Plant Comparison

Field restharrow vs Red Clover

A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.

First plant

Second plant

Plant AField restharrowOnonis arvensisFabaceaeFull monograph →

Plant BRed CloverTrifolium pratenseFabaceaeFull monograph →

At a glance

Field restharrow and Red Clover: both belong to the Fabaceae family; they share 5 indicated uses (cancer (anticancer research), wounds, skin irritation, …); 6 pharmacological actions in common.

Field restharrowRed Clover

Constituents62

Pharmacological actions1210

Indicated uses1116

Safety notes32

Cited sources4244

Indicated uses

Only Field restharrow

Urinary supportUrinary tract infection (UTI)Kidney supportSwelling / fluid retentionInfection (general)Pain (general)

Shared (5)

Cancer (anticancer research)WoundsSkin irritationInflammation (general)Cardiovascular / heart health

Only Red Clover

Arthritis / joint painBronchitisCoughMenstrual crampsMuscle spasmRespiratory supportMenopauseHot flashesHigh cholesterolBlood sugar / diabetes supportCognitive function

Pharmacological actions

Only Field restharrow

DiureticUrinary antisepticAnalgesic (pain relief)GastroprotectiveAntifungalAntiplatelet / anticoagulant

Shared (6)

Anti-inflammatoryAntimicrobialVulnerary (wound healing)AntioxidantAnticancer (preclinical)Lipid-lowering

Only Red Clover

AntispasmodicExpectorantNeuroprotective / cognition supportAntidiabetic (blood-sugar lowering)

Evidence face-off — shared uses

Condition	Field restharrow	Red Clover	Verdict
Cancer (anticancer research)	2/10	7/10	Stronger for Red Clover
Wounds	2/10	7/10	Stronger for Red Clover
Skin irritation	2/10	5/10	Stronger for Red Clover
Inflammation (general)	2/10	5/10	Stronger for Red Clover
Cardiovascular / heart health	2/10	9/10	Stronger for Red Clover

Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.

Key Constituents

Isoflavonoids (formononetin, ononin and derivatives)^{[1, 3, 5, 20]}

Formononetin and its 7-O-glucoside ononin, plus related isoflavones - the signature restharrow constituents (also phytoestrogens).

FlavonoidsGlycosidesPhenolic compounds

Pterocarpans and isoflavanones (medicarpin, maackiain, onogenin, sativanone)^{[1, 4]}

Pterocarpans and isoflavanones and their glucosides, contributing to antimicrobial and wound-healing activity.

FlavonoidsGlycosides

alpha-Onocerin^[7]

alpha-Onocerin (onocerin), a characteristic triterpene of the genus Ononis.

Triterpene saponinsTerpenes / terpenoids

Coumarins (scopoletin, scopolin)^[1]

Coumarins detected in the phytochemical profile.

Coumarins

Hydroxycinnamic / phenolic acids^[6]

Caffeic, chlorogenic and p-coumaric acids (antioxidant).

Caffeic acidChlorogenic acidPhenolic acids

Essential (volatile) oil^[10]

A volatile oil present in the root and aerial parts.

Essential (volatile) oil

Isoflavones (formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein, genistein)^[14]

Phytoestrogenic isoflavones responsible for the plant's estrogenic and cardiovascular research interest; one of the richest known plant sources.

Flavonoids

Coumarins^[40]

Contribute mild anticoagulant activity; relevant to the plant's caution around blood-thinning medication.

Coumarins

Pharmacological Actions

Diuretic^{[8, 13, 28, 30, 42]}

Aquaretic diuretic; the classic irrigation-therapy action of restharrow root (Ononidis radix), used interchangeably for O. arvensis and O. spinosa.

Urinary antiseptic^[15]

Aqueous root extract reduced adhesion of uropathogenic E. coli to bladder cells (anti-adhesive).

Anti-inflammatory^{[14, 16, 17, 39]}

Inhibits IL-8 release via TLR4/LPS and cytosolic phospholipase A2alpha (restharrow root).

