Role of elderberry (Sambucus nigra) on the modulation of stress and immune response of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

ABSTRACT

We assessed the role of elderberry extract as a nutraceutical in Nile tilapia to modulate their stress and immune responses under density stress. In the experiment, we maintained tilapia at low (5 g/L) and high population density (120 g/L). We fed half of the low and high-density fish with commercial feed, and the other half, with membrane-separated 13% anthocyanin standardized elderberry extract with maltodextrin excipient, incorporated into commercial feed. We assessed plasma cortisol, blood glucose, IL-2, lysozyme activity, and spleen cell numbers for acute and chronic stress. Among them, blood glucose levels indicated the stress-modulating capability of elderberry in both acute and chronic stress conditions. Plasma cortisol concentrations also demonstrated the potential of elderberry as a stress-modulating agent in chronic stress. Based on our findings, elderberry could potentially be used as a nutraceutical to modulate stress and immune response in vertebrates.

KEYWORDS:

• Nile tilapia
• nutrition
• stress physiology
• immune function

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all the members of Mustafa Lab at Purdue University Fort Wayne for their help with fish husbandry and execution of the experiments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data will be shared upon request.