Effects of dietary dandelion extracts on growth performance, liver histology, immune-related gene expression and CCl4 resistance of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀).

The study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with dandelion extracts (DE) on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, serum biochemical, liver histology, immune-related gene expression and CCl4 resistance of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀). A basal diet supplemented with DE at 0% (diet 0%), 0.1% (diet 0.1%), 0.2% (diet 0.2%), 0.4% (diet 0.4%) and 0.8% (diet 0.8%) were fed to hybrid grouper for 8 weeks. The results revealed that dietary DE had not a significant impact on growth performance and feed utilization (P > 0.05), but it could decrease the percent of crude lipids in whole body and increase the percent of crude protein in muscle (P < 0.05). Dietary DE increased the mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase) and reduced inflammatory factor in the spleen and head-kidney of fish (P < 0.05), but reduced the expression of the liver antioxidant gene except for glutathione reductase (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 0.2%-0.4% DE could effectively improve liver health. After injection of CCL4 by 72 h, fish fed Diet0.2% and Diet0.4% showed regular hepatocyte morphology while fish fed Diet 0%, Diet 0.1% and Diet 0.8% showed hepatocyte damage. Higher survival rate and total blood cell count was observed in fish fed 0.1%-0.4% dietary DE (P < 0.05). In conclusion, DE could be used as a functional feed additive to enhance liver function of farmed fish. The best level of it should be between 0.2% and 0.4%.