Method for the isolation of progesterone from human placentae.

Evidence for the endocrine r81e of the human placenta has been indicat’ed by manifold physiological experiments; the supporting data for this concept have been reviewed by Newton (1). Lipide extracts of human placenta have been shown to contain progestational activity as determined by the rabbit assay method (2-4). Since the progestational hormone has not been isolated from the placental extracts, its chemical identity has remained unknown. In a recent preliminary statement (5), we have reported the isolation of progesterone from human placenta. This report presents in detail t’he procedure by which a yield of over 1 mg. per kilo of placenta was obtained (Diagram 1).