Omnia SanaCommon names in 21 European languages →
The complete database record: 4 documented constituents, 4 pharmacological actions, 8 traditional / indicated uses, with 18 cited sources.
Botanical Description
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 & Distribution
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
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]
Key Constituents
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 antidiabetic action
more plants for blood sugar / diabetes support →detailed sources →
inferred from anticancer action
more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →
more plants for cardiovascular / heart health →detailed sources →
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Traditional Use & History
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, 13]
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
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
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).
Herb-Drug Interactions
Herb-Herb Pairings
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.
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.
Harvest Readiness
[12]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- 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 - Plants For A Future 'Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Trigonella+foenum-graecum Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Trigonella+foenum-graecum - 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
Selected studies & references
All 17 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
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