title: Effects of essential oils from medicinal plants acclimated to Benin on in vitro ruminal fermentation of Andropogon gayanus grass.
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.
authors.affiliation: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, P.O. Box 3000, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1J 4B1.
authors.forename: Jacques B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kouazounde
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Fidele M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Assogba
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ayedoun
authors.forename: Yuxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Beauchemin
authors.forename: Tim A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: McAllister
authors.forename: Joachim D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gbenou
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization; D031722:Andropogon / Q000737:chemistry*; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001541:Benin; D002417:Cattle; D004063:Digestion; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D005747:Gastric Fistula; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D017752:Greenhouse Effect / Q000517:prevention & control; D058751:Livestock; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D008697:Methane
keywords: digestibility; essential oil; in vitro; methane; rumen; volatile fatty acids