Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Improves Growth Performance and Protects Against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced...

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) on the growth performance of weaned Hyla rabbits and explore its protective effects against oxidative stress in the liver and intestine by establishing a hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative stress model. In Exp.1, ninety-six weaned rabbits were used to evaluate the effects of dietary GSPE level on growth performance, and the results showed that a 400 mg/kg GSPE addition increased the feed conversion ratio and liver coefficient and promoted cholesterol metabolism. Exp.2 was conducted to explore the H₂O₂ concentration required to establish an oxidative stress model, indicating that the model could be established by an intraperitoneal injection of 10% H₂O₂ at a dosage of 1 mL/kg body weight. In Exp.3, seventy-two weaned rabbits were used to investigate the protective effects against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in the liver and intestine. Our findings showed that 400 mg/kg GSPE supplementation could alleviate the adverse effects of H₂O₂ injection on the antioxidant capacity in the liver and intestine as well as liver morphology. Therefore, an addition of 400 mg/kg GSPE could improve growth performance and alleviate H₂O₂-induced adverse effects on the liver and small intestine by enhancing the antioxidative capacity in weaned Hyla rabbits.