Trifolium pratense.  Red clover, Purple clover   Family: Leguminosae  
PART USED: Flowerheads
ACTIONS
GROUP: Alteratives and Antineoplastics
1. Alterative.[3]
1. Expectorant.[1,2,3]
2. Sedative dermatological agent.[1,3]
3. Antispasmodic-[3] mild.[1] Sedative.
INDICATIONS
1. Alterative for skin complaints.[3] Chronic skin diseases,[1] especially eczema, and psoriasis.[1,2,3] Cradle cap.
2. Expectorant for coughs-[3] especially whooping cough.[1] Inflammation of the lower respiratory tract including asthma and bronchitis. Bronchitis.[3]
3. Children's nervousness.
4. Insomnia.
5. Cysts and tumors.
6. Cancers including throat and stomach cancers- local use also.
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Eczema.[1] Psoriasis.[1]
COMBINATIONS
- Chronic skin disease, use with Yellow dock.
PREPARATIONS:   3X /day
Dried flowerheads  4 g,[1] or by infusion[1] 1:20.
Fluid extract  1:1 in 25% alcohol 1.5-3 ml.[1] 1:2 in 25% alcohol.[4] 2.5-10 ml.[3]
Tincture  1:10 in 45% alcohol 1-2 ml.[1]
Local-  Poultice. Lotion.

ORIGIN: Britain and Europe. Naturalized in many other parts of the world.
DESCRIPTION: Up to 60 cm tall. Leaves; three obovate leaflets often with a whitish crescent towards their base. Flowers; heads globular or egg shaped, reddish purple in color, 2-3 cm long and 2 cm broad, composed of numerous keeled flowers. Leaflets trefoil, often with a whitish crescent; stipules triangular, bristly.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research
The isoflavones are estrogenic in animals, which may ingest large quantities as forage.[1,2] Red clover is also reported to have antipspasmotic and expectoratn properties.[3]
References
[1] Guggolz, J. et al. (1961) Agric. Food Chem. 9 (4), 331
[2] Dewick, P. (1977) Phytochem. 16, 93
[3] The Merck Index, 9th Ed. (1976) Pub. Merck Inc. Rahway, NJ, USA

The red clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavone biochanin A modulates the biotransformation pathways of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.Chan HY, Wang H, Leung LK.
Abstract
Several flavonoids have shown their anti-carcinogenic effects in various models. The soyabean isoflavone genistein was demonstrated earlier in our laboratory to be an effective inhibitor of dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced DNA damage in MCF-7 cells by curbing cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1 enzymes. The red clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavone biochanin A is a methylated derivative of genistein, and its anti-mutagenic effect in bacterial cells has been shown previously. Because of its protection against chemical carcinogenesis in an animal model, biochanin A was selected for testing in our established MCF-7 cell system. From the results obtained in the semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and xenobiotic response element (XRE)-luciferase reporter assays, biochanin A could reduce xenobiotic-induced CYP1A1 and -1B1 mRNA abundances through the interference of XRE-dependent transactivation. Enzyme kinetic studies also indicated that biochanin A inhibited both CYP1A1 and -1B1 enzymes with inhibition constant (Ki) values 4.00 and 0.59 microm respectively. Since the biotransformation of DMBA was dependent on CYP1 enzyme activities, biochanin A was able to decrease the DMBA-DNA lesions. The present study illustrated that the red clover isoflavone could protect against polycylic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced DNA damage.
PMID: 12844379  Br J Nutr. 2003 Jul;90(1):87-92. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Trifolium pratense (red clover) exhibits estrogenic effects in vivo in ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats.
Burdette JE, Liu J, Lantvit D, Lim E, Booth N, Bhat KP, Hedayat S, Van Breemen RB, Constantinou AI, Pezzuto JM, Farnsworth NR, Bolton JL.
