Effect of Dietary Plant Secondary Metabolites on Rumen Fermentation and Microbial Community: A Review

Plants are a significant source of novel medicinal products and secondary metabolites are a distinctive source of pharmaceutical food additives, flavours and other industrial commodities. These plant secondary metabolites are found to manipulate rumen fermentation process by altering the population of microbial community. Changes in microbial population has further aided in limiting the biohydrogenation process of fatty acids and production of methane. Biohydrgenation of the ingested fatty acids results in saturated fatty acids produced at the cost of unsaturated fatty acids. Animal science advocates are trying various feasible approaches to influence ruminal biohydrogenation processes to achieve ruminant-derived products with reduced saturated fatty acids quantity, which would be of significant value to the wellness of consumers. Dose dependent action of plant secondary metabolites on rumen microbes is not completely investigated. Under the present scenario it would be most apt to explore the potentials of phytochemicals as modulators of ruminal biohydrogenation vis-a-vis most other supplements, such as oil or oil-rich grains.