Tannins in plants are believed to function as chemical guards that protect the plants against pathogens and herbivores, as stated by [38]. Furthermore, the properties of tannins as antioxidants and reducing scavenging activities were also reported by [39]. The ability of tannins to chelate metals, their antioxidant activity, antibacterial action, and complexation are believed to be the mechanism of action behind tannins’ ability to treat and prevent certain conditions such as diarrhea and gastritis [40]. On the other hand, tannins’ mechanisms of antimicrobial activity include inhibition of extracellular microbial enzymes, deprivation of the substrates required for microbial growth, or direct action on microbial metabolism through inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. The authors of [41] state that the antimicrobial properties of tannins are believed to be associated with the hydrolysis of ester linkage between gallic acid and polyols hydrolyzed after the ripening of many edible fruits, which enables the tannins to function as a natural defense mechanism against microbial infections. Table 2 demonstrates some of the medicinal uses of tannins [42].
Tannins are used as a partial or complete substitute for phenols in wood adhesives in the form of tannin resin because of its phenolic structure [51]. The use of tannin adhesives was first successfully traded in South Africa in early 1970s [52]. It is documented that previous research in the field of fortified starch adhesives with wattle bark tannin was carried out in South Africa [53]. Mimosa tannin adhesives were used instead of synthetic phenolic adhesives to manufacture particleboard and plywood for external and marine applications [51]. In Kenya, the commercial wattle (Acacia mearnsii) is a well-known tannin-rich species and tannin-based adhesive [54]. Current industrialized technologies are based mostly on paraformaldehyde or hexamethylene tetraamine, which are considered more environmentally friendly [55]. The drive to create more environmentally friendly adhesives has led to different forms of research in the field; for example, the creation of corn-starch-tannin adhesives in a study by [56] in a bid to replace synthetic resins has shown that it has excellent structural stability.
Tannins, commonly found in most cereal grains and legume seeds, as already indicated, are considered antinutritional factors that hamper the use of some feeds by monogastric animals. It has been reported that tannins bind protein, and as a result weakens protein digestion [57]. Tannins are blamed for the bitter taste of the feed, resulting in lowering feed consumption due to reduced palatability [58]. They are regarded as polyphenolic secondary metabolite; however, some reports have shown recently that low concentrations of some tannin sources can improve the nutrition and health status of monogastric animals [2]. Antinutrients are commonly known as natural or synthetic compounds that interfere with the absorption of nutrients. Condensed tannins are known to inhibit several digestive enzymes, including amylases, cellulases, pectinases, lipases, and proteases [59]. They have a major antinutritive effect that can influence the nutrient digestibility of lipids, starch, and amino acids negatively [60,61]. Tannins are a heterogeneous group of phenolic compounds, found in nature in many different families of plants. In Oakwood, Trillo, Myrobalaen and Divi-Divi they occur in almost every part of the plant, such as the leaves, fruits, seed, bark, wood and roots.
Supplementation of chestnut HT at the concentration of 0.5% and 1.0% on rabbit feed had no effect on growth performance [62]. However, [63] found different results when chestnut HT was included in rabbit feed at levels of 0.45% and 0.5%, as it increased feed intake and the live weight of rabbits. Similarly, [64] reported that adding 0.20% of chestnut, the tannin increased average daily gain and daily feed intake of broilers. The authors of [65] reported that when the sweet chestnut wood extract was used as a supplement at 0.07% and 0.02% for broiler chickens, no antinutritive activity was observed, and the crude ash, crude protein, calcium and phosphorus were not affected. The addition of tannic acid (HT) at a dietary level of 0.0125% and 0.1%, showed a negative impact on hematological indices and plasma iron of pigs [66]. According to [67], ideal digestibility of energy, protein, arginine and leucine were lowered in broiler chickens as dietary tannin levels rose to 20 g/kg diet and beyond, while phenylalanine and methionine were affected negatively only at tannin levels of 25 g/kg diet. In another study with broiler chickens [68], it was reported that the tannin content of 16 g/kg in red sorghum had no effect on phosphorus, calcium, and nitrogen retention in chickens. High-tannin sorghum treated with wood ash extract improves its nutritive value [69]. Tannins can act as a double-edged sword; therefore, a tannin content-specific solution could have an effect on their utilization. Although tanninferous feed and forages containing >5% tannin dry matter are not safe to be used as animal feed, low to moderate (<5% dry matter) is safe for animal consumption [59]. Table 3 shows the antinutritive and nutritive effects of tannins from different plant sources.
