In vitro studies of antioxidant and estrogenic activities of Trifolium pratense L. extracts on human adenocarcinoma and non-tumorigenic breast cell lines

Trifolium pratense L contains high concentrations of isoflavones, known for beneficial effects on human health attributed to their estrogenic, antioxidant and anti-cancer activities. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant and estrogenic effects of red clover aqueous and ethanolic extracts on adenocarcinoma and non-tumorigenic mammary gland cell lines. Both extracts were characterized by antioxidant spectrophotometric assays and the results were confirmed by Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy. Their total phenolic content was determined and phytochemicals profile was assessed by HPLC analysis. No cytotoxicity and an increase of cellular proliferation rate was observed for normal cells treated with aqueous extract at 0.5mg/ml concentration. At the same concentration a significant anti-proliferative effect was induced by both aqueous and ethanolic extracts on adenocarcinoma cells. The cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) of red clover ethanolic extract was comparable with Quercetin at 500 µ M used as positive control. Strong estrogenic activity of aqueous extract was assessed by E-SCREEN test and by Western blot on adenocarcinoma cells. Our study has demonstrated that the Trifolium pratense L. extracts can induce anti-cancer effects, by reducing the cellular proliferation rate and the viability of tumour cells. Interestingly, at the same concentration on non-tumorigenic cells a significant pro-proliferative effect was observed. Moreover, red clover ethanolic extract, unlike the aqueous one, can have a cytoprotective activity against ROS generation in tumour cells.

Acknowledgements: This work was partially funded by Core Program PN 192901.03; and by the grant COP A 1.2.3., ID: P_40_197/2016

Statement on behalf of all authors. All the authors agreed with the text of this abstract

Publication History

Article published online:
13 December 2021