Trigonella foenum-graecum
(Fenugreek)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Expectorant
• Galactogogue
• Inhibits liver carcinoma (in animal studies)
• Mild smooth muscle relaxant without affecting either the heart or blood pressure
• Promotes healing of gastric ulcers
• Reduces blood levels of cholesterol
• Reduces blood lipids
• Reduces glucose (in animal studies)
• Slows metabolism of nicotinic acid into NAD thus decreasing glycolysis and B-oxidation of fatty acids

Clinical Indications:

• Bronchitis
• Diabetes mellitus
• Impotence
• Menopause

Contraindications:

• Pregnancy due to the emmenagogue effect

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Delayed absorption of oral drugs due to coating of the GI tract with mucilage
• Insulin levels in diabetics should be monitored due to the hypoglycemic effect

Chemical Constituents:

• Alkaloids:
  
  Carpaine
  Gentianine
  Trigoneline
• Calcium
• Flavonoids:
  
  Isovitexin
  Luteolin
  Orientin
  Quercetin
  Vicenins 1 and 2
  Vitexin
• Iron
• Mucilage, mainly galactomannan
• Steroidal saponin, diosgenine and its isomers:
  
  Gitogenin
  Tigogenin
  Yamogenin
• Vitamin A
• Thiamine (vitamin B1)
• Vitamin C
• Volatile oil containing:
  
  3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2-furanone
  e-muurolene
  B-elemene
  B-selinene
  Dihydroactinidiolide
  Dihydrobenzofuran
  

Toxicity:

• No known toxicity

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).