Antimicrobial^{[2, 13, 21, 41]}

Vulnerary (wound healing)^{[16, 20]}

Isoflavonoids from restharrow root promote wound healing in vivo.

Antioxidant^{[5, 6, 13, 21, 31, 34, 40]}

Analgesic (pain relief)^{[18, 33]}

Analgesic activity of Ononis extract in animals (congener O. spinosa).

Gastroprotective^[19]

Protective against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury (congener O. spinosa).

Anticancer (preclinical)^{[5, 27]}

Ononis isoflavones showed chemopreventive/antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cells (preclinical).

Antifungal^[22]

Lipid-lowering^{[24, 35]}

Antiplatelet / anticoagulant^[26]

Anti-inflammatory^{[4, 14, 17, 22, 28, 33, 34, 40, 41]}

Antioxidant^{[4, 6, 14, 16, 17, 22, 28, 29, 40, 41]}

Antispasmodic^{[8, 14, 40, 41]}

Antispasmodic (cramp easing)

Expectorant^{[14, 40, 41]}

Lipid-lowering^{[5, 11, 13]}

Anticancer (preclinical)^{[16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 35, 36, 37]}

Neuroprotective / cognition support^{[23, 30, 31, 32]}

Antidiabetic (blood-sugar lowering)^{[24, 25, 38]}

Antimicrobial^{[17, 27]}

Vulnerary (wound healing)^{[17, 39]}

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Cancer (anticancer research)^{[5, 27]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 2

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

Urinary support^{[8, 13, 15, 28, 30]}Strong · 9/10

Aquaretic diuretic for irrigation therapy of the urinary tract.

Evidence: 9

Label: Urinary support

Urinary tract infection (UTI)^[15]Traditional · 2/10

Anti-adhesive activity against uropathogenic E. coli.

Evidence: 2

Label: Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Kidney support^{[8, 13]}Good · 7/10

inferred from diuretic / urinary 'gravel' traditional use

Evidence: 7

Label: Kidney support

Swelling / fluid retention^[13]Good · 7/10

inferred from diuretic (aquaretic) action

Evidence: 7

Label: Swelling / fluid retention

Infection (general)^[2]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 2

Label: Infection (general)

Wounds^[16]Traditional · 2/10

Isoflavonoid wound-healing agents from restharrow root.

Evidence: 2

Label: Wounds

Skin irritation^{[8, 17]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory and traditional skin/eczema use

Evidence: 2

Label: Skin irritation

Inflammation (general)^{[14, 17]}Traditional · 2/10

Evidence: 2

Label: Inflammation (general)

Pain (general)^[18]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from analgesic action

Evidence: 2

Label: Pain (general)

Cardiovascular / heart health^{[24, 26, 35]}Traditional · 2/10

Ononis isoflavonoids (maackiain, ononin) showed anti-adipogenic activity via PPAR-gamma inhibition (preclinical).

Evidence: 2

Label: Cardiovascular / heart health

Arthritis / joint pain^{[14, 34, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 5

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Bronchitis^{[14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from expectorant action

Evidence: 5

Label: Bronchitis

Cardiovascular / heart health^{[2, 10, 13, 14, 16, 33, 40, 41]}Strong · 9/10

Evidence: 9

Label: Cardiovascular / heart health

Cough^{[14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from expectorant action

Evidence: 5

Label: Cough

Inflammation (general)^{[14, 28, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 5

Label: Inflammation (general)

Menstrual cramps^{[8, 14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

Evidence: 5

Label: Menstrual cramps

Muscle spasm^{[8, 14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antispasmodic action

Evidence: 5

Label: Muscle spasm

Respiratory support^{[14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from expectorant action

Evidence: 5

Label: Respiratory support

Skin irritation^{[7, 14, 40, 41]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 5

Label: Skin irritation

Menopause^{[1, 5, 11, 12, 15]}Strong · 9/10

Evidence: 9

Label: Menopause

Hot flashes^{[1, 5, 11, 12]}Strong · 9/10

Evidence: 9

Label: Hot flashes

High cholesterol^{[5, 11, 13]}Strong · 9/10

Evidence: 9

Label: High cholesterol

Cancer (anticancer research)^{[16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 35, 36, 37]}Good · 7/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 7

