Novel methods to identify and isolate bio-active iminosugars for rumen manipulation.

The iminosugars are a widespread group of plant and microbial compounds that are attracting interest as therapeutic agents due to their ability to interact with enzymes and microbes within the gut. They have many activities beneficial to health but due to difficulties with their identification and isolation most remain un-investigated. Here we focus on the identification and isolation of novel bioactive iminosugars from plant materials and food waste streams. We hope to find a market for these compounds in the ruminant feed sector where they may help replace the use of antibiotics in the animals diet to develop products that increase the production efficiency and sustainability of domestically supplied ruminant meat and milk for food, reducing the carbon footprint in the supply chain and improving the nutritional value of meat and milk for human consumption.