  • Isoquinolines / therapeutic use*
  • Papaveraceae* / chemistry
  • Penaeidae / drug effects*
  • Penaeidae / growth & development
  • Penaeidae / immunology
  • Penaeidae / microbiology
  • Vibrio Infections / prevention & control*
  • Vibrio Infections / veterinary*
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus / drug effects*

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Isoquinolines
  • sangrovit

Grants and funding

This paper was funded by grants from the Aquaculture Business Research Center (ABRC11082018), Kasetsart University, Thailand, to support graduate student PB. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Phytobiotics (Thailand) Co., Ltd. provided support in the form of salary to WK. The specific roles of this author are articulated in the 'author contributions' section. Phytobiotics also provided material support in the form of the isoquinoline extracts for the study, but had no other role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.