Effects of essential oils from medicinal plants acclimated to Benin on in vitro ruminal fermentation of Andropogon gayanus grass (Article)

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture

Volume 95, Issue 5, March 30, 2015, Pages 1031-1038

Kouazounde, J.B.^a, 

Jin, L.^a, 

Assogba, F.M.^b, 

Ayedoun, M.A.^c, 

Wang, Y.^a, 

Beauchemin, K.A.^a, 

Mcallister, T.A.^a , 

Gbenou, J.D.^b

 

^a  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, P.O. Box 3000, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
^b  Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie et des Huiles Essentielles, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Faculte des Sciences de la Sante, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, ISBA Champ de Foire, 01 BP 918, Cotonou, Benin
^c  Laboratoire de Phytochimie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Natitingou, Faculté de Médecine de Parakou, Université de Parakou, Parakou, Benin

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Plants from West Africa commonly used in both human and veterinary medicine contain various secondary metabolites. However, their potential in mitigating ruminal methane production has not been explored. This study examined the effects of seven essential oils (EOs) from plants acclimated to Benin at four dosages (100, 200, 300 and 400 mg L^-1), on in vitro rumen microbial fermentation and methane production using Andropogon gayanus grass as a substrate. RESULTS: Compared to control, Laurus nobilis (300-400 mg L^-1), Citrus aurantifolia (300-400 mg L^-1) and Ocimum gratissimum (200-400 mg L^-1) decreased (P < 0.05) methane production (mL g^-1 DM) by 8.1-11.8%, 11.9-17.8% and 7.9-30.6%, respectively. Relative to the control, reductions in methane (mL g^-1 DM) of 11.4%, 13.5% and 14.2% were only observed at 400 mg L^-1 for Eucalyptus citriodora, Ocimum basilicum and Cymbopogon citratus, respectively. These EOs lowered methane without reducing concentrations of total volatile fatty acids or causing a shift from acetate to propionate production. All EOs (except M. piperita) reduced (P < 0.05) apparent dry matter (DM) disappearance of A. gayanus. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated that EOs from plants grown in Benin inhibited in vitro methane production mainly through a reduction in apparent DM digestibility. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

Author keywords

Digestibility; Essential oil; in vitro; Methane; Rumen; Volatile fatty acids

Indexed keywords

Species Index: Andropogon gayanus; Citrus aurantiifolia; Corymbia citriodora; Cymbopogon citratus; Laurus nobilis; Ocimum basilicum; Ocimum gratissimum