Fenugreek, both in capsule and tisane (herbal tea) form, has a long history of traditional use for a variety of purposes. Here are some of the most common:

• Blood sugar management: Fenugreek is believed to help regulate blood sugar levels, making it potentially beneficial for people with diabetes.

   

• Milk production: Fenugreek is often used as a galactagogue, a substance thought to increase breast milk production in lactating women.

   

• Digestion: Fenugreek may help with digestive issues like constipation, bloating, and stomach upset.

   

• Cholesterol reduction: Limited studies suggest a potential role for fenugreek in lowering cholesterol levels.

Other traditional uses:

• Reducing inflammation
• Improving appetite
• Menstrual cramps
• Hair health

Important Considerations:

• Talk to your doctor: Before using fenugreek, especially if you have any existing medical conditions or are taking medications, it's crucial to speak with your healthcare provider. Fenugreek can interact with certain medications.
• Possible side effects: Fenugreek may cause side effects like diarrhea, gas, and a maple syrup-like smell in urine or sweat.
• Dosage: There's no universally established dosage for fenugreek. It's best to follow the instructions on product labels or consult your doctor for personalized recommendations.

It's important to note that while fenugreek has a long history of traditional use, more scientific research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness and safety for all of its potential uses.

Source : http://www.wikiphyto.org/wiki/Fenugrec

Reference on http://www.wikiphyto.org

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plant name

Fenugreek

International Latin denomination

Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

botanical family

Fabaceae subfamily Faboideae (ex - Papilionaceae , ex - Leguminosae )

Description and habitat

• Herbaceous plant 20 to 40 cm high, long petiolate, trifoliate leaves, fairly large, whitish papilionaceous flowers. The fruit is a sickle-shaped pod containing 10 to 20 blocky tawny seeds
• Fenugreek grows in Mediterranean regions and Southwest Asia

History and tradition

• Used to stimulate blood production in classical Arabic medicine (Fleurentin)

Parts used

• seed (seed)

Dosage forms available

• Seed tincture (fruit)
• seed powder

Usual dosages

• Dosage of 1 to 100 grams per day according to studies, in capsules or in food

Composition

Main components of the plant

• Sesquiterpene carbides , alkanes , lactones , alcohol-soluble furan derivative, galactomannan
• Proteins 30%, lipids 7%, rich in Phosphorus
• Many sterols , saponosides ( diosgenin , yamogenin , gitogenin , disocin , graccilin )
• Fenugreekin , peptide ester of a steroidal sapogenin
• 5 spirostanols and 4 furastanols have been isolated

Main components of buds or young shoots

Main components of essential oil

Properties

Plant properties

• The seeds are anti-diabetic [1] , [2] , [3] , [4]
• Decreases post-prandial blood sugar in diabetic dogs and humans, decreases carbohydrate absorption, improves insulin action [5] , decreases liver glucose production [6]
• Lipid-lowering, cholesterol-lowering [7] , [8] , [9]
• Platelet aggregation inhibitor [10]
• Hepatoprotective, protects testicular cells from cadmium damage [11] , and in diabetic rats [12]
• Male Libido Booster [13]
• Neuro-muscular stimulant due to its richness in phosphorus, fenugreek can be classified as an adaptogenic plant
• Increased amount of food intake and appetite [14]
• Anabolic without androgenic effect [15]
• Nephroprotective [16]
• Galactogen [17] , [18]
• Fenugreekine , would have interesting cardiotonic, hypoglycemic, diuretic, antihypertensive properties explaining the use of the plant in Indian medicine
• Diosgenin (applications in the field of semi-synthesis of steroid derivatives) and yamogenin could be extracted industrially
• In studies, the dosage varies from 1 to 100 grams per day, in capsules or in food:
  • 1 g in type II diabetics improves glycemic control and decreases insulin resistance
  • 100 g / day in type I diabetics increases glucose tolerance and decreases its urinary excretion over 24 hours
  • Reduction of LDL, VLDL, triglycerides, total cholesterol with increased HDL and improved endothelial function, reduction of aortic lipid deposits, reduction of intimal thickness, identical in all respects to lovastatin
• Anticancer potential [19]

Bud properties

Properties of essential oil

Directions

Indications of the whole plant (phytotherapy)

• Diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, daily intake of 5 g of fenugreek for 3 months improves glycemic control, decreases HbA1c, leads to weight reduction and an improvement in the lipid profile [20]
• Facilitates weight gain (?), would reduce it in diabetics
• Pro-hormonal (?)
• Milk deficiency
• Hyperthyroidism [21]
• Food of high nutritional value, rich in Magnesium, Calcium, Phosphorus, which contains 20 to 45% of mucilages ( galactomannan ), approximately 30% of proteins, 7% of lipids. It is hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, accelerates healing of gastric ulcers, increases bile secretion

Indications of the bud (gemmotherapy)

Specific indications of essential oil (aromatherapy)

Known or suspected mode of action

• Improves fasting or post-prandial blood glucose (type I or II diabetes) but does not modify it in healthy men
• Pro-hormonal ( diosgenin  ?)

Usual formulations

Regulations

• French Pharmacopoeia list A (seed)
• Activity recognized by the German Commission E

Possible side effects and precautions for use

• Avoid in pregnant women, due to the presence of hormonally active saponosides ( diosgenin )
• Possible use to stimulate milk production for a short period of 2 – 3 weeks
• Probable interaction with warfarin [22]

Bibliographic references

1. Aller↑ Xue WL, Li XS, Zhang J, Liu YH, Wang ZL, Zhang RJ. Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) extract on blood glucose, blood lipid and hemorheological properties in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2007;16 Suppl 1:422-6. PMID 17392143
2. Aller↑ Baquer NZ, Kumar P, Taha A, Kale RK, Cowsik SM, McLean P. Metabolic and molecular action of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) and trace metals in experimental diabetic tissues. J Biosci. 2011 Jun;36(2):383-96. PMID 21654091
3. Aller↑ Schlienger, JL (2014). Diabetes and herbal medicine: the facts. Metabolic Disease Medicine, 8(1), 101-106.
4. Aller↑ Ghedira, K., Goetz, PLJR, & Le Jeune, R. (2010). Fenugreek: Trigonella fœnum-græcum L. (Fabaceae ex. Leguminosae). Phytotherapy, 8(3), 180-184.
5. Aller↑ Hannan JM, Ali L, Rokeya B, Khaleque J, Akhter M, Flatt PR, Abdel-Wahab YH. Soluble dietary fiber fraction of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seed improves glucose homeostasis in animal models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes by delaying carbohydrate digestion and absorption, and enhancing insulin action. Br J Nutr. 2007 Mar;97(3):514-21. PMID 17313713
6. Aller↑ Hui H, Tang G, Go V L. Hypoglycemic herbs and their action mechanisms. Chin Med. 2009 Jun 12;4:11. PMID 19523223 Full text: [1]
7. Aller↑ Petit P, Sauvaire Y, Hillaire-Buys D, Leconte O, Baissac Y, Ponsin G, Ribes G. Steroid saponins from fenugreek seeds: extraction, purification, and pharmacological investigation on feeding behavior and plasma cholesterol. Steroids. 1995, vol. 60, no.10, pp. 674-680. PMID 8539775
8. Aller↑ Ali L, Azad Khan AK, Hassan Z, Mosihuzzaman M, Nahar N, Nasreen T, Nur-e-Alam M, Rokeya B. Characterization of the hypoglycemic effects of Trigonella foenum graecum seed. PlantaMed. 1995 Aug;61(4):358-60. PMID 7480183
9. Aller↑ Sauvaire, Y., Ribes, G., Baccou, J., & Loubatières-Mariani, MM (1990). Effect of steroidal fenugreek saponins on hypercholesterolemia in diabetic dogs. Reproduction Nutrition Development, 30(1), 129-129.
10. Aller↑ Hannan JM, Rokeya B, Faruque O, Nahar N, Mosihuzzaman M, Azad Khan AK, Ali L. Effect of soluble dietary fiber fraction of Trigonella foenum graecum on glycemic, insulinmic, lipidemic and platelet aggregation status of Type 2 diabetic model rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Sep;88(1):73-7. PMID 12902054
11. Aller↑ Arafa MH, Mohammad NS, Atteia HH. Fenugreek seed powder mitigates cadmium-induced testicular damage and hepatotoxicity in male rats. Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2014 Sep;66(7):293-300. doi: 10.1016/j.etp.2014.04.001. PMID 24813645
