Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chemical defense in birch: Inhibition of digestibility in ruminants by phenolic extracts

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The biological activity of phenolic extracts originating from winter twigs of birch (Betula pendula Roth.) was measured using the ruminant in vitro method and the nylon bag technique. Different extracts were prepared by extraction with organic solvents, removing phenols of corresponding solubility. The extract of birch twigs (diameter <1.5 mm) contained about 19% phenol equivalents, corresponding to 6% of twig dry matter (DM). Coarse birch twigs (diameter 1.5–5 mm) contained about 3% in the DM Phenolic extracts from the fine birch twigs were added to coarse birch twigs and common timothy (Phleum pratense L.) to mimic natural concentrations of fine birch twigs. Controls and the plant material with phenolic extract added were incubated for different times with rumen inocula taken from a sheep fed browse and a goat fed hay. Nylon bags containing phenolic treated hay were incubated in the rumen of the goat for 6 and 48 h. Phenolic extracts had a considerable negative effect on the organic matter (OM), protein and cell wall (neutral detergent fiber, NDF) digestibility in vitro. The nylon bag OM disappearance was also depressed by the extract. The effects were measurable after 6 h of digestion both in vitro and in sacco.

The high inhibitory effect by the extracts on digestibility persisted even after removal of lipophilic fractions. This suggests that some or several water-soluble phenolic substances are responsible for the depression of digestibility. The depression of OM digestibility is linearly related to the concentration of phenols added. However, the inhibition of nylon bag digestibility plateaus at high phenol concentrations, suggesting that some fraction of the substances undergo complex formation with macromolecules of the plant.

The results strongly indicate that water-soluble phenols of birch make up an important part of its chemical defense in winter by possessing antinutritional properties. Thus their potential importance in the nutrition of wild herbivores must not be ignored.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bate-Smith EC (1973) Tannins in herbaceous legumes. Phytochemistry 12:1809–1812

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braaver E den, Eriksson S (1967) Determination of energy in grass hay by in vitro methods. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Report 33:751–765

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant JP (1981). Phytochemical deterrence of snowshoe hare browsing by adventitious shoots of four Alaskan trees. Science 213:889–890

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant JP, Kuropat PJ (1980) Selection of winter forage by subarctic browsing vertebrates. The role of plant chemistry. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 11:261–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryant JP, Wieland G, Reichard PB, Lewis VE, McCarthy MC (1983) Pinosylvin methl ether deters snowshoe hare feeding on green alder. Science 222:1023–1025

    Google Scholar 

  • Cederlund G, Ljungqvist H, Markgren G, Stalfelt F (1980) Foods of moose and roe-deer at Grimsö in central Sweden. Results of rumen content analysis. Swedish Wildlife Research 11(4):171–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Choo GM, Waterman PG, McKey DB, Gartlan JS (1980) A simple enzyme assay for dry matter digestibility and its value in studying food selection by generalist herbivores. Oecologia 49:170–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairborn ML (1982) J Alkaloid affects in vitro dry matter digestibility of Festuca and Bromus species. Range Manage 35:503–504

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeland WJ, Janzen DH (1974) Strategies in herbivory by mammals: The role of plant secondary compounds. Am Nat 108:269–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant WD, McMurthy CM (1978) Effects of condensed tannins on the growth of micro-organisms. In: Microbial Ecology, Lautit MW, Miles JAR (eds) Springer, Berlin, pp 427–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Harborne JB (1979) Flavonoid pigments. In: Herbivores, Their interactions with secondary plant metabolites. (Rosenthal GA, Janzen DH) (eds) Plenum Press, New York, pp 619–655

    Google Scholar 

  • Harborne JB (1982) Introduction to Ecological Biochemistry. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Haslam E (1979) Vegetable tannins. Recent Advances in Phytochemistry 12:475–524

    Google Scholar 

  • Hjeljord O, Sundstol F, Haagenrud H (1982) The nutritional value of browse to moose. J Wildl Manage 46:333–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung HJG, Fahey GC Jr (1981) Effect of phenolic compound removal on in vitro forage digestibility. J Agric Food Chem 29:817–820

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung HJG, Fahey GC Jr (1982) Interactions among phenolic monomers and in vitro fermentation. J Dairy Sci 66:1255–1263

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung HJG, Fahey GC Jr (1983) Simple phenolic monomers of roughages and effect of in vitro fermentation on cell wall phenolics. J Anim Sci 57:206–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg JE (1981) Rumen degradation pattern of dry matter, nitrogenous compounds and cell walls in nylon bags. Swedish J Agric Res 11:171–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg JE, Knutsson PG (1981) Effects of bag pore size on the loss of particulate matter and on the degradation of cell wall fibre. Agric Environ 6:171–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindroth RL, Batzli GO (1984) Plant phenolics as chemical defenses: Effects of natural phenolics on survival and growth of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). J Chem Ecol 10:229–244

    Google Scholar 

  • McManus JP, Davis KG, Lilley TH, Haslam E (1981) The association of proteins with polyphenols. J Chem Soc Chem Comm 7:309–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milchunas DG, Dyer MI, Wallmo OC, Johnson DE (1978) In vitro/in vivo relationships of Colorado mule deer forages. Special Report No. 43. Colorado Division of Wildlife

