Vol. 10, Special Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
Naveen Kumar, Mahesh Kumar, Manish Kumar Verma, Sivaraman Ramanarayanan, Amita Ranjan and Rakesh Ranjan

Abstract:
The leaves and seeds of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L), an annual herb, are common condiments used in India, Mediterranean and North African regions. Fenugreek has a long history of its use in traditional medicine. It is one of the oldest medicinal plants used in traditional medicine that contains many natural chemical compounds like trigonellin, diosgenin, quercetin, 4-hydroxyisoleucine, galactomannan, and scopoletin. Several studies on identification of different chemical compounds present in fenugreek and their therapeutic effects have revealed its hypocholesterolemic, antidepressant, galactagogues, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, and hepatoprotective properties suggesting their potential use in prevention and treatment of many diseases in human and animals. This article summarizes recent research findings regarding the therapeutic potential and safety profile of fenugreek.