Effects of Sapindus saponaria fruits on ruminal fermentation and duodenal nitrogen flow of sheep fed a tropical grass diet with and without legume1

Abstract

Six adult African-type hair sheep (BW = 40.3 +/- 6.3 kg) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were subjected to four treatments. Sheep were offered basal diets at a rate of 80 g of DM/kg of metabolic BW (equivalent to ad libitum access) consisting either of a low-quality grass hay (Brachiaria dictyoneura, 3.7% CP, DM basis) alone or in combination with a forage legume (Cratylia argentea, 18.6% CP, DM basis) in a 3:1 ratio (DM basis). In addition, 0 or 8 g of DM of Sapindus saponaria fruits (12.0% crude saponins, DM basis) per kilogram of metabolic BW was administered intraruminally. Supplementation of C. argentea increased intakes of OM (+21%; P < 0.01) and CP (+130%; P < 0.001), as well as ruminal fluid ammonia N concentrations (from 2.40 to 8.43 mg/dL; P < 0.001). Apparent OM and N digestibilities were not affected by legume addition, but ADF digestibility decreased by 10% (P < 0.01). Total ruminal VFA concentration was unchanged, but acetate:propionate was lower (P < 0.01) and isobutyrate proportion was greater (P < 0.001) with the legume addition. Legume supplementation increased duodenal flows of total N (+56%; P < 0.001), nonammonia N (+52%; P < 0.001), ruminal escape N (+80%; P < 0.001), and microbial N (+28%; P < 0.05). Microbial efficiency was not affected by legume addition. Supplementation of S. saponaria increased (P < 0.05) dietary OM intake by 14%, but had no effect on CP intake and ruminal fluid ammonia concentration or on OM and N digestion. Digestibility of ADF was decreased (P < 0.01) by 10% with S. saponaria as was acetate:propionate (P < 0.001) and the isobutyrate proportion (P < 0.001). Ruminal protozoa counts increased (P < 0.01) by 67% with S. saponaria. Duodenal N flows were not significantly affected by S. saponaria supplementation, except for microbial N flow (+34%; P < 0.01). Microbial efficiency was greater (P < 0.05) by 63% with the addition of S. saponaria. Few interactions between legume and S. saponaria supplementation were observed. The NDF digestibility was decreased with S. saponaria in the grass-alone diet, but not in the legume-supplemented diet (interaction; P < 0.05). Interactions were absent in ruminal fermentation measures and duodenal N flow, indicating that effects were additive. Results suggest that, even when not decreasing ruminal protozoa count, supplementation of S. saponaria fruits is a beneficial way to improve ruminal VFA profile, microbial efficiency, and duodenal flow of microbial protein in sheep fed tropical grass-alone or grass-legume diets.

Bioactivity of phytochemicals in some lesser-known plants and their effects and potential applications in livestock and aquaculture production systems

“…Yucca saponins have also been shown to stimulate growth of Prevotella (Bacteroides) ruminicola present in the rumen (Wallace et al, 1994). Abreu et al (2004) and Hess et al (2004) found an increase in duodenal flow of microbial-nitrogen in sheep fed Sapindus saponaria fruit. However, Hristov et al (1999) did not obtain a significant effect of yucca saponin on microbial protein flow to the intestine in heifers.…”

“…These observations suggest that the nature of diet plays a considerable role in determining the effects of saponins. The addition of S. saponaria fruit to a sheep diet decreased plasma urea, suggesting that less ammonia was absorbed from the rumen (Abreu et al, 2004;Hess et al, 2004). This would decrease the energy lost in detoxification of ammonia by the liver and its discharge in urine as urea, contributing to the higher productivity.…”

Dereplication of glycosides from Sapindus saponaria using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

“…[12][13][14][15][16] For the present study collections were done monthly covering a complete maturation cycle, from the time they had just emerged from flowers (early May), until late October (spring), when the fruits start to fall from branches. During this period, the fruits go through great changes both in color, from green to dark-brown, and in weight, from ca.…”

“…Despite the potential importance of Sapindus plants as a good source of bioactive saponins, [12][13][14][15][16] S. saponaria lacks a more detailed study on its chemical composition. The current developments in liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry furnished us a powerful technique for detection and identification of saponins and related glycosides [17][18][19] in plant extracts.…”

Effect of dietary saponins from Quillaja saponaria L. on fatty acid composition and cholesterol content in muscle Longissimus dorsi of lambs

“…This cholesterol-reducing effect is attributed to saponins ability to form insoluble complexes (micelles) with sterols (Sidhu and Oakenfull, 1986), such as cholesterol and bile acids. Several feedstuff used for livestock feeding, such as Yucca schidigera (Singer et al, 2008;Holtshausen et al, 2009), Quillaja saponaria (Holtshausen et al, 2009), Medicago sativa (Klita et al, 1996) and Sapindus saponaria (Abreu et al, 2004) contain saponins and are used in -E-mail: vvasta@unict.it animal nutrition with the purpose of inhibiting methanogenesis in the rumen (Patra and Saxena, 2010). Some studies have shown that saponins can be degraded by ruminal microflora (Gutierrez et al, 1959;Makkar and Becker, 1997).…”