First discovery of the female sex hormone progesterone in a plant

[Shana A]

First discovery of the female sex hormone progesterone in a plant
February 4, 2010

http://www.physorg.com/news184510621.html

In a finding that overturns conventional wisdom, scientists are reporting the first discovery of the female sex hormone progesterone in a plant. Until now, scientists thought that only animals could make progesterone. A steroid hormone secreted by the ovaries, progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy and maintains pregnancy. A synthetic version, progestin, is used in birth control pills and other medications. The discovery is reported in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Natural Products.

"The significance of the unequivocal identification of progesterone cannot be overstated," the article by Guido F. Pauli and colleagues, states. "While the biological role of progesterone has been extensively studied in mammals, the reason for its presence in plants is less apparent."

[Muffin]

but but but ....
.
.

....It has countless functions in both sexes and all ages... regulating blood sugar, developing intelligence, building bones, brain activity and many more.

Our bodies make it all the time.

Progesterone plays a major role in the body. It is not exclusively a female hormone nor is it a 'sex' hormone. It plays no part in the secondary sexual characteristics which develop at puberty. It is the precursor to the sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone.

source: http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/


??

[Flan]

article source link:
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/np9007415

not much info other then it's possible to synthesize other hormones from plant sources.