Therapeutic Uses and Applications of Fenugreek

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is used as traditional medicine as it possesses various therapeutic activities including anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, antianorexic, antiatherogenic, antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic immunomodulatory antinociceptive, anti-ulcer antimicrobial, anthelmintic, anti-obesity and hepatoprotective effects. Besides, fenugreek has a cleansing action which helps purify the blood, lymphatic system as well as detoxify the body. It is also considered as a galactagogue for promoting lactation, and it may serve as an excellent animal food supplement. The pharmacological uses of fenugreek can be attributed to its bioactive chemical constituents. These chemicals make it a powerful candidate to cure diseases. It holds a promising future in the field of natural products to cure diseases. Fenugreek has been widely studied in in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies which showed significant evidence that fenugreek possesses therapeutic properties applicable to treat many diseases. In this chapter, we summarised the pharmacological aspects of fenugreek.