Abstract
The species name "foenum-graecum’’ means "Greek hay" indicating its use as a forage crop in the past. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a plant belongs from family Fabaceae. Fenugreek is used both as a herb (the leaves) and as a spice (the seed, often called Methi in Urdu/ Hindi/ Nepali). Fenugreek is regarded as the oldest known medicinal plant in recorded history. Fenugreek has been referred to as a medicinal herb both in Indian Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines. Medicinal uses vary from wound-healing to bust enhancement and, from promotion of lactation in weaning mothers, to its use as a sex stimulant or aphrodisiac. Use of organic and inorganic fertilizers, farmyard manure, nitrogen and phosphorus has been found to be effective in increasing fenugreek yield. India leads the world in fenugreek production, producing 70-80% of the global export. Fungal, bacterial, viral and insect mediated diseases are reported to be associated with considerable lowering of forage and seed yield in fenugreek and hence is a serious agronomic concern. The two most common fungal diseases infecting fenugreek are ercospora leaf spot and powdery mildew. Traditional Chinese herbalists used it for kidney problems and conditions affecting the male reproductive tract. Fenugreek was, and re-mains, a food and a spice commonly eaten in many parts of the world. Various experimental and human studies have reported that fenugreek is a potential agent to treat diabetes mellitus. Fenugreek plays a key role to prevent the induction and progression of various disorders such as cancer, ulcer, obesity, etc. Moreover, the pleiotropic actions of fenugreek have been evaluated in hypertension, cataract, inflammation, thyroid dysfunction, malaria, endothelial dysfunction, etc. In this review, we have captured recent findings on fenugreek representing the distinct role of fenugreek in treating various disorders elaborating the mechanisms at molecular level.
Key words: Fenugreek, Foenum-graecum, National and international status, Traditional uses