9. Influence of Tannins on the Productivity of Monogastric Animals
Tannins have been classified as an “antinutritional factor” for monogastric animals with negative effects on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and production performance [1]. Currently, most researchers have revealed that some tannins can improve the intestinal microbial ecosystem, enhance gut health, and hence increase productive performance when applied appropriately in monogastric diets [62,70,75]. Strong protein affinity is a well-recognized property of plant tannins, which has successfully been applied to monogastric animals’ nutrition. However, adverse effects of high-tannin diets on monogastric animals’ performance have been reported by many researchers [71]. In monogastric animals, the main effects of tannins are related to their protein-binding capacity and reduction in protein, starch, and energy digestibility [76,77]. According to [10,78], dry matter intake, bodyweight, feed efficiency and nutrient digestibility were reduced when chickens were fed diets with tannins, whilst Ebrahim et al. [71] reported a decrease in body weight gain and feed intake. However, [72,75] reported no effects on growth performance and on egg weight, cell thickness or yolk color of layers. Several studies showed that low concentrations of tannins improved feed intake, health status, nutrition, and animal performance in monogastric farm animals [2,4,79].
According to [80], supplementing of pigs’ diet with 0.2% chestnut wood extract rich in tannins had no effect on growth rate, carcass traits or meat quality of pigs raised up to 26 weeks of age; whereas Bee et al. [81] reported that pigs that were fed diets rich in 3% of hydrolysable tannins from chestnuts showed no negative effects in terms of growing performance raised from day 105 until 165. The authors of [49] reported an increase in small intestinal villus height, villus perimeter and mucosal thickness in pigs that were fed diets having 3% of hydrolysable tannins from chestnuts. Moreover, [4] reported increased growth performance in pigs aged 23–127 days when fed chestnuts rich in tannins at the 0.91% supplementation level. According to [82], pigs have parotid gland hypertrophy and secrete proline-rich proteins in the saliva that bind and neutralize the toxic effects of tannins, which make them relatively resistant to tanniniferous diets without showing any negative effects as compared to other monogastric animals (Table 3).
In rabbits [62], no difference was observed in the performances of rabbits fed diets supplemented with up to 10 g of tannins from chestnuts. Moreover, they reported that no improvements were observed in health status, diet nutritive value, growth performance, carcass traits and oxidative stability of rabbits fed up to 400 g/100 kg of hydrolysable tannins originating from chestnuts. According to [83], rabbits fed diets with 4% of tanniniferous browsers of Acacia karroo, Acacia nilotica and Acacia tortilis showed no significant differences in intake and digestibility. Mancini et al. [84] also reported no significant difference in growth rate, feed intake or feed conversion ratio and carcass traits of rabbits fed a mixture of quebracho and chestnut tannins. Moreover, [85] observed no significant difference in growth rate, feed intake or feed conversion ratio of rabbits fed low-tannin sorghum grains. Thus, tannins, when included in monogastric animal diets, can have both positive and negative effects on animal performance, depending on the concentration. Therefore, it is important to minimize the inclusion or supplementation of feedstuffs containing high concentrations of tannins in monogastric animals, or to take measures to decrease their concentrations. In Table 4, the effect of tannins on productivity of monogastric animals is reported.
Table 4. effects of tannins on productivity of monogastric animals.
10. Processing Techniques Used to Reduce Effects of Tannins
Several processing techniques to reduce tannin levels in different feedstuffs, especially unconventional ingredients, have been suggested by most researchers [86,87]. Processing is an act of applying suitable techniques to reduce or eliminate tannins present in alternative feedstuffs. These techniques include enzyme supplementation, soaking, dehulling, alkali treatment, extrusion, and germination.
