Our Ingredient
Red Cover
Red clover, scientifically known as Trifolium pratense, has been treasured for centuries due to its incredible health benefits. It is a dark-pink herbaceous plant that is rich in a class of naturally occurring nonsteroidal plant compounds called isoflavones. Red clover isoflavones are well-known for a number of health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and phytoestrogenic activities.
Anti-inflammatory activities
Red clover exerts its anti-inflammatory properties through the ability of its isoflavones to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cell-signaling molecules and pro-inflammatory enzymes. Both pro-inflammatory cell-signaling molecules and pro-inflammatory enzymes are proteins that can trigger or catalyze an inflammatory response in our body. Isoflavones can suppress the release of pro-inflammatory messengers and the production of pro-inflammatory enzymes, thus preventing excessive inflammatory responses which could lead to tissue damage.
Anti-oxidative activities
Molecules capable of introducing oxidative stress, namely free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), are produced during daily metabolism. Excess free radicals and ROS can induce oxidative damage to our tissues and body. Isoflavones are known to help scavenge free radicals and ROS that are produced during metabolism and prevent their reactions with body tissues, thus protecting us against oxidative stress.
Phytoestrogen activities
Red clover is an herb rich in isoflavones. Due to the similarities in chemical structure between red clover isoflavones and female hormone (estrogens), isoflavones are able to mimic the action of estrogen and help balance female hormones, thereby supporting women during menopause by alleviating menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, osteoporosis and vaginal dryness etc.
References:
Gościniak, A., Szulc, P., Zielewicz, W., Walkowiak, J., & Cielecka-Piontek, J. (2023). Multidirectional Effects of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.) in Support of Menopause Therapy. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 28(13), 5178. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28135178
Liu, T., Li, N., Yan, Y. Q., Liu, Y., Xiong, K., Liu, Y., Xia, Q. M., Zhang, H., & Liu, Z. D. (2020). Recent advances in the anti-aging effects of phytoestrogens on collagen, water content, and oxidative stress. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 34(3), 435–447. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6538
Yu, J., Bi, X., Yu, B., & Chen, D. (2016). Isoflavones: Anti-Inflammatory Benefit and Possible Caveats. Nutrients, 8(6), 361. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8060361