Quantitative determination of coumestrol in dried alfalfa and alfalfa leaf protein concentrates containing chlorophyll

Abstract

An improved analytical method for the determination of coumestrol in dried alfalfa and leaf protein concentrates is described. In this method, chlorophyll is removed from an alcohol extract prior to the paper chromatographic-fluorometric measurement of coumestrol. Ninety-eight per cent of the coumestrol added to alfalfa leaf protein concentrates is recovered by this method. This improved method gives replicate values with lower standard deviations and coefficients of variation than the literature method.