Meta-analysis on methane mitigating properties of saponin-rich sources in the rumen: influence of addition levels and plant sources
Open accessAbstract
Saponins have been considered as promising natural substances for mitigating methane emissions from ruminants. However, studies reported that addition of saponin-rich sources often arrived at contrasting results, i.e. either it decreased methane or it did not. The aim of the present study was to assess ruminal methane emissions through a meta-analytical approach of integrating related studies from published papers which described various levels of different saponin-rich sources being added to ruminant feed. A database was constructed from published literature reporting the addition of saponin-rich sources at various levels and then monitoring ruminal methane emissions in vitro. Accordingly, levels of saponin-rich source additions as well as different saponin sources were specified in the database. Apart from methane, other related rumen fermentation parameters were also included in the database, i.e. organic matter digestibility, gas production, pH, ammonia concentration, short-chain fatty acid profiles and protozoal count. A total of 23 studies comprised of 89 data points met the inclusion criteria. The data obtained were subsequently subjected to a statistical meta-analysis based on mixed model methodology. Accordingly, different studies were treated as random effects whereas levels of saponin-rich source additions or different saponin sources were considered as fixed effects. Model statistics used were p-value and root mean square error. Results showed that an addition of increasing levels of a saponin-rich source decreased methane emission per unit of substrate incubated as well as per unit of total gas produced (p<0.05). There was a decrease in acetate proportion (linear pattern; p<0.001) and an increase in propionate proportion (linear pattern; p<0.001) with increasing levels of saponin. Log protozoal count decreased (p<0.05) at higher saponin levels. Comparing between different saponin-rich sources, all saponin sources, i.e. quillaja, tea and yucca saponins produced less methane per unit of total gas than that of control (p<0.05). Although numerically the order of effectiveness of saponin-rich sources in mitigating methane was yucca>tea>quillaja, statistically they did not differ each other. It can be concluded that methane mitigating properties of saponins in the rumen are level- and source-dependent.
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Plant secondary metabolites have shown significant manipulation of the rumen microflora leading to a shift in fermentation dynamics and milk production in lactating animals.
“Despite the sustainability of functional redundancy in the rumen microbiome, plant secondary metabolites have shown significant manipulation of the rumen microflora leading to a shift in fermentation dynamics and milk production in lactating animals (29, 31, 145–147).”
From Phytogenic Additives Can Modulate Rumen Microbiome to Mediate Fermentation Kinetics and Methanogenesis Through Exploiting Diet–Microbe Interaction (2020) · cites this paper as [31]
The Results and Discussion report that saponin-rich plant sources reduced rumen protozoa and shifted fermentation toward less acetate and more propionate. However, the Discussion’s account of a trial in early-lactating dairy cows says saponins did not affect milk production or rumen fermentation, so the claimed effect in lactating animals is not supported. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSaponins reduce protozoal population and some methanogens associated with protozoa, although their effect on methanogens does not always correlate with the effect on protozoa.
“Saponins reduce the protozoal population and some methanogens associated with protozoa, although their effect on methanogens does not always correlate with the effect on protozoa (31).”
From Phytogenic Additives Can Modulate Rumen Microbiome to Mediate Fermentation Kinetics and Methanogenesis Through Exploiting Diet–Microbe Interaction (2020) · cites this paper as [31]
The Results report that protozoal counts fell at higher saponin levels, and the Discussion says methanogens associated with protozoa also decrease. The Discussion does not say that effects on methanogens sometimes fail to correlate with effects on protozoa; its caveat instead concerns methanogen activity and methane emissions. It also notes that methanogen measures were not included in the meta-analysis (Discussion, Influence of addition levels; page unavailable). (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPlant secondary metabolites have shown to reduce methanogenesis both in vitro and in vivo.
“They have also shown to reduce the methanogenesis both in vitro and in vivo (29, 31, 76, 148, 149).”
From Phytogenic Additives Can Modulate Rumen Microbiome to Mediate Fermentation Kinetics and Methanogenesis Through Exploiting Diet–Microbe Interaction (2020) · cites this paper as [31]
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References 63 · Cited by 146
- Authors
- Jayanegara, A., Wina, E., & Takahashi, J.
- Affiliations
- IPB University (ID)
- Corresponding author
- Jayanegara, Anuraga
- Venue
- Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
- Published
- 2014-08-20
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1426-1435
- ISSN
- 1011-2367 (ISSN-L)
- 1976-5517
- PMC
- PMC4150175
- OpenAlex
- W2096636414
- Cited by
- 146
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 21.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
- Keywords
- saponins, ruminant methane emissions, Quillaja saponin, tea saponin, short-chain fatty acids, acetate, propionate, rumen protozoa, rumen fermentation, organic matter digestibility, ammonia, gas production
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