Fenugreek......Chemistry and Pharmacology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Fenugreek seed contains 4560% carbohydrates, mainly mucilaginous fiber (galactomannans); 2030% proteins high in lysine and tryptophan; 510% fixed oils (lipids); pyridine-type alkaloids, mainly trigonelline (0.20.36%), choline (0.5%), gentianine, and carpaine; the flavonoids apigenin, luteolin, orientin, quercetin, vitexin, and isovitexin; free amino acids, such as 4-hydroxyisoleucine (0.09%), arginine, histidine, and lysine; calcium and iron; saponins (0.61.7%); glycosides yielding steroidal sapogenins on hydrolysis (diosgenin, yamogenin, tigogenin, neotigogenin); cholesterol and sitosterol; vitamins A, B1, C, and nicotinic acid; and 0.015% volatile oils (n-alkanes and sesquiterpenes) (Bruneton, 1995; Budavari, 1996; Leung and Foster, 1996; Newall et al., 1996; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994).

The Commission E reported secretolytic, hyperemic, and mild antiseptic activity.

The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia reported its actions as demulcent and hypoglycemic (BHP, 1996). Fenugreek seeds are reported to have antidiabetic, blood cholesterol-lowering, and blood lipid-lowering actions as demonstrated experimentally by decreased post-prandial glycemia in the diabetic rat and dog (Bruneton, 1995). Hypoglycemic activity in healthy individuals has been reported for whole seed extracts. A significant reduction in serum-cholesterol concentrations in diabetic patients was also reported (Sharma, 1986). Fenugreek infusion has hypoglycemic effects in animals (Leung and Foster, 1996). The Merck Index reported its veterinary medicine therapeutic category as emollient (Budavari, 1996).

Fenugreek is one the seven ingredients contained in DEPSYL

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