Trifollium pratense
(Red clover)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Alterative
• Anticoagulant
• Antineoplastic
• Antispasmodic especially for spasms of the respiratory tract
• Diuretic
• Estrogenic
• Induces apoptosis (genistein)
• Induces differentiation in 5 human melanoma cell lines, human medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma cell lines, mouse embryonal carcinoma cells, mouse leukemia cells, HL-60 and human erythroid K-562 clones due to genistein
• Inhibits mitosis in vitro in rat ovarian granulosa, human neuroblastoma cells, Jurkat T-leukemia, rat lymphoma, human gastric carcinoma, human myelogenous leukemia, human lymphocytic leukemia, human prostate cancer and ER-positive and ER-negative human breast cancer cell lines (genistein)
• Inhibits ten human gastrointestinal cell lines (Genistein and biochanin A )
• Inhibits differentiation in human leukemia HL-60 cells, B16 melanoma cells and HL-60 cells ( Daidzein)

Clinical Indications:

• Bronchitis
• Cancer prevention
• Eczema
• Chronic skin diseases
• Laryngitis
• Malignant neoplasms - after removal, patients are slower in redeveloping new growths when given trifolium daily
• Pertussis

Contraindications:

• Clotting disorders
• Pre-surgery patients

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Individuals on heparin therapy should be monitored closely

Chemical Constituents:

• Coumarin, a lactone glycoside with an anticoagulant action
• Isoflavones:
  
  Biochanin A
  Daidzein
  Genistein
• Resins
• Tannins

Toxicity:

• None known

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).