Growth performance, haemato-immunological responses and antioxidant status of Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei fed with turmeric powder, curcumin and curcumin nanomicelles

Effects of dietary administration of turmeric (TUR), curcumin (CUR) and curcumin nanomicelles (NMC) were investigated on growth, haemato-immunology and antioxidant status of the Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei. The shrimps (2.96 +/- 0.10 g) were fed with 10 diets: without supplementing TUR, CUR and NMC (control), supplemented with 2.5, 5 and 10 g TUR, 0.075, 0.150 and 0.300 g CUR and 0.075, 0.150 and 0.300 g NMC per kg of diet. CUR 0.075 and NMC 0.150 improved final weight, weight gain (%), specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio. Survival rate was more increased with NMC 0.150, which improved the biomass gain. The lowest levels of serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase and the highest levels of acid phosphatase, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase were detected in NMC 0.150 (p < .05). Malondialdehyde was significantly lower in NMC 0.150 compared with the control. NMC treatments showed higher levels of total protein, lysozyme and albumin than the other treatments. It is concluded that both the dietary CUR and NMC improved the antioxidant and immunity response of P. vannamei, however, NMC 0.150 induced a better overall shrimp performance. Application of nanocarriers for the delivery of dietary immunostimulants seems promising in shrimp nutrition.