Phytoestrogen coumestrol and its metabolite in mares’ plasma after clover mixed pasture and alfalfa pellets ingestion

Botelho, M.; Rebordão, Maria Rosa; Galvão, António; Pinto‐Bravo, Pedro; Piotrowska-Tomala, K.K.; Szóstek, A.Z.; Wiczkowski, Wiesław; Piskuła, Mariusz K.; Skarzynski, Dariusz J.; Fradinho, Maria João; Ferreira‐Dias, Graça

doi:10.3920/978-90-8686-755-4_3

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…In three controlled experiments conducted in Portugal and Poland, groups of mares were grazed on or fed coumestrol-containing diets. Coumestrol and 'methoxy-coumestrol' (possibly 4'-methoxy-coumestrol [151]) increased after ingestion of oestrogenic plant material [29,151]. In Experiment I, coumestans in a legume-grass pasture declined during winter but were always present in the plasma of the grazing mares (Table 4) .…”

Section: Horsesmentioning

confidence: 88%

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: Horsesmentioning

confidence: 88%

Fertility of Herbivores Consuming Phytoestrogen-containing Medicago and Trifolium Species

Reed¹

2016

Agriculture

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“…The study by Szóstek et al [ 74 ] suggests that phytoestrogens may directly disrupt reproductive efficiency and uterine function by modulating the ratio of prostaglandin F2 alpha:dinoprostone (PGF 2a :PGE 2 ), leading to high, nonphysical production of luteolytic PGF 2a during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. The coumestans, coumestrol and 4′methoxycoumestrol, have been observed in both free and conjugated forms in mare’s plasma after ingesting lucerne feeds [ 75 ].…”

Section: Effects On Female Reproductive Physiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytoestrogens: A Review of Their Impacts on Reproductive Physiology and Other Effects upon Grazing Livestock

Wyse

Latif

Gurusinghe

et al. 2022

Animals

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Legume crops and pastures have a high economic value in Australia. However, legume species commonly used for grazing enterprises have been identified to produce high concentrations of phytoestrogens. These compounds are heterocyclic phenolic, and are similar in structure to the mammalian estrogen, 17β-estradiol. The biological activity of the various phytoestrogen types; isoflavones, lignans and coumestans, are species-specific, although at concentrations of 25 mg/kg of dry matter each of the phytoestrogen types affect reproductive functions in grazing livestock. The impacts upon fertility in grazing livestock such as cattle and sheep, vary greatly over length of exposure time, age and health of animal and the stress stimuli the plant is exposed to. More recently, research into the other effects that phytoestrogens may have upon metabolism, immune capacity and growth and performance of grazing livestock has been conducted. Potential new benefits for using these phytoestrogens, such as daidzein and genistein, have been identified by observing the stimulation of production in lymphocytes and other antibody cells. Numerous isoflavones have also been recognized to promote protein synthesis, increase the lean meat ratio, and increase weight gain in cattle and sheep. In Australia, the high economic value of legumes as pasture crops in sheep and cattle production enterprises requires proactive management strategies to mitigate risk associated with potential loss of fertility associated with inclusion of pasture legumes as forages for grazing livestock.

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Phytoestrogen coumestrol and its metabolite in mares’ plasma after clover mixed pasture and alfalfa pellets ingestion

Cited by 2 publications

References 9 publications

Fertility of Herbivores Consuming Phytoestrogen-containing Medicago and Trifolium Species

Fertility of Herbivores Consuming Phytoestrogen-containing Medicago and Trifolium Species

Phytoestrogens: A Review of Their Impacts on Reproductive Physiology and Other Effects upon Grazing Livestock

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