Abstract
Studies were conducted using an ovariectomized rat model to determine the estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity of Trifolium pratense L. (red clover) extracts. A red clover extract, standardized to contain 15% isoflavones was administered by gavage [250, 500 and 750 mg/(kg x d)] to virgin, ovariectomized 50-d-old Sprague-Dawley rats, for 21 d in the presence and absence of 17beta-estradiol [50 microg/(kg x d)]. Estrogenic effects included an increase in uterine weight, vaginal cell cornification and mammary gland duct branching. Red clover produced a dose-dependent increase in uterine weight and differentiated vaginal cells at the two higher doses, but it did not stimulate cell proliferation in the mammary glands. Neither antiestrogenic nor additive estrogenic properties were observed in any of the tissues studied. These data suggest that red clover extract is weakly estrogenic in the ovariectomized rat model.
PMID: 11773503   J Nutr. 2002 Jan;132(1):27-30. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of phytoestrogenic isoflavones from red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) on experimental osteoporosis.
Occhiuto F, Pasquale RD, Guglielmo G, Palumbo DR, Zangla G, Samperi S, Renzo A, Circosta C.
Abstract
The most common type of osteoporosis is bone loss associated with ovarian hormone deficiency at menopause. There is evidence that diets which contain high levels of phytoestrogenic isoflavones are associated with a low incidence of osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms. Plant extracts, which contain high levels of isoflavones, such as Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), have been used to reduce menopausal symptoms. 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. Bilateral ovariectomy was performed on female Wistar rats. One week after the operation the rats were treated with an oral dose of 20 and 40 mg of total isoflavones daily for 14 weeks. The results from this study showed that the ovariectomy reduced bone mineral content, femoral weight, femoral density, mechanical strength of the tibia and increased the levels of bone specific alkaline phosphatase in the serum and the number of osteoclasts in the femur sections compared with sham operated controls. Treatment with isoflavones significantly increased bone mineral content, mechanical strength of the tibia, femoral weight, femoral density and prevented the rise of serum alkaline phosphatase levels. In addition, the treatment with isoflavones significantly reduced the number of osteoclasts compared with the ovariectomized control 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.
PMID: 17117453 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2037  Phytother Res. 2007 Feb;21(2):130-4. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Red clover Trifolium pratense L. phytoestrogens: UV-B radiation increases isoflavone yield, and postharvest drying methods change the glucoside conjugate profiles.
Swinny EE, Ryan KG.
Abstract
Isoflavone extracts of red clover Trifolium pratense L. (cv. Pawera) with dissimilar glucoside conjugate profiles were obtained by employing different postharvest drying methods. The most prominent isoflavones found were formononetin and biochanin A and their corresponding glucosides and malonyl glucoside esters. Postharvest freeze drying inhibited the conversion of the glycosides to the aglycones, while vacuum drying allowed for maximum conversion of the glycosides to their corresponding aglycones. Air drying produced a low level of the aglycones formononetin and biochanin A, and oven drying promoted decarboxylation of the malonyl glucosides to the acetyl glucosides. Exposure to enhanced UV-B radiation resulted in an increase in total formononetin and biochanin A isoflavone levels, indicating that harvest during a period of high ambient UV-B radiation may be appropriate for maximum yield. The levels of caffeic acid and flavonols also increased by about 40 and 250%, respectively, on exposure to enhanced UV-B radiation.
PMID: 16218675 DOI: 10.1021/jf051431+  J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Oct 19;53(21):8273-8. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of isoflavones from red clover (Trifolium pratense) on skin changes induced by ovariectomy in rats.
Circosta C, De Pasquale R, Palumbo DR, Samperi S, Occhiuto F.
