Microencapsulation of anthocyanins from Rubus spp. and Ipomoea batatas (L.) in ornamental aquaculture: a minireview of their use as a feed additive, influence on pigmentation, and technical relevance

Document Type : Review

Authors

• Annye Campos Venâncio Ferreira ¹
• Gabriel Laquete de Barros ²
• Leticia Maria Albuquerque Conceição ¹
• Daniel Ferreira Rodrigues de Oliveira ¹
• Giovanna Rodrigues Stringhetta ³
• Leonardo Nora ⁴
• Dacley Hertes Neu ¹
• Claucia Aparecida Honorato ¹

¹ Departamento de Produção Animal, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias (FCA), Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD). Rodovia Dourados - Itahum, km 12. Cidade Universitária. CEP: 79.804-970. Dourados/MS. Brazil

² Department of reasech, Mozambique Institute of Agricultural Research (IIAM) - Northeast Zonal Center, Nampula,Mozambique; b Department of Science and Agroindustrial Technology, Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Capão Do Leão, RS, Brazil

³ Laboratório de Ictiologia do Instituto de Meio Ambiente de Mato Grosso do Sul (IMASUL), Instituto de Meio Ambiente de Mato Grosso do Sul (IMASUL), Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente, Desenvolvimento, Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação. Av. Afonso Pena - Chácara Cachoeira, Nº 6001. CEP 79031-010. Campo Grande/MS. Brazil

⁴ Department of Science and Agroindustrial Technology, Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Capão Do Leão/RS, Brazil

10.22034/iar.2025.2009467.1896

Abstract

Ornamental aquaculture represents a multibillion-dollar global market based on the trade of aquatic organisms and products related to their breeding and maintenance. In this context, ornamental fish stand out due to their high economic and zootechnical relevance. The commercial value of ornamental fish is directly linked to their phenotypic characteristics, particularly skin colouration. However, a frequent reduction in pigmentation intensity is observed when fish are kept in culture or aquarium systems. As a strategy to mitigate this effect, dietary supplementation with natural additives has shown promise. Among these, natural pigments are relevant, especially anthocyanin compounds, which, in addition to affecting colouration, also promote physiological benefits to organisms, acting as antioxidants and metabolic modulators. Microencapsulation emerges as a technique to preserve the stability of these pigments against external environmental factors. This review addresses the use of bioactive compounds in aquaculture, the blackberry fruit (Rubus spp.) and the purple sweet potato tuber (Ipomoea batatas (L.)), the influence of anthocyanins on fish colouration, and the microencapsulation technique for natural anthocyanin pigments.

Keywords

• Antioxidants
• Fish farming
• Natural colors
• Nutritional additives

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