Gut microbiota of juvenile Cephalopholis sonnerati fed resveratrol, ellagic acid, and oxytetracycline diets

This study investigated the effects of two natural polyphenols, resveratrol and ellagic acid, on the gut microbiota of juvenile Cephalopholis sonnerati, a high value marine fish species. In a 56 day feeding trial, fish were assigned to four dietary treatments: control, oxytetracycline, resveratrol, and ellagic acid. The study aimed to determine whether these polyphenols could serve as alternatives to antibiotics by improving host health and reshaping intestinal microbial communities. In addition to 16S rRNA gene based gut microbiota profiling, growth performance, tissue histology, digestive enzyme activities, antioxidant capacity, innate immunity, and disease resistance were evaluated. This dataset is relevant for understanding diet microbiome interactions in marine fish and provides a resource for developing functional feeds and reducing antibiotic dependence in aquaculture.