Abstract
Estrogens have a profound influence on skin. The relative hypoestrogenism that accompanies menopause exacerbates the deleterious effects of both intrinsic and environmental aging. Estrogens improve skin in many ways. Among these, they increase collagen content, skin thickness and improve skin moisture. There is evidence that diets with high levels of phytoestrogenic isoflavones are associated with a low incidence of menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis. Plant extracts such as red clover, which contain high levels of isoflavones, have been used to reduce menopausal symptoms and have been shown to reduce bone loss in healthy women. In this study to investigate the effects of red clover isoflavones on skin aging, the histology of the skin, skin thickness and the amount of total collagen determined by a colorimetric method, were studied in ovariectomized rats after treatment for 14 weeks with a red clover extract standardized to contain 11% isoflavones determined by HPLC. In ovariectomized rats the thickness and keratinization of the epidermis were reduced; glands were less in number and vascularity was poor; the distribution and morphology of the collagen bundles and elastic fibers were altered. Whereas the skin of the ovariectomized rats treated with red clover isoflavones (20 and 40 mg of total isoflavones daily for 14 weeks) appeared well organized with a normal epidermis with uniform thickness and regular keratinization; vascularity, collagen and elastic fibers were well developed. The amount of collagen significantly increased in the treated group in comparison with the control group. These findings suggest that red clover isoflavones are effective in reducing skin aging induced by estrogen deprivation.
PMID: 17078110 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2017 Phytother Res. 2006 Dec;20(12):1096-9. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pharmacological and therapeutic properties of the Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.): an overview of the new finding
Akbaribazm Mohsen, Khazaei Fatemeh, Naseri Leila, Pazhouhi Mona, Zamanian Mohammad, Khazaei Mozafar
Abstract
Objective: To review beneficial effects of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) on biological processes.
Methods: A systematic review was carried out according tothe PRISMA checklist. Using MeSH keywords, 385 articles were extracted from national and international databases (PubMed, Science Direct, SID, and Google Scholar search engine) without time limit. After removing duplicates, 80 articles were reviewed.
Results: Our findings revealed that the compositions of red clover promote anti-oxidant and anti-cancer effects. Furthermore, they exude beneficial effects on cardiovascular functionand improvesymptoms of menopause. Also, these compounds can regulate blood glucose and lipid markers. The effects of the herb on have also been investigated on various tissues including endometrium, breast, skin and reproductive system.
Conclusion: In recent studies, the anti-cancer effects of clover (Trifolium) extract co-administrated with standard drugs have been reportedin different cancers.
J Tradit Chin Med 2021 Aug;41(4):642-649. doi: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20210324.001. PMID: 34392659 DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20210324.001 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Isoflavonoid compounds from red clover (Trifolium pratense) protect from inflammation and immune suppression induced by UV radiation.
Widyarini S, Spinks N, Husband AJ, Reeve VE.
Abstract
Isoflavones derived from many edible plants have been reported to possess significant antioxidant, estrogenic and tyrosine kinase inhibitory activity. Genistein has been found previously to provide protection from oxidative damage induced by UV radiation both in vitro and following dietary administration. We have therefore examined the potential of a number of isoflavones from red clover (Trifolium pratense) and some metabolically related compounds to offer protection from UV irradiation in hairless mice by topical application after UV exposure. We show that whereas the primary isoflavones, daidzein, biochanin A and formononetin, were inactive, 20 microM lotions of genistein and the metabolites equol, isoequol and the related derivative dehydroequol had powerful potential to reduce the inflammatory edema reaction and the suppression of contact hypersensitivity induced by moderate doses of solar-simulated UV radiation. For equol the protection was concentration dependent and 5 microM equol markedly reduced the UV-induced inflammation but abrogated the UV-induced immunosuppression. Equol protected similarly from immunosuppression induced by the putative epidermal mediator, cis-urocanic acid (UCA), indicating a potential mechanism of action involving inactivation of this UV-photoproduct. Since immunosuppression induced by both UV radiation and by cis-UCA appears to be an oxidant-dependent response our observations support the actions of these topically applied isoflavones and their metabolites as antioxidants. They also indicate that lotions containing equol, unlike topical UV sunscreens, more readily protect the immune system from photosuppression than from the inflammation of the sunburn reaction, even when applied after exposure, and thus such compounds may have a future role as sun-protective cosmetic ingredients.
PMID: 11594062  Photochem Photobiol. 2001 Sep;74(3):465-70. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov