Effect of tree leaves containing plant secondary metabolites on in vitro methanogenesis and fermentation of feed with buffalo rumen liquor.
Kumar R., Kamra D. N., Agarwal N., Chaudhary L. C., Zadbuke S. S.
Author Affiliation: Rumen Microbiology Laboratory, Centre of Advanced Studies in Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar - 243 122, India.
Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology 11 : 103-114
Abstract : The leaves of Mangifera indica (mango), Eugenia jambolana (jamun), Aegle marmelos (bel), Zyzipus jujuba (ber), Azadirachta indica (neem) and Ficus religiosa (peepal) extracted in three solvents (water, ethanol and methanol) were tested for their effects on gas and methane production, in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) and rumen fermentation characteristics in an in vitro gas production test. Gas production per gram dry matter (DM) of a substrate (wheat straw and concentrate mixture in 1:1 ratio) reduced (P0.05) with leaf extracts of E. jambolana and Z. jujuba. The highest inhibition of methane production was observed with methanol extract (35.7% inhibition) followed by ethanol extract (23.2% inhibition) and water extract (9.2% inhibition) of M. indica leaves, but there was no effect on acetate to propionate ratio and IVTD of the feed with these extracts. Methanol extract of E. jambolana also inhibited methane emission by 24.1%. IVTD of the feed decreased (P0.05) with addition of the extracts of E. jambolana, A. marmelos and Z. jujuba leaves. Antiprotozoal activity was observed with M. indica, E. jambolana and A. indica leaf extracts which was mainly due to a reduction in spirotrichs counts, however, holotrichs were not affected. The results indicated that methanol extract of mango leaves (M. indica) appeared to have a potential to inhibit rumen methanogenesis without adversely affecting other rumen fermentation characteristics.