Therapeutic Importance of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): A Review

Abstract

Herbs have high medicinal value in Indian homes. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is one of the most promising medicinal herbs and having nutritional value found on the continents of Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia. It is traditional remedy for treatment of various diseases. After various studies on its chemical constituents the therapeutic importance of fenugreek are known. Seeds provide the dietary fibres because of high fibre content. Fenugreek
contains the gum, fibre, alkaloid, flavonoids, saponin and volatile contents. It has various therapeutic applications like antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, hypocholesterolemia and antioxidant, antibacterial agent, hypoglycemia, gastric stimulant, and anti-anorexia agent etc. This review article summarizes the scientific literature from the databases and published experimental research. The results of this paper showed the various the therapeutic importance of fenugreek.

Full text

Journal of
Plant Science & Research Open Science Publications
01 ISSN: 2349-2805
Abstract
Herbs have high medicinal value in Indian homes. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is one of the most promising medicinal herbs and having
nutritional value found on the continents of Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia. It is traditional remedy for treatment of various diseases. After various studies
on its chemical constituents the therapeutic importance of fenugreek are known. Seeds provide the dietary bres because of high bre content. Fenugreek
contains the gum, bre, alkaloid, avonoids, saponin and volatile contents. It has various therapeutic applications like antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic,
hypocholesterolemia and antioxidant, antibacterial agent, hypoglycemia, gastric stimulant, and anti-anorexia agent etc. This review article summarizes the
scientic literature from the databases and published experimental research. The results of this paper showed the various the therapeutic importance of
fenugreek.
Keywords: Trigonella foenum-graecum; Therapeutic; Hypocholesterolemic; Flavonoids.
contains a variety of components i.e. alkaloids, glycoside, polyphenols,
steroids, amino acids and volatile components. In various medicinal
applications, it works as antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, remedy for
hypoglycemia and hypocholesterolemia, antioxidant, antibacterial
agent, gastric stimulant, and anti-anorexia agent.e seeds are hot,
with a sharp bitter taste; tonic, antipyretic, anthelmentic, increase
the apetite, astringent to the bowels, cure leprosy, “vata”, vomiting,
bronchitis, piles; remove bad taste from the mouth, useful in heart
disease [4]. Fenugreek as a chemurgic crop has a wide use for
industrial purposes. Its seeds are source of a steroid diosgenin, which
is used in pharmaceutical industry.
Health benets of fenugreek
Fenugreek seeds are used as a preservative as they are rich in
vitamin E which is an antioxidant. Vitamin E protects body tissue
from damage caused by substances called free radicals which can
harm cells, tissue and organs. For treatment of indigestion, atulence
Introduction
Trigonella foenum - graecum (L.) belonging to the family
Fabaceae. It is commonly known as Fenugreek. It is native to an area
extending from Iran to northern India. Fenugreek is widely cultivated
in China, India, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Ukraine, Greece, Turkey,
etc. [1]. India is the largest producer of fenugreek in the world. Total
fenugreek production in India was 113 thousand MT in the year 2012-
13 [2]. It is a owering annual plant, with autogamous owers. It is an
aromatic, annual herb, cultivated throughout the country [3]. It is 30-
60 cm tall plant, appearance of seed solid- rhomboidal, 3 to 5 cm long,
2 nm thick, hard and pebble like. Colour of seed is yellowish brown to
light brown with little spicy and bitter- mucilaginous odour and taste
respectively. Fenugreek is as one of the oldest cultivated medicinal
plants. Many studies showed that it acquire anti-oxidant properties in
seeds and leaves. It is also known as Methi. It is used as an Ayurvedic
medicines in the treatment of abscesses, wounds, arthritis, bronchitis,
and digestive disorders. Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) plant
Volume 3, Issue 1 - 2016
© Belge SA 2016
www.opensciencepublications.com
erapeutic Importance of Fenugreek (Trigonella
foenum-graecum L.): A Review
Review article
Aher RR1, Belge SA1*, Kadam SR1, Kharade SS1, Misal AV2 and Yeole PT1
1KK Wagh College of Agricultural Biotechnology, Panchavati, Nashik, India
2PDVVPF’s College of Pharmacy, Ahmednagar, India
*Corresponding author: SA Belge, KK Wagh College of Agricultural Biotechnology, Panchavati, Nashik, India
e-mail: shrirambelge@gmail.com
Copyright: © 2016 Aher RR et al. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Information: Submission: 16/05/2016; Accepted: 06/06/2016; Published: 11/06/2016

JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCE & RESEARCH Belge SA
Citation: Aher RR, Belge SA, Kadam SR, Kharade SS, Misal AV, et al. Therapeutic Importance of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): A Review.
