THE ESTROGEN-LIKE SUBSTANCES IN CERTAIN LEGUMES AND GRASSES: I. THE QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF SUCH SUBSTANCES IN RED CLOVER AND OATS

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Abstract
A 3-day per orum procedure, using female mice 20–21 days old and weighing 8–12 gm., was evolved for the determination of the estrogen-like substances in forage. With diethylstilbestrol (D.E.S.) as reference compound a dose response curve was constructed. From this curve the estrogenic activity of plant material was estimated and expressed in terms of D.E.S. Studies were undertaken to determine the effects of stage of maturity and frequency of cutting of first- and second-year growth of red clover and first-year growth of Victory oats. The samples from first- and second-year growth of red clover possessed considerable estrogenic activity. The level of activity was highest in the spring and decreased towards the autumn. Victory oats possessed little or no estrogenic activity at any time during the growing season.