Effects of Chlorogenic Acid and 1,8-Cineole on Stress Resistance and Muscle Quality of Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea)

The objective of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of dietary supplementation of chlorogenic acid (CGA) and 1,8-cineole (CIN) on the stress resistance and muscle quality of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). A 3×2 two-factor design was employed, with six experimental diets containing three levels of CGA (0.05%, 0.10%, and 0.15%) and two levels of CIN (0.10% and 0.15%). The seventh diet was a control without CGA or CIN supplementation. Juvenile large yellow croakers were selected for a 60-day feeding trial, and thereafter, an air exposure stress test was conducted. The results showed that CGA and CIN supplementation improved the post-stress survival rate (SR) of L. crocea and reduced the degree of changes in the glucose, cortisol, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels before and after stress. While CGA and CIN supplementation substantially reduced the intramuscular crude lipid content and upregulated the expression of the muscle growth-related genes myogenic differentiation (myod), myogenin (myog), myogenic factor 5 (myf5), and myostatin (mstn). Moreover, CGA and CIN supplementation improved the hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and shear force of the muscle. Meanwhile, they elevated the hydroxyproline content and total antioxidative capacity, and reduced the malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, and cathepsin B activity in the muscles. In conclusion, the combination of 0.10% dietary CGA and 0.15% CIN supplementation remarkably increased the stress resistance and muscle quality of the large yellow croaker.