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Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): The Magical Healing of Human Health Hazards

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Abstract

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual herb well-known from ancient times as a spicy food ingredient with exceptional nutritional profile along with substantial medicinal effects. It is native to southern Europe and Asia. The seeds are angular and rich source of gum, fibre, alkaloid, flavonoids, saponin and volatile content. They also contain a considerable amount of fibre, phospholipids, glycolipids, oleic acid, linolenic acid, linoleic acid, choline, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, nicotinic acid, niacin and many other functional elements. Fenugreek, as a crop, usually grows well under diverse and a wide range of conditions. It is moderately tolerant to drought and salinity, and can even be grown on marginal lands in profitable way. Owing to these characteristics, fenugreek may well fit in several cropping systems. The high content of fibre makes fenugreek to be used as food stabilizer, adhesive and emulsifying agent to change food texture for some special purposes. Some evidences suggest that fenugreek may also be regarded as anti-diabetic, anti-carcinogenic, remedy for hypocholesterolaemia and hypoglycaemia, anti-oxidant, antibacterial agent, gastric stimulant and anti-anorexia agent. The present article aims to review the potential applications of fenugreek and its healing effects to various human health hazards.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plantation, Spices Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, Faculty of Horticulture, BCKV-Agricultural University, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India

    Suddhasuchi Das & A. B. Sharangi

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  1. Suddhasuchi Das
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  2. A. B. Sharangi
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

    M. Naeem

  2. Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Tariq Aftab

  3. Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

    M. Masroor A. Khan

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Das, S., Sharangi, A.B. (2021). Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): The Magical Healing of Human Health Hazards. In: Naeem, M., Aftab, T., Khan, M.M.A. (eds) Fenugreek. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1197-1_11

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