Antimicrobial and Digestive Effects of Yucca schidigera Extracts Related to Production and Environment Implications of Ruminant and Non-Ruminant Animals: A Review

Abstract

Plant extracts have been used over time in traditional medicine, mainly for their antimicrobial activity as well as for their medicinal effects. Plant-derived products contain secondary metabolites that prevent pathogenic microbial growth similar to conventional medicines. These secondary metabolites can enhance animal health and production in a more natural or organic manner and may contribute to the reduction in the use of pharmacological drugs in animal feed, which is of great concern for emerging microbial resistance. Plant secondary metabolites can be cost effective, while improving the production efficiency of ruminants, non-ruminants, and aquatic food animals. Among the plant-derived products is the Yucca schidigera extract (YSE), containing steroidal saponins as their main active component. YSE has multiple biological effects, including inhibition of some pathogenic bacteria, protozoa, and nematodes. YSE is used to control odor and ammonia and consistently enhance poultry production by enhancing intestinal health and function. In pigs, results are as yet inconclusive. In ruminants, YSE works against protozoa, has selective action against bacteria, and reduces the archaea populations; all these effects are reflected in the reduction in emissions of polluting gases, mainly methane, although the effects are not observed in all feeding conditions. These effects of YSE are discussed in this review. YSE has potential as a natural feed additive for sustainable animal production while contributing to the mitigation of contaminant gas emissions.

Chinese Herbal Extracts Mitigate Ammonia Generation in the Cecum of Laying Hens: An In Vitro Study

“…Chinese herbal medicine extracts have the advantages of natural sources, no pollution, low cost, etc., and are rich in a variety of active substances and have a wide range of effects, which may have the potential to reduce ammonia gas in laying hens. Yucca extract has been proven to lower the levels of ammonia [ 22 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Thus, 11 Chinese herbal extracts were selected to validate their potential to minimize ammonia emissions from laying hens during in vitro fermentation.…”

Enhancement of protective vaccine-induced antibody titer to swine diseases and growth performance by Amino-Zn, yucca extract, and β-mannanase feed additive in wean-finishing pigs

“…Indeed, plant-derived products that contain secondary metabolites could help the animals to improve their health and production by reducing microbial resistance exhibited by pharmacological drugs (AZn) used in animal feed. Previously, Zúñiga-Serrano et al ( 27 ) reported that secondary plant metabolites are cost-effective for improving the production efficiency of non-ruminants. Feed costs play a determining factor in profitable and sustainable animal production.…”

The Effect of Yucca schidigera Extract on Serum Metabolites of Angus Crossbreed Steers with Metabolomics

“…For that reason, the dietary addition of Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) was initially used to reduce stress and improve the antioxidant capacity of broilers, swine, dairy cows, and steers [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. In addition to antioxidant function, the saponins in YSE also have antiprotozoal activity [ 7 ]. Saponin is a natural cholesterol binder that can produce a stable linkage to cholesterol on the surface of the cell membrane of a protozoan so that the integrity of the cell membrane is broken, resulting in cell lysis [ 8 ].…”