Standardization of an in vitro spectrophotometric method for the evaluation of the ammonia-binding properties of plant extracts rich in saponins

Saponins have been described to play an essential role in gas reduction from the intensive farming industry due to their potential lowering ammonia monogastric animals[1], [2]. Thus, saponins are a natural way to decrease odors from pigs and poultry wastes, resulting in improved animal welfare and productivity[3]. To monitor their activity, ABC50 method (for Ammonia-Binding Capacity). allows defin of a product necessary to reduce 50% of the free ammoniac in solution (ABC50 value). The lower the ABC50 value, the more the tested product or molecule is efficient bind ammonia. However, many studies have shown that close control of pH value, as well as several parameters, r a standardized and reliable method[3]-[5]. The objective of this study was improve the method by developing a standardized protocol to neutralize bias and allow studying complex plant extracts rich in ammonia binding molecules such as saponins. The optimized method was carried out on a yucca extract, showing stable results, with the mean intra-day ABC50 value 2.80±2.38, and inter-day ABC50 value of 2.70±0.07, a good of the method. It was also tested on a complex mixture of saponin-rich plants mean intra-day ABC50 value 1.60±0.06 and inter-day ABC50 value of 1.60±0.06. his work resulted in the standardization of a method useful to evaluate ammonia-binding capacity of natural products such as saponin-rich plant extracts.

• References

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