Verbascoside Affects Rabbit Mineral Profile Parameters

Verbascoside is a compound that belongs to a group of natural substances present in plants used in traditional medicine. It possesses multiple biological capabilities including anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-tumour properties. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of verbascoside in two different concentrations (1 g/kg-LVB and 2 mg/kg-HVB in food mixture) on selected parameters of mineral profiles in rabbit blood. In our study the experiment lasted for 120 days and was executed on 45 New Zealand rabbit bucks. The average age of animals was 1 year±2 month. Rabbits were divided into three homogenous groups-first being the control group fed with a feed without any additives (control); LVB group with 5 mg/kg and HVB group supplemented with 10 mg/kg of verbascoside. In our experiment verbascoside did not cause significant changes in parameters of mineral profile in rabbit blood. Levels of sodium in control group were 135.22 mmol/l. The levels of Na in LVB reached 135.64 mmol/l and in HVB group 134.74 mmol/l. Potassium analysis shown concentrations in the range of 4.32 mmol/l-4.68 mmol/l with the lowest concentration in control group. The concentrations of Ca have remained almost unchanged compared to the control group with LVB group having the same concentration of 3.49 mmol/l and HVB group-3.48 mmol/l. Chlorides concentrations ranged from 106.05 mmol/l to 160.61 mmol/l and did not show any significant changes. Magnesium blood levels in our experiment did not show any significant changes either and ranged from 1.32 mmol/l to 1.34 mmol/l. We can state that verbascoside had no effect on mineral profile parameters in rabbit blood, but it has to be emphasized that its effect is more focused on different functions in various targeted organs as stated above.