RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the content of phytoestrogen in dissimilarity herbs.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The activity of phytoestrogen in heat-clearing drugs, drugs for relieving exterior syndrome, diuretic, anastaltics, tonics and astringents were detected based on the recombinant yeast cell (W303-1A/hER-ERE-Lac Z). The estrogenic activity in traditional Chinese materia medica were assayed quantitatively by determining the expression of beta-galactosidase.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The phytoestrogen concentration (6.35 x 10(-3) nmol x g(-1) E2 equivalent) in heat-clearing drugs was the highest while that in anastaltic and tonic drugs was the lowest, which was less than the detected limit.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with the other traditional Chinese materia medica, the content of phytoestrogen, which can bind to estrogen receptor, in giant knotweed rhizome, forsythia suspense, ash bark, baical skullcap root and ophiopogonis tuber were higher.</p>