The metabolism of platyphylloside [(5S)-5-hydroxy-1,7-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-heptanone-5-O-β-D-glucopyranosidel]-known to reduce digestibility-was studiedin vitro in sheep rumen liquor. Platyphylloside is hydrolyzed to 5-hydroxy-3-platyphyllone [(5S)-5-hydroxy-1,7-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-heptanone], which is reduced to centrolobol [1,7-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-heptanol], via 3-platyphyllone [7-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-heptanone]. The digestibility-reducing effect was shown to be correlated with the concentration of centrolobol.