Abstract
Simple SummaryPlant bioactive compounds have been chosen as alternative antibiotic to promote animal productivity. Biochanin A is a type of naturally occurring bioactive compound. It is O-methylated isoflavone and is found in red clover, alfalfa sprouts, and other legumes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of biochanin A on rumen microbial fermentation and composition. The results show that biochanin a increases microbial gas production, but has no effect on volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. Microbial urease activity was inhibited by Biochanin A with the IC50 of 320 nM. Biochanin A also inhibited the degradation rate of Val, Lys, Met, Leu and total amino acids, respectively. The inhibition of urease activity and amino acid decomposition by biochanin A resulted in a reduction in ammonia. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that biochanin A reduced the abundance of proteolytic bacteria Prevotella and Streptococcus. Therefore, biochanin A reduced the production of ammonia by inhibiting proteolytic bacteria and its decomposition of urea and amino acids activity.Biochanin A is a naturally occurring flavonoid compound that is found in plant species such as red clover (Trifolium pretense) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Flavonoids have been reported to regulate ruminal fermentation, and the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of biochanin A on ruminal microbial composition and nitrogen metabolism. The experiment was performed by in vitro batch culturing of a control (without biochanin A) and a biochanin A treatment. Following a 24-h incubation, gas production and the amounts of ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), volatile fatty acid (VFA), and amino acids were measured. Microbial population using 16S rRNA gene sequence. We found that the addition of biochanin A significantly increased microbial gas production; but had no effect on VFA production. Biochanin A supplementation also resulted in reduced microbial urease activity with half the maximal inhibitory concentration of 320 nM and also inhibited the degradation rates of total amino acids, valine, lysine, methionine and leucine by 18%, 56%, 37%, 13%, and 12%, respectively. This inhibition of urease activity and amino acid decomposition resulted in a significant reduction in the NH3-N concentration. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA sequence to monitor microbial composition showed that biochanin A significantly reduced the abundance of the proteolytic bacteria Prevotella and ureolytic bacteria Selenomonas, but increased the abundance of the lactic acid metabolizing bacteria Veillonella and Megasphaera. In conclusion, biochanin A reduced the production of ammonia by inhibiting proteolytic bacteria and their decomposition of urea and amino acids.
Highlights
The inclusion of antibiotics, such as monensin, as a feed additive has been reported to inhibit hyper ammonia-producing bacteria, which leads to slower ammonia production and the increased ruminal bypass of proteins [1,2]
There was no significant effect on NH3 -N level at the initial addition of biochanin A (p > 0.05); by the significant effect on NH3‐N level at the initial addition of biochanin A (p > 0.05); by the second, third and fourth generations, biochanin A inhibited NH3 -N production by 26.4%, 28.0% and second, third and fourth generations, biochanin A inhibited NH3‐N production by 26.4%, 28.0% and
Dietary protein and urea are the substrates for ammonia production in the rumen, and the suppressed ammonia outbreak has the benefit for increasing ruminal microbial protein synthesis efficiency and by-pass protein mass, which help to provide more metabolizable protein for ruminants [24]
Summary
The inclusion of antibiotics, such as monensin, as a feed additive has been reported to inhibit hyper ammonia-producing bacteria, which leads to slower ammonia production and the increased ruminal bypass of proteins [1,2]. A drawback to the use of antibiotics as growth-promoters in animal feed is that it can promote the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains [3]. Flavonoids and other phenolic compounds have been studied and found to regulate ruminal microbial fermentation [4,5]. Flavonoids are the products of plant secondary metabolism, and their biological activities depend on structural characteristics, such as their pattern of glycosylation. Different flavonoids can have different antimicrobial effects which influence the extent to which rumen fermentation can be altered [4,6]. Biochanin A is a natural organic O-methylated isoflavone found in the pasture legume red clover (Trifolium pratense) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) [7]
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