12. Aller↑ Hamden K, Jaouadi B, Carreau S, Aouidet A, El-Fazaa S, Gharbi N, Elfeki A. Potential protective effect on key steroidogenesis and metabolic enzymes and sperm abnormalities by fenugreek steroids in testis and epididymis of surviving diabetic rats. Arch Physiol Biochem. 2010 Jul;116(3):146-55. doi: 10.3109/13813455.2010.486405. PMID 20507258
13. Aller↑ Steels E, Rao A, Vitetta L. Physiological aspects of male libido enhanced by standardized Trigonella foenum-graecum extract and mineral formulation. Phytother Res. 2011 Sep;25(9):1294-300. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3360. PMID 21312304
14. Aller↑ Petit P, Sauvaire Y, Ponsin G, Manteghetti M, Fave A, Ribes G. Effects of Fenugreek seed extract on feeding behavior in the rat: metabolic-endocrine correlates. Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior. 1993, vol. 45, no.2, pp. 369-374. PMID 8327543
15. Aller↑ Aswar U, Bodhankar SL, Mohan V, Thakurdesai PA. Effect of furostanol glycosides from Trigonella foenum-graecum on the reproductive system of male albino rats. Phytother Res. 2010 Oct;24(10):1482-8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3129. PMID 20878698
16. Aller↑ Azab, AE, Albasha, MO, Elsayed, ASI (2017) Prevention of Nephropathy by Some Natural Sources of Antioxidants. Yangtze Medicine, 1, 235-266. https://doi.org/10.4236/ym.2017.14023
17. Aller↑ Penagos Tabares F, Bedoya Jaramillo JV, Ruiz-Cortés ZT. Pharmacological Overview of Galactogogues. Veterinary Medicine International. 2014;2014:602894. doi:10.1155/2014/602894. Full Text
18. Aller↑ Mohammed A. Alamer and Ghazi F. Basiouni, 2005. Feeding Effects of Fenugreek Seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on Lactation Performance, Some Plasma Constituents and Growth Hormone Level in Goats. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 8: 1553-1556.
19. Aller↑ Al-Daghri NM, Alokail MS, Alkharfy KM, Mohammed AK, Abd-Alrahman SH, Yakout SM, Amer OE, Krishnaswamy S. Fenugreek extract as an inducer of cellular death via autophagy in human T lymphoma Jurkat cells. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012, 12:202 (30 October 2012) Abstract Provisional PDF
20. Aller↑ Mahjoub, F., Sebai, I., Gammoudi, A., Berriche, O., & Jamoussi, H. (2018, September). Effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) supplementation on the metabolic profile of type 2 diabetics. In Annales d'Endocrinologie (Vol. 79, No. 4, pp. 471-472). Elsevier Masson.
21. Aller↑ Tahiliani P, Kar A. The combined effects of Trigonella and Allium extracts in the regulation of hyperthyroidism in rats. Phytomedicine. 2003 Nov;10(8):665-8. PMID 14692727
22. Aller↑ Lambert, JP, & Cormier, J. (2001). Potential interaction between warfarin and boldo-fenugreek. Pharmacotherapy, 21(4), 509–512. https://doi.org/10.1592/phco.21.5.509.34492 . PMID 11310527

• Diabetes news - Mr. Ganji Midwife MS islamic Azad University Ghoochan, Korassan, Iran (3rd international congress health, environment and natural products Mashad, Iran)
• Fenugreek and experimental atherosclerosis - MH Pipelzadeh et al. (3rd international congress on health, environment and natural products Mashad, Iran, 25 - 28 sept 2004)
• Ulbricht C, Basch E, Burke D, Cheung L, Ernst E, Giese N, Foppa I, Hammerness P, Hashmi S, Kuo G, et al. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Leguminosae): an evidence-based systematic review by the natural standard research collaboration. J Herb Pharmacother. 2007; 7(3-4):143-77. PMID 18928139

Store in a cool, dry place, away from light. Keep tightly closed, away from the reach of Children and pets.

Do not exceed the daily dose.

This product is not intended to prevent or cure any form of illness or disease.
 

If you are pregnant or nursing ; If you have a medical condition or are in the course of medical treatment ; If you are programmed for theater/operation in the near future, please consult your healthcare practitioner before using this product.

This product cannot replace a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

This product has not been evaluated by the SAHPRA for its quality, safety or intended use.

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