Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Applications of Fenugreek Gum

Plant-derived gums play an essential role in the biopharmaceutical field due to their advantageous physicochemical properties, nutritional value, ease of availability and biodegradability. Fenugreek gum extracted from the seeds consists of galactomannan with galactose to mannose ratio as one where higher number of galactose enhances the water solubility of fenugreek gum. Exciting contemporary research shows enormous possibilities of fenugreek gum in biopharmaceutical landscape as a natural excipient and therapeutic agent. Since last decade, fenugreek gum has been explored as retarding, mucoadhesive and disintegrating agent for various biopharmaceutical applications. Moreover, seed extract of fenugreek gum has been extensively studied as an antidiabetic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective agent. This review aims to highlight the applications of fenugreek gum as a natural pharmaceutical excipient and its extensive role in drug delivery systems. Further, physicochemical properties, toxicological aspects and therapeutic efficacy of fenugreek gum has been also discussed.