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A Review on Nutritional and Antioxidant Values, and Medicinal Properties of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

Gausiya Bashri, Vijay Pratap Singh and Sheo Mohan Prasad

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are concerned for many diseases including diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, inflammatory disease, carcinogenesis and aging. In treatment of these diseases, antioxidant therapy has gained much importance. Recent research is now being aimed to find naturally occurring antioxidants of plant. In India, Trigonella foenum–graecum L. (fenugreek) is an important medicinal plant and its leaves and seeds have been used in various illnesses and as a health tonic since very long time. Fenugreek is known to have hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolaemic, antioxidant potency, digestive stimulant action, and hepatoprotective effect. Recent research demonstrated that fenugreek is a valuable medicinal plant of multipurpose uses and may be used for preparing various products such as steroidal hormones. To enhance the contents of therapeutic substances in fenugreek, breeding and biotechnology practices have been applied with considerable success and have also contributed to pharmaceutical industry income. In this short review, we will summarize nutritional and antioxidant values, and medicinal properties of fenugreek together with breeding and biotechnological practices that are being made in hope to increase its metabolites’ contents.