Study on a growth promoting effect and mechanism of the extract of stem and leaf from <i>Atractylodes lancea</i> DC. on nile tilapia

Atractylodes stems and leaves, often discarded as waste, were investigated for their growth-promoting effects and chemical composition. This study evaluated <i>Atractylodes lancea</i> DC. extract (ALE) on <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> growth, with optimal treatment at 7.5 mg/mL for 24 h. ALE’s effects on Nile tilapia were also assessed using 120 juvenile fish fed diets with different ALE doses (0.2%, 0.4%, 0.8%) for 31 days. Results showed that ALE significantly improved fish growth, survival, and intestinal health. Network pharmacology suggested that key compounds (rutin, luteolin) promoted growth through the PI3K-Akt pathways. Rutin and luteolin in ALE were confirmed by HPLC with authentic standards. RT-qPCR further showed that ALE activated the Grb2/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in tilapia, supporting the predicted growth-related mechanism, and highlighting ALE’s potential for sustainable aquaculture.