The effect of hexane-extracted Teucrium Polium L. on the ruminal microorganism’s fermentation activity using in vitro technique

Teucrium polium L. is a plant from the Lamiaceae family which is very important in Folk Medicine, however, its effects on fermentation characteristics are still unknown. In this experiment, the effect of hexane oil extracted of Teucrium polium L. by soxhlet device was investigated on some fermentation activities of ruminal microorganism (bacteria, protozoa, and fungi) with a balanced ration, in vitro. The hexane extract of Teucrium polium L. was added to a culture medium prepared from sheep's rumen fluid and artificial saliva (ratio of 1 to 2) with proportions of 0, 150, 300, and 450 ppm, and some fermentation parameters were finally measured. With an increase in the extract level from 0 to 450 ppm, NH3-N and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) showed a significant increase (linear) compared to the control, but other parameters such as pH, gas production parameters (24 and 48 h gas, potential and constant rate of gas production), degradability of dry matter and organic matter were not differ. The partitioning factor (PF), microbial mass yield, and efficiency of microbial mass yield were lowest at 450 ppm. The overall results showed that the hexane extract of Teucrium polium L. was able to modify and improve some of the fermentation parameters in the culture medium (e.g. increase in ammonia nitrogen and TVFA. Also, the highest changes were observed at 450 ppm. It also seems that levels of less than 450 ppm are not able to significantly change the studied fermentation parameters compared to control.