A novel contribution to quality standards of Trifolium pretense L., A dietary supplement

Abstract

Trifolium pratense L. is an important medicinal plant distributed in Europe, United States, India and Australia. Flowering tops are used as dietary supplement for the relief of postmenopausal symptoms because of its isoflavone content. The present work was designed to study quality control parameters such as morphological, microscopical parameters, physicochemical along with fluorescence analysis, preliminary phytochemical analysis and HPTLC analysis of root, stem, leaf and flower of T. pratense. Morphological and microscopical evaluation of leaves, stem and flowers indicated the presence of long tricellular trichomes and prisms of calcium oxalate. Microscopy of root showed the presence of starch grains and abundant thin straight walled fibres. Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoids, tannins, phenolics and steroids as major phytochemicals of the plant while saponins were found to be present in flower. HPTLC fingerprinting was carried out using formononetin and biochanin A as a marker compound for an extract of root, stem, leaf and flower. All the extracts were found to contain both the isoflavone in different concentration. The results of the present study would serve as a source of valuable information for standardization and quality control of root, stem, leaf and flower of T. pratense.