Dietary Curcumin Improves Muscle Nutritional Quality and Hepatopancreatic Homeostasis in the Green–Pacific Abalone Hybrid (<em>Haliotis discus hannai</em> ♀ × <em>H. fulgens</em> ♂): Physiological and Transcriptomic Evidence
Dietary curcumin at 0.04% improved muscle quality and antioxidant status in green–Pacific abalone, but the implications for human consumption are not established.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the glutathione (gsh) corpusSummary and findings
This study evaluated the effects of dietary curcumin on muscle nutritional quality and hepatopancreatic homeostasis in 240 green–Pacific abalone hybrids over 8 weeks. The 0.04% curcumin treatment increased muscle crude protein and total amino acids while reducing crude lipid and free fatty acids. Additionally, curcumin improved hepatopancreatic histology and antioxidant enzyme activities.
Abstract
Curcumin is a plant-derived polyphenol with antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and metabolic regulatory activities, but its integrated effects on edible-tissue quality and hepatopancreatic homeostasis in abalone remain unclear. We evaluated five dietary curcumin levels (0, 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.06%, and 0.08%) in 240 green–Pacific abalone hybrids (Haliotis discus hannai ♀ × H. fulgens ♂) for 8 weeks. The 0.04% treatment increased muscle crude protein, while 0.04–0.06% increased total amino acids; all supplemented diets reduced crude lipid and free fatty acids. Curcumin improved hepatopancreatic histology, reduced Oil Red O-positive lipid deposition, increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity, and decreased malondialdehyde. Acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and lysozyme increased in all supplemented groups, whereas polyphenol oxidase peaked at 0.04%. Transcriptomic comparison of the control and 0.04% groups identified 622 differentially expressed genes (336 upregulated and 286 downregulated), with enrichment involving lysosome, phagosome, Toll/Imd, MAPK, and FoxO-associated processes. RT-qPCR confirmed increased SOD2, CAT, and HSP70 expression. Overall, 0.04% dietary curcumin produced the most consistent benefits, improving muscle nutritional quality, redox status, and hepatopancreatic health in hybrid abalone.
Background
This paper investigates the effects of dietary curcumin on muscle quality and hepatopancreatic health in green–Pacific abalone hybrids. Prior research has established curcumin's antioxidant and metabolic regulatory properties, but its specific impacts on edible tissue quality in aquatic species were not well understood. This study aims to fill that gap by examining various concentrations of curcumin and their physiological effects.
Methods
The study utilized a controlled feeding trial with 240 green–Pacific abalone hybrids over 8 weeks. Five dietary levels of curcumin (0, 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.06%, and 0.08%) were tested. Primary outcomes included muscle nutritional quality, hepatopancreatic histology, and antioxidant enzyme activity.
Results
The 0.04% curcumin treatment significantly increased muscle crude protein. Additionally, total amino acids were elevated with 0.04–0.06% curcumin. All supplemented diets led to reductions in crude lipid and free fatty acids. Histological improvements in hepatopancreatic tissue were observed, alongside increased levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. A total of 622 differentially expressed genes were identified between control and 0.04% groups.
Interpretation
The findings suggest that dietary curcumin can enhance muscle quality and antioxidant status in abalone, aligning with previous studies on curcumin's benefits. However, the clinical significance of these findings in humans remains unclear, and the study's limitations, such as the specific species and lack of human data, should be considered when interpreting the results.
Key findings
- 0.04% curcumin increased muscle crude protein, n=240.
- 0.04–0.06% curcumin increased total amino acids, n=240.
- All supplemented diets reduced crude lipid and free fatty acids, n=240.
- 622 differentially expressed genes identified between control and 0.04% groups.
- Increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels with curcumin supplementation.
- Malondialdehyde levels decreased with curcumin supplementation.
Limitations
- specific to green–Pacific abalone hybrids, not generalizable to other species
- no human data provided
- short duration of 8 weeks may not capture long-term effects
- no assessment of potential adverse effects