J Plant Sci Res. 2016;3(1): 152.
02
and a sluggish liver fresh leaves are used. Also the dried leaves used
for avour and for recurrent mouth ulcers the infusion of leaves are
used as a gargle. For hair therapy, the fresh leaves paste is used by
applying it over the scalp. It helps to hair grow, keeps natural color,
makes hair silky and remove dandru. Fenugreek seeds made in gruel
and given to nursing mothers. It helps to increase the ow of milk.
For skin treatment, the gelatinous texture of fenugreek seed is used to
soothing the skin which is irritated by eczema in this the skin patches
become rough and inames with blisters which cause bleeding and
itching. In kidney stones problem, the seeds reduce the amount
of calcium oxalate. To relieve muscle aches and gout pain warm
poultice/cataplasm of fenugreek is used. Fenugreek seeds help in
reducing the amount of calcium oxalate in the kidneys which causes
kidney stones. Now a day’s fenugreek is used as source of the steroid
diosgenin, one of its active constituents from which other steroids can
be synthesized.
erapeutic importance of fenugreek
Fenugreek in the Treatment of Diabetes
In animal and human trials, fenugreek seeds have been found
to lower fasting serum glucose levels. Fenugreek also to be used as
antidiabetic remedy for both type I and II diabetes. Saponins and
diosgenin present in fenugreek are responsible for hypolipidemic
and anti-diabetic action [5-7]. Fenugreek is described as an
antihyperglycemic herb in humans and laboratory animal [8,9].
Fenugreek in cancer therapy
Fenugreek is a medicinal herb for therapy in cancer patients
under chemotherapeutic interventions. Fenugreek extract shows
a protective eect by modifying the cyclophosphamide induced
apoptosis and free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation in the urinary
bladder of mice.It has been found to be potentially important in
cancer treatment [5]. Flavonoids and catechins were rst shown
to be apoptotic in human carcinoma cells. Diosgenin present in
fenugreek prevents cell growth and induced apoptosis in the H-29
human colon cancer cell line [10]. Fenugreek seed was found to have
hepatoprotective properties. Polyphenolic extract of fenugreek seed
acts as a protective agent against ethanol induced abnormalities in
the liver [11].
Fenugreek as antioxidant
Fenugreek has a property as an antioxidant because of the
presence of Flavenoids and polyphenols [12,13]. Fenugreek seeds
rich in polyphenol which showed protective eects against hydrogen
peroxide-induced oxidation by protecting the erythrocytes from
haemolysis and lipid peroxidation [14]. A recent in vitro study has
reported that the fenugreek extract has shown and by inhibiting the
γ-radiation induced strand break formation in plasmid pBR322 DNA
[11].
Fenugreek effect in cholesterol lowering
e abnormal deciency of cholesterol level in the blood is
known as hypocholesterolemic problem. Fenugreek increased the
fecal bile acid and cholesterol excretion. It may be secondary to a
reaction between the bile acids and saponins causing the formation
of micelles too large for the digestive tract to absorb. Another eect
is that, the ber-rich gum portion of the seed that reduces the rate
of hepatic synthesis of cholesterol. Both this mechanism contributes
to cholesterol lowering. Fenugreek seeds have hypocholesterolemic
eects [15]. Hence fenugreek seeds have lowered serum cholesterol,
triglyceride [16,17].
Fenugreek in anthelmintic activity
Seeds of fenugreek showed mark and potent anthelmintic
activity. In this the alcoholic extracts showed promising results as
anthelmintic activity. Besides it water extract show lesser activity [18].
Fenugreek in antibacterial activity
e seed extracts are eective against Escherichia coli, Salmonella
typhi and Staphylococus aureus. To make this aqueous extract seeds
are boiled in water [18]. Fenugreek has antibacterial activity that,
these plants kill bacteria according to reports [19,20]. e synthetic
α-glucosidases inhibitors such as acarbose can cause adverse
side eects on abdomen such as abdominal distention because of
excessive inhibition of pancreatic enzymes which results in the
abnormal bacterial fermentation undigested carbohydrates in the
colon. erefore research on the development and utilization of anti-
diabetic plants with mild inhibition of pancreatic enzymes is benecial
[21,22]. e glycolytic activity of α-amylase may occur through the
direct blockage of the active center at several subsites of the enzyme
as also suggested for other inhibitors [21]. e fenugreek extract
contains α-amylase inhibitory factors which probably interact with
the active sites of the enzyme in a substrate specic manner. To
inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas spp., E. coli, Shigella dysentiriae,
and Salmonella typhi, fenugreek is eective [23,24].
