Romalee Cheadoloh, Lee Seong Wei, Hadiana, Lau Kia Kian, Arifullah Mohammed, Nor Azra Mohamad, Martina Irwan Khoo, Ramasamy Harikrishnan, Wendy Wee
Peperomia pellucida (PP), is an herb that has been proven rich in antioxidant property. However, the beneficial effects and mode of action of PP on disease resistance in fish are still unclear. In the present study, we revealed the potential impacts of PP on the growth performance, blood parameters, antioxidant capacity, immune-related gene expression and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in red hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis spp. Experimental fish were given a diet containing different doses of PP (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg diet) in triplicates for eight weeks. After feeding trials, the experimental fish were subjected to an intraperitoneal infection of A. hydrophila. Findings from the present study showed a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in growth performances (final weight, specific growth rate, and feed conversion rate), immune-related gene expression and disease resistance against A. hydrophila in fish fed PP supplemented diets in comparison to the control diet. Present study also demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) improvement in blood parameters by dietary PP provision. Dietary PP noticeably enhanced the antioxidant status of red hybrid tilapia with the increased activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver. On top of that, upregulation of growth and immune-related genes such as Lysozyme G (LysG), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), and beta actin (β-actin) were also observed in the dietary PP group. Overall, polynomial regression analysis revealed that dietary PP at the dosage of 108 – 151 mg/kg improved growth and health performances of red hybrid tilapia. © 2026, Chiang Mai University - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. All rights reserved.
Faculty of Science Technology and Agriculture, Yala Rajabhat University, Sateng, Mueang, Yala, 95000, Thailand; Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agro-Based Industry, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus, Kelantan, Jeli, 17600, Malaysia; PSDKU Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Brawijaya University, East Java, Kediri, 65145, Indonesia; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University Kuala Lumpur Campus, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, 56000, Malaysia; Department of Biotechnology, Koneru Lakshmaiah University, Vaddeswaram Campus, Green Fields, Andhra Pradesh, Guntur, 522 302, India; Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Malaysia; Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, 16150, Malaysia; Department of Zoology, Pachaiyappa's College for Men, University of Madras, Tamil Nadu, Kanchipuram, 631 501, India; Centre for Fundamental and Continuing Education, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Malaysia
