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): 149.

Introduction

Trigonella foenum - graecum (L.) belonging to the familyFabaceae. It is commonly known as Fenugreek. It is native to an areaextending from Iran to northern India. Fenugreek is widely cultivatedin China, India, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Ukraine, Greece, Turkey,etc. [1]. India is the largest producer of fenugreek in the world. Totalfenugreek production in India was 113 thousand MT in the year 2012-13 [2]. It is a flowering annual plant, with autogamous flowers. It is anaromatic, 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 tolight brown with little spicy and bitter- mucilaginous odour and tasterespectively. Fenugreek is as one of the oldest cultivated medicinalplants. Many studies showed that it acquire anti-oxidant properties inseeds and leaves. It is also known as Methi. It is used as an Ayurvedicmedicines in the treatment of abscesses, wounds, arthritis, bronchitis,and digestive disorders. Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) plant contains a variety of components i.e. alkaloids, glycoside, polyphenols,steroids, amino acids and volatile components. In various medicinalapplications, it works as antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, remedy forhypoglycemia and hypocholesterolemia, antioxidant, antibacterialagent, gastric stimulant, and anti-anorexia agent.The seeds are hot,with a sharp bitter taste; tonic, antipyretic, anthelmentic, increasethe apetite, astringent to the bowels, cure leprosy, “vata”, vomiting,bronchitis, piles; remove bad taste from the mouth, useful in heartdisease [4]. Fenugreek as a chemurgic crop has a wide use forindustrial purposes. Its seeds are source of a steroid diosgenin, whichis used in pharmaceutical industry.

Health benefits of fenugreek

Fenugreek seeds are used as a preservative as they are rich invitamin E which is an antioxidant. Vitamin E protects body tissuefrom damage caused by substances called free radicals which canharm cells, tissue and organs. For treatment of indigestion, flatulence and a sluggish liver fresh leaves are used. Also the dried leaves usedfor flavour and for recurrent mouth ulcers the infusion of leaves areused as a gargle. For hair therapy, the fresh leaves paste is used byapplying it over the scalp. It helps to hair grow, keeps natural color,makes hair silky and remove dandruff. Fenugreek seeds made in grueland given to nursing mothers. It helps to increase the flow of milk.For skin treatment, the gelatinous texture of fenugreek seed is used tosoothing the skin which is irritated by eczema in this the skin patchesbecome rough and inflames with blisters which cause bleeding anditching. In kidney stones problem, the seeds reduce the amountof calcium oxalate. To relieve muscle aches and gout pain warmpoultice/cataplasm of fenugreek is used. Fenugreek seeds help inreducing the amount of calcium oxalate in the kidneys which causeskidney stones. Now a day’s fenugreek is used as source of the steroiddiosgenin, one of its active constituents from which other steroids canbe synthesized.

Therapeutic importance of fenugreek

Fenugreek in the Treatment of Diabetes

In animal and human trials, fenugreek seeds have been foundto lower fasting serum glucose levels. Fenugreek also to be used asantidiabetic remedy for both type I and II diabetes. Saponins anddiosgenin present in fenugreek are responsible for hypolipidemicand anti-diabetic action [5-7]. Fenugreek is described as anantihyperglycemic herb in humans and laboratory animal [8,9].

Fenugreek in cancer therapy

Fenugreek is a medicinal herb for therapy in cancer patientsunder chemotherapeutic interventions. Fenugreek extract showsa protective effect by modifying the cyclophosphamide inducedapoptosis and free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation in the urinarybladder of mice.It has been found to be potentially important incancer treatment [5]. Flavonoids and catechins were first shownto be apoptotic in human carcinoma cells. Diosgenin present infenugreek prevents cell growth and induced apoptosis in the H-29human colon cancer cell line [10]. Fenugreek seed was found to havehepatoprotective properties. Polyphenolic extract of fenugreek seedacts as a protective agent against ethanol induced abnormalities inthe liver [11].

Fenugreek as antioxidant

Fenugreek has a property as an antioxidant because of thepresence of Flavenoids and polyphenols [12,13]. Fenugreek seedsrich in polyphenol which showed protective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidation by protecting the erythrocytes fromhaemolysis and lipid peroxidation [14]. A recent in vitro study hasreported that the fenugreek extract has shown and by inhibiting theγ-radiation induced strand break formation in plasmid pBR322 DNA[11].

