title: Trifolium species - the latest findings on chemical profile, ethnomedicinal use and pharmacological properties.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clovers (Trifolium, Fabaceae) have a long history of use in folk medicine. Furthermore, during last 3 years, a considerable growth in scientific interest in these plants has been observed. This article summarizes and critically reviews an over 3-year progress of knowledge of ethnomedicinal use, phytochemical profile, physiological effects and possible therapeutic action of various clover species. It contains the latest literature (over 80 papers), originated from international databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Science Direct/Elsevier, Springer Link, Wiley Online Library) and reports from other international and local scientific periodicals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Traditional uses of T. pratense and T. repens have been confirmed, while the folk medicine recommendations for administration of other clovers such as T. burchellianum, T. fragiferum, T. hybridum, T. minus and T. purpureum were reported for the first time. Furthermore, several other clover species were also investigated in terms of their antioxidant, antimicrobial and phytoestrogenic effects for the first time. Only T. alexandrinum, T. pratense and T. medium were examined in animal studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides T. pratense, other clovers may be a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals. However, in contradiction to red clover, the therapeutic use of other clovers is still limited by the lack of in-vivo evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kolodziejczyk-Czepas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029921:Trifolium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Trifolium; clover; ethnomedicine; pharmacology