title: Degradation of quillaja saponins by mixed culture of rumen microbes.
abstract: Quillaja saponin (QS) was incubated at 39 degrees C in an in vitro medium containing rumen liquor from a cow fed a roughage diet. No degradation of QS was observed up to 6 h of fermentation. Incubation for 9, 12 and 24 h decreased the content of QS by 16%, 45% and 100%. The content of QS did not decrease when incubated for 24 h in the medium containing autoclaved rumen liquor, suggesting that rumen microbes have enzyme(s) capable fo degrading QS. The fate of QS will help gain a better understanding of mechanisms of action of QS on rumen fermentation, and its beneficial effects mediated by binding to ammonia.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Production in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Makkar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005285:Fermentation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D012417:Rumen / Q000382:microbiology*; D012503:Saponins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012503:Saponins