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 days of age for 21 days (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), while 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.

中文翻译：

---

竹叶提取物干预对乳猪生长性能、抗氧化能力和肝细胞凋亡的影响

本研究调查了竹叶提取物 (BLE) 是否可以改善哺乳仔猪的生长性能、抗氧化能力和抑制肝细胞凋亡。64 头哺乳仔猪在 3 日龄时用载体（CON 组）或 100、200 或 300 mg BLE/kg 体重（BL、BM 和 BH 组）口服管饲 21 天（n = 8）。结果表明，BLE处理对生长性能没有影响（P＞0.05）。与CON组相比，BM组和BH组的空肠和肝丙二醛（MDA）含量降低（P＜0.05）。补充 BLE 可增加乳猪空肠和肝脏中的抗氧化酶活性和核因子红细胞 2 相关因子 2 (Nrf2) 和几个靶向基因的表达。肝细胞凋亡率较低（P＞0. 05) BLE 治疗组优于 CON 组。与CON组相比，BLE组B细胞淋巴瘤蛋白2（BCL-2）的mRNA水平升高（P <0.05），而BCL-2相关X（BAX）降低（P <0.05）和半胱氨酸天冬氨酸特异性蛋白酶 3 (caspase-3) mRNA 水平。BCL-2、caspase-3蛋白表达结果与mRNA水平一致。总之，我们的研究结果表明，BLE干预可以提高乳猪的抗氧化能力并抑制肝细胞凋亡。BCL-2、caspase-3蛋白表达结果与mRNA水平一致。总之，我们的研究结果表明，BLE干预可以提高乳猪的抗氧化能力并抑制肝细胞凋亡。BCL-2、caspase-3蛋白表达结果与mRNA水平一致。总之，我们的研究结果表明，BLE干预可以提高乳猪的抗氧化能力并抑制肝细胞凋亡。