10.1. Enzyme Supplementation
Supplementation of enzymes to reduce the tannins content is an effective method, although it might not be the most economical. It is proven to reduce tannins better than other processing methods, such as soaking, dehulling, etc. Several studies have shown that enzyme supplementation has been effective in reducing tannins in alternative energy and protein feedstuffs [88,89]. A study by [88] found that treatment of sorghum with both polyphenoloxidase and phytase enzymes showed a decrease in hydrolysable and condensed tannins of 72.3% and 81.3% respectively. Moreover, [89] reported a decrease in both hydrolysable and condensed tannins by 40.6%, 38.92% and 58.00% respectively when sorghum grains were treated with the three enzymes tannase, phytase and paecilomyces variotii.
10.2. Soaking
Soaking is one of the cheapest traditional methods which animal nutritionists have used for many years. A study found that the addition of sodium bicarbonate, prolonged time of soaking, or higher temperature have proved to be effective during the soaking process [90]. Kyarisiima et al. [69] reported that high-tannin sorghum soaked in wood ash extract showed a decreased level of tannins without lowering the nutrient content of sorghum grains. Authors stated that tannin level did not only decrease with the soaking technique, but also with roasting. The decrease in tannins during soaking may result from leaching into the soaking water [77]. Moreover, [91] reported a decrease of about 73–82% in velvet beans.
10.3. Dehulling
Dehulling is a process of reming the outer coat/hull of a seed [92]. Most seeds of alternative feedstuffs have seed coats/hulls which are normally concentrated with tannins. If tannins are removed, feedstuffs have shown to have a significant increase in protein digestibility and protein content in legume seed meal. The authors of [93] reported that dehulling reduced tannins in chickpea without lowering protein digestibility, whereas in faba beans a 92% decrease of tannins occurred with dehulling [94].
10.4. Extrusion
The extrusion method is used to decrease levels of tannins in feedstuffs. According to [95], extrusion cooking is a high-temperature, quick process in which starchy food materials are plasticized and cooked by a combination of moisture, pressure, temperature, and mechanical shear. Extrusion has shown the ability to inactivate antinutritional elements [96–98]. For example, [99] reported that extrusion showed a significant reduction in tannins with minimum oil loss in flaxseed meal. The authors of [100] reported that lentil splits showed a reduction in tannins after treatment by using extrusion techniques. Moreover, [101] reported reduction to the extent of 34.52% to 57.41% in sorghum.
10.5. Germination
During the germination process, complex sugars are converted into simple sugars [91]. Tannin content has been shown to be reduced by the germination process, which is one of the cheapest methods. A maximum reduction in tannins of up to 75% has been observed when pearl millets were treated by using the germination method [102]. Rusydi and Azlan [103] observed a reduction of 57.12% when peanuts were treated by using germination. The reduction of tannins may improve the nutritional quality of feedstuffs. Thus, processing techniques may help to remove or reduce tannin levels in different feedstuffs, which might be favorable for animal production (Table 5).
Table 5. different processing techniques used to reduce the effects of tannins in alternative feedstuffs.
10.6. Cooking
Cooking is considered important in reducing antinutrients activities in tannins. As stated by [104], cooking reduces the antinutrients present in tuber crops like cocoyam.
10.7. Auticlaving
Autoclaving is found to be one of the most effective methods in the elimination of antinutrients, although it might not be cost effective because of its reliance on electricity [105].
10.8. Grinding
Grinding is considered an effective method in reducing the tannin content because it increases the surface area which in turn reduces the contact between tannins and the phenolic oxidase in the plant [106,107].
