About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products

Scientific Name
Trigonella foenum-graecum
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Common Name

Bird's foot, Greek hayseed, trigonella, bockshornsame, Methi, hu lu ba

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Clinical Summary

Fenugreek is derived from the dried seeds of the plant and is used traditionally in ayurvedic medicine as a demulcent, laxative, and lactation stimulant. It is also used as a dietary supplement to treat various conditions including diabetes, high cholesterol, wounds, inflammation, and gastrointestinal complaints.
Fenugreek exhibits hypocholesterolemic (1), hypolipidemic (2) (23) and hypoglycemic (3) properties in healthy and diabetic animals and humans. The defatted seed material may reduce gastrointestinal glucose and cholesterol absorption and increase bile acid secretion (4). In addition, fenugreek demonstrated hepatoprotective effects in animals with alcohol-induced liver damage (5) (6).

A few in vitro studies have shown that fenugreek exhibits chemopreventive properties against certain cancers (7) (8) (9) (24). Fenugreek also reduces the toxicity associated with buthionine sulfoximine and cyclophosphamide in mice (25). Human studies have not yet been conducted.

Evidence is limited on fenugreek’s potential as a lactation stimulant. Fenugreek acts as an estrogenic receptor modulator and was shown to stimulate breast cancer cells in vitro (26). Patients with hormonal-sensitive cancers should avoid this product.

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Purported Uses
  • Alopecia
  • Arthritis
  • Cancer treatment
  • Diabetes
  • GI disorders
  • High cholesterol
  • Induce childbirth
  • Infections
  • Inflammation
  • Lactation stimulation
  • Lymphadenitis
  • Muscle pain
  • Promote urination
  • Skin ulcers
  • Wound healing
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Constituents
  • Alkaloids: Trigonelline (yields nicotinic acid with roasting), gentianine, carpaine, choline
  • Proteins and amino acids: 4-Hydroxyisoleucine, histidine, lysine, arginine
  • Flavonoids: Apigenin, luteolin, orientin, vitexin, quercetin
  • Saponins: Graecunins, fenugrin B, fenugreekine, trigofoenosides A-G
  • Steroidal sapinogens: Yamogenin, diosgenin, smilagenin, sarsasapogenin, tigogenin, neotigogenin, gitogenin, neogitogenin, yuccagenin
  • Fiber: Gum, neutral detergent fiber
  • Other: Coumarin, lipids, vitamins, minerals
    (11) (12) (13)
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Mechanism of Action

Fenugreek exhibits hypocholesterolemic, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic activity in healthy and diabetic animals and humans (1) (2). The mechanism is uncertain, but its activity may be associated with the galactomannan fiber and saponin components that reduce gastrointestinal glucose and cholesterol absorption and increase bile acid excretion (14). Hypoglycemic activity is also attributed to the trigonelline, nicotinic acid, and coumarin fractions. 4-Hydroxyisoleucine, an amino acid constituent of fenugreek, potentiates insulin secretion in NIDDM rats when administered intraperitoneally (15). Fenugreek intake in humans is associated with an increase in molar insulin binding sites of erythrocytes, which may enhance glucose utilization (16). In addition to lower fasting and postprandial glucose levels, fenugreek-treated diabetic rats have higher hemoglobin, GSH, and plasma antioxidant levels and lower glycosylated hemoglobin, plasma lipids, and TBARS levels than diabetic controls (4). Dietary fenugreek normalizes the activities of glucose and lipid-metabolizing enzymes in diabetic rats (3). In healthy mice and rats, dietary fenugreek is associated with increased serum T4, liver GSH, glyoxalase I, and GST activities, and decreased T3 levels and T3/T4 ratio (17) (18) (19). Extracts of fenugreek show antimicrobial and nematocidal activity in vitro (20). In MCF-7 estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells, fenugreek extract induces cell cycle arrest as well as apoptosis (9).

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Contraindications

Fenugreek acts as an estrogenic receptor modulator and was shown to stimulate breast cancer cells in vitro (26). Patients with hormonal-sensitive cancers should avoid this product.

