Effect of disease on the oestrogenic activity and coumestrol content of white clover and lucerne

Saba, N.; Drane, Hilary M.; Hebert, C. Nancy; Newton, J. E.; Betts, J. E.

doi:10.1017/s002185960002640x

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Coumestrol [syn 7'12' dihydroxy coumestan] has been found in 58 plants [2], especially legumes, (e.g., lucerne), other perennial Medicago (e.g., M. falcata), annual 'medics' (Medicago spp. ), peas (Pisum sativum), soybean, limabeans (Phaseolus lunatus), pinto beans (P. vulgaris), and some clovers (e.g., white clover [5,19,20] and strawberry clover (T. fragiferum) [6]). The relative abundance of particular coumestans and flavones that white clover produces in the field varies considerably depending on which plant pathogen stimulates their production [21,22].…”

Section: Phytoestrogenic Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The relative abundance of particular coumestans and flavones that white clover produces in the field varies considerably depending on which plant pathogen stimulates their production [21,22]. The coumestrol content in white clover was considered insufficient to explain the oestrogenic activity it was responsible for [5,20] 4'-methoxy-coumestrol is considered the second most important coumestan for oestrogenic activity. In annual medics it is usually detected in amounts somewhat greater than coumestrol, viz.…”

Section: Phytoestrogenic Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fertility of Herbivores Consuming Phytoestrogen-containing Medicago and Trifolium Species

Reed¹

2016

Agriculture

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Despite their unrivalled value in livestock systems, certain temperate, pasture, legume species and varieties may contain phytoestrogens which can lower flock/herd fertility. Such compounds, whose chemical structure and biological activity resembles that of estradiol-17α, include the isoflavones that have caused devastating effects (some of them permanent) on the fertility of many Australian sheep flocks. While the persistence of old 'oestrogenic' ecotypes of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) in pasture remains a risk, genetic improvement has been most effective in lowering isoflavone production in Trifolium species; infertility due to 'clover disease' has been greatly reduced. Coumestans, which can be produced in Medicago species responding to stress, remain a potential risk in cultivars susceptible to, for example, foliar diseases. In the field, coumestrol is often not detected in healthy vegetative Medicago species. Wide variation in its concentration is influenced by environmental factors and stage of growth. Biotic stress is the most studied environmental factor and, in lucerne/alfalfa (Medicago sativa), it is the major determinant of oestrogenicity. Concentrations up to 90 mg coumestrol/kg (all concentrations expressed as DM) have been recorded for lucerne damaged by aphids and up to 600 mg/kg for lucerne stressed by foliar disease(s). Other significant coumestans, e.g., 4'-methoxy-coumestrol, are usually present at the same time. Concentrations exceeding 2000 mg coumestrol/kg have been recorded in diseased, annual species of Medicago. Oestrogenicity of some Medicago species is also influenced by maturity and senescence. Studies in Israel, North America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia have confirmed that coumestans in lucerne, represent an acute or sub-acute loss of reproductive efficiency in herbivores, e.g., sheep, cattle, and possibly horses. When sufficiently exposed peri-conception, coumestrol, sometimes present in lucerne, be it as pasture, hay, silage, pellets, meal, and sprouts, is associated with what can be an insidious, asymptomatic, infertility syndrome. Most livestock research with oestrogenic lucerne has been conducted with sheep. Ewes may be at risk when the coumestrol concentration in their diet exceeds 25 mg/kg. In studies where lambing was compared for lucerne and a phytoestrogen-free treatment, the mean decrease in lambs born/ewe was 13%; ewes on lucerne, exhibited a lower frequency of multiple births.

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Section: Phytoestrogenic Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Phytoestrogenic Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fertility of Herbivores Consuming Phytoestrogen-containing Medicago and Trifolium Species

