Potential role of dietary parsley and/or parsley nanoparticles against zinc oxide nanoparticles toxicity induced physiological, and histological alterations in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

In the recent study, Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus was exposed to sublethal concentration of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) (8 mg/L) to study the toxic influence on biochemical and oxidative stress biomarkers. Also, the protective role of dietary parsley leaves and parsley nanoparticles was evaluated. Fish were divided into 6 groups of 3 replicates as follows: group I: was served as control, group II: was fed free basal diet containing parsley leaves (4 g/kg of diet). group III: was fed diet containing parsley nanoparticles (4 g/kg of diet). group IV: exposed to (8 mg/L) ZnO-NPs and fed on basel diet for 6 weeks. group V: exposed to (8 mg/L) ZnO-NPs and fed on parsley leaves (4 g/kg of diet). group VI: exposed to (8 mg/L) ZnO-NPs and fed on parsley nanoparticles (4 g/kg diet) for 6 weeks. At the end of experiment, blood and liver tissues were collected for biochemical analysis and histopathological investigation. Results exhibited significant (p < 0.05) increase in the levels of urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, cortisol, cholesterol, and IgM during ZnO-NPs exposure for 6 weeks. Concurrent with those changes, marked decrease (p < 0.05) in serum triglycerides and IgG levels were observed. On the other hand, the histopathological alterations of the examined liver of tilapia intoxicated with ZnO-NPs showed severe congestion, necrosis and apoptosis of hepatic cells, and marked activation of kupffer cells with mononuclear inflammatory cellular infiltration mainly lymphocytes were prevalent. Intake of parsley and parsley nanoparticles in groups (V &amp; VI) after exposure to ZnO –NPs ameliorated hyperglycemia, total protein and lipid profiles, and blunted the increase in cortisol and modulated the levels of urea, creatinine, and IgM of ZnO –NPs treated fish, and enhanced the hepatic architecture of tilapia fish fed on parsley and nano parsley. The obtained results revealed that the dietary parsley leaves and parsley nanoparticles reduced the influence of ZnO-NPs toxicity on Nile tilapia which was more evidence in fish fed on parsley nanoparticles. It could be concluded that parsley has a hepatoprotective effect in tilapia fish against ZnO-NPs toxicity