Effects of dietary lycopene on water quality parameters, antioxidant status, and digestive enzymes activities in the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense

Authors

Fisheries Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Guilan, Iran

10.22092/ijfs.2026.135086

Abstract

Lycopene is a major carotenoid pigment recognized for its potent antioxidant properties and its role as an essential micronutrient in aquafeeds, contributing to enhanced antioxidant activity, immune response, and feed efficiency. This study evaluated the effects of dietary lycopene supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and digestive enzyme activities in the oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense). A total of 225 prawns with an average initial weight of 1.40±0.07 g were fed five formulated diets containing 0 (control), 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg kg⁻¹ lycopene for 56 days. At the end of the feeding trial, hepatopancreas and intestinal tissues were collected for the analysis of growth performance, antioxidant indicators, and digestive enzyme activities using standard biochemical kits and spectrophotometric methods. The results showed that lycopene supplementation significantly improved growth performance and total antioxidant capacity, while the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde were significantly reduced compared with the control group (p<0.05). Digestive enzyme activities were also influenced by lycopene levels, with the highest activities observed in prawns fed 200 mg kg⁻¹ lycopene and the lowest in the control group (p<0.05). Overall, these findings suggest that a dietary inclusion of 200 mg kg⁻¹ lycopene is optimal for enhancing antioxidant status and digestive enzyme activity in M. nipponense juveniles.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences
Volume 25, Issue 2
March 2026
Pages 287-299

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