Phytochemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics of phytoestrogens from red clover extract: An exhaustive overview

Abstract

Biochanin A and biochanin B (Formononetin) are the principal dietary isoflavones extensively found in herbal formulations of red clover extract (Trifolium pratense). The red clover-derived isoflavonoids have therapeutic application for mitigating the postmenopausal symptoms in women and are commercially available and marketed as tablets, capsules, and tea preparations. These are also consumed widely with the allopathic medicines without any prescription. However, the phytopharmaceuticals have less or minimum adverse effects and side effects, but the multidrug therapy is also one of the crucial aspects responsible for many serious clinical drug-drug and drug-herb interactions. Further, the main mechanism underlying the pharmacokinetic interactions is the potency to modulate the cytochrome P450 enzymes that are dynamically involved in the metabolic conversion of the drugs into their metabolites and alteration in membrane ATP-binding cassette transporters activity. In the present chapter, the phytochemistry and pharmacological importance of biochanin A and formononetin, along with their pharmacokinetic characteristics will be discussed. Furthermore, alteration in functional efficacy of cytochromes, transporters and mechanistic incrimination of their interaction potential with other prescribed drugs will also be exhaustively reviewed after considering the past ten years literatures based on available pre-clinical and clinical data.