Effects of dietary Periplaneta americana water extract on growth, chemical composition, muscle antioxidant status, and meat quality of Nile tilapia

This study investigated the effects of dietary Periplaneta americana water extract (PAWE) supplementation (0, 1, 2, and 4 g/kg) on the chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality in Nile tilapia. The results showed that the extract improved weight gaining rated of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Meanwhile, dietary PAWE decreased lactate content, glycolytic potential, centrifugal water loss, and cooking loss, and enhanced muscle pH, protein content, total sulfhydryl content and meat color in Nile tilapia muscle. Dietary PAWE also improved the total antioxidant capability with enhanced superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and lowered contents of reactive oxygen species, and lipid and protein oxidation products (i.e. thiobarbituric acid reactive species and protein carbonylation). Moreover, dietary PAWE enhanced the contents of flavor amino acids, total amino acids, adenosine monophosphate, and 5′-inosine monophosphate with enhanced the taste indicators (umami, richness and sweetness). In addition, PAWE supplementation improved myofiber growth and muscle protein deposition likely by activating of the IGFs/PI3K/Akt/TOR/S6K1/4E-BP1 pathway, contributing to the enhanced growth performance of Nile tilapia. The optimal dietary PAWE requirement for maximum growth and muscle protein was approximately 3g/kg. Together, PAWE is a promising natural food additive that enhances muscle quality and nutritional value of Nile tilapia.