INTRODUCTION:

Spices have been used for thousands of years to improve the sensory quality of dishes. Spices add flavour, perfume, piquancy, and colour to dishes. Certain spices, such as fenugreek, can also change the texture of food. Fenugreek (Trigonella foe Nun-graecum) is a leguminous herb grown in India and North Africa. The plant is a member of the Fabaceae family and known by several names, including Fenugreek (French), Methi (Hindi), Bockshorklee (German), Fienogreco

(Italian), Pazhitnik (Russian), Alholva (Spanish), Koroha (Japanese), Hulba (Arabic), Halba (Malaya), and Ku’s-Tou (China). The seeds are widely used as spices, while the leaves are used as green leafy vegetables. Fenugreek seeds have a bitter taste and are associated with Fenugreek seeds have been used for more than 2500 years. Fenugreek is mostly produced in India and consumed for culinary and medicinal purposes. Fenugreek seeds are used as spices. It can be used as a spice and flavouring agent in soups and pan cakes in bigger quantities. In India’s traditional medicine, it is used to treat anorexia and stimulate digestion.^1,2

The food sector Is being pushed to provide food products that promote health due to the growing demand from customers for healthier options. Foods that offer a substantial Nutrition, health benefits, disease prevention, and/or health assistance are now more widely acknowledged by the business and make for effective marketing strategies. As a result, functional foods have become more popular. These include a variety of ingredients such dietary Fiber, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and prebiotics³. In this regard, some herbs have been investigated for their potential use as antibacterial, antioxidant, and health development and promotion of food. Trigonella Foenum-gracium, often known as fenugreek, is an annual plant from to the Leguminosae family that is extensively grown in Mediterranean and Asian regions. Dried seeds have long been employed for their advantageous health properties, including galactagogue, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, insulinotropic, and rejuvenating properties, in Egypt, India, China, and some regions of Europe⁴.

The plant:

When seeds are planted in prepared soil, they germinate in three days and develop into a sturdy, upright plant that reaches a height of 30 to 60cm. It features compound pinnate trifoliate leaves, axillary white to yellowish flowers, and a thin, pointed beak that is 3 to 15cm long. The plant is naturally resistant to most illnesses and infections. Pods, which hold 10–20 elongated, greenish- brown seeds with a distinctive groove like a hoop. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen because it is a leguminous plant, which enriches the soil. Greens are picked when they have three or four leaves, at which point their bitterness increases due to an increase in saponin concentration. 30–35 days after flowering, or 155–165 days after seeding, are when the seeds are harvested.⁵

Fenugreek Greens and Fenugreek Seeds:

Fenugreek leaves and fragile stems can be eaten either fresh or dried. These leaves are a fantastic source of many different minerals and vitamins, but they are particularly high in choline. Coefficient of Leaf protein has a biological value of 84% and a truedigestibility of 77%.⁶

The soluble fraction (20%), which is primarily galactomannan, and the insoluble fraction (30%) make up the fibre component. The lipid content of 7.5%Mostly neutral lipids, specifically 450 mg/100 g of phospholipids and 6.3% of triglycerides, are found in the seed. (7) Research on animals has shown that adding fenugreek seeds to a diet that contains up to 10% casein did not negatively impact the protein quality of casein as measured by the protein efficiency ratio, protein digestibility, and net protein utilization.⁸

Fenugreek oils:

The 6–8% extractable oil from fenugreek has a harsh flavour and foetid smell, along with noticeable drying qualities. It has an acid value of 1-2 and a specific gravity of 0.91.178–183 for saponification, 115 for iodine, 3.9% for unsaponifiable matter, and 9.6%, 4.9% for stearic, 2% for arachidic, 35.1% for oleic, 33.7% for linoleic, and 13.8% for α-linolenic in the fatty acid composition. The volatile oil content is about 0.02% (sp.gr. 0.87), with anethole as primary element (9) It could smell like roasted coffee or maple syrup. The lactation-stimulating factor is present in the unsaponifiable part. Whole seeds are traditionally used to encourage lactation in both humans and cattle during the postpartum period. Additionally, the oil is utilized. For aesthetic uses, with trace amounts utilized in fragrances, and is said to possess insect and vermin repelling qualities.²

Fenugreek Fibre:

Dietary fibres, which are indigestible complex carbohydrates present in plant-based foods, are a vital component of a balanced diet. While some are insoluble roughage, others are soluble and create a gel. Even though insoluble fiber is present in most fruits and vegetables, soluble fibre is found in legumes (fenugreek, beans, and guar). Grapes are endospermic. Almost The largest concentration of dietary fibre found in any natural source is found in seeds, which have 50% dry weight of edible fibre. Approximately thirty percent (w/w) of fenugreek seed is soluble fibre that gels, akin to guar gum, oat bran, and psyllium husk. The intractable fibre, comprising Twenty percent of fenugreek seed forms a mass similar to that of wheat bran.⁵