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

Blood sugar / diabetes support^{[24, 25, 38]}Traditional · 2/10

Evidence: 2

Label: Blood sugar / diabetes support

Cognitive function^{[23, 30, 31, 32]}Good · 8/10

inferred from neuroprotective action

Evidence: 8

Label: Cognitive function

Wounds^{[17, 39]}Good · 7/10

inferred from vulnerary action

Evidence: 7

Label: Wounds

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[18]Warning

A safety signal exists in the genus: an Ononis spinosa root extract showed hepatotoxic effects at higher doses in animals (alongside analgesic activity). Avoid excessive or prolonged use, and use caution in liver disease.

Safety note^[13]Caution

Used as an aquaretic for irrigation therapy of the urinary tract, restharrow should be taken with a generous fluid intake; it should NOT be used for 'flushing' when there is oedema due to impaired heart or kidney function (standard irrigation-therapy caution).

Safety note^{[1, 3]}Caution

The root is rich in isoflavone phytoestrogens (formononetin); avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy and breastfeeding and use caution in hormone-sensitive conditions.

Safety note^{[14, 40, 41]}Caution

Generally safe in normal dietary amounts. Isoflavones are phytoestrogens — exercise caution in oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer patients or those taking hormone therapies. May interact with warfarin (antiplatelet activity). Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Well tolerated in most adults.

Safety note^{[14, 40, 41, 42]}Caution

Duke (2002) rates red clover as +++ and provides clinical evidence (score 2) for estrogenic activity — the plant is one of the richest plant sources of isoflavones (formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein, genistein). Clinical applications include menopausal symptom relief, osteoporosis prevention, and cardiovascular protection in peri-menopausal women. Dose: standardized extract providing 40–160 mg isoflavones daily. Duke cautions that due to strong estrogenic activity, red clover is not recommended in estrogen-dependent cancers (breast, uterine) or alongside hormone replacement therapy without medical supervision. Anti-coagulant coumarins are also present (Duke, 2002).

External Ids

Gbif: 2977171

Wikidata: Q164263

Gbif: 8324121

Wikidata: Q156635

Synonyms

Ononis hircina, Ononis arvensis subsp. arvensis

Not documented

Botanical Description

A tough, deep-rooted perennial herb or low subshrub of the pea family, 30-80 cm tall, sometimes bearing soft spines. It has a very long, woody, tenacious taproot - so strong it was said to stop (arrest) the harrow, giving 'rest-harrow' its name. The stems are hairy and sticky, often reddish, and clothed in small trifoliolate (clover-like) leaves with toothed leaflets. The flowers are typical pea flowers, pink to purplish-pink (occasionally white), borne singly or in pairs in the leaf axils. Field restharrow (O. arvensis) is generally less spiny than its close relative spiny restharrow (O. spinosa).^{[8, 10]}

Height: 30-80 cm

Habit: Deep-rooted perennial herb or low subshrub, sometimes softly spiny

Leaves: Trifoliolate (clover-like), with finely toothed leaflets; stems hairy and glandular-sticky

Flowers: Pea-type, pink to purplish-pink (rarely white), solitary or paired in the leaf axils

Stem: Erect to ascending, hairy and sticky, often reddish; less spiny than O. spinosa

Root: Very long, woody, tenacious taproot (the medicinal Ononidis radix)

Fruit: A small, hairy, few-seeded pea pod

Flowering Period: June-September

Short-lived perennial herb with trifoliate leaves, each leaflet oval and often marked with a pale chevron, arising from a spreading, slightly hairy stem. Dense, rounded, pink to magenta flower heads are borne at the stem tips.^[40]

Height: 20-60 cm

Habit: Short-lived perennial herb, spreading via a branching taproot

Leaves: Trifoliate, each leaflet oval with a pale chevron marking, slightly hairy

