Red clover is an important herb belongs to Legume family and its extract has been traditionally used in herbal medicine for various purposes like it helps to treat respiratory disorders, inflammatory diseases, dermal disorders and menopausal symptoms.

Biological activities

Antioxidant activity

• It is loaded with polyphenolic components and isoflavones, which are responsible for exhibiting antioxidant activity that helps to protect the body from the harmful effects of oxidative damages
• It is closely related with decreasing oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals, which ultimately helps to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases

Anti-carcinogenic activity

• It plays significant role in reducing the prevalence of cancers as it exhibits potent anti-carcinogenic property
• Its isoflavone components are considered as the main components responsible for exerting anti-carcinogenic activity. Whereas it’s oxidative stress reducing activity is also recognized as a principal factor for decreasing the susceptibility of cancers
• It plays vital role in preventing DNA damages as well as gene mutation, which helps in reducing the risk of developing cancers
• It is also associated with hindering the growth of malignant cell in body by inducing apoptosis
• It helps in preventing metastasis too
• It helps to regulate cellular proliferation as well thus helps in preventing tumor cell growth in body

• It is very effective for decreasing the prevalence of breast cancer, prostate cancer and endometrial cancer

Health benefits

Role on skeletal health

• Red clover extract is extremely useful for improving overall skeletal health
• It helps to enhance bone mass plus strength and significantly reduces the risk of developing bone disorders
• We know that bone mineral density get decreased with age and it is very common among post menopausal women because during this phase a decline in reproductive hormone named estrogen occurred within their body which leads to decrease in bone mineral density. Red clover extract is awfully beneficial to treat such complication because it contains an important component named isoflavones a type of phytoestrogen, which acts like estrogen
• It is also very effective for improving the symptoms of osteoporosis

Hypolipidemic activity

• Phytoestrogen present in red clover extract is very helpful for decreasing total fat percentage of body as it exerts hypolipidemic activity
• It plays vital role in decreasing the concentration of LDL, VLDL and triglyceride in body. Whereas it is also associated with increasing the level of HDL
• It helps to keep away the risk of developing various diseases by maintaining a healthy ratio of LDL and HDL in body

• It cholesterol lowering activity is awfully useful for promoting hepatic health, as it helps in inhibiting fat deposition within hepatic cells as a result prevents necrosis and promotes hepatic functionality
• It helps to reduce the prevalence of gall stones as well
• It is also related with decreasing the susceptibility of renal disorders and visceral obesity

Role on cardiac health

• Its polyphenolic components and isofavones are accountable for promoting cardiac health and functionality
• Its isoflavone component helps in decreasing blood cholesterol concentration thus its consumption is thought to be very effective for decreasing the prevalence of atherosclerosis by inhibiting fat deposition within blood vessels
• It helps to decrease the prevalence of coronary artery disease as well

Role on preventing Menopausal symptoms

• Red clover extract is extremely helpful for decreasing menopausal symptoms
• Menopausal symptoms include irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweat, chills, mood changes, sleeping problems, slowed metabolism and subsequent weight gaining. All of these symptoms can be easily improved by consuming this extract

Role on reproduction

• It has been traditionally used as an important remedial action for infertility
• Its phytoestrogen component acts similar to estrogen and helps to prepare the body for ovulation
• It is also associated with stimulating egg production and follicle maturation, which also play vital role in improving fertility

Role on skin

• It has been traditionally used for promoting skin health
• Isoflavones present in red clover extract plays significant role in nourishing the skin
• It acts as an important moisturizer and helps to improve skin texture
• It helps to improve skin glow as well
• It is also associated with improving skin thickness
• It helps in improving skin elasticity too, as it plays important role in stimulating collagen synthesis
• It is also responsible for decreasing the prevalence of skin aging caused by estrogen deprivation
• It is very effective for improving the symptoms of eczema as well

Role on hair

• It is extensively used as an important therapeutic substance for promoting hair health and it is extremely beneficial for every types of hair
• It has seen that regular use of red clover extract significantly improves hair growth as it contains isoflavones, which help to prolong the cycle of hair follicles
• It helps to provide proper nourishment to the scalp and subsequently improves scalp condition, which not only promotes hair growth but also helps in reducing the prevalence of hair loss 
• It helps to sooth scalp inflammation

• It helps to reduce the prevalence of scalp infections as well
• It is extremely effective for reducing dandruff
• It helps to improve hair shine too

Therapeutic uses

It has been extensively used for various therapeutic purposes, like –

• It is widely used for reducing the prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate
• It helps in reducing the prevalence of nighttime urination as well
• It is also associated with preventing Male-pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. It has seen that utilization of product containing red clover extract significantly improves hair growth
• Women who suffer from severe breast pain or mastalgia should try red clover extract. It may help to reduce cyclic breast pain as well as tenderness
• As it is related with stimulating the synthesis of collagen production thus its consumption is thought to be very helpful for promoting the health and activity of connective tissue  
• It helps in rapid wound healing too
• It is also used as an important anti-inflammatory agent. Its polyphenolic components are accountable for exerting anti-inflammatory activity and help to prevent inflammation by reducing the concentration of inflammatory mediators in body
• It helps to prevent swelling as well
• Its consumption is also very effective for improving the symptoms of bronchitis (an inflammation of the main airway in lungs)
• It helps to prevent asthma too

• It helps to prevent cough especially whooping cough
• Individual suffer from indigestion should try red clover extract as it helps to promote digestion by stimulating the secretion of digestive juice
• It significantly reduces the risk of developing sexually transmitted diseases or STDs
• It is also associated with improving immunological responses of the body as a result helps in decreasing the susceptibility of becoming ill

General consideration of using red clover extract

• It is widely available in various forms like capsules, liquid extract, tablets, tinctures and tea
• Several products are available in market where it is found as sole ingredient and it can also be available along with other herbs
• While using commercial products it is always better to follow the package instruction carefully before its usage

Risk factors

• Excessive consumption of red clover extract may cause muscle ache, headache, nausea, rashes, vaginal bleeding, irregular periods, mood changes etc thus it is always better to use it as per recommendation
• Pregnant and lactating women should avoid its consumption

Booth, N.L., Piersen, C.E., Banuvar, S., Geller, S.E., Shulman, L.P. and Farnsworth, N.R., 2006. Clinical studies of red clover (Trifolium pratense) dietary supplements in menopause: a literature review. Menopause, 13(2), pp.251-264.

Çölgeçen, H., Koca, U. and Büyükkartal, H.N., 2020. Use of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) seeds in human therapeutics. In Nuts and Seeds in Health and Disease Prevention (pp. 421-427). Academic Press.

Geller, S.E. and Studee, L., 2006. Soy and red clover for mid-life and aging. Climacteric, 9(4), pp.245-263.

Pfitscher, A., Reiter, E. and Jungbauer, A., 2008. Receptor binding and transactivation activities of red clover isoflavones and their metabolites. The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology, 112(1-3), pp.87-94.

Ramos, G.P., Apel, M.A., Morais, C.B.D., Ceolato, P.C., Schapoval, E.E., Dall'Agnol, M. and Zuanazzi, J.A., 2012. In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of red clover Trifolium pratense dry extract. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, 22(1), pp.176-180.

Thorup, A.C., Lambert, M.N., Kahr, H.S., Bjerre, M. and Jeppesen, P.B., 2015. Intake of novel red clover supplementation for 12 weeks improves bone status in healthy menopausal women. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine, 2015.