Fenugreek has a long shelf life and very stable dietary fibre. It can be frozen, baked, fried, and cooked. Given that fenugreek dietary fibre has a very subtle maple syrup scent, these Goods will acquire taste. The dietary fibre from fenugreek has also been used into flour to make taco shells, wafers (papads), chips, and flatbread (chapatti). One can improve their consumption of fibre overall by fortifying these foods with fibre.⁶

Fenugreek Saponins and Alkaloids:

Fenugreek contains 4–8% saponins and 1% alkaloids, which contribute to bitterness, gastrointestinal stimulation, increased acidity, and hunger. Historically, Persians and Arabs utilized fenugreek seeds to boost lean muscle mass in women. Diosge-Nin, the primary sapogenin, is an estrogen precursor that may aid in menopausal management. In countries where fenugreek is utilized In cuisine, menopause symptoms are mild.

A saponin-rich extract promotes testosterone release in males, secretory function, and uterine contractions in females. Fenugreek extract and leaf, which contain saponins, should be avoided during early pregnancy to prevent fetal loss and during menstruation to limit excessive bleeding. Biological growth of breast tissue. Saponins can lower cholesterol through hormone synthesis, but have no effect on triglycerides. They also bind to dietary lipids. Trigonelline, an alkaloid, is believed to alleviate glycosuria in diabetes.¹¹

Safety of Fenugreek Consumption:

Long-term animal studies have shown that fenugreek is completely safe to consume. Rats fed 5-20% fenugreek in their diet for 90 days showed consistent haematological, histology, liver function, and feed efficiency ratio results. Comparable to controls.¹²

Chemical constituents of Fenugreek seeds:

Proteins: It was discovered that 43.8g of protein are present in 100g of endosperm^5,6. Nonetheless, 25.4g of protein were present in 100g of fenugreek seed.¹³ Shows the main amino acids and proteins found in fenugreek seeds is high Between 20 and 30 percent protein, with an emphasis on amino acids Fenugreek’s 4-hydroxyisoleucine exhibited a strong potential for insulin-stimulating action.¹⁴

Vitamin and minerals:

Fenugreek leaves include 52mg of vitamin C, 2.3mg of β-carotene, 40μg of thiamine, and riboflavin per 100g. (310μg per 100g), folic acid (0μm per 100g), and nicotinic acid (800μg per 100g), in contrast to the following values for seed: 43mg, 96μg, 340μg, 290μg, 1.1mg, and 84μg. When vegetables are boiled in water or fried, their vitamin content decreases by around 10.8 and 7.4%, respectively. Additionally, when developing seeds are exposed to radiation, their vitamin C content is also reduced.¹⁵

Fibres and gums:

More than 65% of the daily need is met by 100g of seeds, which also contain hemicelluloses, pectin, mucilage, tannins, and saponins. Assist lower blood levels of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL) by reducing the colon’s reabsorption of bile salts. Furthermore, reports have stated that Fenugreek fiber reduced the rate of glucose production and bonded to toxins in food, shielding the colon mucous membrane from cancer-causing agents. Intestinal absorption regulating blood sugar levels.

Moreover, by altering the gut flora, the fibres can have positive health benefits on the host and demonstrate prebiotic properties¹⁶ Galactomannan, one of the main soluble fibres found in fenugreek seeds, lowers the absorption of bile salts in the colon and slows down digestion. Affects the body’s absorption of starch.^17,18

Alkaloid, flavonoids and saponin:

Examined the phenolic components of Moroccan fenugreek crude seeds. The majority of the chemicals found by DAD-ESI/MS analysis were flavonoids, both acylated and non-acylated, with luteolin, kaempferol, and apigenin acting as agaric cons. Apigenin was the primary aglycon in the phenolic content of the examined crude fenugreek seeds, which were primarily composed of acylated and non-acylated flavone derivatives, according to the quantitative analysis of the detected chemicals.¹⁹.Fenugreek’s alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins all shown pharmacological effects. They possess antilipidemic Clinical data suggests that the hypoglycemic and cholagogic qualities of these substances, when used, may help control hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus. Decrease in serum cholesterol levels. In addition to its beneficial qualities, caution should be exercised to prevent mild gastrointestinal distress and allergic responses.²⁰

Volatile compounds:

Identified 39 distinct compounds in the volatile oil of fenugreek seeds, including n-alkanes, sesquiterpenes, and some oxygenated compounds. The main components are n-hexanol, heptanoic acid, dihydroactiniolide, dihydroben-zofuran, tetradecane, a-murolene, b-element, and pentadecane. The predominant aroma component is a hemiterpenoid-γ-lactone, sotolon (3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl- 2(5H)-furanone), which is present in concentrations up to 25 ppm.²¹

Health and therapeutic benefits of Fenugreek seed:

Diabetes management: Numerous studies have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of fibre, particularly the soluble portion of the effects of fenugreek dietary Fiber on insulin production, blood and serum glucose regulation, and both. It was observed that giving type II diabetes patients 100 g of fenugreek powder, which contains 50% dietary Fiber, for ten days reduced their blood glucose levels by 25%.²².It has been demonstrated that soluble Fiber fraction decreased the Type 2 model diabetic rats ’Postprandial rise in blood glucose levels by Impeding the process of sugar digestion. When compared to the control, giving fenugreek soluble Fiber orally twice a day at a dose of 0.5 g/kg for 28 days decreased the blood fructosamine level but had no discernible effect on the insulin level. In Type 2 model diabetic rats, soluble Fiber was found to have a positive impact on dyslipidaemia and to be able to prevent platelet aggregation.²³

Effect of decreasing cholesterol:

Numerous significant scientific studies and clinical data have been conducted about the effectiveness of dietary fiber, particularly soluble Fibre. Equivalent, like galactomannans or beta-glucans, in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Because of its distinct 1:1 galactose to mannose composition, fenug-reek produced galactomannans have been demonstrated to have the most efficacy in reducing the level of plasma cholesterol.²⁴

In a trial, 25grams of fenugreek Fiber were regularly given to 60 people with diabetes, high cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Powder with a nearly 50% Fiber content, it was demonstrated that the HDL level did not fall while blood glucose, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels significantly decreased.²⁵. The primary biochemical mechanism that explains soluble Fiber’s action as a hypolipidemic drug is Ability to bind bile acids, which causes the blood’s cholesterol to decrease and the acids to be eliminated rather than recycled. It is possible for bacteria in the clone to ferment soluble fiber by producing short chain fatty acids can lower the production of cholesterol.²⁶

Impact on irregularity and constipation:

Fenugreek Fiber may help relieve constipation to maintaining a consistent and stable stool time because it can make the waste bulky, soften the stool by retaining water, and shorten the transit time through the gut.²⁷

Impact on obesity and body weight:

It was found that eating foods high in protein and dietary Fiber could boost the anorexigenic and Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an insulinotropic hormone that can prevent weight gain and increase glucose tolerance.²⁸.A number of research have suggested that supplementing with fenugreek seed extract can effectively reduce body fat. Mass. The most likely cause could be the body eliminating the carbohydrates before into the bloodstream and causing weight loss. Fenugreek also has a significant amount of soluble fibre, which forms a gelatinous structure and may have effects on Reducing the rate at which food is absorbed and digested in the stomach and promoting fullness.²⁹

Antioxidant activity and anticarcinogenic effect:

Cancer is an extremely dangerous and intricate disease whose frequency is noticeably rising. It is caused by uncontrollably and irregularly growing cells. Apart from While hereditary abnormalities account for 5–10% of cancer cases, the remaining 90%–95% can be prevented by adopting a healthier lifestyle, upping physical activity, quitting smoking, and eating a nutritionally balanced diet that includes only contaminant-free foods³⁰. Numerous research have demonstrated fenugreek’s anticarcinogenic activity. Fenugreek seed inclusion in the diet adjusts The inhibition of colon carcinogenesis by β-glucuronidase and mucinase activity. The β-glucuronidase activity markedly Reduced the free carcinogens that had no effect on colonocytes. The presence of Fiber, flavonoids, and saponins was linked to the hydrolysis of protective mucin by the enzyme mucinase.³¹

CONCLUSION:

Numerous research on the therapeutic and functional qualities of fenugreek seeds have been conducted in recent years. Fenugreek is high in protein, Fiber, and It has strong medicinal and application potential because of its valuable bioactive components. The main health benefits of fenugreek have been shown in numerous research to include antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, hypoglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic effects. Given these numerous health advantages, fenugreek can be suggested as a component of a regular diet and added to food to create functional dishes.

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Received on 06.02.2025 Revised on 08.03.2025

Accepted on 28.03.2025 Published on 03.05.2025

Available online from May 05, 2025

Asian J. Pharm. Res. 2025; 15(2):192-196.

DOI: 10.52711/2231-5691.2025.00031

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