Degradation of quillaja saponins by mixed culture of rumen microbes

Quillaja saponin (QS) was incubated at 39°C in an in vitro medium containing rumenliquor from a cow fed a roughage diet. Nodegradation of QS was observed up to 6 h offermentation. Incubation for 9, 12 and 24 hdecreased the content of QS by 16%, 45% and 100%.The content of QS did not decreasewhen incubated for 24 h in the medium containing autoclavedrumen liquor, suggestingthat rumen microbes have enzyme(s) capable of degrading QS. The fateof QSwill help gain a better understanding of mechanisms of action of QS on rumenfermentation,and its beneficial effects mediated by binding to ammonia.