New perspectives on lycopene: alleviation of sulfamethoxazole-induced inflammation, ER stress, and autophagy in the gills of grass carp

Key Points

• Lycopene effectively reduces inflammation in the gills of grass carp subjected to sulfamethoxazole exposure, improving overall health.
• The study finds a significant decrease in markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress due to lycopene treatment, highlighting its protective properties.
• Assessment using biochemical assays confirms that lycopene promotes autophagy in the gills, further aiding recovery from stress.
• These findings suggest that lycopene may serve as a beneficial dietary supplement to enhance fish health and welfare under environmental stress.