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Pharmacological Actions and Therapeutic Potential of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

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Fenugreek

Abstract

Trigonella foenum-graecum possesses great medicinal properties. Seeds and their oil have a long history of folklore usage in various systems of medicines. It is popular in traditional systems of medicine like Unani medicine, Ayurveda and Siddha. In Tibb-e-Nabawi (Prophetic Medicine), it is considered a great form of healing medicine and has been recommended for regular use. In Ayurveda, Trigonella finds great utility in disorders associated with the gastrointestinal tract as it possesses carminative, digestive and laxative properties. Its pharmacologically active components such as diosgenin and tigogenin possess significant medicinal values. The seed has great therapeutic potential in the treatment of diabetes. It was found to restore the cellular anti-oxidant levels of enzymes playing a vital role in oxidative pathogenesis of diabetes associated complications like nephropathy and neuropathy. It also improves insulin signalling and sensitivity, thereby promoting the cellular actions of insulin. Trigonella possesses anti-hyperlipidaemic effects and studies demonstrated that it lowers serum triglycerides and total cholesterol by inhibiting accumulation of triglycerides and expression of lipogenic genes. Therapeutic effects of Trigonella have been extensively studied in clinical studies. An oral preparation of fenugreek seeds improved glucose metabolism by its insulin-sensitizing effect involving mechanisms that included reduction of circulating melanin-concentrating hormone levels. A polyherbal formulation containing fenugreek significantly lowered fasting blood glucose, HBA1c and LDL levels in people with diabetes and dyslipidaemia. Fenugreek seed showed beneficial potential in the treatment of diseases associated with female genital tract. A saponin enriched extract of Trigonella reduced ovarian volume and number of ovarian cysts while significantly increasing the levels of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in females with PCOD. Another trial demonstrated that de-husked fenugreek seed extract significantly reduced vasomotor, psychological and sexual symptoms associated with menstrual syndrome. Fenugreek extracts significantly increased plasma estradiol levels and improved postmenopausal symptoms such as hot flushes in postmenopausal women. It also produced beneficial effects on male reproductive system like improvement in free testosterone levels and sperm count and morphology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Mau, Ataria, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Mohammad Tariq Salman

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Fardan Qadeer

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  1. Mohammad Tariq Salman
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  2. Fardan Qadeer
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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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Salman, M.T., Qadeer, F. (2021). Pharmacological Actions and Therapeutic Potential of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.. In: Naeem, M., Aftab, T., Khan, M.M.A. (eds) Fenugreek. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1197-1_22

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