Plant Comparison
Motherwort vs Fenugreek
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Motherwort and Fenugreek: they share 4 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, cardiovascular / heart health, inflammation (general), …); 1 pharmacological action in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Motherwort | Fenugreek | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 1/10 | 8/10 | Stronger for Fenugreek |
| Cardiovascular / heart health | 2/10 | 7/10 | Stronger for Fenugreek |
| Inflammation (general) | 1/10 | 7/10 | Stronger for Fenugreek |
| Skin irritation | 1/10 | 7/10 | Stronger for Fenugreek |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Leonurine and related iridoid/alkaloid-type constituents are considered the principal cardioactive and uterotonic compounds.
Antioxidant constituents contributing to the plant's anti-inflammatory activity.
Bitter diterpenes, shared with related Lamiaceae bitters, contributing to the traditional digestive and cardiac reputation.
Thought to contribute to the antidiabetic and cholesterol-lowering effects.
Mucilaginous soluble fiber that slows carbohydrate absorption, a key mechanism behind the blood-sugar-lowering effect.
An unusual amino acid studied for insulin-potentiating activity.
Aromatic lactone responsible for fenugreek's characteristic maple-syrup smell, including the body-odor effect reported with supplementation.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from sedative action
inferred from antispasmodic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antidiabetic action
inferred from anticancer action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Contraindicated in pregnancy (uterine stimulant). Avoid in heavy menstrual bleeding. May enhance anticoagulant and antihypertensive drug effects. Avoid in thyroid disorders. Generally well tolerated in normal doses for short-term use.
Duke (2002) rates motherwort as ++ and notes hypotensive, cardiotonic (negative chronotropic), anti-aggregant, and sedative activities at the experimental level (score 1). The plant is traditionally used for heart palpitations, hypertension, and menstrual regulation in European herbalism. Duke emphasizes strong safety caution: motherwort has documented oxytocic (uterine-stimulating) activity and is strictly contraindicated in pregnancy. It may also enhance the effects of cardiac medications and sedatives (Duke, 2002).
Fenugreek appears https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/fenugreek for most people.
Less serious side effects like diarrhea and indigestion have been reported anecdotally. You may also experience https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26251835/, which could be harmful if you have an eating disorder or are trying to https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-gain-weight. Moreover, some people report a strange and slightly sweet body odor when supplementing, but this is unconfirmed. Given its effect on blood sugar, fenugreek should be used with caution if you’re taking diabetes medication or other supplements that lower blood sugar levels.
Duke (2002) provides strong clinical evidence (score 2) for fenugreek's hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic activities — among the best-evidenced herbal treatments for blood sugar and lipid management. Anti-inflammatory and demulcent activities also have clinical support. The seed is Commission E approved as an appetite stimulant. Dose: 6–50 g of ground seeds daily for blood sugar management; 1–4 g seeds in tea for digestive use. The plant has lactagogue effects and can cause maple syrup-like body odor due to sotolon content. Contraindicated in pregnancy at medicinal doses due to uterotonic effects (Duke, 2002).
External Ids
Botanical Description
Tall, upright perennial herb with deeply palmately lobed lower leaves (giving a lion's-paw appearance, the source of the genus name) and progressively less-divided upper leaves. Small, pink to pale purple, spiny-toothed, two-lipped flowers are borne in dense whorls up the square stem.[1]
Erect annual herb with trifoliate leaves, each leaflet oblong and finely toothed toward the tip. Small, pale yellow to white, pea-like flowers are borne singly or in pairs in the leaf axils, followed by long, slender, curved seed pods.[11]
Habitat
Grows on waste ground, roadsides, hedgerows and near old dwellings; native to Central Asia and southeastern Europe and long naturalised across Europe and North America.[1]
Cultivated widely as a food and forage crop; native to the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia, now grown throughout South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.[11]
Harvesting
The flowering aerial parts (leaf, stem and flower) are cut in summer as the plant comes into flower, and dried in a warm, shaded, airy place.[1]
Leaves and young sprouts are harvested throughout the growing season; seed pods are collected when fully mature and dried, then the hard seeds are threshed out.[11]
Traditional Uses
Motherwort has a long European and Asian herbal tradition, reflected in its name, as a gynaecological and cardiac tonic, traditionally used for heart palpitations and nervous cardiac complaints, menstrual irregularities and cramps, and as a calming nervine for anxiety and to ease childbirth and postpartum recovery.[1, 6]
Fenugreek seed has an ancient tradition across the Mediterranean, Middle East and South Asia as a digestive and appetite-stimulant remedy and lactation aid, and modern clinical research strongly supports its traditional use for blood sugar and cholesterol management, formalised in Commission E approval as an appetite stimulant.[5, 11, 12]
Preparations
Ground seeds taken with food, or whole seeds soaked/simmered as a tea, the traditional preparation for digestive and blood sugar support.
