The effects of tannin levels in three Brazilian browse legumes Mimosa hostilis (Jurema Preta), Mimosa caesalpinifolia (Sabiá) e Bauhinia cheilantha (Mororó) on growth and endoglucanase activity of Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD1 were evaluated. Isolated cultures of Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD1 were used to assess cellular growth, 1, 4-beta-endoglucanase activity, and cellulose digestion in the presence of 50, 100, 200 and 400µg/ml of purified tannins from the three legume species. Growth of FD1, 1, 4-beta-endoglucanase activity and cellulose digestion were highly inhibited by the presence of purified tannins of the three legume species. However, the intensity of inhibition varied in according to the legume species and tannin concentration.
rumen; cellulose digestion; cellulase; ruminal bacteria; proantocyanidin
