This study investigated whether bamboo leaf extract (BLE) could improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and inhibit hepatic apoptosis in suckling piglets. Sixty-four suckling piglets were orally gavaged with vehicle (CON group) or 100, 200, or 300 mg BLE/kg body weight (BL, BM, and BH groups) at 3 d of age for 21 d (n = 8). The results showed that BLE treatment had no effects on the growth performance (P > 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the BM and BH groups decreased (P < 0.05) the jejunal and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. Supplementation with BLE increased antioxidant enzymes activities and the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and several targeted genes in the jejunum and liver of suckling piglets. The hepatic apoptosis rate was lower (P < 0.05) in BLE treatment than in the CON group. Compared with the CON group, the BLE groups showed increased (P < 0.05) mRNA levels of B-cell-lymphoma protein 2 (BCL-2), whereas decreased (P < 0.05) BCL-2-associated X (BAX) and cysteine aspartate specific protease-3 (caspase-3) mRNA levels. The results of protein expressions of BCL-2 and caspase-3 were consistent with those of mRNA levels. Altogether, our results indicated that BLE intervention can improve the antioxidant capacity and inhibit hepatic apoptosis in suckling piglets.
Keywords: antioxidant capacity; apoptosis; bamboo leaf extract; suckling piglets.
Neonatal piglets suffer from severe birth oxidative stress due to the immaturity of their antioxidant system. In vitro and in vivo studies have now shown that the function of the antioxidant system can be modulated by bamboo leaf extract (BLE). However, the effects of BLE on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and hepatic apoptosis have not been explored in suckling piglets. The study’s objective was to assess the effects of BLE on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and hepatic apoptosis in suckling piglets. Suckling piglets were orally gavaged with vehicle (CON group) or 100, 200, or 300 mg BLE/kg body weight at 3 d of age for 21 d. Compared to the CON group, BLE treatment had no effects on the growth performance; BLE treatment increased antioxidant enzymes activities and antioxidant-related genes at both the gene and protein expressions in the jejunum and liver of suckling piglets; BLE treatment also inhibited hepatic apoptosis, including hepatic apoptosis rate and the expressions of apoptosis-related genes. These results indicate the efficacy of BLE to improve antioxidant capacity and inhibit hepatic apoptosis in suckling piglets, demonstrating that BLE has a certain protective effect on suckling piglets at the postnatal stage.
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