304/FENNEL PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINESWichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
Stuttgart 1997Fenugreek
Trigonella foenum-graecum
TRADE NAME
Fenugreek Seed (from various manufacturers) Premium
Fenugreek Seed
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the ripe, dried
seeds.
Flower and Fruit: The 0.8 to 1.8 cm long flowers are solitary
or in pairs in the leaf axils. They are almost sessile. The
calyx tube is membranous and usually longer than the
lanceolate tips. The corolla is usually pale yellow, occasion-
ally darker or violet and about double the length of the calyx.
The wings are about half as long as the standard and the
carina is very obtuse, round and barely longer than the calyx.
The fruit is a 2.5 to 10 cm long and 0.5 to I cm wide, erect,
leaning, linear and appressed pubescent pod with a long lip.
The 4 to 20 seeds are flattened, divided into 2 uneven halves
by a deep groove, ovate to di-shaped. yellow-brown, or
brown-red and very hard when dry.Leaves, Stern and Root: The plant is an annual, 10 to 50 cm
high herb with a long vertical taproot. The stem is sturdy,
round, erect or decumbent and branched. The leaves are
trifoliate and the petioles are 0.5 to 2 cm long. The leaflets
are 1 to 3 cm long, obovate to oblong-lanceolate, obtusely
deltoid to rounded. The stipules are fairly large, membra-
nous, ovate, acute and more or less softly pubescent.Habitat: The species is common all over the Mediterranean
region as far as India and China and southward as far as
Ethiopia. The main regions of cultivation are southern
France, Turkey, northern Africa, India and China.
Production: Fenugreek consists of the ripe, dried seed of
Trigonella foenum-graecum.
Other Names: Greek Hay Seed, Bird's Foot
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Mucilages (25-45%, mannogalactans)
Proteins (25-30%)Proteinase inhibitors
Steroid saponins (1.2-1.5%): including trigofoenosides A to
G (to some extent bitter), aglycones including diosgenin,
yamogenin, gitogenin, smilagenin, tigogenin, yuccagenin
Steroid saponin-peptide ester: including foenugraecinSterols: chief constituents 24xi-ethyl-cholest-5-en-3beta-ole
(65%), sterols that are to some extent estered
Flavonoids: including isoorientin, isovitexin, orientin, orien-
tin arabinoside, isoorientin arabinoside, saponaretin, vicenin-
1, vincenin-2, vitexinTrigonelline (coffearin, N-methylbetaine of the nicotinic
acid, 0.4%)
Volatile oil (0.01%): aroma bearer 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-
2(5H)-furanone
EFFECTS
Externally, the drug acts as an emollient. Internally, Fenu-
greek reduces blood sugar, but the mode of action is unclear.
In addition, a lipid-lowering effect attributed to the saponin
fraction has been proven as well as a hydrogogic effect.
There is no indication of a lactation-promoting effect.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Approved by Commission E:- Loss of appetite
- Inflammation of the skin
Unproven Uses: Internal uses include upper respiratory
catarrh, diabetes, and to increase milk production. External-
ly, the drug is used as poultice for local inflammation, ulcers,
and eczema.
Chinese Medicine: The drug is used to treat cold pain in the
lower abdomen, impotence, and hernia (said to be due to
cold 'chi').
Indian Medicine: The drug is used for fever, vomiting,
anorexia, coughs, bronchitis, and colitis.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
The drug should not be used during pregnancy.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
General: Health risks or side effects following the proper
administration of designated therapeutic dosages are not
recorded. Sensitization is possible through repeated external
administration of the drug.
Drug Interactions: Fenugreek has hypoglycemic effect.
There is a potential for the herb to interact with hypoglyce-
mic drugs that are used to treat diabetes resulting in an
exaggerated hypoglycemic effect.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Whole and powdered drug is
available in the form of teas and compound preparations.
How Supplied:
Capsules — 575 mg, 610 mg, 626 mg