Effect of the addition of a verbascoside-based food supplement in feed, on some blood parameters and plasma oxidative status in White New Zealand rabbits

Two different doses of a dietary verbascoside-based supplement, on selected blood parameters in White New Zealand rabbits, were assessed. The test lasted 120 days and 45 does were divided into three homogeneous groups of 15 animals each, including a control group that did not receive the dietary supplement in the feed. The other two groups have received a food supplement in the feed, titrated to 0.5% of verbascoside in the amount of 100 g/q of food in LVB group and 200 g/q in HVB group. Following parameters were measured: body weight (0d and 120d) and food consumption (from 0d to 120d). Additionally, blood parameters (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase alkaline, calcium, phosphorus, chlorine, magnesium, sodium and potassium) and some indicators of oxidative status in plasma (ROMs, TBARS, vitamin A and E) were measured at 0d, 60d and 120d. In the LVB and HVB groups, there was a significant decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (P<0.05) and aspartate aminotransferase (P<0.01) and an increase in HDL cholesterol (P<0.01). Furthermore, in the LVB and HVB groups, there was a significant improvement in markers of oxidative status due to increase in plasma content of vitamin A and E (P<0.01) and a decrease in the values of ROMs and of TBARS (P<0.01). In conclusion, the results of this experiment show antioxidant activity of the dietary verbascoside-based supplement in the feed.