Comonomer sequence distribution in metallocene-based ethylene/1-butene (S-34) and ethylene/1-hexene (S-43) copolymers

Metallocene based polyethylenes were prepared by SMOPEC's "metallocene adduct" technology in a gas phase fluidized bed model reactor. The C-13-NMR spectra of ethylene/1-butene (S-34) and ethylene/1-hexene(S-43) copolymers were studied in a manner analogous to that established by Hsieh and Cheng. The comonomer sequence distributions of copolymer samples were obtained. The results show that these metallocene based copolymers contain a small amount of butene and hexene, and the EE and EEE sequences are dominant.

Analysis of the estrogenic components in kudzu root by bioassay and high performance liquid chromatography

The estrogenic activity of the Chinese herb kudzu root was investigated by a recombinant yeast screening assay (YES). Isoflavones are the main components in the plant, of which puerarin is the most abundant one. The kudzu root extract was separated into four fractions according to the polarity. The crude extract and its sub-fractions, except the water fraction, showed clear estrogenic activity and the potencies were in the range of 10(-3) to 10(-1) g/l. The ligand potency was used to compare the estrogenic activity of these fractions. The crude extract and its sub-fractions were further analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to correlate the activity and the active components. Bioassay and chemical analysis showed that theoretical estrogenic activity expressed as equivalent 17 beta-estradiol concentration or the cumulative effects are comparable to that experimentally determined by YES. The results showed that the high content of isoflavones as well as the high estrogenic activity could make kudzu root extract an interesting candidate for hormone replacement therapy. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.