This book was developed from the proceedings of the first North American Tannin Conference held in Port. Angeles, Washington, August 1988. The objective of the conference was to bring together people with a common interest in condensed tannins and to promote interdisciplinary interactions that will lead to a better understanding of these important substances. Anot. her objective was the publicat. ion of this book because there has not been a monograph devoted to the chemistry and significance of tannins for several decades. The book is organized into sections dealing with the biosynthesis, structure, re actions, complexation with other biopolymers, biological significance, and use of tannins as specialty chemicals. The authors made a special attempt to focus on what we don't know as well as to provide a summary of what we do know in an effort to assist in planning future research. Our thanks go to the authors who so kindly contributed chapters and so pa tiently responded to our requests. We also thank Rylee Geboski and the Conference Assist. ance Staff, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, for their assistance in planning and conducting t. he conference, and Julia Wilson, Debbie Wolfe, Helen Coletka, and Nancy Greene of the Southern Forest Experiment Station, Pineville, Louisiana, who typed the chapt. ers. Linda Chalker-Scott was especially helpful in assisting us wit. h editing. Dick Hemingway is indebted t. o the staff of the Alexandria Forest.

This concisely written book presents information on types of plant phenolics. The sole focus of this volume is on dietary tannins. It reviews the fact that tannins interact with dietary proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, digestive enzymes, and lower nutrient availability. This work reveals that in certain parts of the world, tannins also have been reported as carcinogenic. This literature comprehensively reviews chemistry and plant biochemistry, and methods of extraction. It also explains the harmful and toxic effects and remedies to alleviate dietary tannins. This useful resource is a must for all food scientists, nutritionists, biochemists, and animal scientists throughout the world.

The progressive dwindling of fossil resources, coupled with the drastic increase in oil prices, have sparked a feverish activity in search of alternatives based on renewable resources for the production of energy. Given the predominance of petroleum- and carbon-based chemistry for the manufacture of organic chemical commodities, a similar preoccupation has recently generated numerous initiatives aimed at replacing these fossil sources with renewable counterparts. In particular, major efforts are being conducted in the field of polymer science and technology to prepare macromolecular materials based on renewable resources. The concept of the bio-refinery, viz. the rational exploitation of the vegetable biomass in terms of the separation of its components and their utilisation as such, or after suitable chemical modifications, is thus gaining momentum and considerable financial backing from both the public and private sectors. This collection of chapters, each one written by internationally recognised experts in the corresponding field, covers in a comprehensive fashion all the major aspects related to the synthesis, characterization and properties of macromolecular materials prepared using renewable resources as such, or after appropriate modifications. Thus, monomers such as terpenes and furans, oligomers like rosin and tannins, and polymers ranging from cellulose to proteins and including macromolecules synthesized by microbes, are discussed with the purpose of showing the extraordinary variety of materials that can be prepared from their intelligent exploitation. Particular emphasis has been placed on recent advances and imminent perspectives, given the incessantly growing interest that this area is experiencing in both the scientific and technological realms. - Discusses bio-refining with explicit application to materials - Replete with examples of applications of the concept of sustainable development - Presents an impressive variety of novel macromolecular materials

Here is the most complete guide available for the analysis of tannins. A battery of tannin methodologies is presented in a simple, clear and easy-to-understand manner. This unique guide covers chemical, biological and radio isotopic tannin assays. Comprehensive step-by-step protocols are presented for each method. The protocols enable non-specialists and specialists alike to implement the methods easily in the laboratory. It is an ideal laboratory manual for research scientists, graduate students, and laboratory personnel working in the fields of animal nutrition, soil nutrient management, wild life-plant interactions, and plant breeding.

Tannins constitute a heterogeneous group of polyphenolic compounds, present in a considerable number of vegetable foods. The term tannin is derived from the properties of these compounds to interact and precipitate macromolecules, such as proteins, make them able to tan animal leather. Subsequently a general definition for tannins emerged, referring them as high molecular weight polyphenols that precipitate protein from solution. The first chapter of this book begins with a discussion on the adsorbent biopolymers from tannin extracts for water treatment. The second chapter presents the influences of sensory and psychosocial factors on the intake of tannin-rich foods and beverages. Chapter three investigates condensed tannins derived from grapes and their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Chapter four provides a review of the latest research in the extraction of tannins from grapes and how tannin structure can influence wine astringency. The tannin chemistry diversity and its occurrence in ruminant diets, as well as its beneficial and adverse effects on ruminants will be briefly reviewed in chapter five, and aspects related to oral cavity physiology, saliva production/composition and postingestive effects will be also be referred. The final chapter evaluates milk composition of crossbred dairy goats fed Tifton 85 grass replaced by flemingia.

Tannins are one of the polyphenols group found in plants and are mainly studied because of their structural properties and bioactive behavior. Every year new findings concerning their properties and functions are made, and today concerns are mainly focused on how they can be used efficiently in the wood, food, textile, health, and pharmaceutical industries. Thus, the aim of this book is to present the most updated information on the structural properties of tannins, their food sources and variations, biological properties, and health, among other important issues. In addition, the most recent methods used for their isolation, quantifications, and industrial applications will also be covered.