Red Clover Plus Extract by Now Foods - 2oz.

Red Clover ( Trifolium pratense ) is a short- lived perennial plant grown in Europe, Britain and throughout the northeast USA. Red clover is one of the oldest crops cultivated as forage for the feeding of livestock and horses. The ancient Greeks, Romans and Celts revered this plant. Its three leaves reminded the early Christians a symbol of the Trinity. Red clover has a rich and long history in American medicine. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries this common plant was even a main ingredient in medicines know as Trifolium compounds. Red clover was listed in the National Formulary for skin diseases until 1946. More modern day scientific research has shown that Red Clover contains a group of phytoestrogen compounds called isoflavones. The four major isoflavones identified in Red clover are Formonnetin, Biochanin A, Genistein and Diadzein . Phtyoestrogens are naturally occurring compounds found in Red clover and other plants that are structurally related to 17beta-estradiol. Researchers have found that isoflavones may act as anti-estrogens and actually compete with estradiol at the cell binding site. This characteristic and others may be responsible for Red clovers ability to support healthy estrogen levels and usefulness during menopause.