[Estrogenic activity of some lucerne varieties]

Studies was the estrogenic activity of lucerne--the local population Dounavka, the zonated French variety Du Puits, the promising Bulgarian variety. Pleven 1, the population Boinitsa, and the French variety Du Poitou. The estrogenic activity was determined by the biologic method based on the increase in the uterus weight of infantile mice after treatment with estrogens. Paper chromatography tests were also carried out to establish the presence of genestein and cumestrol. The study comprised three consecutive years, the extent of estrogenic activity being dependent on the amount of annual precipitations and the yields of green mass and dry matter. The study revealed that there were variations in the estrogenic activity of the investigated varieties and populations of lucerne within a wide range depending on the year of use and the green mass and dry matter obtained. High was it in the local population Dounavka, the French variety Du Poitou, and the Bulgarian variety Pleven 1. Comparatively lower was the estrogenic activity in Du Puits, and the local population Boinitsa. In all varieties and populations studied genestein was found in the first swath, and cumestrol--in the second swath. The remaining swaths showed differences in the content of genestein and cumestrol in the individual varieties and populations.