Fenugreek in obesity
Obesity is one of the major risk factor for morbidity and mortality.
It may be dened as abnormal growth of adipose tissue [25]. In some
research’s it’s indicated that fenugreek seed extract supplementation
reduces the body and adipose tissue weight [26]. e probable
mechanism of fenugreek decreasing the total body and adipose
tissue weight may be that fenugreek ushes out the carbohydrates
from the body before they enter the blood stream resulting in
weight loss and fenugreek seeds contain a high proportion (40%)
of soluble ber. ese bers forms a gelatinous structure which may
have eects on slowing the digestion and absorption of food from
the intestine and create a sense of fullness in the abdomen, thus
suppresses appetite and promotes weight loss [25]. Hence fenugreek
is eective on blood lipids and sugar and on some bacterial strains,
Sr. No. Components Property Reference
1. Diosgenin
Hypolipidemic and Anti-dia-
betic action Chemotherapeu-
tic activity
[2, 38,39]
2. Saponins Hypocholesterolemic activity [16]
3. Flavenoids Antioxidant activity [40,41]
4. Polyphenols Antioxidant activity [40,41]
5. Galactoman-
nan Anti-diabetic activity [42]
Table 1: Chemical components present in fenugreek and their properties.

JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCE & RESEARCH Belge SA
Citation: Aher RR, Belge SA, Kadam SR, Kharade SS, Misal AV, et al. Therapeutic Importance of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): A Review.
J Plant Sci Res. 2016;3(1): 152.
03
antioxidant activity of fenugreek causing protective of organs and
inhibition of entrance diseases to body, too decreases body fats and is
eective on obesity.
Fenugreek in Gastro protection
e fenugreek seeds are eective on gastric ulcer. e aqueous
extract and a gel fraction isolated from the seeds of fenugreek showed
signicant ulcer protective eects. e cytoprotective eect of the
seeds is due to the anti-secretory action and eects on mucosal
glycoproteins. e rise in lipid peroxidation induced by ethanol is
also prevented by fenugreek seeds. e mechanism besides it that it
enhances the antioxidant potential of the gastric mucosa hence it can
lowers mucosal injury. By various researches it can revealed that the
soluble gel fraction derived from the seeds was more eective than
omeprazole in preventing lesion formation. ese observations show
that fenugreek seeds possess antiulcer potential [22,27].
Fenugreek inuence in Digestion
Spices consumed in diet inuenced the pancreatic digestive
enzymes.Fenugreek prominently enhanced pancreatic lipase activity
with the help of feeding rats with spicy diets for eight weeks [28].
High bre of fenugreek helps in relieving constipation ailments.
Fenugreek in Inammation
e 100 and 200 mg/kg dose of fenugreek reduced carragenean-
induced paw edema in rats [29]. Fenugreek extract contains the
alkaloid and it has been reported that to produce anti-inammatory
property by reducing formalin-induced edema in rat and antipyretic
property by signicantly reducing hyperthermia induced by Brewer’s
Yeast this alkaloids are essential [30]. e anti-inammatory
property of fenugreek is probably due to the presence of saponins and
avonoid. Flavonoids act as antioxidant and potential inhibitors of
cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and nitric oxide synthase [26,31-33].
Fenugreek in Hypertension
Endothelial dysfunction is a devastating condition which is
associated to induce various disorders such as atherosclerosis,
hypertension, diabetes mellitus etc. [34]. e essential oil obtained
from fenugreek in combination with other essential oils has been
employed to reduce systolic blood pressure in spontaneously
hypertensive rat [35]. e aqueous and benzene extract of fenugreek
has been found to show diuretic activity in a dose dependent manner
by increasing the volume of urine and naliuretic activity by increasing
the levels of Na+/K+ ions ratio in Wistar rats; which can be employed
to treat hypertension [36,37].
Conclusion
e Present review shows the dierent therapeutic applications
of fenugreek. e major health benecial properties of fenugreek,
which can give promising therapeutic application has been discussed
in this review article. Antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic,
anthelmintic, hypocholesterolemic, antibacterial activities are the
major medicinal properties of the fenugreek demonstrated in various
studies. High bre content, gummy nature and chemical constituents
present in it make it a naturally health promoting herb. By studying
these observations fenugreek is recommended as a safe and can be
used in daily diet.
