Inhibition of fructan-fermenting equine faecal bacteria and Streptococcus bovis by hops (Humulus lupulus L.) β-acid.
OBJECTIVE
The goals of this study were to determine if β-acid from hops (Humulus lupulus L.) could be used to control fructan fermentation by equine hindgut micro-organisms, and to verify the antimicrobial mode of action on Streptococcus bovis, which has been implicated in fructan fermentation, hindgut acidosis and pasture-associated laminitis (PAL) in the horse.


RESULTS
Suspensions of uncultivated equine faecal micro-organisms produced fermentation acids when inulin (model fructan) was the substrate, but β-acid (i.e. lupulone) concentrations ≥9 ppm inhibited lactate production and mitigated the decrease in pH. Inulin-fermenting Strep. bovis was isolated from the β-acid-free suspensions after enrichment with inulin. The isolates were sensitive to β-acid, which decreased the viable number of streptococci in faecal suspensions, as well as growth, lactate production and the intracellular potassium of Strep. bovis in pure culture.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are consistent with the hypothesis that hops β-acid prevented the growth of fructan-fermenting equine faecal bacteria, and that the mechanism of action was dissipation of the intracellular potassium of Strep. bovis.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacterial hindgut fermentation of grass fructans has been linked to PAL and other metabolic disorders in horses. Hops β-acid is a potential phytochemical intervention to decrease the growth of bacteria responsible for PAL.
Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
B E
BE
Harlow
L M
LM
Lawrence
I A
IA
Kagan
M D
MD
Flythe
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006736:Horses / Q000382:microbiology*; D027582:Humulus / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007444:Inulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D016985:Streptococcus bovis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013729:Terpenes; D007444:Inulin; C008299:lupulon
carbohydrate overload; feed additive; horse; natural product; non-structural carbohydrates