NatControl® and its effect on salmon skin
In vitro studies show that andrographolide, a bioactive component of NatControl®, significantly promotes epithelial migration and wound closure in fish cells, a key effect in skin repair.
Studies carried out by our research group indicate that andrographolide significantly promotes epithelial migration and wound closure in fish epithelial cells (RTgill-W1 line). Andrographolide, a bioactive component of NatControl®, could support skin quality in salmon through an immunometabolic modulation of the epithelial tissue.
The in vitro evidence in fish cells shows that andrographolide significantly improves cell migration and wound closure, a key effect in epithelial repair processes.
Proposed mechanism
Mechanistically, andrographolide appears to act by reducing excessive inflammation and oxidative stress while restoring the metabolic pathways needed for tissue regeneration. In epithelial models it has been associated with:
- Lower pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and COX-2.
- Inhibition of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK.
- Recovery of metabolic regulators such as HIF-1α and PPARγ.
All of these are linked to tissue repair and the restoration of cellular homeostasis.
What it could mean on the farm
In applied terms, this effect could translate into faster re-epithelialization of skin micro-lesions, better recovery of the skin barrier, less persistence of erosions or superficial damage and, as a result, better skin integrity and appearance at harvest.
Following this biological logic, it is reasonable to infer that NatControl® could contribute to a higher share of fish graded as premium quality, although this relationship should be regarded as a mechanistic inference that is currently under study.
These findings complement what was observed in the UACh & Multi X commercial marine trial, where NatControl® was associated with accelerated tissue reconstruction and sustained IL-22 induction in skin.