Effects of berberine supplementation in high starch diet on growth performance, antioxidative status, immune parameters and ammonia stress response of fingerling black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii)

Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline alkaloid with hepatoprotective, anti-obesity, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study investigated berberine supplementation in high starch diet on growth performance, antioxidative status, immune parameters, and ammonia stress response of black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii). Three isonitrogenous diets were prepared as Con: control diet (14% starch), HS: high starch diet (23% starch), and HSB: high starch diet with 50 mg/kg berberine. After the 8-week feeding trial, HS and HSB groups had similar specific growth rate and weight gain, but they were significantly lower than that of the Con group (P