Innovation: Scutellaria baïcalensis, the future star of animal production!

Video : the benefits of Scutellaria baicalensis extracts in animal nutrition and health

Fabrice Robert, head of R&D at CCPA Group, explains the mode of action and interests of the use of Scutellaria baicalensis extracts in animal nutrition.

What are the active ingredients of Scutellaria baicalensis?

Scutellaria Baïcalensis contains in its root several active ingredients of interest including baïcaline, which is transformed by the intestinal flora into baïcaléine (5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone), a flavonoid. 

Flavonoids are essential vitamins for cell protection. Discovered as early as 1935 by Hungarian Professor Albert Szent-Györgyi, flavonoids were the subject of a first article in the journal Nature in 1936, highlighting their biological activity improving cell protection. They will then experience growing scientific interest, with the number of articles devoted to them increasing from 70 in 1970 to 1,000 in 2000 and then to more than 8,000 in 2018. As early as 1972, Professor Albert Szent-Györgyi highlighted several benefits of flavones, including increased cell and epithelial resistance (reduced permeability) and a synergistic action with vitamin C. 
These flavonoids are essential organic compounds for growth and nutrition and cannot be synthesized. Their presence in forages is variable, with a higher amount of flavonoids in natural grasslands and the lowest rates in corn silage. Most flavonoids have direct antioxidant effects and some are able to stimulate cellular defences even at low doses. 
The world of flavonoids is complex with more than 6,000 molecules identified. Some flavonoids are able to activate cell defense systems, such as mammary epithelial cells or intestinal epithelial cells. A significant amount of research continues to characterize the activity of these flavonoids on different tissues, and then imagine their zootechnical applications. >>Find out more about the CCPA Group's phyto-expertise. 

Nutritional solutions adapted to each species

The CCPA Group demonstrated that the flavonoids of Scutellaria Baïcalensis have a stimulating action on cellular defences, whether these cells are mammary epithelial cells or cells of the intestinal wall. Through this action, the cells have optimized functioning with improved metabolism, both in terms of milk secretion (for mammary epithelial cells) and nutrient assimilation (for intestinal wall cells).

The CCPA Group has developed nutritional solutions for each species, including a patented extract of Scutellaria Baïcalensis:

• Feedstim® Poultry for broilers and laying hens
• Feedstim® Dairy for cows, goats and sheep
• Feedstim® Sow for sows
• Feedstim® Rabbit for rabbits