article · Biomedicines
Silver nanoparticles are widely used for their antimicrobial properties, but their accumulation in waterways creates toxicity risks for aquatic life. A sixty-day trial evaluated whether quercetin nanoparticles could mitigate toxic effects induced by silver nanoparticles in Nile tilapia. Exposure to silver nanoparticles disrupted whole-body chemical composition, decreasing crude protein and lipid levels while raising moisture and ash content. Silver exposure also raised liver stress markers, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, while depressing glycogen and growth hormone levels. Furthermore, silver nanoparticles inhibited digestive enzymes, elevated harmful gut bacteria, accumulated silver in liver tissue, and upregulated stress and apoptosis genes. Supplementation with quercetin nanoparticles, delivered at four hundred milligrams per litre, effectively countered these toxic impacts. Quercetin nanoparticles restored physiological parameters, supported antioxidant status, and improved overall health indicators in fish both under standard conditions and during silver nanoparticle exposure.
Runoff from industrial and commercial nanomaterials threatens aquatic ecosystems and farmed fisheries. Silver nanoparticles disrupt the metabolism, organ function, and microbiome of economically vital species such as Nile tilapia. Demonstrating that plant-derived antioxidant nanoparticles, such as quercetin nanoparticles, can counteract heavy metal and nanomaterial toxicity provides valuable physiological insight for protecting aquatic animal welfare and sustainable aquaculture operations facing environmental contamination.
This research represents early-stage experimental work testing protective feed additives or water treatments for aquaculture. The findings could interest aquafeed manufacturers and fish farm operators seeking natural therapeutic additives to protect farmed stocks from environmental pollutants and nanomaterial toxicity. However, commercial application remains at an early laboratory stage, requiring further testing on optimal dosing methods, cost-effective formulation, and scaled field efficacy in commercial aquaculture facilities.
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Recently, nanotechnology has become an important research field involved in the improvement of animals’ productivity, including aquaculture. In this field, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained interest as antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agents. On the other hand, their extensive use in other fields increased natural water pollution causing hazardous effects on aquatic organisms. Quercetin is a natural polyphenolic compound of many plants and vegetables, and it acts as a potent antioxidant and therapeutic agent in biological systems. The current study investigated the potential mitigative effect of quercetin nanoparticles (QNPs) against AgNPs-induced toxicity in Nile tilapia via investigating liver function markers, hepatic antioxidant status, apoptosis, and bioaccumulation of silver residues in hepatic tissue in addition to the whole-body chemical composition, hormonal assay, intestinal enzymes activity, and gut microbiota. Fish were grouped into: control fish, fish exposed to 1.98 mg L−1 AgNPs, fish that received 400 mg L−1 QNPs, and fish that received QNPs and AgNPs at the same concentrations. All groups were exposed for 60 days. The moisture and ash contents of the AgNP group were significantly higher than those of the other groups. In contrast, the crude lipid and protein decreased in the whole body. AgNPs significantly increased serum levels of ALT, AST, total cholesterol, and triglycerides and decreased glycogen and growth hormone (*** p < 0.001). The liver and intestinal enzymes’ activities were significantly inhibited (*** p < 0.001), while the oxidative damage liver enzymes, intestinal bacterial and Aeromonas counts, and Ag residues in the liver were significantly increased (*** p < 0.001, and * p < 0.05). AgNPs also significantly upregulated the expression of hepatic Hsp70, caspase3, and p53 genes (* p < 0.05). These findings indicate the oxidative and hepatotoxic effects of AgNPs. QNPs enhanced and restored physiological parameters and health status under normal conditions and after exposure to AgNPs.
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DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030663
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