Standardized seed extract in capsule form, the form most used in clinical trials on blood sugar and cholesterol.
Dosage
The EU herbal monograph gives a single dose of 1.5-4.5 g of the comminuted herb for tea preparation, for a daily dose of 3-10 g, in adults and elderly; a 1:5 tincture in 45% V/V ethanol at 2-6 mL three times daily and a liquid extract at 2-4 mL three times daily are also listed. If symptoms persist longer than 4 weeks a healthcare practitioner should be consulted. Not recommended under 18 years. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References
Drug Class Interactions
Lookalikes Review
Pairings
Not documented
Fenugreek and bitter melon can each lower blood sugar, so taking them together — especially alongside diabetes medicines — may add up and increase the risk of hypoglycaemia. Monitor your blood glucose.[15, 16]
Fenugreek and black seed (Nigella sativa) can each lower blood sugar, so taking them together — especially alongside diabetes medicines — may add up and increase the risk of hypoglycaemia. Monitor your blood glucose.[15, 17]
References & Sources
- Fierascu, R.C., Fierascu, I., Ortan, A., Fierascu, I.C. and others (2019) 'Leonurus cardiaca L. as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: An Update of the European Medicines Agency Assessment Report (2010)', BioMed Research International, 2019, pp. 4303215. doi:10.1155/2019/4303215 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4303215 - Wojtyniak, K., Szymanski, M. and Matlawska, I (2013) 'Leonurus cardiaca L. (motherwort): a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology', Phytotherapy Research, 27(8), pp. 1115-1120. doi:10.1002/ptr.4850 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4850 - Kuchta, K., Volk, R.B. and Rauwald, H.W (2013) 'Stachydrine in Leonurus cardiaca, Leonurus japonicus, Leonotis leonurus: detection and quantification by instrumental HPTLC and 1H-qNMR analyses', Pharmazie, 68(7), pp. 534-540. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23923634/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23923634/ - Kuchta, K., Volk, R.B. and Rauwald, H.W (2012) 'Leonurus japonicus, Leonurus cardiaca, Leonotis leonurus: a novel HPLC study on the occurrence and content of the pharmacologically active guanidino derivative leonurine', Pharmazie, 67(12), pp. 973-979. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23346757/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23346757/ - Koshovyi, O., Raal, A., Kireyev, I., Tryshchuk, N. and others (2021) 'Phytochemical and Psychotropic Research of Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.) Modified Dry Extracts', Plants (Basel), 10(2), pp. 230. doi:10.3390/plants10020230 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020230 - Angeloni, S., Spinozzi, E., Maggi, F., Sagratini, G. and others (2021) 'Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities of Crude and Purified Leonurus cardiaca Extracts', Plants (Basel), 10(2), pp. 195. doi:10.3390/plants10020195 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020195 - Sadowska, B., Wieckowska-Szakiel, M., Paszkiewicz, M. and Rozalska, B (2019) 'Molecular Mechanisms of Leonurus cardiaca L. Extract Activity in Prevention of Staphylococcal Endocarditis - Study on in Vitro and ex Vivo Models', Molecules, 24(18), pp. 3318. doi:10.3390/molecules24183318 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24183318 - Kuchta, K., Hladikova, J., Thomsen, M., Nguyen, A.D. and others (2025) 'Phenolic and Iridoid Glycosides from Leonurus cardiaca L. and Their Effects on the alpha, delta, and gamma Subtypes of the PPAR System', Molecules, 30(2), pp. 419. doi:10.3390/molecules30020419 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30020419 - Pereira, O.R., Catarino, M.D., Afonso, A.F., Silva, A.M.S. and Cardoso, S.M (2019) 'Hepatoprotection of Leonurus cardiaca L., Leonurus japonicus Houtt. and Leonurus sibiricus L', Antioxidants (Basel), 8(8), pp. 267. doi:10.3390/antiox8080267 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8080267 - Kuchta, K., Ortwein, J. and Rauwald, H.W (2014) '1H-qNMR for direct quantification of stachydrine in Leonurus japonicus and L. cardiaca', Fitoterapia, 96, pp. 8-17. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2014.03.023 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2014.03.023 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2010) 'Community herbal monograph on Leonurus cardiaca L., herba'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-leonurus-cardiaca-l-herba_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-leonurus-cardiaca-l-herba_en.pdf - Kowalchik, C. and Hylton, W (1998) 'Rodale'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Rodale - Prajapati, N.D., Purohit, S.S., Sharma, A.K. and Kumar, T (2003) 'A Handbook of Medicinal Plants'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A%20Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Plants - Shang, X. et al (2014) 'The genus Leonurus: traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology', pp. 43--63. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=The%20genus%20Leonurus%3A%20traditional%20uses%2C%20phytochemistry%20and%20pharmacology - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003
