The absence of steroid estrogens in plants

Abstract

Evidence for the presence of estrone in palm kernel residue could not be confirmed. In the residues examined, a maximum of less than 10 μg of estrone per kg could have been present. This value is 200 times less than the purported occurrence of estrone from this source 2 . Critical evaluation of the reported presence of steroid estrogens in other plants places doubt on the identity of the material isolated. At present, there are no reports to prove that steroid estrogens occur naturally in plants.