Quercetin Application for Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio): I. Effects on Growth Performance, Humoral Immunity, Antioxidant Status, Immune-Related Genes, and Resistance against Heat Stress

Abstract

This study was done to evaluate the effect of different quercetin levels on growth performance, immune responses, antioxidant status, serum biochemical factors, and high-temperature stress responses in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). A total number of 216 common carp with an average weight of 27.21±53 g were divided into 12 tanks (four treatments×three replications) and fed 0 mg/kg quercetin (T0), 200 mg/kg quercetin (T1), 400 mg/kg quercetin (T2), and 600 mg/kg quercetin (T3) for 60 days. There were significant differences in growth performance, and the highest final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed intake (FI) were observed in T2 and T3 (P0.05). In conclusion, dietary quercetin supplementations (400-600 mg/kg quercetin) improved growth performance, immunity, and antioxidant status and increased tolerance to heat stress.