Flavonoids have aroused enormous interest in the preceding decades, due to its multidimensional health promoting effects on human, animals and omnipresence in plant king dome. They are known to as “functional ingredients” and “health promoting biomolecules” . Quercetin is a major concern when studies about flavonoids, Quercetin (3,3",4",5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) is one of the polyphenolic flavonoid compound found almost ubiquitous in plants and plant foods sources having strong antioxidant property as free radical terminators. Presence of central C- ring along with high number of hydroxyl groups and conjugated Ï€ orbitals makes the compound strong reducing agents. It is found in various foods such as vegetables, tea, fruits, wine apples and onions, tomatoes and is known to exert positive effect on poultry production and health.
Quercetin, the most plentiful flavonoid has a combined properties of growth promoter, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-lypolytic, potent hepatoprotective, immune boosting and gut health enhancing potential.Being a powerful free radical scavenger, it ameliorates the organ damage, inhibit effect of oxidative stress possess immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.
A substantial amount of literature on different animal studies with positive effects on growth, antioxidant status, hepatoprotection, immunomodulation, gut morphology, gut microbiota with eventual enhancement in gut health and birds health status. Current trends have been focused to find a natural phytoadditive with having a multidimensional action and potentially health promoting effects in animals and birds by nutritionist. Therefore, the aim of this review is to explore the biological actions of quercetin, aware the medicinal importance and highlighting that it can be a excellent phytoadditive for the fast- growing poultry industry as an alternative of banned synthetic growth promoting agents for the welfare of birds.
The research evidences and suggesting that, among the various phytochemical flavonoids, quercetin could be very effective ROS scavengers due to its chemical structural characters. Due to its multifarious biological actions quercetin can be a safe and excellent natural phytoadditive and would be a promising in modern poultry industry to alleviate the sparking issues of this sector, the stress by improvement in health, production and as an alternative of banned synthetic growth promoting agents for the welfare of poultry birds.
Phytochemicals and antioxidants
Phytochemicals, also called phytonutrients, are naturally occurring plant chemicals that can have protective qualities for human health.
Plants produce these chemicals to help protect themselves, for example by making the plant unattractive to insect pests. They also provide the plant with its colour, flavour and smell.
Where are they found?
What do they do?
Flavonoids (For example, anthocyanins and quercetin): found in soybeans, onions, apples, tea and coffee
Polyphenols (For example, resveratrol and ellagic acid): found in green tea, red wine, grapes, berries and wholegrains
Carotenoids (For example, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene): found in red, dark green and orange fruits such as tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, watermelon, leafy greens.
Should I eat foods with phytonutrients?
Phytochemicals are found in unprocessed or minimally processed plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, legumes, herbs, spices, nuts, seeds and other plants.
Thousands of phytochemicals have now been identified. Many of these have antioxidant activity. An antioxidant is a compound that prevents another molecule from becoming oxidised. When molecules in the body become oxidised, free radicals can be formed. Free radicals are very unstable and cause damage within the body as they break down.
Antioxidants stabilise free radicals and prevent this damage by donating electrons.
There are many different groups of phytochemicals which all have different chemical structures. These different types are metabolised differently in the body and may induce different health effects. Examples of phytonutrients include:
Consumption of phytochemicals has been associated with reduced risk of certain chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke), cancer and age-related eye disease.
Those who eat the number of recommended serves of fruit and vegetables each day will have higher intakes of phytochemicals and this will benefit their overall health.
It is important to remember that nutrition and food scientists are still discovering and learning more about phytochemicals, including identifying new ones. It has become clear that phytochemicals are absorbed best by the body when they are eaten as whole foods rather than when they are isolated and taken as pills or other supplements.
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