This document is an assignment on nutraceuticals in laboratory and companion animals submitted by a student. It begins with an introduction that defines nutraceuticals and their classification. It then discusses various categories of nutraceuticals including probiotics, prebiotics, antioxidants, lipids, phenolic compounds, and several important nutraceuticals used in animals like glucosamine, MSM, SAMe, co-enzyme Q10, essential fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine, and milk thistle. References are provided at the end.

1. Course No:- ANN - 607
ASSIGNMENT
ON
NUTRACEUTICALS IN LAB/COMPANION ANIMALS
Submitted by:
Dinesh Pratap Singh
M.V.SC 1st
year
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL NUTRITION
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY,
ANJORA, DURG (C.G)

2. INTRODUCTION:-
• Nutraceuticalsis any substance that is a food or part
of a food that provides health benefitsincludingthe
preventionand treatment of a disease. Also known as
“functionalfoods”.
• The term nutraceuticalwas coined from “nutrition”
and “pharmaceutical”in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice.
• “Pharmaceuticals” are drugs used mainly to treat
diseases, while “Nutraceuticals”are those that are
intendedto prevent diseases.
• Veterinary nutraceuticalhasbeen definedas ‘the use
of micronutrients, macronutrientsand other
nutritionalsupplementsas therapeuticagents’.

3. Classificationof Nutraceuticals:-based on chemical groups.
S/No. Class Example
1 Inorganic mineral
supplements
Minerals (Ca,Fe Mg Zn)
2 Probiotics Helpful Microorganism
3 Prebiotics Digestive Enzymes
4 Antioxidants Natural Antioxidants
5 Phytochemicals-
a)Fatty acids Omega 3 Fatty Acids
b)Proteins Soyaproteins
c) Phenolics B-carotene, lycopene,
lutein
d)Isoprenoids Carotenoids
e)Lipids Sphingolipids
Probiotics:-
Live microorganism which, when administeredin
adequateamounts, confer a health benefit on the host.
 Species of Lactobacillus
 Bifidobacterium
 Yeast Saccharomycescerevisiae
 Some E.coli and Bacillus species are also used as a
probiotics.

4. Prebiotics:-
Nondigestiblesubstancethat providea beneficial
physiologicaleffect for the host by selectively stimulating the
favorablegrowth of a limitednumber of indigenousbacteria.
Commonly known prebioticsare-
 Oligofructose
 Inulin
 Galacto-oligosaccharides
 Lactulose

5. Antioxidants:-
Antioxidantsare of three categories-True antioxidants,
Reducing agents & Antioxidantsynergists.
Antioxidants Source
VITAMINS
Vitamin C Citrus fruits & vegetables
Vitamin E Grains, nuts & oils
CAROTENOIDS
Lycopene Tomatoes
Beta carotene Carrots, sweet potato
XANTHOPHYLLS
Beta cryptoxanthin Mango, papaya &
oranges
FLAVANOIDS
Rutin Tobacco
Luteolin Onion & Black grapes
Lipids:-
• Examples- Eicosapentaenoicacid (EPA),
docosahexaenoicacid (DHA), ConjugatedlinolenicAcid
(CLA) & alpha-linoleicacid.
• Sources- Fish, algae,flaxseed, geneticallymodified
plantsand seeds Milk fat.
Phenolic compoundsand polyphenols:-
• Examples- β-carotene, lycopene,lutein,astaxanthin.

6. • Sources- Carrots, tomatoes, marigolds, green leafy
vegetables, microalgae.
Some of importantNutraceuticalsin animals:-
Glucosamine:-
• Glucosamineis an amino sugar that is a precursor to
glycosaminoglycans(GAGs) present in the extracellular
matrix of articularcartilage.
• GlucosamineHCL and chondroitinsulfateare commonly
recommended naturalhealth productsfor treating
osteoarthritisin dogs (Rychel, 2010).
• It stimulatessynovial productionof hyaluronicacid,
which is also responsible for joint lubrication.
MSM (Methyl-Sulphonyl-Methane):-