Fenugreek effect in cholesterol lowering

The abnormal deficiency of cholesterol level in the blood isknown as hypocholesterolemic problem. Fenugreek increased thefecal bile acid and cholesterol excretion. It may be secondary to areaction between the bile acids and saponins causing the formationof micelles too large for the digestive tract to absorb. Another effectis that, the fiber-rich gum portion of the seed that reduces the rateof hepatic synthesis of cholesterol. Both this mechanism contributesto cholesterol lowering. Fenugreek seeds have hypocholesterolemiceffects [15]. Hence fenugreek seeds have lowered serum cholesterol,triglyceride [16,17].

Fenugreek in anthelmintic activity

Seeds of fenugreek showed mark and potent anthelminticactivity. In this the alcoholic extracts showed promising results asanthelmintic activity. Besides it water extract show lesser activity [18].

Fenugreek in antibacterial activity

The seed extracts are effective against Escherichia coli, Salmonellatyphi and Staphylococus aureus. To make this aqueous extract seedsare boiled in water [18]. Fenugreek has antibacterial activity that,these plants kill bacteria according to reports [19,20]. The syntheticα-glucosidases inhibitors such as acarbose can cause adverseside effects on abdomen such as abdominal distention because ofexcessive inhibition of pancreatic enzymes which results in theabnormal bacterial fermentation undigested carbohydrates in thecolon. Therefore research on the development and utilization of antidiabetic plants with mild inhibition of pancreatic enzymes is beneficial [21,22]. The 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]. The fenugreek extract contains α-amylase inhibitory factors which probably interact with the active sites of the enzyme in a substrate specific manner. Toinhibit the growth of Pseudomonas spp., E. coli, Shigella dysentiriae,and Salmonella typhi, fenugreek is effective [23,24].

Fenugreek in obesity

Obesity is one of the major risk factor for morbidity and mortality.It may be defined as abnormal growth of adipose tissue [25]. In someresearch’s it’s indicated that fenugreek seed extract supplementationreduces the body and adipose tissue weight [26]. The probablemechanism of fenugreek decreasing the total body and adiposetissue weight may be that fenugreek flushes out the carbohydratesfrom the body before they enter the blood stream resulting inweight loss and fenugreek seeds contain a high proportion (40%)of soluble fiber. These fibers forms a gelatinous structure which mayhave effects on slowing the digestion and absorption of food fromthe intestine and create a sense of fullness in the abdomen, thussuppresses appetite and promotes weight loss [25]. Hence fenugreekis effective on blood lipids and sugar and on some bacterial strains, antioxidant activity of fenugreek causing protective of organs andinhibition of entrance diseases to body, too decreases body fats and iseffective on obesity.

Table 1: Chemical components present in fenugreek and their properties.

Fenugreek in Gastro protection

The fenugreek seeds are effective on gastric ulcer. The aqueousextract and a gel fraction isolated from the seeds of fenugreek showedsignificant ulcer protective effects. The cytoprotective effect of theseeds is due to the anti-secretory action and effects on mucosalglycoproteins. The rise in lipid peroxidation induced by ethanol isalso prevented by fenugreek seeds. The mechanism besides it that itenhances the antioxidant potential of the gastric mucosa hence it canlowers mucosal injury. By various researches it can revealed that thesoluble gel fraction derived from the seeds was more effective thanomeprazole in preventing lesion formation. These observations showthat fenugreek seeds possess antiulcer potential [22,27].

Fenugreek influence in Digestion

Spices consumed in diet influenced the pancreatic digestiveenzymes.Fenugreek prominently enhanced pancreatic lipase activitywith the help of feeding rats with spicy diets for eight weeks [28].High fibre of fenugreek helps in relieving constipation ailments.

Fenugreek in Inflammation

The 100 and 200 mg/kg dose of fenugreek reduced carrageneaninducedpaw edema in rats [29]. Fenugreek extract contains thealkaloid and it has been reported that to produce anti-inflammatoryproperty by reducing formalin-induced edema in rat and antipyreticproperty by significantly reducing hyperthermia induced by Brewer’sYeast this alkaloids are essential [30]. The anti-inflammatoryproperty of fenugreek is probably due to the presence of saponins andflavonoid. Flavonoids act as antioxidant and potential inhibitors ofcyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and nitric oxide synthase [26,31-33].

Fenugreek in Hypertension

Endothelial dysfunction is a devastating condition which isassociated to induce various disorders such as atherosclerosis,hypertension, diabetes mellitus etc. [34]. The essential oil obtainedfrom fenugreek in combination with other essential oils has beenemployed to reduce systolic blood pressure in spontaneouslyhypertensive rat [35]. The aqueous and benzene extract of fenugreekhas been found to show diuretic activity in a dose dependent mannerby increasing the volume of urine and naliuretic activity by increasingthe levels of Na+/K+ ions ratio in Wistar rats; which can be employedto treat hypertension [36,37].