Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

Astaxanthin: a powerful antioxidant used in aquaculture for coloration with aquatic animal health implications

Not relevant to microplastics — this review covers astaxanthin, a natural antioxidant pigment used in aquaculture, and its potential health benefits for farmed fish and crustaceans.

2023 Journal of Animal Science and Animal Nutrition 2 citations
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

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

Microplastics elicit an immune-agitative state in coral

Researchers exposed coral to polystyrene microparticles and used lipid profiling to assess the health effects. The study found that even near environmentally relevant concentrations triggered immune activation responses, altered membrane lipid composition, and compromised the photoprotective capacity of symbiotic algae. Evidence indicates that realistic levels of microplastic pollution can disrupt coral physiology and potentially weaken reef resilience.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Calcium-mediated mitigation of aged nanoplastic-induced stress in microalgae: Insights into photosynthesis, energy metabolism, and antioxidant defense from physiological and multi-omics analyses

Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) severely damage microalgae, which are important organisms used to clean wastewater before it enters our water supply. However, adding calcium to the water protected the microalgae from this plastic pollution and helped them continue removing harmful substances from wastewater. This research suggests calcium could help maintain clean water treatment systems even as plastic pollution increases in our environment.

2026 Bioresource Technology
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

Polyethylene microplastics trigger cell apoptosis and inflammation via inducing oxidative stress and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in carp gills

Researchers exposed carp gills to polyethylene microplastics and found that the particles triggered cell death and inflammation through oxidative stress and activation of a key immune signaling pathway called the NLRP3 inflammasome. Higher microplastic concentrations caused more severe gill tissue damage and stronger inflammatory responses. The study reveals a specific molecular mechanism by which microplastics can harm the immune function of freshwater fish.

2022 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 149 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Chlorella vulgaris Bioremediation and Selenium on Genotoxicity, Nephrotoxicity and Oxidative/Antioxidant Imbalance Induced by Polystyrene Nanoplastics in African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Researchers exposed African catfish to polystyrene nanoplastics and found the particles caused DNA damage, kidney tissue changes, and oxidative stress. Supplementing the fish diet with the algae Chlorella vulgaris or the mineral selenium significantly reduced these harmful effects. The study suggests that certain natural supplements may help protect aquatic organisms from nanoplastic-related damage.

2024 Fishes 9 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

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

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

Influence of Polystyrene Microplastics on Mitochondrial Oxidative Damage in Renal and Muscular Tissues of the Freshwater Fish

Researchers exposed freshwater fish to environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene microplastics for up to 15 days and examined mitochondrial damage in kidney and muscle tissues. The exposure disrupted antioxidant defenses, increased oxidative stress, and altered metabolic enzyme activities in both tissue types. Histological examination revealed significant tissue damage including necrosis and degeneration, suggesting that microplastics can cause organ-level toxicity in fish through mitochondrial oxidative stress.

2025 Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano-selenium ameliorates microplastics-induced injury: Histology, antioxidant capacity, immunity and intestinal microbiota of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Researchers tested whether nano-selenium supplements could protect grass carp from damage caused by polystyrene microplastics. They found that nano-selenium reduced the tissue damage, oxidative stress, and immune suppression caused by microplastic exposure, and helped restore healthy gut bacteria. The study suggests that dietary nano-selenium may be a practical strategy for protecting farmed fish from the harmful effects of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 9 citations
Article Tier 2

The Effects of Different Concentrations of Microplastics on the Physiology and Behavior of Sebastes schlegelii

Researchers exposed juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) to polystyrene microplastics for 24 days, finding that concentrations of 0.1 mg/L and above caused significant antioxidant enzyme disruption, immune suppression with rising inflammatory cytokines, and reduced survival at 1 mg/L.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of microplastic (polyethylene) exposure: Bioaccumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses in crucian carp, Carassius carassius

Researchers exposed crucian carp to polyethylene microplastics at various concentrations and found that the particles accumulated in tissues including gills, gut, and liver. The microplastics altered blood cell counts and disrupted the fish's antioxidant defense system in a dose-dependent manner. The study suggests that even common polyethylene microplastics can cause measurable biological harm in freshwater fish.

2023 Chemosphere 35 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
Article Tier 2

Effect of polystyrene microplastics on the antioxidant system and immune response in GIFT (Oreochromis niloticus)

Farmed tilapia exposed to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes showed elevated oxidative stress and immune inflammation markers, particularly in the brain, compared to unexposed fish. The findings suggest chronic microplastic exposure can impair immune defenses in commercially important freshwater fish, raising concerns for both aquaculture and wild fisheries.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Arachidonic acid reverses microplastic-induced macrophage dysfunction in teleost fish

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics impaired macrophage immune function in Nile tilapia, increasing susceptibility to Streptococcus infection; supplementing fish with arachidonic acid reversed this dysfunction by restoring macrophage metabolic activity. The findings suggest that dietary fatty acid supplementation could protect fish immune systems in aquaculture operations exposed to microplastic contamination.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Impact of Chlorella vulgaris Bioremediation and Selenium on Genotoxicity, Nephrotoxicity and Oxidative/Antioxidant Imbalance Induced by Polystyrene Nanoplastics in African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics caused DNA damage, kidney injury, and oxidative stress in African catfish. The study suggests that treatment with the green algae Chlorella vulgaris and the mineral selenium helped reduce these harmful effects, pointing to potential protective strategies against nanoplastic toxicity in aquaculture.

2024 Preprints.org 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics Exposure on the Acropora sp. Antioxidant, Immunization and Energy Metabolism Enzyme Activities

Researchers exposed Acropora coral fragments to microplastics and measured antioxidant enzyme activity, immune markers, and energy metabolism enzymes, finding that MP exposure elevated oxidative stress and suppressed immune function, with effects worsening at higher concentrations.

2021 Frontiers in Microbiology 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Engineered biocorona on microplastics as a toxicity mitigation strategy in marine environment: Experiments with a marine crustacean Artemia salina

Researchers investigated whether coating microplastics with biological molecules (a "biocorona") could reduce their toxicity to the marine crustacean Artemia salina. They found that biocorona formation using cell-free extracts from brine shrimp and algae significantly lowered oxidative stress and cell damage caused by both aminated and carboxylated polystyrene microplastics. The study suggests that natural biological coatings in the ocean may help mitigate some of the harmful effects of microplastic pollution on marine organisms.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of microplastics on freshwater fish (Channa argus): mechanisms of inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy

Freshwater snakehead fish exposed to polystyrene microplastics for four weeks developed inflammation, cell death, and tissue damage in their liver, intestines, kidneys, and gills. The damage worsened with higher microplastic concentrations and involved disruption of the fish's antioxidant defenses and immune system. Since snakehead is a commonly consumed fish in Asia, these findings raise questions about whether microplastics in aquaculture environments could affect the safety of fish as human food.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 8 citations