Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) and its Beneficial Role in Poultry Nutrition

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is a famous herbal plant used as a potent antioxidant since ancient times with abundant health benefits. Numerous studies have shown the health benefits of green tea for many diseases. The objective of this article is to know the importance and various uses of green tea and its important constituents in poultry for safeguarding various health issues. The present review article also focuses on several beneficial health applications and salient medicinal properties of green tea that have not been comprehensively reviewed previously. Owing to the bioactive constituents, including caffeine, amino acids (AA), L-theanine, polyphenols/ flavonoids and carbohydrates, among other potent molecules, green tea has many pharmacological and physiological characteristics. Moreover, Camellia sinensis possesses essential biological compounds such as alkaloids, carotenoids, minerals, amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and volatile compounds. Based on scientific literature evidence, green tea has multifunctional applications in livestock animal sectors of dairy, goat and poultry industry. Green tea active ingredients have been shown to possess many health benefits with various mechanisms like antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, antistress, hypolipidemic, hypocholesterolemic, skin/collagen protective, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-infective, anti-parasitic, anti-cancerous, inhibition of tumorigenesis and angiogenesis, and improving memory and bone health. The findings presented would be useful for poultry researchers and farmers and would help to propagate the multidimensional health benefits of green tea.

Keywords: Animal, Applications, Green tea, Health, L-theanine, Poultry.