- Faghfoori, Z., Javadivala, Z., Khalili, Y. and Malek Mahdavi, A (2023) 'Effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) on rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review', Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology, 45(5), pp. 626-634. doi:10.1080/08923973.2023.2202298 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1080/08923973.2023.2202298 - Ouzir, M., El Bairi, K. and Amzazi, S (2016) 'Toxicological properties of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum)', Food and Chemical Toxicology, 96, pp. 145-154. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2016.08.003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2016.08.003 - Rao, A., Steels, E., Inder, W.J., Abraham, S. and others (2016) 'Testofen, a specialised Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract reduces age-related symptoms of androgen decrease, increases testosterone levels and improves sexual function in healthy aging males in a double-blind randomised clinical study', The Aging Male, 19(2), pp. 134-142. doi:10.3109/13685538.2015.1135323 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.3109/13685538.2015.1135323 - Avalos-Soriano, A., De la Cruz-Cordero, R., Rosado, J.L. and Garcia-Gasca, T (2016) '4-Hydroxyisoleucine from Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum): Effects on Insulin Resistance Associated with Obesity', Molecules, 21(11), pp. 1596. doi:10.3390/molecules21111596 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21111596 - Neelakantan, N., Narayanan, M., de Souza, R.J. and van Dam, R.M (2014) 'Effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) intake on glycemia: a meta-analysis of clinical trials', pp. 7. Meta-analysis / review
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Effect%20of%20fenugreek%20%28Trigonella%20foenum-graecum%20L.%29%20intake%20on%20glycemia%3A%20a%20meta-analysis%20of%20clinical%20trials - Nagulapalli Venkata, K.C., Swaroop, A., Bagchi, D. and Bishayee, A (2017) 'A small plant with big benefits: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.) for disease prevention and health promotion', Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 61(6), pp. 1600950. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201600950 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201600950 - Ulbricht, C., Basch, E., Burke, D., Cheung, L. and others (2007) 'Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Leguminosae): an evidence-based systematic review by the natural standard research collaboration', Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy, 7(3-4), pp. 143-177. doi:10.1080/15228940802142852 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1080/15228940802142852 - El Bairi, K., Ouzir, M., Agnieszka, N. and Khalki, L (2017) 'Anticancer potential of Trigonella foenum graecum: Cellular and molecular targets', Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 90, pp. 479-491. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2017.03.071 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2017.03.071 - Piao, C.H., Bui, T.T., Song, C.H., Shin, H.S. and others (2017) 'Trigonella foenum-graecum alleviates airway inflammation of allergic asthma in ovalbumin-induced mouse model', Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 482(4), pp. 1284-1288. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.12.029 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.12.029 - Asif, M., Yousaf, H.M., Saleem, M., Saadullah, M. and others (2021) 'Trigonella foenum-graecum Seeds Oil Attenuated Inflammation and Angiogenesis in vivo through Down-Regulation of TNF-alpha', Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 21(11), pp. 1460-1471. doi:10.2174/1871520620666201005100132 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.2174/1871520620666201005100132 - World Health Organization (1999) 'WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=WHO%20Monographs%20on%20Selected%20Medicinal%20Plants - Kumar, P. and Bhandari, U (2013) 'Protective effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seeds in experimentally-induced myocardial infarction', 23(2), pp. 255--261. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Protective%20effect%20of%20fenugreek%20%28Trigonella%20foenum-graecum%20L.%29%20seeds%20in%20experimentally-induced%20myocardial%20infarction - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Neelakantan, N., Narayanan, M., de Souza, R.J. and van Dam, R.M (2014) 'Effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) intake on glycemia: a meta-analysis of clinical trials', Nutrition Journal, 13, pp. 7. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-7 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-13-7 - Kim, J., Noh, W., Kim, A., Choi, Y. and Kim, Y.S (2023) 'The effect of fenugreek in type 2 diabetes and prediabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(18), pp. 13999. doi:10.3390/ijms241813999 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241813999 - Zhang, X., Zhao, Y., Song, Y. and Miao, M (2024) 'Effects of Momordica charantia L. supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profile in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', Heliyon, 10(10), pp. e31126. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31126 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31126 - Daryabeygi-Khotbehsara, R., Golzarand, M., Ghaffari, M.P. and Djafarian, K (2017) 'Nigella sativa improves glucose homeostasis and serum lipids in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 35, pp. 6-13. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2017.08.016 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2017.08.016
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.