Reed¹

2016

Agriculture

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“…It is now well established that the oestrogenic activity of subterranean and red clovers is due to the presence of high concentrations of the weakly oestrogenic isoflavones, and more specifically it has been shown that for sheep the oestrogenicity of these pastures is related to their formononetin content. Early investigations on the oestrogenic activity of white clover (Trijolium repens) were inconclusive; however, more recent studies have shown that white clover infected with Pseudopeziza trifolii or Leptosphaerulina trifolii may become highly oestrogenic (Newton et al 1969;Wong, Flux & Latch, 1971;Saba et al 1972) thus offering a possible explanation for the variable results of earlier studies. In view of these findings it was of some interest to determine seasonal variation in oestrogenic activity of white clover pastures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation in oestrogenic activity, coumestrol and formononetin content of white clover

et al. 1974

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The oestrogenic activity, coumestrol and formononetin content of white clover collected during the months May to December 1970 and 1971 was assayed in mice. The results showed considerable variations in oestrogenic activity which did not seem to be associated with a specific time of year or quantitatively related to the coumestrol content of the pasture. INTRODUCTIONIt is now well established that the oestrogenic activity of subterranean and red clovers is due to the presence of high concentrations of the weakly oestrogenic isoflavones, and more specifically it has been shown that for sheep the oestrogenicity of these pastures is related to their formononetin content. Early investigations on the oestrogenic activity of white clover (Trijolium repens) were inconclusive; however, more recent studies have shown that white clover infected with Pseudopeziza trifolii or Leptosphaerulina trifolii may become highly oestrogenic (Newton et al. 1969;Wong, Flux & Latch, 1971;Saba et al. 1972) thus offering a possible explanation for the variable results of earlier studies. In view of these findings it was of some interest to determine seasonal variation in oestrogenic activity of white clover pastures. This paper presents data on white clover samples obtained from swards under study to determine their oestrogenic effect in sheep (Newton & Betts, 1973).

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“…Coumestrol content within alfalfa herbage is highly variable and ranges from less than 1 mg kg -1 DM to 600 mg kg -1 DM in diseased foliage (Hanson et al, 1965;Saba et al, 1972). Coumestrol contents as low as 25 mg kg -1 DM have been demonstrated to affect ewe reproductive performance (Fields et al, in press;Ramòn et al, 1993;Smith et al, 1979).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fungal disease is considered the main factor that elevates coumestrol content and all fungal pathogens tested to date have increased coumestrol (Bickoff et al, 1967;Hanson et al, 1965;Saba et al, 1972;Sherwood et al, 1970 , (1906)]. Fungicide applications of mancozeb or mancozeb and benomyl every 7 to 10 d could limit coumestrol accumulation (Hanson et al, 1965;Purves et al, 1981).…”

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confidence: 99%

Alfalfa Coumestrol Content in Response to Development Stage, Fungi, Aphids, and Cultivar

et al. 2018

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Coumestrol produced by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) can reduce the ovulation rate of ewes. This study isolated agronomic factors that affect coumestrol levels in alfalfa. Fungal diseases explained most differences in coumestrol. Alfalfa inoculated with Stemphylium vesicarium contained 169 ± 25.1 mg kg -1 dry matter (DM) compared with 3.4 ± 0.84 mg kg -1 DM in controls. However, in field-grown alfalfa there was a low relationship (R 2 = 0.388) between coumestrol content and visual fungal damage score which indicates a need for alternative methods of prediction. In the field, a range of cultivars all reached coumestrol levels reported to pose a risk to ewe reproductive performance (>25 mg kg -1 DM). In S. vesicarium-inoculated leaves, the modern cultivar 'Stamina 5' had 396 ± 82.4 mg kg -1 DM compared with the 40-yr-old industry standard 'Wairau' at 143 ± 35.6 mg kg -1 DM. Flowering in isolation did not produce a coumestrol response, with increases detected or not detected simultaneously in vegetative and flowering plants. Pea aphids had a minor effect on coumestrol content. When alfalfa was subjected to ~5 aphids per stem for 4 wk coumestrol increased from 2.4 ± 0.39 to 5.3 ± 0.65 mg kg -1 DM. This study highlights fungal pathogens traditionally not considered problematic in alfalfa stands due to limited effects on stand persistence and yield, as important causal agents of elevated coumestrol levels. Plant breeding to reduce their impact is recommended.

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Effect of disease on the oestrogenic activity and coumestrol content of white clover and lucerne

Cited by 11 publications

References 16 publications

Fertility of Herbivores Consuming Phytoestrogen-containing Medicago and Trifolium Species

Fertility of Herbivores Consuming Phytoestrogen-containing Medicago and Trifolium Species

Seasonal variation in oestrogenic activity, coumestrol and formononetin content of white clover

Alfalfa Coumestrol Content in Response to Development Stage, Fungi, Aphids, and Cultivar

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