Flowers: Dense, rounded heads of small pink to magenta pea-like flowers

Stem: Slightly hairy, branching, spreading

Root: Branching taproot with nitrogen-fixing root nodules

Fruit: Small pod containing 1-2 seeds, enclosed within the dried flower head

Flowering Period: May-September

Habitat

Rough grassland, field margins, roadsides, dunes and dry, sandy or calcareous waste ground across Europe, western Asia and parts of North Africa. As a deep-rooted, nitrogen-fixing legume it colonises poor, disturbed soils and was historically a troublesome weed of arable fields (hence 'restharrow').^[8]

Grows in meadows, pastures, roadsides and grassy waste ground; native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa and widely naturalised and cultivated as a forage crop elsewhere.^[40]

Harvesting

The root (Ononidis radix) is the principal medicinal part, dug in autumn from the second year onward and dried; the aerial flowering parts are also gathered in summer. The long woody taproot is cleaned and cut before drying for decoctions and infusions.^[8]

Parts: Root, Aerial parts

Season: Root in autumn; aerial parts in flower (summer)

The flowering heads are picked at full bloom in summer and dried quickly in a warm, shaded, airy place to preserve isoflavone content and colour.^[40]

Parts: Flower, Leaf

Season: Summer, at full bloom

Traditional Uses

Restharrow root has a long place in European herbal medicine as a gentle aquaretic diuretic used for 'irrigation therapy' of the urinary tract - to increase urine flow in cystitis, urinary gravel and stones, and to flush the bladder. Field restharrow (Ononis arvensis) is used interchangeably with the officinal spiny restharrow (O. spinosa, Ononidis radix). The root and flowering herb have also been used as a mild anti-inflammatory, for skin complaints and eczema, for rheumatic conditions, and (as a decoction or gargle) for the mouth and throat. The isoflavone-rich root is a folk remedy in central and eastern European traditions.^{[8, 13]}

Red clover flower has a long folk tradition as a blood-purifying and expectorant remedy for coughs and skin complaints, and more recently has become one of the most studied herbal sources of isoflavone phytoestrogens, researched for menopausal symptom relief and cardiovascular and bone support.^{[14, 40, 41]}

Preparations

Decoction^{[8, 13]}

The dried root simmered in water and taken as an aquaretic diuretic for irrigation of the urinary tract; the classic restharrow preparation.

Infusion^[8]

The flowering aerial parts infused as a milder diuretic and anti-inflammatory tea.

Gargle / wash^[8]

A root decoction used traditionally as a mouth/throat gargle and as a wash for skin complaints.

Infusion (flower)^[40]

Dried flower heads infused in hot water as a traditional tea for coughs and as a general tonic.

Standardized isoflavone extract^[14]

Standardized isoflavone extract in tablet form, the form used in most menopause-related clinical research.

References

REF-2741, REF-2742, REF-2743, REF-2744, REF-2745, REF-2746, REF-2747, REF-2748, REF-2749, REF-2750, REF-2751, REF-2752, REF-2753, REF-2754, REF-2755, REF-2756, REF-2757, REF-2758, REF-2759, REF-2760, REF-3015, REF-3016, REF-3017, REF-3018, REF-3019, REF-3020, REF-3021, REF-3022, REF-3023, REF-3024, REF-3025, REF-3026, REF-3027, REF-3028, REF-3029, REF-3030, REF-3031, REF-3032, REF-3033, REF-3034, REF-3035, REF-3036

REF-1104, REF-1105, REF-1106, REF-1107, REF-1108, REF-1109, REF-1110, REF-1111, REF-1112, REF-1113, REF-2344, REF-2345, REF-2346, REF-0013, REF-2347, REF-2889, REF-2890, REF-2891, REF-2892, REF-2893, REF-2894, REF-2895, REF-2896, REF-2897, REF-2898, REF-2899, REF-2900, REF-2923, REF-2924, REF-2925, REF-2926, REF-2927, REF-2928, REF-2929, REF-2930, REF-2931, REF-2932, REF-2933, REF-2934

Drug Class Interactions

Safety note^{[8, 13]}Caution

Drug Class: diuretics

Mechanism: Restharrow is an aquaretic diuretic; taken with pharmaceutical diuretics it may add to fluid and electrolyte loss.