Factors affecting the separation and bioactivity of red clover (Trifolium pratense) extracts assayed against Clostridium sticklandii, a ruminal hyper ammonia-producing bacterium

Nat Prod Commun. 2012 Dec;7(12):1605-8.

Abstract

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is rich in phenolic compounds. Both the crude phenolic extract and biochanin A, an isoflavonoid component of the extract, suppress growth of Clostridium sticklandii, a bovine, Gram-positive, ruminal hyper-ammonia producing bacterium (HAB). The purpose of this study was to determine if other components of red clover extract contributed to its anti-HAB activity. Extracts of the Kenland cultivar of red clover, collected 0 h and 24 h after cutting, were separated by normal-phase thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in either ethyl acetate-hexanes (9:1, v/v) or ethyl acetate-methanol (4:1, v/v). Bands on TLC plates were assayed by either overlaying the plates with agar seeded with C. sticklandii, or setting the excised bands face-down onto plates of bacteria-seeded agar. Biochanin A inhibited C. sticklandii growth on TLC plates when as little as 8 nmol was present in the extract. An antimicrobial band, seen in a previous bioassay, was not found, suggesting that this second compound may be more labile than biochanin A.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Clostridium sticklandii / drug effects*
  • Clostridium sticklandii / metabolism
  • Genistein / isolation & purification
  • Genistein / pharmacology
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Phenols / chemistry
  • Phenols / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / metabolism
  • Rumen / microbiology
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Trifolium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Phenols
  • Plant Extracts
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Genistein
  • biochanin A