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Adverse Reactions
  • Fenugreek seed extract caused developmental abnormalities in mice (27), but this has not been shown in humans.
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Herb-Drug Interactions
  • Warfarin: Fenugreek may potentiate the effects of warfarin (28) (29).
  • Cyclophosphamide: Fenugreek may interfere with the cytotoxic effects of cyclophosphamide (25).
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Herb Lab Interactions
  • Increased INR (28).
  • Urine odor: False diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease in the infant due to presence of sotolone in the urine (21) (22).
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Literature Summary and Critique

Sharma RD, Raghuram TC, Rao NS. Effect of fenugreek seeds on blood glucose and serum lipids in type I diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr 1990;44:301-6.
A prospective, controlled crossover evaluation of high-dose dietary fenugreek in 10 insulin-dependent diabetic patients. In two 10-day periods, patients consumed isocaloric diets with or without 100 g defatted fenugreek seed powder in divided doses. Five patients received the fenugreek diet in the first period and the rest received it in the second period. Patients were maintained on suboptimal insulin doses so that the effects of fenugreek could be seen. Oral glucose tolerance tests (administered with insulin) at the end of each study period showed significantly reduced blood glucose levels (p<0.01), but unchanged serum insulin levels. Urinary sugar excretion (p<0.01), serum total cholesterol (p<0.001), VLDL and LDL cholesterol (p<0.01), and triglyceride levels (p<0.01) were also reduced in the fenugreek group.

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References
  1. Sharma RD, et al. Hypolipidaemic effect of fenugreek seeds: a chronic study in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. Phytother Res 1996;10:332-4.
  2. Sharma RD, et al. Effect of fenugreek seeds on blood glucose and serum lipids in type I diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr 1990;44:301-6.
  3. Vijayakumar MV, Bhat MK. Hypoglycemic effect of a novel dialysed fenugreek seeds extract is sustainable and is mediated, in part, by the activation of hepatic enzymes.Phytother Res. Apr 2008;22(4):500-505.
  4. Ravikumar P, Anuradha CV. Effect of fenugreek seeds on blood lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in diabetic rats. Phytother Res 1999;13:197-201.
  5. Kaviarasan S, Viswanathan P, Anuradha CV.Fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum graecum) polyphenols inhibit ethanol-induced collagen and lipid accumulation in rat liver.Cell Biol Toxicol. Nov 2007;23(6):373-383.
  6. Kaviarasan S, Sundarapandiyan R, Anuradha CV. Protective action of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) seed polyphenols against alcohol-induced protein and lipid damage in rat liver.Cell Biol Toxicol. Oct 2008;24(5):391-400.
  7. Amin A, Alkaabi A, Al-Falasi S, Daoud SA. Chemopreventive activities of Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek) against breast cancer. Cell Biol Int 2005.
  8. Raju J, Patlolla JM, Swamy MV, Rao CV. Diosgenin, a steroid saponin of Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek), inhibits azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci formation in F344 rats and induces apoptosis in HT-29 human colon cancer cells.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2004;13(8):1392-8.
  9. Sebastian KS, Thampan RV. Differential effects of soybean and fenugreek extracts on the growth of MCF-7 cells. Chem Biol Interact. Nov 20 2007;170(2):135-143.
  10. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional’s Handbook of Complementary and Alternative Medicines. Philadelphia: Springerhouse; 1999.
  11. Barnes J, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. 2nd ed. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2002.
  12. DerMarderosian A. he Review of Natural Products. St. Louis: Facts and Comparisons;1999.
  13. Newall C. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care Professionals. 1st ed. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 1998.
  14. Bordia A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC. Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) on blood lipids, blood sugar, and platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease. Prostagl Leukot Ess Fatty Acids 1997;56:379-84.
  15. Broca C, et al. 4-Hydroxyisoleucine: experimental evidence of its insulinotropic and antidiabetic properties. Am J Physiol 1999;277:E617-23.
  16. Raghuram TC, Sharmar RD, Sivakumar B, Sahay BK. Effect of fenugreek seeds on intravenous glucose disposition in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. Phytother Res 1994;8:83-6.
  17. Choudhary D, et al. Modulation of glyoxalase, glutathione S-transferase and antioxidant enzymes in the liver, spleen and erythrocytes of mice by dietary administration of fenugreek seeds. Food Chem Toxicol 2001;39:989-97.
  18. Panda S, Tahiliani P, Kar A. Inhibition of triiodothyronine production by fenugreek seed extract in mice and rats. Pharmacol Res 1999;40:405-9.
  19. Raju J, et al. Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek) seed powder improves glucose homeostasis in alloxan diabetic rat tissues by reversing the altered glycolytic, gluconeogenic and lipogenic enzymes. Mol Cell Biochem 2001;224:45-51.
  20. Zia T, Siddiqui IA, Hasnain N. Nematicidal activity of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Phytother Res 2001;15:538-40.
  21. Korman SH, Cohen E, Preminger A. Pseudo-maple syrup urine disease due to maternal prenatal ingestion of fenugreek. J Paediatr Child Health 2001;37:403-4.
  22. Sewell AC, Mosandl A, Bohles H. False diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease owing to ingestion of herbal tea. N Engl J Med 1999;341:769.
  23. Hasani-Ranjbar S, Nayebi N, Moradi L, et al. The efficacy and safety of herbal medicines used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia; a systematic review. Curr Pharm Des. 2010;16(26):2935-47.
  24. Li F, Fernandez PP, Rajendran P, Hui KM, Sethi G. Diosgenin, a steroidal saponin, inhibits STAT3 signaling pathway leading to suppression of proliferation and chemosensitization of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Cancer Lett. 2010 Jun 28;292(2):197-207.
  25. Bhatia K, Kaur M, Atif F, et al. Aqueous extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. ameliorates additive urotoxicity of buthionine sulfoximine and cyclophosphamide in mice. Food Chem Toxicol. 2006 Oct;44(10):1744-50.
  26. Sreeja S, Anju VS, Sreeja S. In vitro estrogenic activities of fenugreek Trigonella foenum graecum seeds. Indian J Med Res. 2010 Jun;131:814-9.
  27. Khalki L, M’hamed SB, Bennis M, Chait A, Sokar Z. Evaluation of the developmental toxicity of the aqueous extract from Trigonella foenum-graecum (L.) in mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Sep 15;131(2):321-5.
  28. Lambert JP, Cormier J. Potential interaction between warfarin and boldo-fenugreek. Pharmacotherapy. 2001 Apr;21(4):509-12.
  29. Izzo AA, Di Carlo G, Borrelli F, Ernst E. Cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and herbal medicines: the risk of drug interaction. Int J Cardiol. 2005 Jan;98(1):1-14.
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How It Works