11. Health Benefits of Tannins in Monogastric Animal Production
Tannins are plant extracts that can be used as additives in monogastric animal feed to control diseases [1]. In vitro studies have shown that most tannins have antiviral, antibacterial and antitumor properties [15]. Tannins have shown a favorable outcome in the preferment of gut health when used with other antimicrobials as growth-promoting factors (AGP) such as probiotics [1]. Condensed tannins extracted from green tea or quebracho have shown to have some antimicrobial substances [108]. However, [109] reported that condensed tannins may have less effect than hydrolysable tannins in controlling Campylobacter jejuni in the presence of high concentration of amino acids. Moreover, tannins derived from chestnuts (Castanea sativa) can inhibit the in vitro growth of Salmonella typhimurium [110]. Several in vitro studies have revealed that polyphenols of the procyanidins (CT) have an antioxidant property while tannic acid has anti-enzymatic, antibacterial and astringent properties, as well as constringing action on mucous tissues [111]. The ingestion of tannic acid causes constipation, so it can be used to treat diarrhea in the absence of inflammation [112]. Kumar et al. [69] reported that the tannin content of 16 g/kg in red sorghum had no effect on certain animal welfare parameters of broiler chickens. Similarly, globulin, protein, plasma albumin, phosphorus, glucose, calcium, and uric acid levels were not affected, even when maize is replaced 100% with red sorghum. However, mild histopathological changes in kidney and liver tissues, as well as high cell-mediated immune response, were detected when raw red sorghum containing 23 g tannins/kg was fed to the same group of broiler chickens. The supplementation of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in rabbits has led to a significant increase in the total white blood cells and higher concentrations of volatile fatty acids and acetic acid, therefore a low level of loosestrife supplementation (<0.4%) has been suggested to gain health benefits and prevent adverse effects on animal health and performance [113].
Farmatan tannin concentrations of 0.05%, 0.025% and 0.0125% can inhibit the growth of Clostridium perfringens by more than 54-fold [114]. Another in vitro study was conducted by [108] to evaluate the effects of tannins from chestnuts and quebracho, or a combination of both, on Clostridium perfringens. All three products reduced the presence of C. perfringens. When the comparative analysis was conducted, it was discovered that the concentrations of quebracho tannin were more effective in inhibiting the growth of C. perfringens as compared to chestnut tannin. Commensal bacteria such as Bifidobacterium breve or Lactobacillus salivarius are very useful and their growth or presence should not be inhibited by the tannin. Kamijo et al. [115] reported that ellagitannins isolated from Rosa rugose petals have some antibacterial activities against pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella sp, Bacillus cereus, S. aureus and E. coli but they had no effect on beneficial bacteria. Most in vitro results are supported by in vivo experiments that the inclusion of tannin in monogastric animals can lower the occurrence and severity of diarrhea [116]. However, the efficiency of adding tannins that shows robustness in inhibiting pathogens in in vitro studies needs to be evaluated further in the experimental set-up (in vivo) involving poultry and pigs. These disparities in terms of types of tannins that are efficient in combating certain pathogens warrant further research. Table 6 shows different health benefits of tannins in monogastric animals.
Table 6. Health benefits of tannins in monogastric animals.
12. Conclusions
In the quest to find alternative feed ingredients in the production of monogastric animals, the effects of tannins have proven to be of value. Tannins can be beneficial in both as feed ingredients and a valuable ingredient in animal health. Although tannins contain antinutrients, different processing methods have proved to be effective in the reduction or elimination of these antinutrients. This review has provided extensive literature on the benefits and impacts of tannins in poultry production. Furthermore, it has elaborated on the different processing methods which can be employed to reduce the negative effects of tannins. The methods chosen should be cost-effective, easy to use and should not defeat the purpose of alternative feed ingredients. Even though tannins can act as feed additives, their inclusion level will depend on the source, age and species of poultry. Thus, future research should focus on the optimum tannin inclusion level in poultry and more cost-effective processing methods, especially for small-scale poultry keepers who mostly utilize these alternative feed ingredients. The development of more convenient readily available products of tannins ready to be incorporated in the monogastric animal feed is encouraged.
Author Contributions: Conceptualization, M.M.; Writing—original draft preparation, T.G.M., L.S. and Z.M.H.;Review and editing M.M.; Visualization M.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding: The authors would like to thank the University of South Africa for the financial support.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
This article was originally published in Molecules 2020, 25, 4680; doi:10.3390/molecules25204680. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).