Effect of plants containing secondary metabolites on ruminal fermentation and methanogenesis in vitro.

The article investigates the effect of kalmegh, neem, bamboo, kesuti, kanchan leaves and akanda bark on methane production, ciliate protozoal population and rumen fermentation. Results show that the inclusion of kalmegh, neem and akanda results in lower production of gas and methane and in the reduction of holotrich and spirotrich protozoal number. Neem, kanchan and kesuti were found to have no effect on the enzyme activity of carboxymethyl cellulase, xylanase and beta-glucosidase.