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Dear Colleagues,

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including free radicals, are mainly generated as normal byproducts of aerobic respiration and energy metabolism. Exposure to ROS appears to be unavoidable for cells, and ROS toxicity is controlled by a complex network of non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants. Therefore, oxidative stress can be defined as any imbalance between the production and detoxification of ROS. The links between oxidative stress and the development of adverse physiological outcomes constitute important issues in animal science. It is well established that animals require optimal conditions in terms of antioxidant protection in order to ensure optimal health conditions. However, the toxicity of ROS is only one aspect of their action in living cells, as the transient generation of ROS within boundaries appears to be essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis. Interestingly, mounting evidence indicates that many cellular processes associated with ROS production and detoxification are quite sensitive to the quantity and variety of nutrients provided in the diet. This recent recognition that precise nutrients have the ability to modulate cellular oxidative conditions has prompted a revolution in the field of nutrition.

The aim of this Special Issue of Antioxidants is to present a collection of the latest findings or review articles on the oxidant/antioxidant balance in animal nutrition and health. In particular, we are focused on the molecular action of specific nutrients in relation to the elaboration of innovative nutritional approaches aiming to modulate physiological oxidative conditions and improve animal health.

We look forward to your contribution.

Dr. Jérôme Lapointe
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antioxidants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Animal nutrition
Oxidative stress
Antioxidants
Animal health
Molecular nutrition

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1544 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Dietary Phytogenic Composite Feed Additives on Immune Response, Antioxidant Status, Methane Production, Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Calves

by Krishan Kumar, Avijit Dey, Manoj Kumar Rose and Satbir Singh Dahiya

Antioxidants 2022, 11(2), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11020325 - 08 Feb 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2546

Abstract

The focus on the bioactive effects of plants concerns mainly ruminal microflora for the modulation of rumen fermentation with very little emphasis placed on their consequences on health parameters, including antioxidative and immune stimulating effects. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of supplementing phytogenic feed additives composed of a mixture of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) and poplar (Populus deltoides) leaf-meal (EPLM) on immune response, antioxidant status, metabolic profile, enteric methane production, growth performance, and nutrient utilization in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves. In vitro studies with graded doses of EPLM extract revealed a reduction in total gas and methane production with an increased proportion of propionate without affecting feed degradability. In the in vivo experimentation, eighteen female buffalo calves (10–14 months old, avg. body weight 131.68 ± 7.50 kg) were divided into three groups (CONT, EPLM-1, and EPLM-2) of six each in a completely randomized design. Treatment groups were supplemented with a blend (1:1) of dry grounded eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) and poplar (Populus deltoids) leaves (50 g, EPLM-1; 150 g, EPLM-2). Feed intake and growth rate of buffalo calves fed on different feeding regimens did not differ (p > 0.05). Haemato-biochemical parameters reveal no variations (p > 0.05) among groups, irrespective of period of collection, except the concentration of blood urea, which was decreased (p < 0.05) in both treatment groups as compared to the control. The levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased (p < 0.05) in EPLM supplemented animals as compared to CONT. The extent of lipid peroxidation (LPO) was reduced (p < 0.05) with increased level of EPLM in the diet. The total thiol group (T-SH) was also increased with the supplementation of leaves in the diet. The mean absolute values for skin thickness following the intra-dermal injection of PHA-P were increased (p < 0.05) in all the supplemented animals relative to CONT. However, there was no significant difference among the calves fed graded levels of these feed additives in the diet. The Ab titer against Pasteurella multocida vaccine was higher (p < 0.05) on both day 45 and 90 in both treatments, irrespective of the level of additive supplemented. The enteric methane production was reduced in EPLM supplemented buffaloes; however, digestibility of all the nutrients remained comparable (p > 0.05) among the animals. It may be concluded that blends of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) and poplar (Populus deltoides) leaf-meal (50 g/h/d) containing 3.19 g, 2.30 g, and 0.71 g of total phenolics, tannin phenolics, and condensed tannins, respectively, can be used as the phytogenic feed additive for improving antioxidant status and immunity of buffalo calves, and mitigating enteric methane production without affecting performance and nutrient utilization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidant/Antioxidant Balance in Animal Nutrition and Health)

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Review

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17 pages, 7660 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Antioxidant Properties of Selenium and Vitamin E; Their Role in Periparturient Dairy Cattle Health Regulation

by Jianxin Xiao, Muhammad Zahoor Khan, Yulin Ma, Gibson Maswayi Alugongo, Jiaying Ma, Tianyu Chen, Adnan Khan and Zhijun Cao

Antioxidants 2021, 10(10), 1555; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10101555 - 29 Sep 2021

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 5376

Abstract

Dairy cattle experience health risks during the periparturient period. The continuous overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the transition from late gestation to peak lactation leads to the development of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is usually considered the main contributor to several diseases such as retained placenta, fatty liver, ketosis, mastitis and metritis in periparturient dairy cattle. The oxidative stress is generally balanced by the naturally available antioxidant system in the body of dairy cattle. However, in some special conditions, such as the peripariparturient period, the natural antioxidant system of a body is not able to balance the ROS production. To cope with this situation, the antioxidants are supplied to the dairy cattle from external sources. Natural antioxidants such as selenium and vitamin E have been found to restore normal health by minimizing the harmful effects of excessive ROS production. The deficiencies of Se and vitamin E have been reported to be associated with various diseases in periparturient dairy cattle. Thus in the current review, we highlight the new insights into the Se and vitamin E supplementation as antioxidant agents in the health regulation of periparturient dairy cattle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidant/Antioxidant Balance in Animal Nutrition and Health)

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