Fenugreek is an important and one of the oldest medicinal plants on record. It is native to the Mediterranean, India, China, Northern Africa and Ukraine. It is one of the oldest medicinal plants we know of, because there is recorded information that dates back to ancient Egypt when it was mentioned as a plant to induce childbirth as well as an embalming agent. Its use spread throughout the Arab world, Greece and then eventually spread to China and India.
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) commonly known as methi, is a self-pollinating, leguminous crop. Cultivated Fenugreek (Trigonella corniculata L.), also known as Kasuri methi, is a small annual herb Dried leaves of this plant are used in Indian cooking as kasuri methi.
Fenugreek has a food based tradition, used to supplement wheat and maize flour for making bread, and as a condiment. Historical and theoretical uses are many and the list is long, but literature shows its use as a: abortifacient, appetite stimulant, for baldness, boils, breast enhancement, bronchitis, cellulites, constipation, cough, diarrhea, eczema, flatulence, galactagogue, hepatitic disease, hernia, indigestion, leg ulcers, menopausal symptoms, myalgia, postmenopausal vaginal dryness, hyperglycemia, tuberculosis and wound healing.
Active Constituents: The leaves and seeds of the fenugreek plant are used as powders and extracts for medicine use. Fenugreek seeds contain 45-60% carbohydrates, most of which is a mucilaginous fiber which is 30% soluble and 20% insoluble fiber. It also contains about 20-30% proteins that are high in lysine and tryptophan, a small amount of oils (5-10%), a small amount of pyridine alkaloids (mostly trigonelline), and a few flavonoids, free amino acids, sapogenins, vitamins and volatile oils.
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) commonly known as methi, is a self-pollinating, leguminous crop. Cultivated Fenugreek (Trigonella corniculata L.), also known as Kasuri methi, is a small annual herb Dried leaves of this plant are used in Indian cooking as kasuri methi.
Active Constituents: The leaves and seeds of the fenugreek plant are used as powders and extracts for medicine use. Fenugreek seeds contain 45-60% carbohydrates, most of which is a mucilaginous fiber which is 30% soluble and 20% insoluble fiber. It also contains about 20-30% proteins that are high in lysine and tryptophan, a small amount of oils (5-10%), a small amount of pyridine alkaloids (mostly trigonelline), and a few flavonoids, free amino acids, sapogenins, vitamins and volatile oils.
