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Evaluation of the synbiotic effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mushroom extract on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, and immune status of zebrafish danio rerio

Summary

Researchers tested whether combining a yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae with mushroom extract could improve the health and growth of zebrafish. The combination, called a synbiotic, significantly boosted fish growth by over 70%, enhanced their digestive function, and strengthened their immune system. This natural supplement approach shows promise for improving fish farming practices without requiring antibiotics.

Background

The gut microbiota of farmed fish plays crucial roles in digestion, metabolism, and immune regulation. Synbiotics, combining prebiotics and probiotics, offer a promising approach to promote gut health and enhance fish performance. This study investigated fungal-based probiotics as an alternative to bacterial probiotics in synbiotic formulations.

Objective

To evaluate the synbiotic effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mushroom extract on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, and immune status in zebrafish through in vitro and in vivo studies.

Results

S. cerevisiae showed maximum growth in 100% mushroom extract medium. In vivo results demonstrated that zebrafish fed the synbiotic diet exhibited significantly improved growth performance, with 70.8% higher weight gain than control, and increased digestive enzyme activities (amylase, protease, lipase) and immune responses including total protein and lysozyme levels.

Conclusion

The combination of S. cerevisiae and mushroom extract forms an effective synbiotic capable of enhancing growth performance, feed efficiency, digestive enzyme activity, and immune response in zebrafish, offering potential for sustainable aquaculture applications.
  • Published in:BMC Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39245724
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