TY - JOUR
T1 - Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacities and fatty acids profile of 18 alpine plants available as forage for yaks on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
AU - Cui, Guangxin
AU - Degen, A. Allan
AU - Wei, Xiaoxing
AU - Zhou, Jianwei
AU - Ding, Luming
AU - Shang, Zhanhuan
AU - Wei, Xiaohong
AU - Long, Ruijun
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Australian Rangeland Society.
PY - 2016/1/1
Y1 - 2016/1/1
N2 - Traditionally, yaks (Poephagus grunniens) raised on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau graze only natural pasture and much of their diet consists of sedges, in particular Kobresia spp. These ruminants are subjected to an extremely harsh environment of strong UV radiation, hypoxia and severe cold, which can lead to high oxidative stress. Consequently, it was predicted that sedges would contain high concentrations of functional antioxidants when compared with other alpine plants, and that this would help them survive the harsh conditions. To test the prediction, 18 alpine plants on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, which are available to yaks as forage, were examined. These plants, including four sedges, five grasses, five forbs and four shrubs, were analysed for gross constituents, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, phenol content, and fatty acids composition. Based on their Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, the 18 plants were divided into three groups: low, medium and high. Three of the four sedges were ranked in the medium group and one in the low group, whereas three of four shrubs were ranked in the high group. The total phenol content of the plants ranged between 1.1 and 12.4 g gallic acid equivalents per 100 g DM, with the shrubs containing the highest concentrations. The prediction that sedges would contain higher antioxidant capacity than other alpine plants was not supported. It was concluded that other factors such as anti-nutritional contents and biomass availability are also important in determining dietary selection in yaks.
AB - Traditionally, yaks (Poephagus grunniens) raised on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau graze only natural pasture and much of their diet consists of sedges, in particular Kobresia spp. These ruminants are subjected to an extremely harsh environment of strong UV radiation, hypoxia and severe cold, which can lead to high oxidative stress. Consequently, it was predicted that sedges would contain high concentrations of functional antioxidants when compared with other alpine plants, and that this would help them survive the harsh conditions. To test the prediction, 18 alpine plants on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, which are available to yaks as forage, were examined. These plants, including four sedges, five grasses, five forbs and four shrubs, were analysed for gross constituents, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, phenol content, and fatty acids composition. Based on their Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, the 18 plants were divided into three groups: low, medium and high. Three of the four sedges were ranked in the medium group and one in the low group, whereas three of four shrubs were ranked in the high group. The total phenol content of the plants ranged between 1.1 and 12.4 g gallic acid equivalents per 100 g DM, with the shrubs containing the highest concentrations. The prediction that sedges would contain higher antioxidant capacity than other alpine plants was not supported. It was concluded that other factors such as anti-nutritional contents and biomass availability are also important in determining dietary selection in yaks.
KW - altitude
KW - extreme environment phenols
KW - oxidative stress
KW - tannins
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84982893518&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/RJ16012
DO - 10.1071/RJ16012
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84982893518
SN - 1036-9872
VL - 38
SP - 373
EP - 380
JO - Rangeland Journal
JF - Rangeland Journal
IS - 4
ER -