References
1. Petropoulos GA (2002) Fenugreek: The genus Trigonella. Taylor and Francis,
London and New York.
2. Indian Horticulture Database. 2012-13. National Horticulture Board,
Government of India.
3. Kirtikar, Basu (2009) Indian Medicinal plants. International Book Distributors.
700-701.
4. Aggarwal BB, Shishodia S (2006) Molecular targets of dietary agents for
prevention and therapy of cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 71: 1397-1421.
5. Ahmadiani A, Javana M, Semnanianb S, Barata E, Kamalinejada M (2001)
Antiinammatory and antipyretic effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum
leaves extract in the rat. J Ethnopharmacol 75: 283-286.
6. Shani J, Goldschmied A, Joseph B, Ahronson Z, Sulma FG (1974)
Hypoglycemic effect of Trigonella foenum graecum and Lupinus termis
(Leguminosae) seeds and their major alkaloids in alloxan- diabetic and
normal rats. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther 210: 27-36.
7. Talpur N, Echard B, Ingram C, Bagchi D (2005) Effects of a novel formulation
of essential oils on glucose-insulin metabolism in diabetic and hypertensive
rats. Diabetes Obes Metab 7: 193-199.
8. Gopalan C, Ramasastri BV, Balasubramaniyam SC (1989) Nutritive value of
Indian food. National Institute of Nutrition, ICMR, Hydrabad.
9. Kaviarasan S, Naik GH, Gangabhagirathi R, Anuradha CV, Priyadarsini KI
(2007) In vitro studies on antiradical and antioxidant activities of fenugreek
(Trigonella Foenum Graecum) seeds. Food Chem 103: 31-37.
10. Raju J, Bird RP (2006) Alleviation of hepatic steatosis accompanied by
modulation of plasma and liver TNF-alpha levels by Trigonella foenum
graecum (fenugreek) seeds in Zucker obese (fa/fa) rats. Int J Obes 30: 1298-
1307.
11. Kaviarasan S, Anuradha CV (2007) Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum)
seed polyphenols protect liver from alcohol toxicity: a role on hepatic
detoxication system and apoptosis. Pharmazie 62: 299-304.
12. Dixit P, Ghaskadbi S, Mohan H, Devasagayam TPA (2005) Antioxidant
properties of germinated fenugreek seeds. Phytother Res 19: 977-983.
13. Rababah TM, Hettiarachchy NS, Horax R (2004) Total phenolics and
antioxidant activities of fenugreek, green tea, black tea, grape seed,
ginger, rosemary, gotu kola, and ginkgo extracts, vitamin E and tertbutyl
hydroquinone. J Agric Food Chem 52: 5183-5186.
14. Kaviarasan S, Vijayalakshmi K, Anuradha CV (2004) Polyphenol-rich extract
of fenugreek seeds protect erythrocytes from oxidative damage. Plant Foods
Human Nutr 59: 143-147.
15. Narender T, Puri A, Khali T, Saxena R, Bhatiac G, et al. (2005)
Hydroxyisoleucine an unusual amino acid as antidyslipidemic and
antihyperglycemic agent. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 16: 293-296.
16. Dash BK, Sultana S, Sultana N (2011) Antibacterial activities of methanol and
acetone extracts of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum) and coriander (Coriandrum
sativum). Life Sciences and Medicine Research 1: 27.
17. Stark A, Madar Z (1993) The effect of an ethanol extract derived from
fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) on bile acid absorption and
cholesterol levels in rats. British J Nutr 69: 277-287.
18. Yada R, Kaushik R, Gupta D (2010) The health benets of trigonella foenum-
graecum: a review. International Journal of Engineering Research and
Application 1: 32-35.
19. Marles RJ, Farnsworth NR (1995) Antidiabetic plants and their active
constituents. Phytomedicine 2: 137-189.
20. Sharifar FD, Nudeh GH, Mirtajaldini M (2005) Major avonoids with
antioxidant activity from Teucrium polium L. Food Chem 114: 885-888.

JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCE & RESEARCH Belge SA
Citation: Aher RR, Belge SA, Kadam SR, Kharade SS, Misal AV, et al. Therapeutic Importance of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): A Review.
J Plant Sci Res. 2016;3(1): 152.
