Study on Schizochytrium sp. improving the growth performance and non-specific immunity of golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) while not affecting the antioxidant capacity.

A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the effects of Schizochytrium sp. on growth performance, antioxidant capacity and non-specific immunity in golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus).Two diets were formulated with or without Schizochytrium sp. supplemented (D1:0% and D2: 3%) to feed fish for 8 weeks. Results showed that growth performance, feed intake and survival rate increased significantly with Schizochytrium sp. supplemented (P < 0.05). Feed coefficient rate (FCR) of golden pompano fed the diet supplemented with Schizochytrium sp. was significantly lower than that of fish fed the control diet (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in antioxidant capacity both in transcriptional level, including nclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), Kelch-like-ECH-associated protein (keap1), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and enzyme activity, such as total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P > 0.05). Gut amylase and lipase were significantly higher in dietary Schizochytrium sp. supplemented treatment than that in control group (P < 0.05). The relative peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) expression level in liver was significantly higher in Schizochytrium sp supplemented treatment than that in control one (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), IL-1R-associated kinases 4 (IRAK4), interferon regulating Factor 3 (IRF3), interferon regulating Factor 3(IRF7) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were significantly lower in Schizochytrium sp. supplemented treatment than that in control one (P < 0.05). In Schizochytrium sp. supplemented diet, golden pompano had significantly longer villi length than that in control diet (P < 0.05); muscle thickness in Schizochytrium sp. supplemented diet was thicker than that in control one (P < 0.05) and there were more goblet cells in Schizochytrium sp. treatment (P < 0.05). After the rearing trial, an air exposure trial was conducted. Results showed that the air-exposure mortality (AEM) and mRNA expression level of Nrf2, keap1, CAT, GSH-PX and HO-1 showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). These results indicated that dietary Schizochytrium sp. improved the growth performance and non-specific immunity of golden pompano while made no difference to antioxidant capacity.

A Simple and Accurate Method for the Determination of Related Substances in Coenzyme Q10 Soft Capsules.

As a new dosage form, coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) soft capsules are easily absorbed and utilized by the human body. Co-Q10 soft capsules can effectively improve the bioavailability and reduce medical costs for patients. A main concern about Co-Q10 as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is how to control the total quantity of related substances. In this article, according to the degradation pattern of the API, the most easily degradable impurity (impurity X) in the sample was prepared and its chemical structure was determined. Furthermore, a simple and accurate method was developed for the determination of related substances and to avert the interference of excipient ingredients in Co-Q10 soft capsules. The approach was validated adequately and the primary impurity X was confirmed accurately. The limit of total quantity of related substances (less than 1%) could be revised to the level of specific impurity X being no more than 0.5%, in this effective quality control method of Co-Q10 soft capsules. The revised level is suggested to be included in the corresponding standard of the supplement taken from the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2015 edition). This can provide a feasible method for the relevant enterprises and regulatory authorities to control the related substances of coenzyme Q10 soft capsules.

Dietary values of macroalgae Porphyra haitanensis in Litopenaeus vannamei under normal rearing and WSSV challenge conditions: Effect on growth, immune response and intestinal microbiota.

Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of dietary macroalgae Porphyra haitanensis on growth, immunity and intestinal microbiota of Litopenaeus vannamei. In trial 1, shrimp (mean initial wet weight about 0.64 g) were fed with seven diets (P0, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6) containing 0% (basal diet), 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6% P. haitanensis in triplicate for 60 days. Growth performance (weight gain, WG; specific growth rate, SGR) of shrimp fed the P4 diet were significantly higher than that of shrimp fed P0, P5 and P6 diets (P < 0.05) but without significant differences with shrimp fed P1-P3 diets (P > 0.05). Hepatopancreas phenoloxidase (PO) activity of shrimp fed the P. haitanensis containing diets was significantly higher than that of shrimp fed the basal diet (P0) (P < 0.05). Total haemocyte count (THC) of shrimp fed basal diet (P0) was significantly lower than that of shrimp fed diets containing P. haitanensis. Our results declared that dietary P. haitanensis supplementation increases the abundance of beneficial bacterials such as Nitrosopumilus, Marinobacter or Bifidobacterium and reduces the abundance of harmful bacterias such as Vibrio, and especially pronounced in P4 diet treatment. In trial 2, a WSSV injection challenge test was conducted for 7-day after the rearing trial and shrimp survival was also compared among treatments. A sudden shrimp death was found from the 4th day, and values of survival of shrimp fed the P3-P4 diets were higher than that of shrimp fed other diets during 4-7 days challenge test. The immune response in trial 2 were characterized by higher superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and PO activities, lower THC and higher HCT compared to levels found in trial 1. In conclusion, suitable dietary P. haitanensis could enhance the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and alter total bacterial numbers or microbial diversity of L. vannamei and furthermore reduce oxidative stress and immune depression challenged by WSSV injection stress, and the level of P. haitanensis supplemented in the diet should be between 2.51% and 3.14%.