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.

SJ, Pike, NM Schreurs, RE Hickson, JJ Hunt, PR Kenyon, DJ Garrick, HT Blair, and ST Morris

New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production, Volume 79, Palmerston North, 156-158, 2019