The effect of red seaweed Gracillaria arcuata extract on digestion and liver enzymes and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in grey mullet, Mugil cephalus

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral administration of red seaweed Gracillaria arcuata extract (GE) on the function of digestive enzymes i.e., amylase, lipase and protease, liver enzymes i.e., aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant content (TAC) in grey mullet Mugil cephalus. Fish were fed with either of commercial diet (control treatment), algae enriched diets 0.5g GE/kg (treatment2), 1g GE/kg feed(treatment 3), and 1.5 g GE/kg (treatment 4) for 60 days. No significant differences were evident in catalase (CAT) between the control group and treatments (P>0.05). The lowest levels of ALP, ALT, and MDA and the highest levels of amylase, protease, and GSH were shown in GE15 (P<0.05). Treatments containing different levels of GE showed significantly differences in amylase, SOD, TAC, and GSH compared to control treatment (P<0.05). In conclusion, oral administration of a 1.5 g GE/ kg diet may improve the function of digestive and liver enzymes and the efficiency of the antioxidant defense system in grey mullet.

Keywords

• grey mullet
• liver enzymes
• red seaweed