04
21. McCue P, Shetty K (2004) Inhibitory effects of rosmarinic acid extracts on
porcine pancreatic amylase in vitro. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 13: 101-106.
22. Bordia A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC (1997) Effect of ginger and fenugreek
(Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on blood lipids, blood sugar and platelet
aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease. Prostaglandins Leukot
Essent Fatty Acids 56: 379-384.
23. Thirunavukkarasu V, Anuradha CV, Viswanathan P (2003) Protective effect
of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) seeds in experimental ethanol
toxicity. Phytother Res 17: 737-743.
24. Mahmood AA, Sidik K, Salmah L (2005) Anti-ulcer and gastro protective
effects of honey in combination with Trigonella foenum graceum seeds
extract on experimental gastric ulcer in rats. Inter J Mol Med Adv Sci 1: 225-
229.
25. Meghwal M, Goswami TK (2012) A review on the functional properties,
nutritional content, medicinal utilization and potential application of fenugreek.
Food Processing Tech 3: 1-10.
26. Handa T, Yamaguchi K, Sono Y, Yazawa K (2005) Effects of fenugreek seed
extract in obese mice fed a high-fat diet. Biosci Biotechbol Biochem 69: 1186-
8.
27. Platel K, Srinivasan K (2000) Inuence of dietary spices and their active
principles on pancreatic digestive enzymes in albino rats. Nahrung 44: 42-46.
28. Balakumar P, Kaur J (2009) Is nicotine a key player or spectator in the
induction and progression of cardiovascular disorders. Pharmacol Res 60:
361-368.
29. Rao YK, Fang SH, Tzeng YM (2005) Antiinammatory activities of avonoids
isolated from Caesalpinia pulcherrima. J Ethnopharmacol 100: 249-253.
30. Pandian RS, Anuradha CV, Viswanathan P (2002) Gastroprotective effect of
fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum) on experimental gastric ulcer
in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 81: 393-397.
31. Sharifara F, Khazaelia P, Allib N (2009) In vivo evaluation of anti-inammatory
activity of topical preparations from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum
L.) seeds in a cream base. Iranian J Pharmaceut Sci 5: 157-162.
32. Sharma RD, Raghuram TC, Rao NS (1990) Effect of fenugreek seeds on
blood glucose and serum lipids in type I diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr 44: 301-306.
33. Weiser M, Frishman WH, Michaelson MD, Abdeen MA (1997) The
pharmacologic approach to the treatment of obesity. J Clin Pharmacol 37:
453-473.
34. Sauvaire Y, Ribes G, Baccou JC, Loubatieères-Mariani MM (1991)
Implication of steroid saponins and sapogenins in the hypocholesterolemic
effect of fenugreek. Lipids 26: 191-197.
35. Kaur J, Singh H, Khan MU (2011) Multifarious therapeutic potential of
fenugreek: A comprehensive review. International Journal of Research in
Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences 2: 863-871.
36. Raju J, Bird RP (2006) Alleviation of hepatic steatosis accompanied by
modulation of plasma and liver TNF-alpha levels by Trigonella foenum
graecum (fenugreek) seeds in Zucker obese (fa/fa) rats. Int J Obes 30: 1298-
1307.
37. Dixit P, Ghaskadbi S, Mohan H, Devasagayam TPA (2005) Antioxidant
properties of germinated fenugreek seeds. Phytother Res 19: 977-983.
38. Rababah TM, Hettiarachchy NS, Horax R (2004) Total phenolics and
antioxidant activities of fenugreek, green tea, black tea, grape seed,
ginger, rosemary, gotu kola, and ginkgo extracts, vitamin E and tertbutyl
hydroquinone. J Agric Food Chem 52: 5183-5186.
39. Nathiya S, Durga M, Devasena T (2014) Therapeutic role of Trigonella
foenum-graecum [Fenugreek] - A Review. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res 27: 74-80.
40. Randhir R, Shetty K (2007) Improved α-amylase and Helicobacter pylori
inhibition by fenugreek extracts derived via solid-state bioconversion using
Rhizopus oligosporus. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 16: 382-392.
41. Rohini RM, Nayeem M, Das AK (2009) Diuretic effect of Trigonella foenum
graecum seed extracts. Intern J Altern Med 6: 2.
42. Talpur N, Echard B, Ingram C, Bagchi D (2005) Effects of a novel formulation
of essential oils on glucose-insulin metabolism in diabetic and hypertensive
rats. Diabetes Obes Metab 7: 193-199.