Effects of verbascoside administration on the blood parameters and oxidative status in jennies and their suckling foals: potential improvement of milk for human use.
BACKGROUND
Oxidative damage of tissues and cellular components is a primary or secondary cause of many human diseases and is associated with the welfare and productivity of farm animals. Natural antioxidants have gained attention for the prevention of oxidative damage-related diseases.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of dietary supplementation with a natural polyphenol (verbascoside, VB) on the serum lipid profile, the hepatic functionality and oxidative status of jennies and their suckling foals.


RESULTS
Supplementation with VB over 30 days decreased in jennies the serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, bilirubin, AST and ALT, and it increased the HDL cholesterol. As markers of the oxidative status, a decrease of ROMs and TBARs, and an increase in vitamin E levels were observed. Interestingly, the suckling foals showed the same trends in the blood parameters and oxidative status.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation with VB influenced the lipidic and hepatic profiles, and oxidative status of jennies and the suckling foals, and may represent a potentially novel strategy for improving the functional properties of donkey's milk for human diet and for improving the welfare of young animals.
Angela G
AG
D'Alessandro
Donato
D
Casamassima
Felicita
F
Jirillo
Department of Scienze Agro- Ambientali e Territoriali (DISAAT), University of Bari, Via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy. angelagabriella.dalessandro@uniba.it.
Giovanni
G
Martemucci
D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D003611:Dairy Products; D018397:Equidae / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008892:Milk / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols
D000975:Antioxidants; D005960:Glucosides; D008055:Lipids; D010636:Phenols; C058956:acteoside; D059808:Polyphenols