7. • MSM is a metaboliteof industrial-grade
dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO).
• It hasanti- inflammatoryand analgesic properties,
improves joint flexibilityas well as elasticityof
connectivetissue making it a useful supplementfor
muscle and tendon repair.
• The rationalebehindits use, is the possibilityof a dietary
sulfur deficiency.
• MSM is availablein powder form, tablets and capsules
for use in horses and small animals (Vinodhkumar at el.,
2016).
SAMe (s-adenosylmethionine):-
• SAMe is an anti-oxidantwith anti-inflammatory
properties assisting osteoarthritis.
• It is naturallysynthesized and importantas it increases
concentrationsof glutathione,a potent anti-oxidant
protecting the liver from toxinsand cellulardeath.
• SAMe has a short half-life and poor bioavailability.
Therefore, tabletsare enteric coated and administered
on an empty stomach.
Co-enzyme Q10:-
• It is a naturallyoccurring anti-oxidantwhich helpsin
energy productionin the mitochondrion.
• Cells with the highest energy demands, such as in the
heart, have the highest levelsof co-enzyme Q10.
• It is an essential component of the mitochondriaand
playsa vitalrole in intracellularenergy production.
• It is a powerful antioxidantand free radicalscavenger
that helps to stabilize cell membranes, preserving
cellularintegrity and function.

8. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s):-
• This group of fatty acidsare essential because the
body is incapableof producing them.
• Deficiencies may cause growth retardation,skin
lesions, organ failure,impairedfertility and many
other problems.
• The primary EFA’s are omega 6 linoleicacid and its
derivativegamma linolenicacid as well as the omega
3 alpha-linolenicacidand its derivatives
eicosapentaenoicacid (EPA) and docosahexanoicacid
(DHA).
• EFA’s are important componentsof the cell
membrane. They help to increase cellularoxygenation
(vinodhkumarat el. 2016)
Omega 3 Fatty Acids:-
• These have specific anti-inflammatoryproperties.
• They improve symptoms in atopicdogs and improve
food intake in cachexic animals.
• Omega 3 can help to reduce fatty plaqueswithin
bloodvessels.
• Supplementationisassociated with cardiac
arrhythmiasand dogs displayingsymptoms of heart
failure.
• It also helpsto maintainnormal kidney function by
ensuring effective glomerularfiltration.
Glutamine:-
• It is an amino acid which supports the immune system
and provides nourishment for epithelialenterocytes.
• It is supplementedduring diseases of gastrointestinal
tract i.e. parvo-virusdiarrhoea, enteritis, etc.

9. Milk Thistle:-
• It is a powerful antioxidantand helpsto increase the
amount and the activity of several antioxidantenzyme
systems that are involved inthe detoxification
process, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the
glutathioneperoxidasesystem.
• It also stimulatesproteinsynthesis in liver cells, which
helpsto regenerate them and promote hepatic
health.
REFERENCES:-
• Aboul-EneinH.Y., Berczynski P.A. & Kruk I., 2013.
Phenolic compounds:the role of redox regulationin
neurodegenerativedisease and cancer. Mini-Reviews
in Medicinal Chemistry,3:385–98
• Amiridumari H, Sarir H, Afzali N, FanimakkiO. (2013)
Effects of milk thistle seed against aflatoxinB1 in
broiler model. Journal research medicine science.
18(9):786-90
• Bassaganya-RieraJ., HontecillasR. & Wannemuehler
M.J., 2002. Nutritionalimpact of conjugatedlinoleic
acid: a model functionalfood ingredient. In Vitro
CellularDevelopment.Biology – Plant, 38:241–46
• Brown S. A., Brown C. A., Crowell W. A., Barsanti J. A.,
Allen T., CowellC. & Finco D. R., 1998. Beneficial
effects of chronic administration ofdietary omega-3
polyunsaturatedfattyacids in dogs with renal
insufficiency, Journalof Laboratoryand Clinical
Medicine,131(5): 447-455.
• Center S. A., Warner K. L. & McCabe J., 2005.
Evaluation ofthe influence of Sadenosylmethionine
on systemic and hepaticeffects of prednisolonein
dogs, American Journalof VeterinaryResearch,
66:330– 341.

10. THANK YOU