Flavonoid Derivatives from the Aerial Parts of Trifolium trichocephalum M. Bieb. and Their Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity

Trifolium L. species with a rich isoflavone content have been used as expectorant, analgesic, antiseptic, tonic, and wound-healer in folk medicine. The aim of the study is to evaluate pharmacological properties of the extracts and isolated compounds of T. tricocephalum. Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of T. trichocephalum led to the isolation of daidzein, genistein, quercetin, and daidzein 4'-O-β-glucoside for the first time from this species. Isolated compounds along with the methanol extract, water, ethyl acetate and chloroform subextracts were tested for their radical scavenging and cytotoxic activity which was evaluated by MTT assay. According to the results of activity tests, extracts showed a concentration-dependent radical scavenging activity as well as cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cells at 400 μg/mL, whereas the compounds did not exert any obvious cytotoxic effect at tested concentrations.