Effect of simulated foregut digestion on the antioxidant capacity of plants naturally consumed by horses

Herbal medicine has impacted veterinary including equine practice. Many of the postulated health-promoting effects medicinal plants are discussed in context their antioxidative properties, but different factors such as digestion can have an effect on activities compounds. The simulated foregut conditions antioxidant capacity seven commonly consumed by horses and/or present complementary diet was investigated. Plants included willow tree (Salix cinerea), purple purpurea), regrowth (new sprouts growing at foot willows oak (Quercus spp.), meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria hawthorn (Crataegus), and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Aqueous extracts obtained from bark leaves were compared. Two methods, Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) Trolox equivalent (TEAC) using 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays, used to measure total (TAC) before after process. results showed that TAC all studied plant decreased (P < 0.05) following process indicating active compounds degraded. In fact, a decrease values up 80 % 83 observed TEAC ORAC assays respectively. Such drop must be taken into account when considering efficiency animals.