Ruminants are major emitters of methane gas into the atmosphere thereby contributing to global warming. In an effort to find agents that can reduce ruminant gas emission and increase fodder digestion, plant material is being investigated. In a bioassay using ruminant faecal inoculum, the crude methanolic leaf extract of Helinus integrifolius was found to reduce gas emission at a concentration of 8.0 mg/ml. However, at this concentration fodder digestion is also reduced by 19% over a twenty four hour period and by 36% over a ninety six hour period. The sugar content of the digestate increased seven-fold and five-fold over 24 and 96 h respectively. Total phenolic content of the digestate increased 2.1 times and 1.3 times over 24 and 96 h respectively. At lower extract concentration gas emission is induced suggesting activation of microbiota. Hence, at higher concentrations gas emission is substantially decreased. The results suggest that while gas emission is reduced by addition of the extract the breakdown of cell wall material resulting in the release of sugars and phenolics is not. On the other hand, utilisation of the sugars by the ruminant flora might be substantially inhibited, since the overall digestion is reduced at this concentration of the extract.The distribution and utilisation of Sclerocarya birrea (A Rich.) Hochst., subspecies caffra (Sond) in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.