Effects of hydroalcoholic extract of honeybee pollen on growth performance, flesh quality, and immune and stress response response of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The effects of dietary hydroalcoholic extract of honeybee pollen (HBPE) on growth performance, flesh quality, immunity and stress response were investigated. Two hundred fifty‐five rainbow trout (11.14 ± 1.06 g) were fed five diets containing increasing levels of HBPE: control, 0.25HBPE (0.25 g HBPE/kg), 0.5HBPE (0.5 g HBPE/kg), 1HBPE (1 g HBPE/kg) and 1.5HBPE (1.5 g HBPE/kg). After 56 days, rainbow trout fed the 0.5HBPE and 1HBPE diets displayed significantly higher weight gain (49.58 and 53.25 g) and protein efficiency (2.88 and 2.83) compared to those fed the control diet (4.89 and 2.05), respectively (p  < .05). For flesh quality, higher protein content in the whole body of fish fed the 1HBPE (633.3 g/kg) and 1.5HBPE (640.9 g/kg) diets was observed when compared to other groups (p  < .05). There were no significant differences in the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid content. Individuals fed the 1HBPE (234.5 g/kg) and 1.5HBPE (234.7 g/kg) diets exhibited higher levels of n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the muscle than the other groups (p  < .05). In terms of the immune system, the serum lysozyme and alternative complement pathway haemolytic activity levels in the 0.5HBPE (47.66 and 148.00 U/ml) and 1HBPE (46.00 and 146.33 U/ml) treatments were higher than the other treatments (p  < .05). When Aeromonas hydrophila was exposed to different dosages of HBPE, a higher inhibitory zone resulted from 1,000 and 1,500 mg/ml dosage. The lower levels of plasma cortisol were observed in the 1HBPE and 1.5HBPE groups after the complement stress test. Collectively, the present findings suggest that the 1HBPE diet supported superior growth, flesh quality, immunity and stress response of rainbow trout.