Abstract
Grape seed proanthocyanidin is a class of polyphenolic compounds with strong anti-oxidation. To study the protection of grape seed proanthocyanidin on zebrafish's early stage embryos from the damage of UVB irradiation, grape seed extract (GSE)(1 mg/ml) was injected into fertilized eggs before they were treated with UVB (36 mJ/cm(2)). We found that the survival rate was significantly higher and the rate of abnormalities was lower in the GSE-treated embryos than in the untreated group. After UVB irradiation, a variety of abnormal embryos occurrred, the total antioxidative capacity decreased, SOD and CAT activities changed. While in the GSE-treated embryos, the total antioxidative capacity, SOD and CAT activities changed greatly. Our study provided evidence for GSE's further extensive application as an antioxidant.