PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF PHYTOCHEMICALS AS ANTIOXIDANTS ON POULTRY: (Article Review)

Antioxidants have an important and vital function in preserving animal health and have a special role in animal physiological, reproductive, and productive performance. In general, poultry are subjected to a wide and varied range of stressors, including environmental, biological, nutritional, and productive stresses. These stresses frequently occur in quick and intensive poultry production systems, causing health issues related to their physiological and productive performance that may increase the formation of free radicals, which in turn cause lipid peroxidation, leading to a decline in their physiological and productive performance. Therefore, it requires an antioxidant system that can delay the initiation or slow the going rate of harmful oxidative reactions and prevent cellular and molecular damage that results from the influence of free radicals in the cellular metabolism process. Phytochemicals, which are plant-derived non-vitamin, non-mineral substances such as flavonoids and carotenoids, are considered dietary nonenzymatic antioxidants that play a protective role against oxidative reactions and minimize the effects of the body's oxidative stress, which supports the animal's physiological productive efficiency and health.