Bottom Line: Fenugreek may lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels in people with diabetes.

Much research on fenugreek has been conducted in India and other countries, focusing on its potential for the treatment of diabetes. In healthy and diabetic animals and humans, fenugreek lowers cholesterol, blood triglyceride levels, and blood glucose levels. Scientists are not certain how this effect happens, but propose that the fiber in fenugreek binds to glucose and cholesterol in the digestive tract and prevents it from being absorbed by the body, or increases insulin secretion. Laboratory studies in rats show that fenugreek normalizes their blood levels of antioxidants and metabolic enzymes, but it is unclear whether this effect occurs in humans. Fenugreek has anticancer properties but human studies are needed.

Fenugreek acts as an estrogenic receptor modulator and was shown to stimulate breast cancer cells in vitro. Patients with hormonal-sensitive cancers should avoid this product.

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Purported Uses
  • To treat cancer
    Laboratory and animal studies show that fenugreek has anticancer properties. Human studies are needed.
  • To treat diabetes
    Several animal studies and a few clinical trials show that fenugreek can lower blood glucose levels when taken with meals. However, more research is needed to support its use as a replacement for diabetes medications.
  • As a laxative
    No clinical trials have studied this use, but fenugreek seeds do contain high levels of fiber.
  • To treat disorders of the digestive tract
    No scientific evidence supports this use. Fenugreek seeds contain high levels of fiber.
  • To lower high cholesterol
    Several animal studies and a few clinical trials support this use.
  • To induce childbirth
    Although laboratory studies show that fenugreek stimulates contraction of the uterus, there is no proof from clinical trials that this effect occurs in humans.
  • To fight infections
    Fenugreek shows antibacterial properties in laboratory experiments, but there is no proof from clinical trials that this effect occurs in humans.
  • To reduce inflammation
    No scientific evidence supports this use.
  • As a lactation stimulant
    Although fenugreek is often used to stimulate lactation in folk medicine, there are no data to back this claim.
  • For wound healing
    Fenugreek shows antibacterial properties in laboratory experiments, but there is no scientific evidence supports this use.
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Research Evidence

Diabetes:
A higher dose of dietary fenugreek was used in a study of ten insulin-dependent diabetic patients. For ten days, patients consumed a planned diet with or without 100 grams of fenugreek seed powder. For another ten days, patients switched to the opposite diet. For the entire time, they were given lower dosages of insulin than usual so that the effects of fenugreek could be seen. After ten days of eating fenugreek, patients had significantly reduced blood glucose levels, urine sugar levels, total cholesterol, LDL (“bad” cholesterol), and triglyceride levels compared to their normal diet levels. Though these results are promising, this study is too small and should be conducted again with more patients.

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Do Not Take If
  • You are taking warfarin (fenugreek can increase the risk of bleeding).
  • You are taking cyclophosphamide (fenugreek may interfere with the actions of cyclophosphamide).
  • You have hormone-sensitive cancer (fenugreek acts as an estrogenic receptor modulator and was shown to increase growth of breast cancer cells in vitro).
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Side Effects
  • Fenugreek seed extract caused developmental abnormalities in mice, but this has not been shown in humans.
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Dosage (Inside MSKCC Only)
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Aliases
Trigonella
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Last updated: April 29, 2011