title: Isoflavones in several clover species and in milk from goats fed clovers.
abstract: Isoflavones that exist in forages such as clover can move in milk, and may have beneficial effects on human health. We measured the isoflavones in subterranean (cv Yarloop, Geraldton, Dinninup and Dwalganup) and red (cv Merviot and Hamua) clovers, grown in a mountain environment, and in the milk of two goats fed a fresh mixture of the four subterranean clovers gathered at flowering stage. Isoflavone glycosides were hydrolysed with an improved beta glycosidase method. Free aglycones (FA) and the hydrolysed glycosides + free aglycones fraction (HF) were analysed by HPLC. In milk, the methanol extracted compounds were deconjugated and similarly analysed. Total HF was highest in Yarloop (19 g kg(-1) dry matter) and was three times lower in Merviot. Formononetin was the major compound (46-64% of total HF). FA varied from 30 to 73% of HF. Milk contained formononetin (50 microg L(-1)), similar amounts of equol and p ethylphenol (about 250 microg L(-1)), and equol like compounds (1120 microg L(-1)). Equol, which has estrogenic activity, and p ethylphenol were produced by biotransformation of formononetin, and biochanin A or genistein, respectively. The modulation of isoflavone amounts in milk and the estimation of their interests for human health warrant further investigation.
authors.affiliation: INRA, URH, Center de Clermont Ferrand-Theix, 63122 St Genès Champanelle, France.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakakibara
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Viala
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ollier
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Combeau
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Besle
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D006027:Glycosides / Q000032:analysis; D006041:Goats; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000032:analysis*; D029902:Medicago / Q000737:chemistry*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006027:Glycosides; D007529:Isoflavones