Abstract

Loline, an alkaloid produced by Neotyphodium endophytes in pastoral grass species with potential antimicrobial properties, has several known derivatives; N-formyl loline (NFL), N-acetyl loline (NAL), N-acetyl norloline (NANL), N-methyl loline (NML), and loline base, though the availability and form during rumen fermentation and digestion is unclear. Festuca pratensis seeds either with (LOL) or without (NIL) lolines (150-200 µg/mL) were incubated in either sterile or viable rumen fluid or in either HCL/pepsin (pH 2) or water (pH 7). At 72 hours LOL in sterile rumen fluid had 23%, 26%, and 45% more NFL (P=0.05), NANL (P=0.04), and loline base (P=0.01) respectively, with 27% more total loline present (P=0.06), and 65% more NML (P=0.09) compared with LOL in viable rumen fluid. Loline tended to alter the fermentation pattern as NIL produced 11% more ammonia (P=0.07), and 5% less propionate (P=0.06) than LOL. In HCL/pepsin there were 38%, 49%, and 39% more total lolines (P=0.05), NANL (P=0.02), and NFL (P=0.04) respectively, compared with water. Rumen and abomasal digestion appear to have a small effect on loline’s form and concentration with only slight alteration to the rumen fermentation pattern. Presence of lolines had little evidence of an antimicrobial effect.

KA, Froehlich, A Greer, and RH Bryant

New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production, Volume 79, Palmerston North, 13-19, 2019