A compound of herbs improves the growth performance, intestinal and liver histology, antioxidative capacity and immunity of juvenile large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary a Chinese herbal compound (CHC) including Pulsatillae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, Cortex Phellodendri Amurensis and Fraxini Cortex on the growth performance, intestinal and liver histology, antioxidative capacity and immunity of juvenile large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) with the initial body weight of 17.00 ± 0.03 g. Four experimental diets were formulated to contain 0 mg/kg (CHC0), 250 mg/kg (CHC250), 500 mg/kg (CHC500), and 750 mg/kg (CHC750) of CHC, respectively. Results showed that dietary CHC did not significantly affect the survival of large yellow croaker (P > 0.05). Compared with the control, the CHC500 group showed higher weight gain and protein efficiency ratio, along with a lower feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Furthermore, increasing levels of dietary CHC linearly decreased the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde content in serum. Moreover, dietary CHC significantly increased the total antioxidative capacity and complement levels in serum (P < 0.05). The relative expressions of sod1, nrf2, il-10 and tnf-α in liver and intestine were upregulated in the CHC500 group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the activities of digestive and absorptive enzymes in intestine were significantly increased in the CHC500 group (P < 0.05). The length of intestinal villus height, villus width and perimeter ratio were higher in the CHC supplemented diets. In conclusion, CHC supplementation in diet could improve growth performance, anti-oxidative capacity and immunity of large yellow croaker.