Bioavailibility and antioxidant capacity of plant extracts rich in polyphenols, given as a single acute dose, in sheep made highly susceptible to lipoperoxidation

The bioavailability and plasmatic antioxidant capacity of four plant extracts rich in polyphenols was evaluated in ruminants’ plasma, sensitized to lipid peroxidation.

Then, Rosemarinus officinalis, Vitis vinifera, Citrus paradisi and Calendula officinalis extracts have been administrated directly in the sheep rumen in a single massive dose. A blood test has been made every three hours during the thirty hours following the four extracts’ administration.

The results showed that the grape extract has been particularly efficient to improve the antioxidant plasmatic status. The difference compared to the control is significant for the grape, starting from 15.00 PM (P<0.05).

Otherwise, grape polyphenols seem to have been partly degraded by the microorganisms of the rumen because new molecules have been found in the animals’ plasma. Last, the four plants’ extracts which have been tested have significantly reduced plasma’s susceptibility to liquid peroxidation.