Flavonoids: Health Promoting Phytochemicals for Animal Production-a Review

Abstract

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 thou-sands of phytochemicals that may have important physiological and biochemical effects. Among phytochemicals, several compounds, including flavonoids, polyphenols, stilbenes, carotenoids and anthocyanins, are known to be important for a number of health promoting effects.