Flavonoids: Health Promoting Phytochemicals for Animal Production-a Review

Abstract

WHAT ARE FLAVONOIDS P hytochemicals are the substances found naturally in all fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants that, ingested daily or rarely, may exhibit a potential for modulating the human metabolism in a way favorable for the preclusion of chronic and degenerative diseases. These days, many studies are conducted on thousands of phytochemicals that may have important physiological and biochemical effects. Among phyto-chemicals, several compounds, including flavonoids, polyphenols, stilbenes, carotenoids and anthocyanins, are known to be important for a number of health promoting effects. Flavonoids have aroused enormous interest in the Review Article Abstract | Flavonoids are phytochemicals derived from plants that known to possess several surprising health effects. They have been divided into several sub-classes, among those isoflavones (soy flavonoids) and flavanones (citrus flavonoids) have aroused great interest due to their immense availability and multidimensional properties. They exert their effects both as purified molecules and as plant extracts. Their well known properties includes anti-inflammation, antioxidation, antimicrobial, antiallergic and immunomodulation, have indicated both in animal and human models. Their mod-ulatory role in several biological processes has also been identified like oxidation, detoxification of enzymes, apoptosis, host immune system and several others. Their potential to interfere with numerous cellular processes such as protection of genomic vitality suggest that flavonoids may used as dietary compounds for promotion of health and preclusion of several infectious and non-infectious diseases. They are known to enhance the gut morphology and functionality, mucosal and cellular immunity, immune organs size and amelioration of heat stress in farm animals; that suggested them health promoting phytochemicals for animal production.