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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Lexington, Kentucky » Forage-animal Production Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #339925
Title: Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) bitter acids: modulation of rumen fermentation and potential as an alternative growth promoter

Author
item Flythe, Michael
item Kagan, Isabelle
item WANG, YUXI - AAFC LETHRDGE RESEARCH CENTER
item NARVAEZ, NELMY - SGS SEED SERVICES

Submitted to: Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2017
Publication Date: 8/21/2017
Citation: Flythe, M.D., Kagan, I., Wang, Y., Narvaez, N. 2017. Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) bitter acids: modulation of rumen fermentation and potential as an alternative growth promoter. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 4:131. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00131.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00131

Interpretive Summary: This article explores the research that has been done to use the properties of the hops plant to improve ruminant nutrition. The hops plant produces compounds that can selectively kill or prevent the growth of certain bacteria. These compounds have some of the characteristics of well known antimicrobial ruminant growth promoters. The similarities make the research on hops compounds conceptually useful in the broader field of alternatives to veterinary and feed antibiotics.

Technical Abstract: Antibiotics can improve ruminant growth and efficiency by altering rumen fermentation via selective inhibition of microorganisms. However, antibiotic use is increasingly restricted due to concerns about the spread of antibiotic-resistance. Plant-based antimicrobials are alternatives to antibiotics in animal production. The hops plant (Humulus lupulus L.) produces a range of bioactive secondary metabolites, including antimicrobial prenylated phloroglucinols, which are commonly called alpha- and beta-acids. These latter compounds can be considered phyto-ionophores, phytochemicals with a similar antimicrobial mechanism of action to ionophore antibiotics (e.g. monensin, lasalocid). Like ionophores, the hop beta-acids inhibit rumen bacteria possessing a classical Gram-positive cell envelope. This selective inhibition causes several effects on rumen fermentation that are beneficial to finishing cattle, such as decreased proteolysis, ammonia production, acetate: propionate ratio and methane production. This article reviews the effects of hops and hop secondary metabolites on rumen fermentation, including the physiological mechanisms on specific rumen microorganisms, and consequences for the ruminant host and ruminant production. Further, we propose that hop beta-acids are useful model natural products for ruminants because of: 1) the ionophore-like mechanism of action and spectrum of activity, and 2) the literature available on the plant due to its use in brewing.