  • Mould ED, Robbins CT (1981) Nitrogen metabolism in Elk. J Wildl Manage 45:323–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Mould ED, Robbins CT (1982) Digestive capability in elk compared to white-tailed deer. J Wildl Manage 46:22–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Oh HK, Sakai T, Jones MB, Longhurst WM (1967) Effects of various essential oils isolated from Douglas-fir needles upon sheep and deer rumen microbial activity. Appl Microbiol 15:777–784

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oh HK, Jones MB, Longhurst WM (1968) Comparison of rumen microbial inhibition resulting from various essential oils isolated from relatively unpalatable plant species. Appl Microbiol 16:39–44

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palmer WL, Cowan RL (1979) Comparison of deer and sheep digestive capabilities. J Wildl Manage 43:798–801

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer WL, Cowan RL, Amann AP (1976) Effect of inoculum source on in vitro digestion of deer foods. J Wildl Manage 40:301–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Palo RT (1984) Distribution of birch (Betula spp.), willow (Salix spp.) and poplar (Populus spp.) secondary metabolites and their potential role as defense substances against herbivores. J Chem Ecol 10:499–520

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Palo RT, Pehrson Å, Knutsson PG (1983) Can birch phenolics be of importance in the defense against browsing vertebrates? Finnish Game Res 41:76–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Palo RT, Sunnerheim K, Theander O (1985). Seasonal variation of phenols, crude protein and cell wall content of birch (Betula pendula Roth.) in relation to ruminant in vitro digestibility. Oecologia 65(3):314–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Pederson JC, Welch BL (1982) Effects of monoterpenoid exposure on ability of rumen inocula to digest a set of forages. J Range Manage 35:500–502

    Google Scholar 

  • Pehrson Å (1981) Winter food consumption and digestibility in caged mountain hares. In: Proc World Lagomorph Conference. Guelph, Canada 1979, pp 732–742

  • Popoff T, Theander O (1976) Phenolic glycosides from Pinus sylvestris. Applied Polymer Symposium 28:1341–1347

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades DF (1979) Evolution of plant chemical defense against herbivores. In: Herbivores, their interactions with secondary plant metabolites. Rosenthal, GA, Janzen DH (eds) Academic Press, New York, pp 3–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Risenhoover KL, Renecker IA, Morgantini Le (1985) Effects of secondary metabolites from balsam poplar and paper birch on cellulose digestion. J Range Manage (In press)

  • Robbins CT, Soest PG van, Mautz WW, Moen AN (1975) Feed analysis and digestion with reference to white-tailed deer. J Wildl Manage 39:67–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawai A, Kondô T, Ara S (1983) Inhibitory effects of phenolic acid esters on degradability of forage fibers. J Japan Soc Grassl Sci 29:175–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel S (1956) Nonparametric statistics for the behavioural sciences. McGraw-Hill Kogahusha, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Singleton VL, Rossi Jr (1965) Colorimetry of total phenolics with phosphotungstic-phosphomolybdic acid reagens. Am J Enol Viticult 16:144–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Swain T (1979) Phenolics in the environment. Recent Advances in Phytochemistry 12:617–640

    Google Scholar 

  • Tahvanainen J, Helle E, Julkunen-Tiitto R, Lavola A (1985) Phenolic compounds of willow bark as deterrents against feeding by mountain hare. Oecologia (Berlin) 65:319–323

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilley JMA, Terry RA (1963) A two stage technique for the in vitro digestion of forage crops. J Br Grassl Soc 18:104–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Trudell J, White RG, Jacobsen E, Staaland H, Ekern K, Kildemo K, Gaare E (1980) Comparison of some factors affecting the in vitro digestibility estimate of reindeer forages. In: Proc 2nd Reindeer/Caribou Symp pp 262–273. Roros, Norway 1979. Direktoratet for Vilt og Fersvannsfisk, Trondheim

    Google Scholar 

  • Theander O (1978) Leaf litter from some forest trees. Chemical composition and microbial activity. Tappi 61:69–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Udén P, Parra R, Van Soest PJ (1974) Factors influencing reliability of the nylon bag technique. J Dairy Sci 57:622

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Soest PJ, Wine RH (1967) Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. J Assoc Agric Chem 50:50–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Waterman PG, Mbi CN, McKey DB, Gartlan JS (1980) African rainforest vegetation and rumen microbes: Phenolic, compounds and nutrients as correlates of digestiblity. Oecologia (Berlin) 47:22–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Welch BL, McArthur ED (1981) Variation of monoterpenoid content among subspecies of Artemisia tridentata grown in an uniform garden. J Range Manage 34:380–384

    Google Scholar 

  • Welch BL, Pederson JC, Clary WP (1983) Ability of different rumen inocula to digest range forages. J Wildl Manage 47:873–877

    Google Scholar 

  • Zucker WV (1983) Tannins: Does structure determine function? An ecological perspective. Am Nat 121:335–365

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    R. Thomas Palo

Authors
  1. R. Thomas Palo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thomas Palo, R. Chemical defense in birch: Inhibition of digestibility in ruminants by phenolic extracts. Oecologia 68, 10–14 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379465

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379465

Keywords

Search

Navigation