Objective: This work explored the HPLC method of silymarin in preventing CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in New Zealand albino rabbits in an aspect of its anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects. Methods: Seventy-five NZW male rabbits, aged eight weeks, were randomly assigned into five equal groups. The first group served as the control and did not receive any treatment, while the other four groups were administered a subcutaneous injection of CCl4 (0.5 ml) twice weekly for three weeks. After CCl4 administration, the treated groups were provided with the basal control diet supplemented with silymarin at doses of 25, 50, or 75 mg/kg body weight for six weeks. Results: Oral silymarin at 50 and 75 mg/kg improved hepato-testicular weights compared to this study's CCl4-induced liver injury group. Among these three doses, the dose of 50 mg/kg enhanced the highest level in total serum proteins such as total protein, albumin, and globulin as well as in thyroid proteins. Additionally, the dose of the extract within the current experiment also exhibited a relatively significant antioxidant impact that enhances liver functions by reducing the content of ALT, AST, and ALP. Also, in the group treated with silymarin at 50 mg/kg, there was a hypocholesterolemic action manifesting reduced serum cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride while elevated HDL cholesterol compared to other groups. Conclusion: Dietary silymarin supplementation, particularly at 50 mg/kg, appears to be a promising strategy for improving antioxidant activity, liver function, and blood lipid profile in rabbits experiencing CCl4-induced hepatic injury. This suggests its potential for alleviating these conditions.

Heat stress (HS) adversely affects rabbit production, reducing growth performance, physiological responses, and farm profitability. Nanoemulsified orange essential oil (NOEO) is a natural antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties that may mitigate oxidative stress and enhance cellular defense mechanisms. This study evaluated the effects of dietary NOEO on growth performance, blood biochemistry, antioxidant status, immune and inflammatory responses, and liver and kidney histomorphology in heat-stressed rabbits. Forty-eight six-week-old male New Zealand White rabbits (752.91 ± 17.40 g) were randomly assigned to four groups: a control group fed a basal diet and three treatment groups receiving the same diet supplemented with 100, 200, or 400 mg NOEO/kg feed. Heat-stressed rabbits supplemented with NOEO showed significant ( p < 0.05) improvements in body weight, feed conversion ratio, and performance index. Blood hematology and serum levels of total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein were also enhanced in all treated groups compared with the control. NOEO supplementation improved antioxidant defenses, as indicated by increased total antioxidant capacity and elevated activities of key antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase), particularly in the NOEO400 treated group ( p < 0.05). Nitric oxide levels were significantly higher, while malondialdehyde concentrations were significantly lower in NOEO200 and NOEO400 groups, reflecting reduced oxidative stress ( p < 0.05). Immune responses were strengthened, with higher serum IgM and IgA levels, accompanied by downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IFN-γ ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, liver and kidney function and tissue structure were improved in NOEO-supplemented rabbits. In conclusion, dietary NOEO, particularly at 400 mg/kg, enhanced growth performance, antioxidant status, immune competence, and hepato-renal health in heat-stressed rabbits, likely through improved cellular defense mechanisms that protect against oxidative and inflammatory damage.