Small Ruminant Production Based on Rangelands to Optimize Animal Nutrition and Health: Building an Interdisciplinary Approach to Evaluate Nutraceutical Plants

Abstract

The plant kingdom can influence the productivity and health of herbivores at different levels. However, demonstrating this process in a scientific manner entails substantial endeavors from different disciplines. In the present review, we will describe the features of a native vegetation system traditionally used by small ruminants and use its particularities to build an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate the nutraceutical properties of plants. Initially, we will establish the context of the low deciduous forest (LDF), considering some botanical and nutritional aspects, as well as the presence of plant secondary compounds (PSC) and gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Furthermore, we will focus on coevolutionary aspects that undoubtedly shaped the plants–nutrients–PSC–GIN–herbivore relationship. In addition, the concept of nutraceutical will be discussed to provide clarity and aspects to be considered for their evaluation. Then, ethological, agronomical, nutritional, PSC, parasitological and animal species issues are deepened placing emphasis on methodological approaches. Special focus is given to condensed tannins, as they are the fourth largest group of PSCs and the most studied in livestock sciences. Validation of the nutraceutical properties of plants from native vegetation systems should be seen as a process derived from many scientific disciplines that feed into each other in a cyclic manner.

Effects of Medicinal Plants and Organic Selenium against Ovine Haemonchosis

“…Well-known anthelmintic effects of herbal medicines against the GIN Haemonchus contortus are associated with bioactive compounds, mainly tannins, saponins, and flavonoids, with two possible general mechanisms of action: direct effects on the parasite, or indirect effects by interaction with the host immune system [ 4 ]. The scientific evaluation of plant nutraceuticals against GIN parasites (similar to those developed to assess the efficacy of synthetic drugs against GINs) however, requires a multidisciplinary approach between parasitologists and other scientists [ 5 , 6 ]. Our previous studies found that the effect of medicinal plants on GIN-infected sheep depended on the variety and synergy of polyphenols in medicinal plants and on the combination of bioactive compounds that together had an effect contributing to pharmacological efficacy [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”

Applying spatio-chemical analysis to grassland ecosystems for the illustration of chemoscapes and creation of healthscapes

“…The list was used for the identification and phytochemical description of plants in LUMGS with nutraceutical, prophylactic, and medicinal potential. In addition to such a database, and as suggested by Torres-Fajardo et al (2020), other scientific reports, expert knowledge, New Zealand national plants online database, local knowledge, and public online databases were also considered (refer to Tables 1 and 2).…”

“…Grassland ecosystems are heterogeneous landscapes dominated by herbaceous and shrub vegetation (White et al, 2000). This heterogeneity is not only taxonomic in distinct types of grasses, forbs, shrubs, and trees, but also implicitly distinct in phytochemistry (Torres-Fajardo et al, 2020). The implicit biochemical diversity of taxonomically rich grasslands presents different biochemical structures not only in plant primary metabolites (protein, polysaccharides, minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids) but also in diverse secondary metabolites called plant secondary compounds (PSC), from which benefits for animals, humans, and the environment are multiple (nutritional, medicinal, and prophylactic).…”

Actividad antihelmíntica in vivo de terpenos y aceites esenciales en pequeños rumiantes

“…Actualmente se han identificado unas 80,000 plantas que ejercen alguna influencia sobre la salud y la productividad animal (82), por lo tanto, resulta necesario conocer la naturaleza de sus interacciones con los herbívoros y de esta forma poder sugerir su uso como recursos que representen un beneficio nutricional y farmacéutico en los sistemas de producción de ovinos y caprinos (83,84). Estos beneficios podrían estar representados en los denominados alimentos funcionales o recursos nutracéuticos.…”