Rumen protozoa prey on feed-degrading bacteria synthesizing microbial protein, lowering nitrogen utilization efficiency in ruminants. In this in vitro study, we evaluated six plants (Adansonia digitata, Flemingia macrophylla, Kalimeris indica,Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis, Portulaca oleracea, and Calotropis gigantea) for their potential to inhibit rumen protozoa and identified the phytochemicals potentially responsible for protozoa inhibition. Rumen protozoa were anaerobically cultured in vitro in the presence of each plant at four doses. All of the tested plants reduced total rumen protozoa (p ≤ 0.05), but C. gigantea and B. rapa were the most inhibitory, inhibiting rumen protozoa by 45.6 and 65.7%, respectively, at the dose of 1.1 mg/mL. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a disruption of the extracellular structure of protozoa cells. Only C. gigantea also decreased the wasteful ammoniagenesis (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the A. digitata extract inhibited α-glucosidase activity by about 70% at 100 µg/mL. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis detected quercetin, anthraquinone, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, astragaloside, and myricetin in the tested plant leaves. These plants may hold potential as feed additives to reduce rumen protozoa and α- glucosidase activity. Future research is needed to identify the specific anti-protozoal compound(s), the effects on the rumen microbiome, and its fermentation characteristics.
Tag: plant biochemistry
A review of Cameroonian medicinal plants with potentials for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic
Since the outbreak in December 2019, in Wuhan (China) of COVID-19, approved drugs are still lacking and the world is seeking effective treatment. The purpose of this article is to review the medicinal plants with potential to be used as complementary therapies against COVID-19. Bibliographic information was searched in several databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PROTA, ResearchGate and GLOBEinMED), to retrieve relevant papers on (1) plants used to manage common symptoms of COVID-19, (2) plant secondary metabolites with confirmed inhibitory effects on COVID-19 and (3) plants exhibiting pharmacological activities of relevance for COVID-19 management. A total of 230 species was recorded as potential source of ingredients for the fight against the 2019 novel corona virus. Of these species, 30 contain confirmed antiCOVID-19 secondary metabolites, 90 are used traditionally to manage at least 3 common symptoms of COVID-19, 10 have immunostimulant activity, 52 have anti-inflamatory activity, 14 have antiviral properties and 78 species are documented as used to treat malaria. A PCA analysis showing cluster formatting among the recorded species indicates 4 groups of species and an array of possibility of using individual species or a combination of species for their complementary effects. The authors argue that Cameroonian medicinal plants can be of potential contribution to the fight against COVID-19. Further applied research is needed to provide more scientific evidence for their efficacy, to establish standard formulations and clinical studies as part of efforts to develop therapies for COVID-19.