352 Awardee Talk: Opportunities for Antioxidants and Plant-Derived Polyphenols to Improve Ruminant Health and Productivity

Abstract

Abstract Plants have been used throughout history for their medicinal properties. This use has often focused on human health but plants have also been applied in animal health management and methane mitigation. Recent interest has focused on the extraction and concentration of plant bioactives for use as dietary additives, in particular as essential oils, polyphenols or antioxidants. Recent research has demonstrated that dietary antioxidants can reduce the impact of heat stress (HS) and other stressors on oxidative stress (OS). However, delivery of antioxidant supplements in extensive grazing systems is problematic and so efforts have been directed at providing antioxidant activity using forage crops high in antioxidants and polyphenols. Polyphenols are a group of compounds with antioxidant properties that can be found in various parts of plants including seeds, roots, leaves and flowers. Polyphenols have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that prevent OS by reducing production of reactive oxygen species. For example, sugar cane-derived polyphenols reduce OS and improve growth performance in chickens. Also, polyphenols can act as hormones and growth regulators and enzyme modulators. The aim of this review is to discuss the effects of dietary antioxidants on HS in ruminants and the potential of plant-derived polyphenols to deliver similar benefits.