Trifolium Pratense L. or the Red Clover has been valued highly because of it’s ability to fix nitrogen into the soil without the use of the highly toxic chemicals.
This closer was brought over to North America by the European migrants in the 1500’s. It is a type of short lived perennial and can adapt to a wide variety of of climates and soils.
This plant has some religious backgrounds as well as it was associated to the Christian Trinity because of the three leaves of the closer. During the middle ages it was utilized as a protection against witches.
Antioxidant – Using a compound found within the Red Clover known as “Formononentin”, a test was conducted on The adult female Kunming mice which were divided into 5 groups: sham-operated group, ovariectomized group, stilbestrol replacement therapy group (0.20 mg/kg day), low-dose formononetin group (0.05 g/kg day) and high-dose formononetin group (0.5 g/kg day).
The intake of formononetin increased the uterine weight of the mice significantly as well as the content of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, and reduced MDA in body.
Formononetin had obvious antioxidant effects and estrogenic effect, and the estrogenic effect was not dosage-related.
Anti-Angiogensis – Antiangiogenic compounds are gaining more and more interest as a new approach in the prevention and treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases.
The objective of this study was the evaluation of the antiangiogenic effect of a red clover extract (RCE) used in food supplements for menopausal complaints as well as of its main isoflavones in an in vivo system, the chorioallantoic membrane assay of fertilized hen’s eggs.
The results demonstrate that RCE is not only suitable for menopausal complaints, but might also be a powerful chemopreventive agent against chronic diseases e.g. which have a high incidence especially in elderly female.
Osteoporosis – The objective of this study was to evaluate the preventive effects of Red clover total isoflavones on the progression of bone loss induced by estrogens deficiency (ovariectomy) in rats.
These findings suggest that Red clover isoflavones are effective in reducing bone loss induced by ovariectomy, probably by reducing of the bone turnover via inhibition of bone resorption.
Apoptosis – In the present study, we aim to investigate the potential therapeutical effects of FN on cell line of prostatic adenocarcinoma (PC-3) and human prostate epithelial cells (RWPE1). The apoptotic counts were effectively increased following the treatments as shown in flow cytometry.
Collectively, our findings demonstrate that FN exerts the anticarcinogenic effect on prostate cancer in vitro, in which the underlying mechanisms are associated with enhancing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratios and regulating the p38/Akt pathway, thus triggering apoptosis in tumor cells.
We concluded that the induced apoptosis effect of formononetin on human prostate cancer cells was related to ERK1/2 MAPK-Bax pathway. Considering that red clover plants were widely used clinically, our results provided the foundation for future development of different concentrations formononetin for treatment of prostate cancer.(Article)
Menopause Symptoms – In this study they critically evaluated the effect of red clover on hot flash, endometrial thickness, and hormones status in postmenopausal and peri- and post-menopausal women.
Red clover had a positive effect of alleviating hot flash in menopausal women. Our data, however, suggested very slight changes in FSH, LH, testosterone, and SHBG and significant effect in estrogen status by red clover consumption. However, the interpretation of results of the current study is limited due to methodological flaws of the included studies, menopause status, and large heterogeneity among them.
(Article)
Male Pattern Baldness – Male pattern hair loss is a major cosmetic concern affecting both genders with a preference for men. Major causes of hair loss in genetically predisposed individuals include hormonal dysfunction, loss of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the follicular bed, and localized microinflammation. Few options are yet available to correct the problem.
For this purpose, a cosmetic active ingredient was developed by combining a Trifolium pratense flower extract and a biomimetic peptide and tested clinically for the prevention of hair loss.
Within 4 months of application, anagen hair increased at an average by +13%, telogen hair density decreased by -29%, and the anagen/telogen (A/T) ratio increased by +46% over baseline in the treated group. Results strongly differed from those of the placebo group (anagen, -2%; telogen, +23%; A/T ratio, -33%).
Diabetes – In this study they investigated the effects of red clover extract on the blood glucose and lipid levels of type 2 diabetic db/db mice, male db/db mice were treated with this extract for a period of 5 weeks.
To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate the antidiabetic effect of red clover extract in type 2 diabetic animals. Red clover extract improves lipid homeostasis in type 2 diabetic animals. In the present study, we demonstrated the PPARα/γ agonist activities in vivo and elucidated the antidiabetic and hypolipidemic mechanism of red clover extract.
They also demonstrated that red clover extract suppressed lipogenesis by inhibiting FAS activity. Our data indicate the benefit of a dietary supplement of red clover extract for diabetes patients.
Mandatory FDA Disclaimer: Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Mandatory FDA Disclaimer: Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
