Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Captivating Colors, Crucial Roles: Astaxanthin’s Antioxidant Impact on Fish Oxidative Stress and Reproductive Performance

This review examines how the antioxidant astaxanthin can protect fish from oxidative stress and improve their reproductive health in aquaculture settings. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because microplastic exposure causes oxidative stress in fish, and antioxidants like astaxanthin could help mitigate that damage. Understanding these protective mechanisms may be important for maintaining the health and safety of farmed fish destined for human consumption.

2023 Animals 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-algal astaxanthin ameliorates polystyrene microplastics-triggered necroptosis and inflammation by mediating mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis in carp’s head kidney lymphocytes (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Researchers investigated whether astaxanthin, a natural pigment from microalgae, could protect carp immune cells from damage caused by polystyrene microplastics. They found that astaxanthin reduced inflammation and cell death triggered by microplastics by helping maintain calcium balance within the cells' mitochondria. The study suggests that natural antioxidant compounds may help mitigate some of the harmful immune effects of microplastic exposure in fish.

2023 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Mitigation of Dietary Microplastic Accumulation and Oxidative Stress Response in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Fry Through Dietary Supplementation of a Natural Microencapsulated Antioxidant

Researchers tested whether a microencapsulated natural antioxidant, astaxanthin, could protect rainbow trout fry from the harmful effects of dietary microplastics over a 60-day feeding trial. The antioxidant supplement reduced microplastic accumulation in fish tissues and helped counteract oxidative stress caused by the plastic particles. The findings suggest that dietary interventions could help mitigate microplastic harm in farmed fish, with potential implications for aquaculture safety.

2025 Animals 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Astaxanthin mitigates oxidative stress caused by microplastics at the expense of reduced skin pigmentation in discus fish

Researchers investigated how microplastics affect skin color in discus fish and whether the antioxidant astaxanthin could help. They found that microplastic exposure triggered oxidative stress that reduced skin pigmentation, and while astaxanthin supplementation improved coloring and antioxidant defenses, the pigment was diverted from skin coloration toward fighting oxidative damage. The study suggests that microplastic-induced stress forces fish to make trade-offs between maintaining body color and combating internal damage.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Copepods' true colors: astaxanthin pigmentation as an indicator of fitness

This review explores how carotenoid pigmentation, particularly the molecule astaxanthin, serves as a visible indicator of health and fitness in copepods, a dominant type of zooplankton. Researchers found that the bright red-orange coloring in copepods is linked to their ability to handle environmental stressors like UV radiation and oxidative damage. The study proposes that pigmentation could be used as a simple, practical tool for assessing the overall condition of zooplankton populations in aquatic ecosystems.

2023 Ecosphere 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Natural-based solutions to mitigate dietary microplastics side effects in fish

Zebrafish reared for 6 months on diets containing microencapsulated astaxanthin and microplastics showed reduced oxidative stress and lower MP accumulation in liver compared to controls, suggesting antioxidant supplementation can mitigate the toxicological effects of dietary microplastic exposure.

2024 Chemosphere 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Mitigating Dietary Microplastic Accumulation and Oxidative Stress Response in European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Juveniles Using a Natural Microencapsulated Antioxidant

In a study with European seabass, researchers found that microplastics in fish feed were absorbed through the gut and accumulated in the liver, triggering oxidative stress. However, when the fish were also given microencapsulated natural astaxanthin (an antioxidant), it reduced both the stress response and the amount of microplastics absorbed by clumping the particles together in the gut. This suggests that certain natural compounds might help reduce the harmful effects of dietary microplastic exposure.

2024 Antioxidants 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Combination Treatments with Astaxanthin-Loaded Microparticles and Pentoxifylline on Intracellular ROS and Radiosensitivity of J774A.1 Macrophages.

This study examined how astaxanthin-loaded microparticles combined with a drug affected reactive oxygen species levels and radiation sensitivity in immune cells. This is a cancer treatment research study with no direct connection to environmental microplastics.

2021 Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Article Tier 2

Dietary Curcumin Promotes Gilthead Seabream Larvae Digestive Capacity and Modulates Oxidative Status

Adding curcumin to the diet of gilthead seabream larvae improved their digestive capacity and antioxidant status. The research explores natural dietary supplements for improving fish health in aquaculture, which is relevant as farmed seafood is a source of microplastic exposure for humans.

2021 Animals 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse effects of microplastics on the growth, photosynthesis, and astaxanthin synthesis of Haematococcus pluvialis

Researchers exposed the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis to polystyrene microplastics and found that while short-term contact briefly stimulated growth, longer exposure inhibited photosynthesis, caused oxidative stress, and impaired the organism's ability to produce astaxanthin, a valuable natural antioxidant. The findings highlight how microplastic pollution could disrupt both aquatic ecosystems and the commercial production of beneficial compounds from algae.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Protective efficacy of dietary natural antioxidants on microplastic particles-induced histopathological lesions in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Researchers tested whether dietary natural antioxidants could protect African catfish from tissue damage caused by microplastic ingestion. Fish fed microplastics alone showed significant kidney, liver, and intestinal damage including cellular necrosis and tissue fibrosis, while fish receiving lycopene, citric acid, or chlorella alongside the microplastics showed substantially reduced tissue injury. The study suggests that natural antioxidant supplementation may help mitigate the harmful effects of microplastic exposure in aquaculture species.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Dose-dependent effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on growth, photosynthesis, and astaxanthin synthesis in Haematococcus pluvialis

Researchers exposed the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis to polystyrene nanoplastics at various concentrations and found that higher doses significantly inhibited growth and photosynthesis. Interestingly, the stressed algae produced more astaxanthin, a natural antioxidant pigment, as a defense response. The study shows that nanoplastic pollution can disrupt algal growth while triggering biochemical stress responses in aquatic organisms.

