Isoflavones profiles of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) at different growth stages

Abstract

Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that can exhibit estrogen-like activity. Isoflavones are one of the best studied groups of phytoestrogens known for their human health benefits. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is one of the leading forage legumes in northern and south-eastern Europe, the United States and Canada. In recent years, the use of natural antioxidants found in red clover has attracted interest due to their presumed nutritional and therapeutic values (Vlaisavljevic et al., 2014; Vlaisavljevic et al., 2017). Studies of utilization of red clover by the pharmaceutical industry have pointed that dietary phytoestrogens play an important role in the prevention of menopausal symptoms (Lipovac et al., 2010), osteoporosis (Atkinson et al., 2004a), estrogen-related cancers like breast cancer, prostate cancer (Atkinson et al., 2004b; Velentzis et al., 2008) and heart disease (Cano et al., 2010; Dixon, 2004). The isoflavones content in red clover is controlled by genetic and environmental factors (Boot et al., 2006; Sivesind and Seguin, 2005; Tsao et al., 2006; Visnevschi-Necrasov et al., 2013).