Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42789041›Full record

ArticleVeterinary research communications2026

Dietary watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) rind mitigates nickel- and copper-induced hepatic, metabolic, and nrf2/keap1 signaling disruptions in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Afaf N Abdel Rahman, Abdallah Tageldein Mansour, Ahmed Saud Alsaqufi, Yousef Ahmed Alkhamis, Abdullah AlGuaimi, Saif M Moafa, Tarek Khamis, Rowida E Ibrahim, Abdelhakeem El-Murr, Nehal A Younis

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Article in Veterinary research communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Afaf N Abdel RahmanDepartment of Aquatic Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, PO Box 44511, Zagazig, Egypt. afne56@gmail.com.
Abdallah Tageldein MansourAnimal and Fish Production, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia. amansour@kfu.edu.sa.
Ahmed Saud AlsaqufiAnimal and Fish Production, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia.
Yousef Ahmed AlkhamisAnimal and Fish Production, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah AlGuaimiAnimal and Fish Production, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia.
Saif M MoafaAnimal and Fish Production, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia.
Tarek KhamisDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, PO Box 44511, Zagazig, Egypt.
Rowida E IbrahimDepartment of Aquatic Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, PO Box 44511, Zagazig, Egypt.
Abdelhakeem El-MurrDepartment of Aquatic Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, PO Box 44511, Zagazig, Egypt.
Nehal A YounisDepartment of Aquatic Animal Medicine and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, 12211, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Rising nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) pollution in water bodies has the potential to alter fish physiology and undermine aquaculture sustainability. A valuable byproduct, the watermelon rind (Citrullus lanatus), has potent antioxidant properties. However, its hepatoprotective role against Ni + Cu co-exposure in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) remains uninvestigated. Hence, this study assessed the efficacy of dietary C. lanatus rind powder (CLRP) in safeguarding against liver damage induced by Ni + Cu. Fish (37.30 ± 0.20 g) were assigned to four groups: control, CLRP (40 g/kg diet), Ni + Cu (3.60 and 3.35 mg/L), and CLRP + Ni+Cu for 45 days. Findings showed hepatic dysfunction, as evidenced by increased liver enzymes and reduced protein fractions concurrent with Ni and Cu exposure. In addition, disruption of the lipid profile (increased triglycerides and cholesterol) and elevation of bilirubin fractions were evident in the Ni + Cu group. Simultaneous exposure to Ni and Cu induced suppression of antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase), besides the elevation of malondialdehyde levels. Microscopic analysis of hepatic tissue showed hepatocyte necrosis and degeneration as well as dilation of the portal veins. Furthermore, the co-occurring exposure altered the antioxidant signaling pathway (nrf2/keap1). It also downregulated immune function genes (il10 and ctsb) and upregulated stress response genes (hsp70 and hsp90). Importantly, CLRP supplementation notably strengthens antioxidant capacity, supports lipid metabolism, and maintains liver architecture. Additionally, it reduces hepatocyte injury and transcriptional disruptions. Overall, CLRP (40 g/kg) shows promise in protecting Nile tilapia against Ni + Cu combined exposure, supporting its use as a feed additive in aquaculture.

Indexed as

CichlidsCitrullusCopperNickelAnimal FeedAnimalsAntioxidantsDietDietary SupplementsKelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1LiverNF-E2-Related Factor 2Signal TransductionWater Pollutants, ChemicalAntioxidantsCopperKelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1NF-E2-Related Factor 2NickelWater Pollutants, ChemicalCitrullus lanatus rindCombined metal exposureFunctional feed additiveLiver damageNile tilapiaStress response

Identifiers

PMID42789041

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.