2024 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Insight Into the Relation Between Nutritional Benefits of Aquaculture Products and its Consumption Hazards: A Global Viewpoint

This review examines the nutritional benefits of aquaculture products alongside consumption hazards from contaminants including microplastics, heavy metals, and antibiotics, emphasizing the need for improved aquaculture practices to ensure food safety globally.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Expanded utilisation of microalgae in global aquafeeds

This review explores how microalgae can be used more widely in aquaculture feeds as a sustainable replacement for fish meal and fish oil. Microalgae provide essential fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and antioxidant pigments that support fish health and growth. While not directly about microplastics, expanding microalgae-based aquaculture feeds could reduce reliance on wild-caught fish from potentially microplastic-contaminated oceans.

2023 Reviews in Aquaculture 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of the use of synthetic astaxanthin in the feeding of Lophiosilurus alexandri, a neotropical siluriform fish

Researchers found that feeding synthetic astaxanthin to Lophiosilurus alexandri juveniles at 100 mg/kg inclusion level resulted in optimal carotenoid retention in tissues without significantly affecting growth, blood biochemistry, or liver histology.

2022 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Natural Antioxidants can Improve Microplastics-Induced Male Reproductive Impairment in the African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus)

Researchers found that natural antioxidants including lycopene, citric acid, and Chlorella can protect against microplastic-induced reproductive damage in male African catfish, offering potential dietary strategies to mitigate microplastic toxicity in aquaculture.

2022 Frontiers in Environmental Science 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Origin, Physical Properties, biodegradation, and Potential Effects of Microplastics on Aquaculture

This review covers the origin, physical properties, biodegradation potential, and ecological effects of microplastics in aquatic systems with a focus on aquaculture, examining how microplastics enter the food chain and accumulate in the human body.

2024 Aquatic Science and Fish Resources (ASFR) /Aquatic Science and Fish Resources (ASFR)
Article Tier 2

The use of chitosan as an antioxidant in the feed of cultivated P. vannamei shrimp against oxidative stress induced by exposure to microplastics

Researchers tested whether adding chitosan to shrimp feed could protect farmed shrimp from oxidative stress caused by microplastic exposure. They found that chitosan supplementation helped counteract the harmful oxidative effects of microplastics on shrimp tissues. The findings suggest that natural antioxidants like chitosan could be a practical strategy for reducing microplastic-related damage in aquaculture.

2024 Marine Environmental Research 4 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

When it Comes to Microplastic Pollution, is the Aquaculture Industry a Victim or Perpetrator?

This systematic review examines microplastic contamination in aquaculture facilities and the animals raised in them. The findings show widespread microplastic presence in farmed fish and shellfish, meaning that aquaculture products are a significant pathway for human microplastic exposure, which could affect immune function over time.

2025 Annals of Animal Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution: An emerging contaminant in aquaculture

This review examines how microplastics are contaminating aquaculture (fish farming) through wastewater, aging equipment, and fish feed, and harming cultured fish through oxidative stress, immune damage, and reproductive problems. Since aquaculture provides a major source of dietary protein worldwide, microplastic contamination in farmed fish is a direct food safety concern. The review recommends better water screening, facility maintenance, and feed quality control to reduce microplastic levels in fish farming.

2023 Aquaculture and Fisheries 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution In The Aquaculture Field: A Mini Review

This mini-review examines microplastic pollution in aquaculture systems, covering how particles accumulate in fish and shellfish, potential health effects on farmed species, and pathways by which aquaculture-derived microplastics enter surrounding environments.

2025 Barakuda 45 Jurnal Ilmu Perikanan dan Kelautan
Article Tier 2

The Eco-Immunological Relevance of the Anti-Oxidant Response in Invasive Molluscs

Not relevant to microplastics — this review examines how antioxidant defence mechanisms in invasive mollusc species help them survive environmental stress and support immune function, with no focus on microplastic exposure.

2023 Antioxidants 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the sources, fate and effects of microplastics in aquatic environments with a focus on risk profiling in aquaculture systems

This review summarizes how microplastics enter aquaculture systems and accumulate in farmed fish, causing toxic effects including immune disruption, oxidative stress, and genetic damage. Since farmed fish are a major food source, the buildup of microplastics in aquaculture poses a direct pathway for these particles to reach human diets.

2024 Reviews in Aquaculture 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of microplastics polystyrene to freshwater planarians and the alleviative effects of anthocyanins

Researchers determined the lethal concentration of polystyrene microplastics for freshwater planarians for the first time and found that exposure disrupted their internal balance, caused oxidative damage, and triggered nerve cell changes and cell death. Notably, long-term exposure to low, environmentally relevant concentrations was more harmful than short-term exposure to high doses. The study also found that anthocyanins, natural plant pigments, could effectively reduce the toxic effects of polystyrene on these organisms.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 3 citations