Effect of Sapindus mukorossi extracts on in vitro methanogenesis and fermentation characteristics in buffalo rumen liquor

The berries of Sapindus mukorossi (soap nut) extracted in water, methanol and ethanol were tested for their effects on methanogenesis and fermentation of feed with buffalo rumen liquor in in vitro gas production test. The depression in methane and gas production was 96% and 39.4%, 20% and 11.5%, 22.7% and 0% with ethanol, water and methanol extracts, respectively, as compared to respective controls. The extracts also exhibited antiprotozoal activity resulting in 70-90% lesser protozoa count in the treated samples. The proportion of acetate was lower (P < 0.05) and that of propionate higher (P < 0.05) resulting in a decrease in acetate/propionate ratio with all the three extracts tested. The pH of incubation medium containing extract was significantly lower as compared with the medium without any extract. There was a significant depression in in vitro dry matter degradability of feed with all the three extracts. The data indicated that soapnut extracts appear to have a potential to be used as antimethanogenic and antiprotozoal agents.