title: The effect of ajowan (Carum copticum L.) essential oils on eukaryotic ruminal microorganisms of Mehraban sheep.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Essential oils may improve the utilization of nutrients by ruminal microorganisms. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different doses of ajowan essential oils (AEO) on growth and fibrolytic activity of anaerobic fungi, and generic distribution of ciliated protozoa (in vitro).
  
  
  METHODS
  Different doses of AEO (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 ppm) were added to experimental tubes. The effect of AEO was evaluated on growth and fibrolytic enzyme activity of an anaerobic fungus (Neocalimastix spp.). Generic distribution of ciliated protozoa were evaluated in response to different doses of AEO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The growth of fungus (Neocalimastix spp.) were inhibited and activity of fibrolytic enzymes of fungus were reduced by adding AEO. Also, an inhibitory effect was seen in concentration of ciliated protozoa and some genus were completely disappeared at the doses of 300 ppm and higher. The doses used in this study reduced the fibrolytic activity of the studied rumen microorganisms which is undesirable in practical animal nutrition. Further research is needed to assess the effects of AEO at lower doses on these parameters and also proteolysis and methanogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Razieh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talebzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Daryoush
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alipour
keywords: Carum copticum; Rumen; ajowan; anaerobic fungi; ciliated protozoa
references.citation: J Appl Microbiol. 2000 May;88(5):887-96
references.pmid: 10792550
references.citation: Appl Environ Microbiol. 2003 Aug;69(8):5011-4
references.pmid: 12902303
references.citation: Naturwissenschaften. 2005 Nov;92(11):497-503
references.pmid: 16193308
references.citation: Animal. 2010 Jul;4(7):1024-36
references.pmid: 22444607